Where Members Come First!

WECU® Elections at the Annual Meeting

WECU® is not a bank; we are a member-focused, nonprofit financial cooperative. Instead of customers, we have members. And instead of a small group of investors, we have a volunteer Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee who are elected from, and who represent, the members of the Credit Union. These dedicated men and women provide strategic direction over the business and affairs of WECU®, and oversee the safety and soundness of our credit union.

If you would like to apply for a Board or Supervisory Committee position please see the informational links under More Information on the right.

Board members are required to have at least a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices, or show the aptitude and commitment to achieve working knowledge, within 6 months of election, including the ability to read and understand the credit union's balance sheet and income statement and the ability to ask, as appropriate, substantive questions of management and auditors.

Preferred skills of a potential Supervisory Committee member are to include, among other things, an understanding of complex financial matters, including the ability to read, understand and discuss financial statements, evaluate financial and information technology audit results, and evaluate procedures including board policy setting practices.

The October 9th deadline to apply for candidacy has passed.

Annual Meeting - Thursday, January 24, 2013

Reservations for the Annual Meeting Dinner are required. Reservations will open at 9am on the morning of Tuesday, January 8th. If we have not reached our reservation cap by 5pm on the 8th we will reopen the reservations at 9am the following morning. Space for the dinner is limited to 500 seats. Although space for the dinner is limited, all members are welcome to attend the business meeting portion of the evening to vote. As this is a business meeting, all those attending must be WECU® members 18 or older and have had accounts for at least 6 months.


Incumbent Biographies

Please note, there is one additional position open for election on our Supervisory Committee.

Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee Open Positions:

David Waschke David Waschke: Board of Directors, Position 1
Employment: Project Manager / Ershigs, Inc; Contract
Education: BS, Industrial Technology and MBA, Western Washington University

David has been on the board since 1992 and has served as WECU's Board Chair, Vice-chair, and Secretary. His other WECU® involvement has included working on the Executive, Partnering, Social Responsibility, Strategic Planning, Nominating, and Credit Committees. WECU's SET -Sweat Equity Team, projects have been particular favorites of David's.
Bruce Burpee Bruce Burpee: Board of Directors, Position 2
Employment: Retired, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment / Meridian School District
Education: BA in Education and Master's in Education, WWU

Bruce has served on the board since 1989. During his tenure on the board of directors, Bruce has served as Chair of the board as well as on the Credit Committee, Executive Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee. He has attended numerous training sessions provided by the Credit Union National Association, Credit Union Executives Society, and the Washington Credit Union League to keep current on trends and regulations in the credit union movement.
Bruce has been involved in public schools for over 41 years, including positions as teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, curriculum director, and education consultant. He continues to be involved in education, volunteering to regularly read with kindergarten students at his local elementary school.
Dale Zender Dale Zender: Board of Directors, Position 3
Employment: Chief Operating Officer St. Joseph Medical Center (COO) and NW Network Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Education: CPA, Washington State Board of Accountancy Certified Public Accountant; MBA, City University; BA, Western Washington University, College of Business and Economics. Advanced Training Program (ATP) in Healthcare Delivery Improvement, Intermountain HealthCare - Salt Lake City, UT

Dale has been employed for the past 29 years by PeaceHealth, St. Joseph Hospital, a Washington not-for-profit corporation sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. During this time he has built a distinguished and diversified background in the health care industry including strong finance, strategic and planning skills with a deep understanding of all aspects of fiscal operations and management. Dale was the 2011 recipient of the rare "John Tiscornia Award" - honoring at least 20 years of service modeling outstanding leadership, stewardship and exemplification of PeaceHealth values. Active in the community, Dale has served on various governing boards in the community and as a volunteer coach for youth sports.
Kurt Willis Kurt Willis: Supervisory Committee Position
Employment: Associate Director of University Residences at Western Washington University
Education: BA in Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine; M. Ed. in College Student Personnel Administration, Colorado State University.

Kurt has served 27 years at Western, the past 20 as Associate Director, responsible for the finance and technology matters of the university's Housing & Dining system, overseeing financial planning, budgeting, capital financing, audits, multiple contracts, campus ID program, technology, and other duties as assigned! Prior to this role he served in other student housing positions at WWU, University of Washington, and the University of California, Davis. Kurt is active in his church community and lives with his wife Katherine and high school daughter Kelsey.