Several Recognition Awards will be presented to New York credit union professionals and volunteers during the New York Credit Union Association’s virtual 2020 Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation from 9 to 10 a.m. on Monday, June 15. Today’s featured award is the New York Credit Union Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who devoted their lives to the philosophy and success of the credit union movement, and who have made a significant impact on credit unions at the local, state or national levels.

This year, three deserving credit union leaders will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Today, the Association is recognizing Michael Tobler of Albany Firemen’s FCU.

Tobler is a retired battalion chief of the Albany Fire Department. During his career, he was also a loan officer and eventually became CEO of Albany Firemen’s FCU.

Upon his retirement from the credit union in 2018, Tobler was elected chairman of the board, where he still assumes those duties to date. He was called upon by the Association to assist a small credit union in 2008 that lost its manager and was struggling. That credit union is still serving its members today.

Tobler was elected director of the Association’s board and served 12 years until 2019. He has been serving on the Association’s Capital Chapter Council since 1990, where he has held multiple positions, including Chapter president. He chaired the Association’s awards committee and also served on the CUNA award committee.

Tobler also is a founding member of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions, where he served as the first chairman for six years. He formed the Albany Firefighters Museum in 2014 and served as its first chairman for three years. It has been Tobler’s honor to have been asked to speak at multiple Association events about credit unions, and he has been a vital voice within the credit union movement.