A Perspective on What ‘Drinking the Kool-Aid’ Means in Credit Unions

 After reading Frank Diekmann’s March 17 opinion piece, “A Proposal That Could Drive Credit Unions to Drink,” I found myself reflecting on what exactly “drinking the Kool-Aid” means to me as a credit union DE – development educator – one among the many who are regularly tagged with the label.

When I reflect on the phrase “drinking the Kool-Aid,” my mind wanders back to my high school days of the 1970s and the events surrounding the Viet Nam war. At that time, those who protested the war were oftentimes confronted with another phrase, “America: Love It or Leave It.” 

Back then, motivating a change in thinking was for so many akin to a religion, a belief that by shaping public opinion and beliefs, those protesting the war could bring about an end to hostilities in Viet Nam. Tactics such as challenging the status quo, making your voice heard, questioning the government’s motives for war, and engaging in spirited debates and political conversations were all intent on fueling a discourse designed to make everyone stop and think, and ultimately shape public opinion. 

It didn’t really matter how extreme or upsetting the conversation became at times, since its purpose was to act as a catalyst to open minds and introduce new ideas and new ways of doing things.

No Middle Ground

Naturally, those who supported the war and its efforts to prevent communism as we were told, regularly clashed with the protesters and their ideology. Their directive to protesters: you either love America or get out. There was no room to question the administration and its commitment to fighting communism in Southeast Asia. There was no middle ground for debate. It was all black and white. You were either with them or seen as against them. 

Remember Archie Bunker and his numerous quarrels with his son-in-law, Michael Stivik about the war? All in the Family offers quite a reliable peek into what it was like.

Blind Fidelity vs Loyal Affection

Back in the day and in my mind, embracing America – blindly at face value – did and still does not reflect a love of America. Supporting whatever you are spoon fed or pledging faithful allegiance without critical thinking and questioning, does not reflect loyal affection for it. Back then, I considered those who embraced America at face value as the ones who were “drinking the Kool Aid.” 

It was as if they were in a cult, blindly adhering to whatever dictates they received from those in leadership.

In retrospect, we now see how the influence of the protests alongside news footage of American warriors returning home in body bags did eventually change public opinion and bring an end to the hostilities. Unfortunately, the debate also fueled a distasteful public perception of the military causing many to refuse to show the respect rightly due to those warriors who made it home alive. Hopefully we’ve all learned a lesson from this, one we’ll never witness again.

Who is Drinking the Kool Aid?

Fast forward to today’s credit union system and the label – drinking the Kool Aid. As we’ve already noted, it’s readily applied to DEs. However, might it also apply to others instead? 

Drinking the Kool Aid is already said to be the case for those who espouse the values and principles of the cooperative business model and are willing to buck the system at times in order to help and improve the industry, no matter how challenging the conversation might be deemed, or how controversial it might appear to be in a quest to prod open the minds of colleagues and friends to new ideas.

On the other hand, drinking the Kool Aid might also be applied to those who are compliant and complacent in accepting the status quo, not wishing to rock the boat, blindly adhering to the expectations and behavior of industry leaders and colleagues intent on remaining “politically correct” within the system.

So, who are those actually drinking the Kool Aid? I guess it comes down to which flavor you prefer. 

Success in Today’s Marketplace Demands That Your Voice Be Heard

Cut through the noise, establish yourself as a trusted authority, and effectively make your voice heard in today's competitive marketplace.

Engaging in thought leadership through blogs and educational social media posts is crucial for business leaders today. It allows them to bypass traditional gatekeepers and directly communicate their vision, values, and expertise to a broader audience. This direct style of engagement builds trust and credibility, transforming the leader into an authoritative voice in their industry.

However, making your voice heard in today's crowded marketplace requires a multifaceted and strategic approach. Regularly publishing insightful, educational, and original content (blogs, articles, whitepapers, research reports, videos, podcasts) that offers unique perspectives, challenges conventional thinking, or provides solutions to common problems in your niche is the cornerstone of thought leadership.

To ensure your voice and the content you share consistently demonstrates your expertise, showcasing your deep understanding and experience, be sure you back up the claims you make with data, real-world examples, and of course, your own unique insights. Use the opportunity to define your organization’s unique value proposition (UVP) by clearly articulating what makes your business or yourself different and better than the competition. Use narratives to make your ideas memorable and emotionally engaging. Stories bring abstract concepts to life and help your audience connect with your message on a deeper level. Actively participate in conversations, respond to comments, ask questions, and build a community around your brand and expertise.

