BUSINESS BRIEFS
Morrison re-elected as PECC chair
Advertiser Staff
East-West Center President Charles E. Morrison was elected to a second term as chair of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council.
The council's Standing Committee approved the reappointment unanimously at a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, July 26.
Morrison is the first chair to have served a three-year term and the first American to chair PECC since 1993.
PECC also named Jusuf Wanandi of Indonesia as the Asia co-chair, beginning in 2009. Wanandi has served on the EWC's Board of Governors and has chaired its International Advisory Panel.
As chair of PECC, Morrison guides the network of 26 member committees representing most of the economies of the Asia Pacific region. Each member committee comprises leaders from the academic, business and governmental sectors.
MAUI CREDIT UNIONS TO MERGE
A majority of members of the Lahaina Federal Credit Union voted in favor of a proposed merger with the larger Valley Isle Community Federal Credit Union.
The members' approval was the final hurdle in the merger process. The final tally was announced on Saturday at a special meeting at the Hongwanji Mission in Lahaina.
The boards of both credit unions earlier voted unanimously in favor of the merger and the National Credit Union Administration, which oversees all federally insured credit unions, also gave its approval.
Alan Arai, president of the Valley Isle Community Federal Credit Union, said that effective as of the official merger date, which is targeted for Oct. 1, all money in members' share savings accounts at Lahaina Federal Credit Union will begin earning a higher dividend rate. Members will also have more products and services available to them, including mortgage loans and online banking.
Valley Isle Community Federal Credit Union, the second largest credit union in Maui County, now has assets totaling more than $89 million and a membership base of about 11,400.
MEETING TO DISCUSS ENERGY PROJECTS
The Hawaii Venture Capital Association will discuss the impact of regulations and policy decisions on the state's renewable energy projects at its monthly meeting Aug. 28.
Panelists include Robert Alm, executive vice president of Hawaiian Electric Co.; Warren Bollmeier, president of the Hawai'i Renewable Energy Alliance; William Parks, on loan to the state of Hawai'i from the U.S. Department of Energy; and Erik Kvam, chief executive officer of Zero Emissions Leasing LLC, a renewable energy entrepreneur.
The meeting is scheduled to run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Plaza Club. Registration is $29 for members of the HVCA, Hawai'i Angels, DualUse Council, TechHui, Bytemarks and Hawaii Science & Technology Council; $39 for nonmembers; and $25 for students. Register at www.hvca.org or 262-7329.
LEARN FINANCIAL LITERACY ON MAUI
Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. will hold a free financial literacy workshop Aug. 26.
The workshop, presented by MEO Deputy Director Lyn McNeff, is scheduled for 5-6:30 p.m. in Classroom 2 on the first floor of MEO's Family Center, 99 Mahalani St. in Wailuku.
McNeff will cover topics such as recognizing major types of financial institutions, basic banking terms, recognizing differences between banks and check-cashing services, identifying types of accounts, and a description of banking services.
MEO is a nonprofit agency whose activities include providing various services for the elderly and disabled.
