November 14, 2023 • 16 mins
In this insightful episode of the SEE YOU LEAD Podcast, sponsored by NetGiver, we delve into the world of credit union leadership and its influence on communities. Recorded at the 2023 APEX conference, host Glynn Frechette welcomes Glenn Welch, President and CEO of Freedom Credit Union in Massachusetts.
Welch shares his unique journey from the banking sector to the helm of a credit union, highlighting the contrast between the two industries and his motivations for the switch. He recounts his experiences with Freedom Credit Union, emphasizing the organization's commitment to community involvement and charitable efforts, including initiatives like building beds for the homeless and organizing food drives.
The conversation also explores the collaborative nature of credit unions, with Welch discussing partnerships with other credit unions for community betterment. He highlights how such collaborations extend beyond monetary contributions, encouraging active participation from employees and members in various community projects.
Additionally, Welch addresses the importance of corporate social responsibility in attracting and retaining young talent, noting how Freedom Credit Union's community focus aligns with the values of the newer generation of employees. The podcast touches on the impact of COVID-19 on community engagement, with Welch expressing a renewed focus on encouraging employee involvement in volunteer activities.
This episode offers a deep dive into how credit union leaders like Glenn Welch are making a tangible difference in their communities, providing valuable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of finance and social responsibility.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Glynn (00:01):
Welcome to another episode of CU Lead, sponsored by
NetGiver, the app and platformthat enables donors and
nonprofits to give and receiveon a no fee basis.
On this podcast, we featurecredit union industry executives
and the impacts they make oncommunities everywhere.
(00:22):
I am Glenn Frechette, and todayI am joined by Glenn Welch.
Glenn is the President and CEOof Freedom Credit Union in
Springfield, Mass., so Glenn,we're just starting to get to
know each other a little bit.
You and I have had three or fourconversations now in total, some
on camera, and now live inperson.
(00:42):
For those that don't know youvery well our listening
audience, which is a nationalone.
I'd love to have them hear whatyour journey has included, as
long as you've been influencingcredit unions.
Sure.
Glenn Welsh (00:55):
So, it's coming up on eight years since I joined
Freedom.
I did join as the president andCEO.
I came from the banking side.
I was with a smaller communitybank in Springfield, Mass.
But we went public in 2007.
I took over in 2012, 2013.
(01:17):
And I knew I would be the lastCEO, unfortunately, of a 150
year old institution because wewere a public stock bank.
And some of the investorsthought when my predecessor
resigned, we were going to sellthe bank.
That was their investmentstrategy.
It failed, but I took over andimmediately got into some proxy
fights and things, so we lasteda couple years, but in the end
(01:41):
we had to sell out to a largerbank.
So I was fortunate that I had awindow of time where I could
decide if I wanted to stay or gowith that institution, and it
was a six month window, and Ididn't see myself working there.
It was an institution that wasabout 12, 13 times larger than
the one I came from.
I was, I had a senior title, butI didn't really have a position.
(02:05):
So, I didn't see myself beingthere a lot.
So I was fortunate.
I left there in October and Igot a call from a headhunter
same month.
I was leaving and going todecide what I was going to do
going
Glynn (02:18):
forward.
Boy, that is just plainfortunate right in Springfield,
Mass.
Right in
Glenn Welsh (02:23):
Springfield where, you know, my whole banking
career was.
A little bit of time up in NorthHampton, but mostly in
Springfield as a commerciallender.
And yeah, I was fortunate enoughand it was very similar in that
it was a community organization.
We do do commercial lender andthe opportunity arose and I was
(02:44):
fortunate enough to.
The unfortunate thing was I wasinterviewing and originally I
thought it was going to be Marchwhen I had to start.
Instead, I started on January4th, I believe, so the two
months I thought I could spendin the Caribbean went out the
window.
But I did have a couple monthsoff, unfortunately.
(03:05):
You know, October, November,December in New England are not
Glynn (03:09):
that great.
Oh, man, I'm sorry for that.
Yeah, the fantasy aspiration oftwisting up a couple of
cocktails in the Caribbean inbetween career moves is on
everyone's mind.
Yeah,
Glenn Welsh (03:21):
that would have been a good, but again, I was
fortunate that this, thisopportunity was available at the
time we were.
Freedom was smaller than theinstitution.