When distributing your communications, be sure to choose platforms where your target audience is most active. And above all, don’t forget to encourage feedback. Create opportunities for your audience to share their comments and ask questions. Make it easy for people to connect with you and your business. This shows you value their input and helps you refine your communication.

By combining these strategies and consistently sharing your valuable insights, you demonstrate your commitment to customer success and industry advancement, not just sales. This fosters a deeper understanding of the business's unique perspective and ethical foundation, strengthening its reputation.

Furthermore, educational content attracts a highly engaged audience interested in learning, leading to organic reach and attracting potential clients, partners, and top talent who align with your business's ethos. Ultimately, this proactive communication strategy cultivates a loyal community around the brand, driving awareness, bolstering reputation, and contributing to long-term business growth.

So, knowing all this, how do you intend to ensure your voice is being heard in today’s competitive marketplace? For those needing a helping hand to draft content for blogs and social media posts, contact Laskos Communications.

It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way

As we observe the holidays and prepare to bid farewell to 2024, I wish to share an idea or two stirring in my mind, in the hope that doing so may bring some comfort and joy to those who are most in need.

When we think of the holidays, I’m sure you would agree that besides Santa and gift-giving, several other thoughts come to mind, and among them is joining with family and loved ones in the cozy warmth of our homes. I have to say, there’s nothing better than being surrounded by those who truly care for us, those affectionately known as mom, dad, sis, bro, or perhaps abuela, or cugini.

Being in their company seems to generate a sense of safety, strength and warmth, no matter what we may be doing – baking cookies, decorating the house, enjoying a seven-fish Christmas Eve dinner – as is the custom for so many families of Italian heritage – or simply gathered around the tree to open presents on Christmas Day.

However, while we can take comfort in such surroundings, it’s important to remember that there are many among us who are less fortunate; many who will be spending the holidays by themselves, all alone.

Now I’m referring to those who did not choose to live all alone. For many of these older adults, a loving spouse has passed on, leaving them without their cherished partner. For others, it is because of ailments that make it difficult if not impossible to physically step outside of their home. Then, there are also those of such age that they have outlived all others – not only a spouse but members of their family and friends as well.

Life under such conditions can be rather debilitating. Not only are these older adults dealing with living by themselves and the challenges it brings, older adults living alone are prime targets for con-artist scammers. Living alone increases the potential of dementia. It also is known to heighten loneliness.

The National Center on Elder Abuse reports that according to one study, 43% of those 60 or older reported loneliness. Another study found that 19% of elderly people cited frequent loneliness and 29% felt occasional loneliness.

Well, it doesn’t have to be that way!

In his recent Washington Post article, “7 of our best science-based tips for mental and cognitive health,” Richard Sima says, “If you want to increase your happiness and well-being, spend your money, time or energy on someone else.

“Research consistently finds that acts of altruism such as donating money, volunteering or giving blood benefit both the receiver and the giver — even when the giver does not expect anything in return. Helping others may set up a positive feedback loop: Because doing good feels good, altruism can beget more altruism and better well-being.”

As we gaze ahead into the future and what 2025 might have in store for each of us, might I suggest we be proactive and do whatever we can to influence how the upcoming days and weeks of 2025 will unfold for us in our personal life histories. As some might say, let’s put our intentions out there so they might come to fruition.

In Buddhist teachings, intentions hold a profound significance as they are seen as the seed from which actions and their results (karma) arise. Karma is not just about actions but also the intention behind those actions. Intentions are seen as the mental forces that shape one’s actions, which in turn influence future experiences. A pure and mindful intention can lead to positive outcomes, akin to the idea of setting an intention and trusting in its fruition.

So suppose we allow ourselves to really become caught up in the spirit of the holidays, allowing this season of cheer and glad tidings to have a deeper influence on our thinking and behavior than ever before. Consider this thought as a gift to yourself, one destined to make you feel content, peaceful and happy in 2025.

If you agree and are willing to take that plunge, then let’s plant the seed! One idea I suggest is taking time to reach out to an older adult who we know lives all alone.

Reach out by sending a holiday greetings card or giving him or her a phone call to express holiday wishes for happiness and good health. Maybe, push yourself a bit more by making a quick visit to simply check in or to drop off a plate of dinner or a slice of dessert. But let’s not stop there. Let’s light a fire and create an inferno of activity! Why not invite others at your church or in the community or senior center to team up with you by forming a group dedicated to keeping a watchful eye on those elders in the community who live all alone. Identify who they are and the best ways to make and stay in contact with them.

