(November 28, 2006 - Shreveport, LA)  Helen Godfrey-Smith, president and CEO of the $56 million Shreveport FCU, and Corresponding Secretary on the Executive Committee of the Federation’s Board of Directors, was recently appointed to spearhead the transition team of Shreveport Mayor-Elect Cedric Glover, along with Dee Peterson, former chairman, Shreveport City Council.  Glover is currently a state representative and will become Shreveport’s first African-American mayor.

“I could not be more appreciative of or pleased by the acceptance of these outstanding community leaders to assist us in helping to assure a smooth and stable transition,” said Glover. “Both are highly respected, have launched right into the task at hand and have worked throughout the weekend. They realize the immediate, as well as the longer-term, aspects of this process and know we will be calling on them throughout the next four years. We succeed as a city by involving and engaging the tremendous resources, minds and talents we have here,” he added.

“The Federation is extremely proud to have one of our leaders receive this sort of recognition,” said Executive Director, Cliff Rosenthal.  “Helen’s appointment is indicative of the impact CDCUs have in their local communities and it really highlights the importance of community development across America. CDCUs frequently work with elected officials, and this is yet another example of the important role that they play.”

Mrs. Smith is also member of Governor Kathleen Blanco’s Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission.  Within the credit union movement, Mrs. Smith is a founding member of the African American Credit Union Coalition where she served as Chairwoman for two years.