I left by a couple hundredmillion, but doing a lot of good
for the community when I reallystarted paying more attention to
what they were doing as I wasgoing through the interview
(03:41):
process it was very enticingopportunity for
Glynn (03:45):
me.
Yeah.
Well, that's a brilliant segue.
Thank you for it.
Because I would like to talkabout the importance of being a
leader in the community as itrelates to nonprofits.
Another interviewee sitting inthat very chair has mentioned
you by name and has talked aboutyou as a cooperative partner
credit union to theirs.
(04:06):
So does that happen a fairamount where you sidle up next
to other credit unions for thebenefit of the
Glenn Welsh (04:11):
community?
Yes, we do.
In fact, we have, the CCUA has aPioneer Valley chapter of credit
unions.
And I think we're the oldestchapter in the country, I
believe I might be wrong and getcorrected on that, but been
around a long time and it's allthe local Western Mass, the four
counties of Western Mass creditunions belong.
(04:34):
So a couple years ago beforeCOVID, we did a build a bed
event where we all got togetherat a big location like this and
we're able to work together andbuild beds for the homeless.
And we have various eventsagain.
COVID impacted the last coupleof years, but we do have dinners
that we get together and weraise funds for different
things, toys for tots and thattype of thing.
(04:57):
But just in general, I think weall do a lot of charitable
giving.
In the communities we serve.
But we're trying to, we just hada meeting about a month ago.
And we're trying to organizesomething where we all can do
something at the same time.
You know, some sort of morepublic event to let people know.
about credit unions and how we
Glynn (05:18):
support our communities.
So my guess, in addition toMichelle Dwyer, who was the
individual that mentioned you byname, it's all recorded, so you
would have gotten that anyway ifyou listened to it.
Yeah, she told me that on
Glenn Welsh (05:28):
my way as I was talking to her.
So, yeah, I give a shout out toMichelle, too.
Franklin First does a lot forthe northern community.
We have...
two branches up where she'slocated.
And I know a lot of good goes onup there.
Glynn (05:42):
One of the other CEOs with whom I have spoken during
this trip to the Apex event isRich Kump.
So my guess is that's also oneof the credit unions that is of
course based in Western Mass,but one you probably interact
with in a cooperative manner?
Glenn Welsh (05:57):
Yes.
Yes, we do.
And that's a good thing aboutcredit unions.
Banking was a little morecutthroat, especially when
you're a stock corporation.
You don't want to give away anyof your secrets.
In the credit union world, youtruly can just pick up the phone
and call somebody and talkthrough issues you might be
having and, you know, you canhave an honest conversation.
(06:19):
And get good advice, and youcan't always say you could do
that in the banking
Glynn (06:23):
world.
No, no, but I do recall himsaying that he insists on his
employee base really beingactive with their feet.
Not just writing the big check,not to say that they aren't
financial contributors, theyare.
I'd love to hear if this is alsopart of what you do at Freedom.
Where employees are encouragedto participate in the community.
Glenn Welsh (06:46):
Yes, we definitely encourage them.
And in fact, when we werelooking at requests for
donations of support, We try tofind out if we have employees
that are involved.
And then...
If we don't, we do try toorganize things.
I know some of my senior teamdid a United Way Day.
I was away.
But they volunteered in thecommunity and we always
(07:09):
encourage that.
In fact, we give an extra dayoff for people that do volunteer
on behalf of an organization todo some good for them.
Whatever that good is, it hasn'treally taken off as much as it
should.
And I keep going back to COVID.
I don't want to go back to thosenegative days, but that impacted
a lot of people.
(07:29):
People getting out in thecommunity and doing more.
So we're really trying toencourage that again and make
sure that it's just not writinga check.
That there is, you know, morebehind it than that.
Glynn (07:40):
Yeah, I think it's awesome.
So I would like to spend just aminute on your employee base,
because I like talking aboutpeople development, I like
talking about cultures and whatit takes to attract great
people, and as importantly, ofcourse, retaining them.
Would you say that...
Because you are philanthropicand because you are reaching out
(08:06):
to communities and doing good,that that helps you in the
recruiting game, finding greattalent?
I
Glenn Welsh (08:11):
think that does, especially with younger people.
They want to make sure theorganization they go to work for
does good in the community.
It's not just about a paycheck.
