As part of attracting more people to be co-op members, IT specialists who had been part of the “it@coops Project” have focused on developing and/or enhancing their co-op website as a means of promoting co-op products and services and at the same time, encouraging increased deposits and savings from actual and potential co-op members.

For the first quarter of 2008, the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), Philippines focused on redesigning the NATCCO website in time for its 9th National Congress and 31st Annual General Assembly (website address: http://www.natcco.coop and http://it-coops.natcco.coop) to be held on 22-24 May 2008 at Supreme Hotel, Baguio City. NATCCO had also assisted two of its affiliate co-operatives in developing their own -op websites: website development for Sta. Cruz Development Co-operative (SACDECO) started in February 2008 while that for Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LPMPC) started last March 2008. Creation of the said websites was being collaborated on by the IT Specialists from the concerned primary co-ops and by Mr. Allan Jeffrey Mendoza, NATCCO’s IT Graphic Designer/IT Specialist as part of NATCCO’s web hosting services.

According to Mr. Mendoza, NATCCO is also currently working on five other websites for its partner- and member-organizations: Coop-NATCCO Party List, San Jose del Monte Kooperatiba ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (SJDMKBK), Paco Soriano Pandacan Development Cooperative, St. Martin of Tours, and Manatal Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

In Thailand, the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT) was busy updating the contents of their website (website address: http://www.culthai.coop and http://www.it-coopsthai.cultthai.coop/) aside from creating a monthly newsletter uploaded also in their website. On top of this, they have also created two new websites for CULT, one intended for the youth sector within the credit union (CU) movement and the second was an Internet self-study learning site. CULT also promoted the advantages of having a website to their Northeastern branch office, hence before the first quarter ended, CULT’s Northeastern branch officially joined the digital world through their new website. Lastly, as part of providing e-services to its members, CULT provided technical assistance in website development to Suwannaphum Credit Union Ltd. and Bannongsamakkee Credit Union Ltd. before the first quarter ended.

FORMASI Indonesia, AWCF’s member-organization in Indonesia, had their hands full in maintaining their own website (http://www.formasi-indonesia.or.id and http://www.it-coops indonesia.com). They were also busy providing consultancy services to their member-organizations on matters pertaining to website development and maintenance.