This holiday season, we invite you—as credit union leaders and credit union service providers—to give the gift of education to small credit union leaders by contributing to the League’s Herbert Ellison Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The fund was created in 1985 to honor the memory of Herbert Ellison, a dedicated League director from Bolivar known for his support of small credit unions. The fund’s primary objective has always been to provide financial support to member credit unions, enabling them to pursue educational opportunities that enhance professionalism and essential skills in the long term.
Providing Continuing Education to Small Credit Unions
The Scholarship Fund helps provide educational support to CEOs, staff and volunteers of small credit unions. Credit unions must fall under NCUA’s most current definition of a small credit union (currently $200 million in assets) and be in good standing with the Tennessee Credit Union League. Additionally, all League member credit unions with assets under $5 million are granted complimentary access to League-sponsored educational events, courtesy of the Herbert Ellison Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Throughout the years, numerous Tennessee credit union members have received partial or complete funding for registration fees and related expenses, allowing them to participate in League and America’s Credit Unions (formerly CUNA) sponsored educational programs, workshops, seminars and other developmental events aimed at enhancing their skills and operational knowledge pertinent to credit union management.
Help Restore Declining Fund Contributions
The Herbert Ellison Memorial Scholarship Fund operated independently of League operating funds for several years, serving as a self-sustaining resource for Tennessee credit unions. However, in recent years, a decline in annual contributions from credit unions, compounded by minimal interest income on the fund balance, has strained the League’s ability to fulfill scholarship requests.
If you wish to contribute to the Herbert Ellison Memorial Scholarship Fund, please make your check payable to the Tennessee Credit Union League and mail it to:
Attn: Herbert Ellison Memorial Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 21550
Chattanooga, TN 37424
Your support will help sustain this vital resource for the continued education and development of Tennessee credit union professionals.