So we really stress that againwith the, like, VTO.
We want to make sure people knowthat we want them to be out in
the community.
You know, somewhat for selfishpurposes, but also to do good in
(08:33):
the community.
But we want to get our name outthere and we want to make sure
people think of Freedom CreditUnion.
We're trying to retain themmore.
We're doing some stay interviewsnow.
We actually asked for people tovolunteer if they wanted to do
them.
And we probably got about 10 to15 percent of the staff that'll
do it.
And hopefully has.
(08:55):
They go through it, they tellother people that it wasn't
torture or that, you know, maybeit's worth doing it.
But we're just trying to getfeedback on what they like, what
they don't like, where we canimprove on things.
And I'm trying to work with themon what their career path might
Glynn (09:10):
look like.
I think it's great.
You actually highlightedsomething in your answer that a
lot of CEOs are saying to me.
And that is, the socialresponsibility factor is coming
up in the interviews.
It's being stated as a requestor an insistence on the part of
the candidate.
(09:30):
So if you're not prepared as acredit union hiring leader to
give a truthful and satisfactoryanswer, you're probably going to
be passed over by the youngergeneration, whatever that
Glenn Welsh (09:45):
means.
Right, right.
And even those that are memberswith us.
generation want to see thatwe're out in the community doing
good, too.
Unfortunately, you know, thebanks have, in many people's
eyes, better tech and, you know,it's easier for them to work.
But I think more and more,they're starting to look at,
okay, but what is, you know, Bof A doing for our community,
(10:08):
really.
Closing locations down atwhatever and Santander pulled
out of the market in WesternMass.
So I, I, I do think we're seeingyounger members because they're
seeing we're out in thecommunity doing
Glynn (10:21):
good.
I love that you've just broughtthis up.
It's something that, in fact,you and I have chatted about in
the past because with NetGiver'ssolution, that is what we're
really trying to do is to ensureyour members care about giving
in the same way you do.
And putting it to use in thecommunities.
So let's spend a second there,not a net giver per se, but
(10:42):
spending a minute talking abouthow your members are perhaps,
I'm going to use the word sidleup again, banding together.
Do you see that your membershipis working alongside of your
employee base when doingcommunity based activities?
Is that happening?
Do you invite your members toparticipate?
(11:03):
We
Glenn Welsh (11:03):
do.
We choose a charity of themonth.
Sometimes it's two charities.
And we encourage through ourwebsite and through our
branches, signage in ourbranches, for people to support
the charity that we'resupporting for the month.
And then we make sure we have apress release that goes out to
say how much we raise on behalfof the charity that was chosen.
(11:28):
Right now I know in a back roomwe collected food for the local
food bank.
I'm always amazed.
We didn't do things like that onthe banking side.
I'm always amazed at how muchour members participate.
We do a thing where you take atag off of a tree.
Around Christmas time and buyChristmas presents for kids who
(11:50):
generally aren't going to getthem.
We work through the DCF withthat program, I believe, and I'm
just amazed, you know, you walkinto a branch and there's
bicycles, you know, bike helmetsand hockey stuff.
And it's just, you know, soit's, it's not a small.
Thing is sometimes some peoplereally look for it.
Some of our members really lookforward to that as well as our
(12:13):
employees we We kind of have adress down all the time now But
we used to make them pay todress down But we get a lot that
still volunteer to pay a couplebucks a week But you know and
that gets thrown into the pot ofthat month for that charity.
Yeah, that
Glynn (12:32):
would a brilliant, creative idea.
You're incentivizing employeeswith something that's important
to them, which is casual dress,but it's going toward.
goodness.
Glenn Welsh (12:44):
And we, we also try going back to where I said we
and we look before writing acheck to see if an employee's
involved.
We also ask the employees onwhat charities they'd like to
support.
And, you know, so that we're,we're not just choosing them,
we're getting them to helpdecide what's important for them
(13:06):
in their communities.
Excellent.
Glynn (13:08):
It's all really good stuff.
I want to, Not shift gears perse, but talk about maybe an
organization that's personal foryou as we close.
You know, not to suggest thatyou're two people, you're one
person leading a whole life.
I get that you don't just...
Act as a credit union CEO by dayand become a different human
(13:29):
being in the evenings.
I get that.
