Comments on: Those with the most power win http://cuinnovators.com/blog/those-with-the-most-power-win/ At CU Innovators, we help credit unions, CUSO's, and service providers create meaningful products and services for their members and clients. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:36:42 +0000 hourly 1 By: Robbie Wright http://cuinnovators.com/blog/those-with-the-most-power-win/comment-page-1/#comment-379 Robbie Wright Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:10:59 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/12/03/those-with-the-most-power-win/#comment-379 @CU Skeptic - I was thinking the same thing. It was pretty silly to see a casino up and running yet the city couldn't send out an emergency message. That's the perfect chance for a credit union, or a casino, to step up and help out. I remember hearing a story a while back about restaurant called Camp 18 on the way out to the Oregon beach. Some nasty car accident or bad weather or something had completely shut down the highway and stranded motorists every where. Camp 18 stayed open all night, handed out blankets, and cooked food for everyone stranded. I'm not saying CU's should cook, but take advantage of what you have. @CU Skeptic – I was thinking the same thing. It was pretty silly to see a casino up and running yet the city couldn’t send out an emergency message. That’s the perfect chance for a credit union, or a casino, to step up and help out. I remember hearing a story a while back about restaurant called Camp 18 on the way out to the Oregon beach. Some nasty car accident or bad weather or something had completely shut down the highway and stranded motorists every where. Camp 18 stayed open all night, handed out blankets, and cooked food for everyone stranded. I’m not saying CU’s should cook, but take advantage of what you have.

]]> By: CU Skeptic http://cuinnovators.com/blog/those-with-the-most-power-win/comment-page-1/#comment-378 CU Skeptic Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:03:53 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/12/03/those-with-the-most-power-win/#comment-378 Great post and comments. While I agree that collocated data centers are a great use CU to CU cooperation, I've got to say I'm a little disappointed that the solutions here are not much different than the ones that keep the casino open. Like the casino, the focus is "How do I keep my operation up and running?" First, let me give validity to that question. It is the number #1 question, especially given the regulation and compliance issues. However, I believe there is a #2 question, that if considered is at the heart of what distinguishes a credit union from a casino: "How can my up and running operation, benefit the community in this time of need?" Just a little something extra to consider. I'd love to hear of ideas, or even examples of credit unions helping the communities they serve as a benefit of their "always on" necessity. Great post and comments. While I agree that collocated data centers are a great use CU to CU cooperation, I’ve got to say I’m a little disappointed that the solutions here are not much different than the ones that keep the casino open. Like the casino, the focus is “How do I keep my operation up and running?”

First, let me give validity to that question. It is the number #1 question, especially given the regulation and compliance issues.

However, I believe there is a #2 question, that if considered is at the heart of what distinguishes a credit union from a casino: “How can my up and running operation, benefit the community in this time of need?”

Just a little something extra to consider. I’d love to hear of ideas, or even examples of credit unions helping the communities they serve as a benefit of their “always on” necessity.

]]> By: Lisa Hochgraf http://cuinnovators.com/blog/those-with-the-most-power-win/comment-page-1/#comment-377 Lisa Hochgraf Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:37:39 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/12/03/those-with-the-most-power-win/#comment-377 I loved this post and the thinking that led up to it. I'm going to ask Mike Atkins of Open Technology Solutions--a joint technology CUSO for six big CUs--if disaster recovery prowess is part of the deal. I didn't ask that question when I wrote "Tech CUSO Provides Economies of Scale," which details the CUSO's structure and operations. CUES members can get here, and I'll e-mail a copy to any interested blogger: http://www.cues.org/pls/cuesp/!cues1.main?complex_id_in=3069666.3069668.3070000.11506950.page I loved this post and the thinking that led up to it. I’m going to ask Mike Atkins of Open Technology Solutions–a joint technology CUSO for six big CUs–if disaster recovery prowess is part of the deal. I didn’t ask that question when I wrote “Tech CUSO Provides Economies of Scale,” which details the CUSO’s structure and operations. CUES members can get here, and I’ll e-mail a copy to any interested blogger:
http://www.cues.org/pls/cuesp/!cues1.main?complex_id_in=3069666.3069668.3070000.11506950.page

