Words of Wisdom: Holding a Glass of Water

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all... "How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced.

So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"

1 * Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue!

2 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

3 * Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

4 * Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker..

5 * If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague

6 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it..

7 * It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

8 * Never buy a car you can't push.

9 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

10 * Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

11 * Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

12 * The second mouse gets the cheese.

13 * When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

14 * Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

15 * You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

16 * Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

17 * We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

18 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

6 Major Office Distractions

Sound Design

When it comes to creating a productive office environment—it’s more than just four walls. According to a Cornell University study, even low-level noise in open-style offices can result in higher levels of stress and lower task motivation. If you’re going to go with an open office plan, be sure to think about where you place employees who operate at higher decibel levels. Also keep in mind placement of loud appliances such as copy machines.

Tech Intrusion

Nearly 60 percent of work interruptions are—you guessed it—thanks to the Internet. Yes, you can blame Fail Blog for not getting your work done. And don’t forget the time spent on social media, e-mail, and switching back and forth between on-screen applications. According to a survey by market research firm uSamp, while social media use can encourage coordination among employees, there’s no denying it’s a huge distraction

Watch That Dial

Room temperature can directly influence productivity at work. Cornell University studied the effect of increasing temperatures in the workplace from 68 degrees to 77 degrees. Errors at the company fell by 44 percent and typing output increased 150 percent with the increased temperatures. Another study indicates that an office can also be too hot—with a loss in performance at temperatures higher than 75.2 degrees.

Social Butterfly

Telephone calls, walk-in clients, that talkative colleague across the way: Unplanned conversations can have a dramatic affect on productivity in the workplace. Phone calls, talking with co-workers, and impromptu meetings make up 43 percent of work interruptions, according to a market research survey.

Sitting Pretty

The design of office workstations is often linked to health, comfort, and productivity in the workplace. Chairs that are not adjustable and desks that are too small can cause sore backs and contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. A study coordinated by Health and Work Outcomes, an independent health research and consulting company for office furniture manufacturer Steelcase, found that individuals who received office ergonomic training and sat in a highly adjustable chair increased average productivity by 17.8 percent after a year.

Space Matters

The Wall Street Journal recently published findings from a number of worldwide studies suggesting the space around your workstation could affect not only your productivity, but the style of work you accomplish. Low ceilings encourage analytical thinking, while high ceilings can encourage abstract thought and creativity. Color and light can also change the way we think. Surrounding workers with red walls could stifle creativity, but fuel inside-the-box thinking for tasks that call for small details and accuracy.

Transfer to Technology

Don’t think you can afford a top tier online banking platform yet? Consider the alternatives. A recent FMSI study indicates teller labor costs have increased by 64% in the last ten years, while transaction volumes have decreased 31% in the same timeframe as customer preferences changed and new technology options became available.

From online knowledge databases to online banking and remote tellers, technology takes some heat off front line staff, reduces staffing demands, and allows you to focus on a better member experience and streamlined performance with those you do have on the clock.

Read a lot more at: http://www.creditunions.com/article.aspx?articleid=4510&wt.mc_id=II071911

Celent Study Finds Small CUs 'Overwhelmed'

http://www.cutimes.com/2011/07/15/celent-study-finds-small-cus-overwhelmed
By Jim Rubenstein

A new study issued this week by Celent, the Boston financial research and consulting firm, is finding small credit unions “overwhelmed” by the complexity of technology and competition.

The study, “Tipping Scale: Credit Union Consolidation”, is based on NCUA data from 2010 and found CUs under $50 million “are disappearing”, though the industry as a whole appears to be adjusting to the new environment.

“What is driving this change?” asked the report co-author, Bart Narter, senior vice president. “Competition driven by demand for mobile banking, consumer and business remote deposit capture and branch capture.”

The study found that smaller CUs “don’t have the scale to create these offerings and even the larger credit unions dwarfed by the size of their bank competitors are finding it difficult to keep up.”

In the past, “credit unions simply required a branch or two, a core banking system and ATM but in the past 10 years “Internet banking, bill pay, know your customers and office of foreign assets control compliance” have all become “table stakes,” Narter said.

In reporting on the CU diminishment, the study noted that the number of CUs in the U.S. “is declining rapidly from 10,316 at the end of 2,000 to 7,330 at the end of 2010.”

The vast majority of this consolidation “is taking place in the smaller credit union with assets under $50 million. However, CUs over $500 million “are vastly outgrowing any other category relative to their tier,” the Celent report said.

Celent, which has done most of its work on the banking sector, said this is the third recent report on credit unions, with the previous two covering core data processing at both large and small CUs.

It's Been a Rough Year

But not everyone is as lucky as I am ......

The economy is so bad that I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

I ordered a burger at McDonald's, and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

If the bank returns your check marked “Insufficient Funds," you have to call them and ask if they mean you or them.

Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ‘ouncer’.

Parents in Beverly Hills and Malibu are firing their nannies and learning their children's names.

A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.

The Mafia is laying off judges.

Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

Congress says they are looking into the Bernard Madoff scandal. Oh Great!! The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear!

And, finally...

I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, and our bleak future, that I called the Suicide Lifeline and was connected to a call center in Pakistan. When I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

At 101, Harry Hahn retires from CUs

ERIE, Pa.   After 60 years associated with credit unions, Harry Hahn, 101 has finally decided to retire, according to Erie Times-News (July 10).

Hahn, who will turn 102 on Aug. 9, formally retired last month as a nonvoting director emeritus of the Erie (Pa.) FCU to spend more time with his bride, Theresa, age 92, whom he married late last year.

Hahn--described by Erie FCU CEO Mary Beth Wilcher as having a "little hearing problem" but as "sharp as a tack"--also worked with Hammermill Employees FCU, where he served as board director, treasurer and supervisory committee member, before its merger with Erie FCU.

He also was active in the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association (PCUA) and served on its board of directors for 15 years. He received its Lifetime Achievement Award and was its Volunteer of the Year.

Jim McCormack, president/CEO of PCUA, described Hahn as humble, low-key and sincere. Hahn was a mentor to many, he said. "I owe so much to him, and a lot of people in Erie and the state would say the same thing," he said.

Conference: Serving Your Members in the 21st Century

Have you marked your calendar yet?

Nov. 7-10, 2011

Palm Springs, CA

http://cuconferences.com/11Reach/2011%20Reaching%20Final6_17_11.pdf

“Reaching Your Members in the 21st Century” brings you new ideas with practical results. More details coming your way.

Guest Presenters 

Tom Glatt, Jr.

Glatt Consulting, LLC

Sean McDonald, VP Marketing

Hudson Heritage FCU

Paul Robert, CCO

FI Strategies, LLC

Kevin Blair, Pres.

NewGround

June News and Views Published Below

CU SECURITY & TECHNOLOGY News - Providing a brief summary of news and information related to security and technology issues for credit unions - Plus some interesting and fun web sites . . .

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Lax Hotel Network Security Leads to Credit Fraud

Have you ever wondered what happens to your credit card information after it’s swiped at the hotel front desk? New York Times reporter Joe Sharkey knows. Sharkey told petergreenberg.com that he discovered a small unauthorized merchant charge on his credit card the same day he checked out of the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. It wasn’t the first time. Earlier, Sharkey reported in The New York Times that he and his wife had their credit card accounts compromised following hotel stays. In both cases, hackers made multiple small unauthorized purchases. Why were the charges small, you might ask? That’s how hackers check whether card holders are paying attention and whether credit card accounts are vulnerable.

Hackers Are the Hotel Industry’s Frequent Uninvited Guests

According to a 2011 Global Survey Report released by Trustwave SpiderLabs, Sharkey has plenty of company. The report shows that one in ten of the data breaches that Trustwave investigated in 2010 happened in the hotel industry. If you’re a frequent hotel guest, that’s not good news.

Hotel hacking that leads to credit fraud seems to be as easy as shooting ducks in a barrel. The reasons: Point of sale devices are vulnerable; there’s huge volume of credit card transactions; and credit card information is retained for reservations and loyalty programs.

Unsecured hotel wireless networks at hotels have also proven to be an ideal place for hackers to commit a variety of other crimes. At the luxury Thompson Hotel chain, a hacker captured embarrassing emails belonging to guests and staff members that were transmitted over its wireless network and threatened to make them public.

In many states across the country, hackers staying at hotels or parked nearby have used the anonymity of hotel wireless networks to download kiddie porn.

Guests looking to use their hotel’s wireless Internet may face another security threat. In 2010, The CBS Early Show had an ethical hacker set up a fake WiFi access point at a New York City hotel, calling it “Best Free Public WiFi.” Before long, dozens of unsuspecting wireless device users tried to log on. When an unsuspecting hotel guest connects to a rogue WiFi access point like that, his sensitive financial information can be harvested by a hacker.

How to Hide From Hotel Hackers

Remember, staying at a nice hotel with good security doesn’t guarantee that your financial information will be safe from hackers. Here’s what you can do to protect your most valuable possession – your identity.

• Find out what your hotel is doing to protect your credit card information. Ask whether its wireless network uses WPA (WiFi Protected Access) encryption. It requires a password to get onto the network and encrypts all the information transmitted on it. This prevents eavesdropping over wireless. But it may not stop other guests connected to the same hotspot from stealing your information.

• Watch out for Evin Twins. Some WiFi networks you spot at hotels may look like the real thing. They may even contain your hotel’s name. But they can still be rogue access points created by hackers to steal your data. Check with the establishment to make sure which network is the real one.

• Always assume you’re not alone on any public WiFi network. Disable file sharing; and never send Social Security numbers or financial information when over a wireless connection.

• Use a credit card instead of a debit card at hotels so your bank account will be protected.

• Use a VPN (virtual private network) like Private WiFi to ensure that the information transmitted over your WiFi connection is invisible to hackers.

Jan Legnitto is an investigative journalist and documentary producer who writes about criminal justice and intelligence issues.