But maybe there is anorganization that's personal for
your family that you'd like toplug that you haven't already
talked about through the creditunions efforts.
Is there one?
Glenn Welsh (13:41):
I'm going to get in trouble because I sit on a lot
of boards of organizations, soI'm not going to name them.
I'm actually going to go back tothe Food Bank of Western Mass.
Okay.
They used to be up in FranklinCounty, and they're moving down
to Hamden County whereSpringfield is and they just
(14:03):
built a building you wouldn'tbelieve the size of it if you
went by, but that's how much ofa need there is.
food in our area.
So that's just the organizationthat I think does wonderful
things.
And obviously, during COVID,people were struggling a lot,
too, and the need hasn't goneaway.
So, I really think what they didwith their new project and what
(14:25):
they'll be doing for, All ofWestern Mass is really
important.
Glynn (14:30):
I will tell you this.
I've been doing interviewing allthroughout 2023 of CEOs, whether
that be at GAC or regionalevents that we go to.
And what you have just describedas a pervasive problem in our
country, which is foodinsecurity, it's the number one
(14:50):
organization offered up, but ofcourse on a very regionalized
level, just as you've done.
So sadly, I'm here to reportthat it's a growing concern.
It's a growing problem.
Understandably so.
We have very compassionate,empathetic people.
Well, sympathetic, I would say.
Sympathetic people who walkaround in a very privileged
(15:14):
manner, as we all do.
not concerned about where ournext meal comes from.
Yeah.
And
Glenn Welsh (15:19):
it shouldn't be happening in our country.
And it amazes me when we go tothe market, there's three of us
in the family and shop and weeat out more than we should.
So we don't shop for seven daysa week.
And I just always wonder how afamily of four that is shopping
(15:40):
for a week and has kids who aredrinking milk and whatever, you
know, how expensive it is to goto the grocery store now.
So, yeah, unfortunately, thefood pantries are all that more
important now.
Glynn (15:52):
Well, I do shop for a family of four and I do have two
high schoolers that drink milkand eat the heck out of the
fridge.
So I can tell you it's anexpensive endeavor.
But I did have someone sittingright in that seat yesterday who
did some math with me and wetalked about this at a thousand
dollars at times when you'regoing to Costco and you're
(16:15):
loading up for a couple of weeksor whatever, you know, you
multiply that out.
Let's just say it's two grand amonth for food bill only two
grand, you know, multiply thatby 12, you're at 24, 000.
You have to make your first 50to yield 24 and that's before
you get started with the rest ofyour life, right?
That's real.
It is that's very real for allof us.
(16:35):
Well, thank you Glenn.
Well, thank you Glenn I promisedit was gonna be painless
Glenn Welsh (16:39):
and it was thank you made
Glynn (16:41):
it easy.
It was a good conversation, sirThank you.
Enjoy the rest of theconference.
Thank you so much.
Welcome to another episode of CU Lead, sponsored by
NetGiver, the app and platformthat enables donors and
nonprofits to give and receiveon a no fee basis.
On this podcast, we featurecredit union industry executives
and the impacts they make oncommunities everywhere.
(00:22):
I am Glenn Frechette, and todayI am joined by Glenn Welch.
Glenn is the President and CEOof Freedom Credit Union in
Springfield, Mass., so Glenn,we're just starting to get to
know each other a little bit.
You and I have had three or fourconversations now in total, some
on camera, and now live inperson.
(00:42):
For those that don't know youvery well our listening
audience, which is a nationalone.
I'd love to have them hear whatyour journey has included, as
long as you've been influencingcredit unions.
Sure.
Glenn Welsh (00:55):
So, it's coming up on eight years since I joined
Freedom.
I did join as the president andCEO.
I came from the banking side.
I was with a smaller communitybank in Springfield, Mass.
But we went public in 2007.
I took over in 2012, 2013.
(01:17):
And I knew I would be the lastCEO, unfortunately, of a 150
year old institution because wewere a public stock bank.
And some of the investorsthought when my predecessor
resigned, we were going to sellthe bank.
That was their investmentstrategy.
It failed, but I took over andimmediately got into some proxy
fights and things, so we lasteda couple years, but in the end
(01:41):
we had to sell out to a largerbank.
So I was fortunate that I had awindow of time where I could
decide if I wanted to stay or gowith that institution, and it
was a six month window, and Ididn't see myself working there.
