Greylock FCU Launches Teenager Focus Group
PITTSFIELD, Mass.-Greylock FCU has created a Youth Advisory Board of teenagers to help develop programs for the teen market.
The group consists of 16 students between the ages of 13 and 18 from four local high schools. The role of the youth board, which was selected through an application process, will be to help CU leaders develop products and services that promote financial literacy and good savings habits.
The program includes financial literacy presentations and hands-on projects. At the most recent meeting, the young board members discussed function and applications of credit scores with a Greylock loan officer, and talked about investing with an executive for Greylock Investment Group.
Alabama League Honors Retiring CEO Gary Wolter
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-The Alabama CU League has honored its retiring CEO, Gary Wolter, by presenting him with the Alabama CU League Distinguished Service Award and establishing the Gary B. Wolter Lifetime Achievement Education Scholarship.
The scholarship will enable credit unions to attend educational seminars, conferences and workshops. Wolter has spent 47 years in CUs.
The honors were announced during what was the last annual meeting, its 76th, for the Alabama league, which in 2010 will merge with the Florida league to create the League of Southeastern Credit Unions. Florida league CEO Guy Hood is also retiring; the merged league is in the process of naming a new CEO.
"It is our honor and pleasure to recognize Gary for his forty-seven years of dedicated service to the credit union industry," said League of Southeastern CU Chair-elect Joe McGee, who made the award presentation.
CU Champion Bill Orton Killed In ATV Accident
JUAB COUNTY, Utah-Former Utah Congressman Bill Orton, a strong CU advocate during three terms in Washington and one-time candidate for the NCUA Board, was killed in an ATV accident at Little Sahara Sand Dunes.
Orton, 60, was riding a large ATV down a steep sand dune when the vehicle apparently flipped and landed on top of him. Another rider discovered him a short time later.
Orton, a Democrat, represented Utah's 3rd Congressional District from 1991 to 1997. His election in November 1990 was big political news because he was a Democrat and won in what many considered the most Republican district in the nation.
Orton lost his bid for a fourth term when Republican Chris Cannon narrowly defeated him in 1996. After his defeat, Orton spent several years in law practice in Washington and was considered a candidate for the NCUA Board because of his strong relationship with CUs.
Fundraiser Puts Money Where Mouth Is (Literally)
MERIDEN, Conn.-Connecticut's credit unions raised more than $500 for the state's Charitable Foundation by throwing quarters into the open mouth of Nick Moalli, AVP-Credit Union Services with the Credit Union League of Connecticut. In this case, it was a cardboard cutout of Moalli, set up during the annual meeting hosted by the league and Constitution Corpoate FCU at the Foxwoods Resort & Casino. More than 200 people turned out for the event, which included educational sessions on a variety of topics.
Public Service CU Opens Two Denver-Area Branches
DENVER-Public Service CU has opened branches in the suburbs of Greeley and Brighton, where it just acquired Brighton Cooperative FCU. The new branches give the $1-billion credit union 28 branches in Colorado, more than any other credit union.
CU Marks 75th Anniversary With Updated 'Little Man'
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Carolina Postal Credit Union (CPCU), as part of its 75th anniversary, has launched a new take on the "little man under the umbrella" that has long served as an icon of the credit union movement.
The CU brought the 75-year-old cartoon image into the 21st century, using a photographic image of an African-American woman holding an umbrella.
"The original credit union principles still apply in this day and age," said Joy Watts, CEO of Carolina Postal. "Credit unions are still true to their core philosophy and still protect our members from financial distress, sickness and hard-times, but we thought it was time for a modern, fresh look that is a bit more representative of our members today."
To go with the updated image, the CU has chosen as the theme "We've Got You Covered."
Cross Valley Honors CU Supporter Rep. Kanjorski
WILKES BARRE, Penn.-Cross Valley FCU recently dedicated a new community room at its main office in honor of U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA).
The room dedication ceremony kicked off the credit union's 40th anniversary celebration.
Kanjorski is a long-time credit union supporter, having championed a number of CU-related legislation, most notably the Credit Union Membership Access Act.
The room will be used for special credit union events, and is open to other local credit unions and organization for training or seminars.
16 Federation CUs Team Up To Provide VITA Tax Services
NEW YORK-This tax season, the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (Federation) worked closely with 16 credit unions to help low-income people across the country file their taxes for free.
The coalition, which was made up of nine credit unions new to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and seven with previous experience, prepared more than 3,500 tax returns totaling over $5 million, including $2.5 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC).
In addition to the returns, the Federation estimates that coalition VITA sites helped residents of low-income communities save nearly $400,000 in tax preparation fees.
Coalition members included : Alternatives FCU, Ithaca, N.Y.; ASI FCU, Harahan, La.; Border FCU, Del Rio, Texas; Communicating Arts CU, Detroit; District Government Employees FCU, Washington; El Futuro CU, Porterville, Calif.; Family FCU, Wilmington, Calif.; Halifax County Community FCU, South Boston, Va.; Ka'u FCU, Na'alehu, Hawaii; NRS Community Development FCU, Birmingham, Ala.; OUR FCU, Eugene, Ore.; Santa Cruz Community CU, Santa Cruz, Calif; Tongass FCU, Ketchikan, Alaska; Triumph Baptist FCU, Philadelphia; Winthrop FCU, Winthrop, Mass., and Women's Southwest FCU, Dallas.
