According to a State Ethics Commission Advisory Opinion Letter, the funds were donated to The Center for International Understanding at University of North Carolina, which is organizing the trip.
The contributions from Local Government FCU and two other organizations "will cover the cost of the plane flight to India for 10 legislators and meals, lodging, and ground transportation while those participants are in India."
No information was disclosed on the amount donated by Local Government FCU.
This is not the first international fact finding trip funded by a donation from Local Government FCU. In 2013, the credit union helped to pay a portion of the expenses for a trip to China.
However, I wonder how this donation is necessary to enable Local Government FCU to effectively carry on its business or is in the best interest of the credit union's members.
If NCUA had not eliminated its Charitable Contribution Rule in 2012, would this donation have been permissible?
Read the advisory opinion letter.
How do you say the word: JUNKET? A real member benefit here. Where is the ROI (Return On Investment) to the members? Lower rates? Higher Dividends? Hardly. The members will finance this trip though higher loan rates and lower dividend rates.
ReplyDeleteRather than 'bite the hand that feeds them' (like banks and their treatment of customers), this credit union chooses to sponsor learning journeys for some in their FOM. Not unlike educator credit unions funding scholarships for teachers. And, while I don't wish to offend any in the Indian community, to describe a trip to India as a 'junket' is a bit of a stretch.
ReplyDeleteLove it.
DeleteLearning journey.
For legislators, no less.
Gotta love it.
70% of the Indian legislature has been or is indicted (according to recent news).
Even if this wasn't the case, do you really want to stick with "learning journey"?
For legislators?
LOL.
Trying to figure which is more comical, legislators learning anything...anything of use in India that will solve our bountiful problems here in the US...that anyone would be ok with this boondoggle...that it has anything to do with banks and customers.
As a cu volunteer, I try to remember the cu mission but can't be blind to our serious national issues and this is one of them...greasing legislators who have mastered 2 things...getting greased And getting elected...while getting nothing done for America.
If they want to "learning journey" India, tell them to read a book or take a class.