MORA, Minn. - When Steve Ahlness opened the July 14 issue of Credit Union Journal, he noticed something familiar about the 54-year-old photo that was published as part of this newspaper's Postcards from the Past series.
Ahlness, it turns out, isn't alone in his recollections. Five decades later, one of the people in the photo told Credit Union Journal she still recalls being in the credit union's office the day the photo was shot.
The black-and-white photo, shown at left, was of the Lewis family crowded around a desk inside a credit union in a scene that could have been painted by Norman Rockwell. The photo had been shot inside what was then Cooperator's Credit Union in Mora, Minn. Today, that credit union is Greater Minnesota CU, where Ahlness has been CEO for 31 years. Ahlness recognized some of the members of the Lewis family who appeared in the photo, and sent it on to Mildred Lewis.
Mildred Lewis, sitting beside her husband Vernon in the photo, was a CU member for many years until she moved out of town. She told Credit Union Journal she "believes" the family was at Cooperator's for a car loan when the photo was taken.
"That was a while back," acknowledged the 88-year-old Lewis. "I can't remember the exact reason we were in the office, but I know the credit union was always there when we needed it. When I saw the picture I said to myself, 'That's a good looking family and Harvey looks like a nice, understanding person,' which he always was."
"Harvey" is a reference to Harvey Robinson, a volunteer at the credit union.
At the time the photo was shot, the CU had 804 members and $151,000 in assets. Today, it has $160-million in assets and 22,000 members. But Ahlness said the photo is a wonderful reminder of why credit unions were established and remain in business.
"I don't want to see us get too far away from our roots," Ahlness said. "Change is inevitable and needed. But we have to maintain that spirit that we had when this picture was taken because that separates us from banks. This photo speaks to what credit unions are about-the whole family is involved, the openness of the credit union . . . I really like how the little girl is interested in what volunteer Harvey Robinson is writing."
"We've been an integral part of this community for so many years and we will continue to be a part of its future," continued Ahlness. "We have helped so many people get started who were turned away by banks. These are successful people who have done well and have been loyal to the credit union."
Staying close to members and understanding their needs is something Ahlness feels credit unions should not lose sight of, which is why he'd like to see the photo hanging in every credit union office across the country.
"I asked my marketing VP to find a way to use this picture to send an important message that we have been here in the past, we're here today, and we'll be there in the future to help our members, especially to find ways today to help them survive this financial crisis," Ahlness said.(c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved.http://www.cujournal.com/ http://www.sourcemedia.com/