Remember, giving in this way – reaching out to lonely and solitary older adults – has its many rewards, as noted earlier in Richard Sima’s article. Making time to reach out will not only impress on them a sense of dignity and self-worth, and hopefully diminish some of the loneliness they may experience, it will also invigorate within you a surge of love. Sharing such generosity and kindness will enliven the spirit of the holiday season in your heart with the knowledge that you’re giving something priceless to another fellow human being, something you can’t buy in the store or on Amazon.

Now, just imagine if we all could embrace this behavior. Imagine the impact it would have on our country and on its political divide.

Wishing you countless blessings and good cheer – and positive karma throughout 2025, driven by your kindness, generosity, and compassion.

International Credit Union Day—How Will You Be Celebrating?

Back on Saturday, October 2, 2010, I published a blog post on this site featuring 12 simple ways to mark your observance of International Credit Union Day. Three years later, it goes without saying that all 12 ideas continue to hold value for any credit union searching for that special way to call attention to their distinguished heritage.

So once again, here are my 12 ideas for making October 17th, this year’s International Credit Union Day, a memorable occasion for your staff, your volunteers, your members, and really, your entire community!


I.      Make your members feel like owners. Host an Owners’ Day Party.

II.     Review and closely examine the definition of a cooperative. Understand the meaning of the business model it describes. Ask yourself what makes your organization a co-op?

III.    Have a meeting with staff to identify the Seven Cooperative Principles and evaluate how your organization embraces each one. Are they posted publicly for all to see?

IV.    Invite the local business reporter to the credit union to meet and greet the staff and your members. This is a great way to help the reporter develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for credit unions and the cooperative difference.

V.      Participate in other International Credit Union Day activities sponsored by your local League, CUNA and WOCCU.

VI.     Develop special messaging to your members talking about co-ops, the cooperative difference, and what co-ops stand for in the community. Display the messages in your lobby, in electronic statements, in your mobile banking application, on your credit union’s website, and on your social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.

VII.    Sponsor an art competition for youngsters of the credit union asking them to draw a picture of a cooperative. Publicly post the images in your lobby and your website. Offer awards to the best drawings.

VIII.   Leverage your relationships at the local chamber of commerce or rotary club to serve as a presenter during the month of October to talk about the cooperative business model and the values and principles on which it is built. As part of this community education effort, talk about your credit union as one of the many organizations built on that model. (If you missed the chance to do it this year, get your name on the list for next October!)

IX.    Sponsor an essay contest in collaboration with the local high school. Offer a grand prize of $1,000. Make the essay topic: How cooperatives and their distinct business model deliver better value to the American consumer.

X.     Host an open house of your credit union. Roll out the red carpet and invite folks from the community to stop in and have a coffee, have a donut and find out what a credit union is all about. Include a local radio station to broadcast LIVE from the credit union branch to further attract public participation in the open house. And don’t forget to invite the public to bring along cans of food for donation to the local food bank!

XI.    Cooperate with other co-ops in your community to create an organized referral effort where each cooperative helps to promote awareness of one another.

XII.   Organize a community day where the staff of your credit union goes into the community to help low-income and underserved families do repair work, painting and cleaning on their homes. Invite your members to join with staff, shoulder-to-shoulder in providing these services on Community Day as a way to mark National Cooperative Month—People Helping People.

The Credit Union Difference—One of Principles, Not Profits

Back in mid-March, the Credit Union Times carried a front page story on Chip Filson and his petition for NCUA board members to be motivated by the unique contributions and needs of a cooperative business.

The article included comments from several credit union executives, two of which struck a chord with me. One was Randy Karnes, CEO of CU Answers, who said Congress didn’t create the credit union charter because the nation needed “nice banks.” He pointed to the cooperative principles as the defining element which makes the structure of credit unions different from banks.

Henry Meier, associate general counsel for the Credit Union Association of New York was the second. Henry suggested that those advocating for the cooperative structure to play a larger role in the credit union industry seem to be promoting it for its own sake.

Hearing the comments of both executives took me back down memory lane into the corporate credit union environment. There, as I rubbed elbows with right-brainers and left brainers alike, I began to realize more and more how important it was to find a course of harmony between the cooperative principles and the principles of asset/liability management, if a credit union was to be truly faithful to its “soul” purpose.

Credit Union PR: Why Confine It To The Back Seat?

As the month of May fast approaches, we'll soon find the college graduation season upon us and the awarding of degrees—Bachelors, Masters, Doctorates, and let’s not forget honorary degrees. So it won’t be any surprise when we hear and read about such folks as the POTUS or Warren Buffet or Captain Sullenberger receiving an honorary degree. That’s part of the annual May ritual. But, did you ever stop to consider why these and other dignitaries and celebrities are being recognized in this way? Are we to believe that the degrees were bestowed in a vacuum, devoid of any strategy as to how the recipients will influence and benefit the institution? Of course not!