]]> By: Robbie Wright http://cuinnovators.com/blog/those-with-the-most-power-win/comment-page-1/#comment-376 Robbie Wright Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:08:23 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/12/03/those-with-the-most-power-win/#comment-376 The natural gas backup generators seem to be gaining in popularity. I know one CU in the NW who has one for the admin center and a separate one for the data center, enabling them to run indefinitely in a power outage. Unless the natural gas line somehow manages to get cut of course! I wonder what it would take to get local CU's talking with each other to get data centers built in major metropolitan areas. Maybe some type of national CUSO with DC's in major metropolitan areas by their clients? Sounds like <a href="http://www.ongoingoperations.com rel="nofollow">Ongoing Operations</a> to me... The natural gas backup generators seem to be gaining in popularity. I know one CU in the NW who has one for the admin center and a separate one for the data center, enabling them to run indefinitely in a power outage. Unless the natural gas line somehow manages to get cut of course! I wonder what it would take to get local CU’s talking with each other to get data centers built in major metropolitan areas. Maybe some type of national CUSO with DC’s in major metropolitan areas by their clients? Sounds like Ongoing Operations to me…

]]> By: Mike Templeton http://cuinnovators.com/blog/those-with-the-most-power-win/comment-page-1/#comment-375 Mike Templeton Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:46:32 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/12/03/those-with-the-most-power-win/#comment-375 Now there's a way to differentiate CUs from banks: "We have better rates and smaller fees...plus we have slot machines!" Now there’s a way to differentiate CUs from banks:
“We have better rates and smaller fees…plus we have slot machines!”

]]> By: Tim McAlpine http://cuinnovators.com/blog/those-with-the-most-power-win/comment-page-1/#comment-374 Tim McAlpine Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:43:21 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/12/03/those-with-the-most-power-win/#comment-374 Robbie, I like your suggestion about sharing a data center. I think the more that credit unions can cooperate and work together the more independent and unique they can stay. Failing that, install slot machines so you can afford to go it alone! Anything to avoid more mergers! Robbie, I like your suggestion about sharing a data center. I think the more that credit unions can cooperate and work together the more independent and unique they can stay.

Failing that, install slot machines so you can afford to go it alone! Anything to avoid more mergers!

]]> By: Mike Templeton http://cuinnovators.com/blog/those-with-the-most-power-win/comment-page-1/#comment-373 Mike Templeton Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:36:05 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/12/03/those-with-the-most-power-win/#comment-373 @Dan: 1-2 days for a complete branch relocation! Wow! That seems pretty extraordinary to me. Props to you and your CU for being prepared. @Dan: 1-2 days for a complete branch relocation! Wow! That seems pretty extraordinary to me. Props to you and your CU for being prepared.

]]> By: Dan Veasey http://cuinnovators.com/blog/those-with-the-most-power-win/comment-page-1/#comment-372 Dan Veasey Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:32:37 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/12/03/those-with-the-most-power-win/#comment-372 We've had lots of power problems over that past 14 months. Our city had been making some changes that affected us. It's good because it really ofrced us to finally get around to planning for a disaster. We've priced a natural gas powered generator that which really wasn't very costly for our main office. It's not much of an ongoing expense either. CU's should definitely consider something like that. Of course it doesn't help any if the building itself is destroyed or if you don't have access to natural gas. Thanks to some careful planning, I'm happy to say that in the event of a total branch destruction we can be up and running at an alternate location within 1-2 days. I just hope we never have to do it. We’ve had lots of power problems over that past 14 months. Our city had been making some changes that affected us. It’s good because it really ofrced us to finally get around to planning for a disaster.

We’ve priced a natural gas powered generator that which really wasn’t very costly for our main office. It’s not much of an ongoing expense either. CU’s should definitely consider something like that. Of course it doesn’t help any if the building itself is destroyed or if you don’t have access to natural gas.

Thanks to some careful planning, I’m happy to say that in the event of a total branch destruction we can be up and running at an alternate location within 1-2 days. I just hope we never have to do it.

]]>