It was an institution that wasabout 12, 13 times larger than
the one I came from.
I was, I had a senior title, butI didn't really have a position.
(02:05):
So, I didn't see myself beingthere a lot.
So I was fortunate.
I left there in October and Igot a call from a headhunter
same month.
I was leaving and going todecide what I was going to do
going
Glynn (02:18):
forward.
Boy, that is just plainfortunate right in Springfield,
Mass.
Right in
Glenn Welsh (02:23):
Springfield where, you know, my whole banking
career was.
A little bit of time up in NorthHampton, but mostly in
Springfield as a commerciallender.
And yeah, I was fortunate enoughand it was very similar in that
it was a community organization.
We do do commercial lender andthe opportunity arose and I was
(02:44):
fortunate enough to.
The unfortunate thing was I wasinterviewing and originally I
thought it was going to be Marchwhen I had to start.
Instead, I started on January4th, I believe, so the two
months I thought I could spendin the Caribbean went out the
window.
But I did have a couple monthsoff, unfortunately.
(03:05):
You know, October, November,December in New England are not
Glynn (03:09):
that great.
Oh, man, I'm sorry for that.
Yeah, the fantasy aspiration oftwisting up a couple of
cocktails in the Caribbean inbetween career moves is on
everyone's mind.
Yeah,
Glenn Welsh (03:21):
that would have been a good, but again, I was
fortunate that this, thisopportunity was available at the
time we were.
Freedom was smaller than theinstitution.
I left by a couple hundredmillion, but doing a lot of good
for the community when I reallystarted paying more attention to
what they were doing as I wasgoing through the interview
(03:41):
process it was very enticingopportunity for
Glynn (03:45):
me.
Yeah.
Well, that's a brilliant segue.
Thank you for it.
Because I would like to talkabout the importance of being a
leader in the community as itrelates to nonprofits.
Another interviewee sitting inthat very chair has mentioned
you by name and has talked aboutyou as a cooperative partner
credit union to theirs.
(04:06):
So does that happen a fairamount where you sidle up next
to other credit unions for thebenefit of the
Glenn Welsh (04:11):
community?
Yes, we do.
In fact, we have, the CCUA has aPioneer Valley chapter of credit
unions.
And I think we're the oldestchapter in the country, I
believe I might be wrong and getcorrected on that, but been
around a long time and it's allthe local Western Mass, the four
counties of Western Mass creditunions belong.
(04:34):
So a couple years ago beforeCOVID, we did a build a bed
event where we all got togetherat a big location like this and
we're able to work together andbuild beds for the homeless.
And we have various eventsagain.
COVID impacted the last coupleof years, but we do have dinners
that we get together and weraise funds for different
things, toys for tots and thattype of thing.
(04:57):
But just in general, I think weall do a lot of charitable
giving.
In the communities we serve.
But we're trying to, we just hada meeting about a month ago.
And we're trying to organizesomething where we all can do
something at the same time.
You know, some sort of morepublic event to let people know.
about credit unions and how we
Glynn (05:18):
support our communities.
So my guess, in addition toMichelle Dwyer, who was the
individual that mentioned you byname, it's all recorded, so you
would have gotten that anyway ifyou listened to it.
Yeah, she told me that on
Glenn Welsh (05:28):
my way as I was talking to her.
So, yeah, I give a shout out toMichelle, too.
Franklin First does a lot forthe northern community.
We have...
two branches up where she'slocated.
And I know a lot of good goes onup there.
Glynn (05:42):
One of the other CEOs with whom I have spoken during
this trip to the Apex event isRich Kump.
So my guess is that's also oneof the credit unions that is of
course based in Western Mass,but one you probably interact
with in a cooperative manner?
Glenn Welsh (05:57):
Yes.
Yes, we do.
And that's a good thing aboutcredit unions.
Banking was a little morecutthroat, especially when
you're a stock corporation.
You don't want to give away anyof your secrets.
In the credit union world, youtruly can just pick up the phone
and call somebody and talkthrough issues you might be
having and, you know, you canhave an honest conversation.
(06:19):
And get good advice, and youcan't always say you could do
that in the banking
Glynn (06:23):
world.
No, no, but I do recall himsaying that he insists on his
employee base really beingactive with their feet.