A lot of factors go into the nomination process for honorary degree recipients, from how they would attract publicity and foster alumni donor support, to how they reflect the values of the institution and can help open the door to new opportunities. Sometimes the rationale can be as simple as forming a relationship that will eventually develop over time to see the recipient becoming a major benefactor of the institution.

OK, so you’re wondering what does this have to do with credit unions. What is it about honorary degrees that can apply to credit unions and their business strategies? Here’s how I see it.

When we speak of an image or branding campaign that promotes the credit union difference, I can easily see the honorary degree model serving as a highly valuable template for credit unions to emulate.

However, before that can successfully occur, there are a few things we ought to assess. I’m talking about our understanding of image campaigns and from what I’ve seen just last week at the ball park, I have to wonder what’s going on. Have some of the folks responsible for image campaigns just become all too complacent in their understanding of branding initiatives, or are they unable to devote the proper amount of time to such initiatives given the workloads they carry? Not only does this pose a problem but the campaigns I saw were just downright bland in their creativity. I mean no disrespect, but that’s the impression these campaigns had on me.

Then again, maybe there’s a lot more going on that’s contributing to what I was experiencing. For instance, why is it that when we talk image and branding, a majority of credit union folks feel the compulsion to immediately think about taglines and logos, and possibly the interior decoration of branches as the only way a credit union brand is expressed? It frustrates me to see this confining attitude and misunderstanding of what “brand” actually is. It’s as if minds have become frozen, locked in a marketing-centric paralysis that only sees the importance of catering to sales and advertising.

I’m sure there are many who would disagree with my assessment, but let me be clear, my point is this: marketers must have their eyes focused on selling the credit union’s products and services as their primary responsibility. Community outreach and branding (creating a distinct experience of the credit union through all its touch points) is for them, secondary to sales and delivering the numbers. Yet isn’t community outreach, branding and the credit union’s reputation in the marketplace equally as important as sales, particularly in a cooperative business model? Are we not about “people;” people helping people?

This is why I advocate that credit unions employ a public relations officer in addition to the marketing officer, because community outreach and branding can too easily become lost in a mix of product ads, sales strategies and MCIF (Marketing Customer Information File) mining. Public relations delivers its own unique value to the overall sales strategy of a co-op, and it should not be overlooked or underestimated.

A fully-engaged PR effort is too important to load on the back of the marketing officer where it does not get the kind of attention it rightly deserves. In my opinion, by not acknowledging a PR/marketing distinction and relegating it to the back seat by lumping it on the long list of responsibilities reserved only for the marketing officer, we are all overlooking a critical deficiency in the way we manage credit union image and reputation in the marketplace, and by doing so, we continue to feed impediments to our own success!

While it’s true that my opinion vis-à-vis public relations and marketing reflects a debate that’s been going on for decades among all PR and marketing professionals, it’s also true that credit unions can benefit by thinking a little differently about the role of public relations at their shops, how they manage their image campaigns and of course, how the honorary degree model might be used to foster brand awareness.

I see three takeaways.

1) By instituting an award campaign that publicly recognizes individuals in the community for the way they exemplify credit union values, your shop can bring a whole new dimension to its reputation and image in the community. This might be a new imaging idea to many, but I believe it’s certainly an effort worth discussing.

2) Consider refining the award programs currently being conducted throughout the credit union community to go beyond recognizing one of our own. Once again, let me be very clear; there's nothing wrong with recognizing our own and the practice needs to continue. The occasional pat on the back is good, but it seems that the stories of the heroic people we celebrate never get conveyed beyond the credit union walls. They only internally energize the credit union community.

What I do recommend is that current programs also recognize others outside the credit union community with whom we should consider forming special relationships, much like the way colleges select honorary degree recipients. Imagine how the Wegner Awards might look if they also recognized, let’s say, someone like Vice President Biden for his legislation with Claiborne Pell that eventually provided funding to launch Credit Union Development Education—which is now an international program—or someone who cherishes the principle of cooperation over competition, like Hollywood producer Tom Shadyac has demonstrated in his current documentary film, “I Am.”

