The City...Portland,
Oregon.
The Main Character in the Scenario...Edith
Shaw Johnson, an employee at the Credit Reporting Company of Portland, Oregon.
For
many years prior to 1930, women in credit offices worked together, using the
services of each other. They became acquainted with each other principally
through the use of the telephone.
Edith
Shaw, an employee of the Credit Reporting Company of Portland, Oregon, wished to
become personally acquainted with the women in the credit offices with whom she
spoke daily over the telephone. Edith often marveled at the way our organization
got started. Here is what she said:
"The Breakfast Club
grew out of a golf foursome. Four of us, girls from the Credit Reporting
Company, had the habit of playing nine holes before breakfast and then going
downtown for a cup of coffee. One day, being of a curious disposition, I invited
some of the girls from the various credit offices whose voices I knew so well,
but had never seen, to join us. Not knowing when to stop, I called as many as I
could and one hundred and fifty turned up a few mornings later when we met at
the Congress Hotel for breakfast. It was fun getting acquainted, and we then
started a permanent organization."
Can
you imagine the surprise when 150 of the women she had called turned up for
breakfast? Obviously, the time had come for an organization for women in credit.
The 150 ladies had a wonderful time getting acquainted and discussing various
credit problems.
The
first meeting was such a success and so beneficial to everyone that they made
the decision to meet again a few days later. These same girls, enthused with
Edith's idea, met at the Congress Hotel at 7 o'clock in the morning on April 30,
1930 and formed the first "Credit Women's Breakfast Club." There were
125 in attendance and they became the charter members. Edith Shaw was elected
President of the club.
The
purpose for organizing CWBC was the belief that through Local, State, District
and International group effort, women holding positions in the retail credit
profession should become articulate as an organized body, thereby making
possible the promotion of their common interests and the contribution of their
common interests.
The
original membership requirements were:
1.
Be employed in credit; and
2.
Be a member of a credit bureau or what is became ICA
Later
the requirement of #2 was dropped.
John Keeler, President of
the Credit Reporting Company of Portland was an ardent admirer of CWBC and in
his travels spread the word about the organization to the State of Washington.
There, in September, 1930, another club was formed.
Word
about CWBC spread rapidly. In May, 1934 the Pacific Northwest Council of CWBC
was organized in Tacoma, Washington by delegates from five clubs in the tenth
District of the National Retail Credit Association.
The Pacific Northwest Council (now District 10) held its second annual
meeting in Seattle, Washington, in May, 1935 with 200 representatives from 9
clubs.
The
next District to form was the Dixie Council, in 1937, is now District 3 & 4,
1937. By the time of the June meeting in 1937 there were 61 clubs with a
membership of 2,900 in the United States and Canada. At that June meeting in
Spokane, Washington, the members formed the Credit Women's Breakfast Club of
North America. That same year it was voted to make the CWBC a division of the
National Retail Credit Association (now ICA). Avadana Cochran of Bremerton,
Washington was elected as the first President.
At
the second annual convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1938, Edith Shaw
Johnson was elected Honorary President of CWBC of NA, in grateful recognition of
her founding of the first Breakfast Club.
1.
The objectives of CWBC - then and now:
2.
To promote interest of those employed in the credit profession.
3.
To further education in credit and collection.
4.
To promote goodwill, fellowship and a better understanding among members
by personal contact.
5.
To maintain a friendly relationship between credit departments of various
firms and businesses represented by the members and local Credit Bureaus.
I
believe in the principles and purposes of Credit Professionals.
I
strive always to become more efficient.
I
move forward in the endeavor of credit.
I
protect the confidence entrusted to me.
I
am ready to give as well as to take.
I
cooperate universally for the welfare of Credit.
I
am loyal to my club in thought, word and deed.
I
am true to myself, my associates, and to my God.
I
maintain always, "FAITH, VISION and COURAGE."
A
Big Step...in
1954, during the conference in San Francisco, California, it was voted to
incorporate the organization and establish a central office as a focal point for
mailings, correspondence, supplies and equipment. The office of Executive
Secretary was created. In 1973 the title was changed to Executive Vice
President. In 1998, when the Executive Vice President retired, it was
decided to change the structure of the staff.
There is no longer an executive vice president.
There are two full time staff people who are in charge of the operation
of the association, supervised by the president.
There is one part time person to assist them.
CWBC of NA became a
non-profit corporation in the State of Illinois on May 3, 1955. The corporate
office was in operation by June, 1955. The corporate office serves as an
administrative center for officers, chairmen and board members. There are three
full-time persons on the staff, handling all administrative details,
publications, jewelry and material orders and conference planning.
Name
Changes...the first came in 1966, when the name of the
organization was changed to "Credit Women-International." That same
year an award for the International Credit Woman of the Year was started.
Membership
has been open to men since the bylaws change in 1976. By 1983 men comprised
almost 1% of the membership, and by 1993 about 7%. In 1979 the requirement that
members be a member of a Credit Bureau or ICA was dropped. Now, the only
membership requirement is that the person be employed by a company engaged in
credit or collection activities.
As
the years progressed there was another movement for change in order to encourage
men and women from every level of the credit industry to become members of the
association. The name was changed in June, 1987 to "CWI: Credit
Professionals," and again in 1990 to "Credit Professionals
International."
Foundation
Established....In
1988 the Board of Directors voted to establish an education foundation. In 1989
the Credit Education Resources Foundation (CERF) was incorporated and received
501(C)3 status (tax deductible) from IRS. The mission of CERF is to provide
credit education to the general public by utilizing and enhancing the combined
talents, education and expertise of Credit Professionals International.
1993...Another
change came at the 1993 Annual Meeting. CPI
local organizations will no longer be called "clubs."
They are now "local associations."
Always,
we strive to achieve the purposes and objectives of Credit Professionals
International. By banding together in an organization such as ours we have a
larger voice in the promotion of our common interests. We are able to provide
opportunities for CPI members in the areas of education and self-improvement. A
closer contact and relationship is maintained among those who work in credit
departments of various firms and businesses.
NOW Credit Professionals International is focusing on "You the Member"!
&
"Talk It Up!"