Not just writing the big check,not to say that they aren't
financial contributors, theyare.
I'd love to hear if this is alsopart of what you do at Freedom.
Where employees are encouragedto participate in the community.
Glenn Welsh (06:46):
Yes, we definitely encourage them.
And in fact, when we werelooking at requests for
donations of support, We try tofind out if we have employees
that are involved.
And then...
If we don't, we do try toorganize things.
I know some of my senior teamdid a United Way Day.
I was away.
But they volunteered in thecommunity and we always
(07:09):
encourage that.
In fact, we give an extra dayoff for people that do volunteer
on behalf of an organization todo some good for them.
Whatever that good is, it hasn'treally taken off as much as it
should.
And I keep going back to COVID.
I don't want to go back to thosenegative days, but that impacted
a lot of people.
(07:29):
People getting out in thecommunity and doing more.
So we're really trying toencourage that again and make
sure that it's just not writinga check.
That there is, you know, morebehind it than that.
Glynn (07:40):
Yeah, I think it's awesome.
So I would like to spend just aminute on your employee base,
because I like talking aboutpeople development, I like
talking about cultures and whatit takes to attract great
people, and as importantly, ofcourse, retaining them.
Would you say that...
Because you are philanthropicand because you are reaching out
(08:06):
to communities and doing good,that that helps you in the
recruiting game, finding greattalent?
I
Glenn Welsh (08:11):
think that does, especially with younger people.
They want to make sure theorganization they go to work for
does good in the community.
It's not just about a paycheck.
So we really stress that againwith the, like, VTO.
We want to make sure people knowthat we want them to be out in
the community.
You know, somewhat for selfishpurposes, but also to do good in
(08:33):
the community.
But we want to get our name outthere and we want to make sure
people think of Freedom CreditUnion.
We're trying to retain themmore.
We're doing some stay interviewsnow.
We actually asked for people tovolunteer if they wanted to do
them.
And we probably got about 10 to15 percent of the staff that'll
do it.
And hopefully has.
(08:55):
They go through it, they tellother people that it wasn't
torture or that, you know, maybeit's worth doing it.
But we're just trying to getfeedback on what they like, what
they don't like, where we canimprove on things.
And I'm trying to work with themon what their career path might
Glynn (09:10):
look like.
I think it's great.
You actually highlightedsomething in your answer that a
lot of CEOs are saying to me.
And that is, the socialresponsibility factor is coming
up in the interviews.
It's being stated as a requestor an insistence on the part of
the candidate.
(09:30):
So if you're not prepared as acredit union hiring leader to
give a truthful and satisfactoryanswer, you're probably going to
be passed over by the youngergeneration, whatever that
Glenn Welsh (09:45):
means.
Right, right.
And even those that are memberswith us.
generation want to see thatwe're out in the community doing
good, too.
Unfortunately, you know, thebanks have, in many people's
eyes, better tech and, you know,it's easier for them to work.
But I think more and more,they're starting to look at,
okay, but what is, you know, Bof A doing for our community,
(10:08):
really.
Closing locations down atwhatever and Santander pulled
out of the market in WesternMass.
So I, I, I do think we're seeingyounger members because they're
seeing we're out in thecommunity doing
Glynn (10:21):
good.
I love that you've just broughtthis up.
It's something that, in fact,you and I have chatted about in
the past because with NetGiver'ssolution, that is what we're
really trying to do is to ensureyour members care about giving
in the same way you do.
And putting it to use in thecommunities.
So let's spend a second there,not a net giver per se, but
(10:42):
spending a minute talking abouthow your members are perhaps,
I'm going to use the word sidleup again, banding together.
Do you see that your membershipis working alongside of your
employee base when doingcommunity based activities?
Is that happening?
Do you invite your members toparticipate?
(11:03):
We
Glenn Welsh (11:03):
do.
We choose a charity of themonth.
Sometimes it's two charities.
And we encourage through ourwebsite and through our
branches, signage in ourbranches, for people to support
the charity that we'resupporting for the month.
And then we make sure we have apress release that goes out to
say how much we raise on behalfof the charity that was chosen.
(11:28):
Right now I know in a back roomwe collected food for the local
food bank.
I'm always amazed.
We didn't do things like that onthe banking side.
I'm always amazed at how muchour members participate.
We do a thing where you take atag off of a tree.