3) Let’s re-evaluate our understanding of public relations and the strategies that flow from it. They are not intended to sell products and services. PR is not slick marketing or advertising but a tool for building relationships through brand awareness and positive publicity. In doing what it does best, PR helps to cultivate the sales process by serving as a catalyst for marketing and advertising to then engage customers in the business of the organization. While PR and marketing may exist as separate disciplines, let there be no doubt that they are aligned as partners for the same goal—the success of the organization.

The Legacy—The Age of Cooperatives

The International Year of Cooperatives is finally underway, fueling a myriad of global opportunities served up on a silver platter for all cooperatives in all sectors; opportunities that can be creatively harnessed to educate all peoples on the inherent value of the cooperative business model.

If there ever was a time when the world needed a business model rooted in values and principles, now is the perfect time for us to step forward. Now is the time for all cooperative leaders to take to the airwaves. Now is the time for member/owners to tell their neighbors why they belong to a food co-op, a housing co-op or a credit union. And, now is especially the time for cooperative evangelists to herald the tidings of hope, equity and dignity that come with membership in a co-op.

What If . . . You Banked at a Co-op?

In the May/June issue of The Cooperative Business Journal, Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union finds itself in the spotlight once again for another trendsetting approach it has embraced in an effort to further cultivate its sterling image in the community. The full-page article, Banking on the Co-op Brand: How Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union Boosted Membership by Celebrating its Co-op Roots, is also laid-out around a print advertisement the credit union is currently running to make its point. The ad asks, “What if . . . you banked at a co-op?”

Make Members Feel Like Owners: 10 Ways to Get Started

In a recent blog submission to the Credit Union Times, I discussed my thoughts on making ownership the credit union value proposition.

I related some personal experiences at credit unions I joined, recalling that none of them ever made me feel like an owner. Why owner? Well for me, being assigned member status is both overused and overdone in our culture. Everyone is offering membership of one kind or another; from hotels to grocery stores.

On the other hand, if the emphasis was placed on being an owner, a whole new sense of loyalty and allegiance would come into play.

I see ownership as a way to create a more profound and vibrant bond, albeit one that also requires me to relinquish a certain level of complacency, becoming more engaged in the enterprise. The dynamic ushers me to the front and center of the organization, creating for me a vested interest in seeing the organization succeed and prosper.

You can read the entire blog submission at Credit Union Exchange

In the meantime, since I’ve proposed discarding the term “member” in favor of “owner,” I’ve put together a list of 10 ways to help you get started in making your credit union users feel like owners. E-mail me for a PDF copy.

MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE AN OWNER

10 Ways to Get Started

I. Key to the Credit Union

At sign up, give the new owner the Key to the Credit Union. Like the Key to the City, the Key to the Credit Union is a symbol and gesture, representing a special bond of affinity between the recipient and the credit union.

II. Honorary Welcome By the CEO

Upon joining, extend the new member a personalized welcome by the CEO or another Chief Executive. As an example, at the start of orientation at The Ritz-Carlton, the entire leadership team of the hotel, the General Manager to Head Chef, personally greets all the new employees. They made the time to do it because they viewed the new employees as important, and what an impression it made!

III. Owners’ Meetings

Hold monthly meetings for the owners (not to be confused with Board Meetings) focusing on informational and educational topics pertinent to the owners, and use multiple channels to attract participation; in-person venue, podcast, webcast, video recordings, etc. In addition to hearing from the CEO and CFO, other presenters may include a board member, city council rep, police chief, local doctor, state senator, etc.

IV. Monthly President’s Summary

Include a summary of the month’s operations with the owner’s monthly statement

V. Referral Dividends

Provide some type of dividend to an owner when he or she gets a new owner to join the credit union. The dividend may take the form of money, a service, or a donation to their favorite charity.

VI. Recognize Owner Birthdays

Acknowledge an owner’s birthday by sending a card, or giving him or her two movie tickets or a discount coupon for groceries at a local food co-op, or a dinner at a local restaurant.

VII. Owner’s Lounge

Within each branch, create an owner’s lounge, a workplace away from home for the owners. This would be akin to Delta Airline’s Crown Room.

VIII. Concierge Service
Provide owners with a concierge service to handle routine services such as making dinner reservations, ordering flowers, etc.

IX. Owner’s Hotel Discount

By working together with other credit unions and co-ops (cooperation with other co-ops), establish an “owner’s rate” with a hotel chain. The rate is low and consistent at all of the hotel’s locations.

X. Ownership Card

In cooperation with other credit unions and co-ops, as cited in number IX, present the new owner with an Ownership ID Card. Upon presentation at other co-ops, the owners receive a discount for their role as owners of a credit union.

By Walt Laskos, CUDE waltlaskos@gmail.com

June 2010