Around Christmas time and buyChristmas presents for kids who
(11:50):
generally aren't going to getthem.
We work through the DCF withthat program, I believe, and I'm
just amazed, you know, you walkinto a branch and there's
bicycles, you know, bike helmetsand hockey stuff.
And it's just, you know, soit's, it's not a small.
Thing is sometimes some peoplereally look for it.
Some of our members really lookforward to that as well as our
(12:13):
employees we We kind of have adress down all the time now But
we used to make them pay todress down But we get a lot that
still volunteer to pay a couplebucks a week But you know and
that gets thrown into the pot ofthat month for that charity.
Yeah, that
Glynn (12:32):
would a brilliant, creative idea.
You're incentivizing employeeswith something that's important
to them, which is casual dress,but it's going toward.
goodness.
Glenn Welsh (12:44):
And we, we also try going back to where I said we
and we look before writing acheck to see if an employee's
involved.
We also ask the employees onwhat charities they'd like to
support.
And, you know, so that we're,we're not just choosing them,
we're getting them to helpdecide what's important for them
(13:06):
in their communities.
Excellent.
Glynn (13:08):
It's all really good stuff.
I want to, Not shift gears perse, but talk about maybe an
organization that's personal foryou as we close.
You know, not to suggest thatyou're two people, you're one
person leading a whole life.
I get that you don't just...
Act as a credit union CEO by dayand become a different human
(13:29):
being in the evenings.
I get that.
But maybe there is anorganization that's personal for
your family that you'd like toplug that you haven't already
talked about through the creditunions efforts.
Is there one?
Glenn Welsh (13:41):
I'm going to get in trouble because I sit on a lot
of boards of organizations, soI'm not going to name them.
I'm actually going to go back tothe Food Bank of Western Mass.
Okay.
They used to be up in FranklinCounty, and they're moving down
to Hamden County whereSpringfield is and they just
(14:03):
built a building you wouldn'tbelieve the size of it if you
went by, but that's how much ofa need there is.
food in our area.
So that's just the organizationthat I think does wonderful
things.
And obviously, during COVID,people were struggling a lot,
too, and the need hasn't goneaway.
So, I really think what they didwith their new project and what
(14:25):
they'll be doing for, All ofWestern Mass is really
important.
Glynn (14:30):
I will tell you this.
I've been doing interviewing allthroughout 2023 of CEOs, whether
that be at GAC or regionalevents that we go to.
And what you have just describedas a pervasive problem in our
country, which is foodinsecurity, it's the number one
(14:50):
organization offered up, but ofcourse on a very regionalized
level, just as you've done.
So sadly, I'm here to reportthat it's a growing concern.
It's a growing problem.
Understandably so.
We have very compassionate,empathetic people.
Well, sympathetic, I would say.
Sympathetic people who walkaround in a very privileged
(15:14):
manner, as we all do.
not concerned about where ournext meal comes from.
Yeah.
And
Glenn Welsh (15:19):
it shouldn't be happening in our country.
And it amazes me when we go tothe market, there's three of us
in the family and shop and weeat out more than we should.
So we don't shop for seven daysa week.
And I just always wonder how afamily of four that is shopping
(15:40):
for a week and has kids who aredrinking milk and whatever, you
know, how expensive it is to goto the grocery store now.
So, yeah, unfortunately, thefood pantries are all that more
important now.
Glynn (15:52):
Well, I do shop for a family of four and I do have two
high schoolers that drink milkand eat the heck out of the
fridge.
So I can tell you it's anexpensive endeavor.
But I did have someone sittingright in that seat yesterday who
did some math with me and wetalked about this at a thousand
dollars at times when you'regoing to Costco and you're
(16:15):
loading up for a couple of weeksor whatever, you know, you
multiply that out.
Let's just say it's two grand amonth for food bill only two
grand, you know, multiply thatby 12, you're at 24, 000.
You have to make your first 50to yield 24 and that's before
you get started with the rest ofyour life, right?
That's real.
It is that's very real for allof us.
(16:35):
Well, thank you Glenn.
Well, thank you Glenn I promisedit was gonna be painless
Glenn Welsh (16:39):
and it was thank you made
Glynn (16:41):
it easy.
It was a good conversation, sirThank you.
Enjoy the rest of theconference.
Thank you so much.
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