YORK, Penn.-First Capital FCU recently helped a couple to get married-at a baseball game. The credit union sponsored Wedding Night at home game of the York Revolution, which plays in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Below the credit union's Tara Houser, marketing director, shares details of the CU's sponsorship.

The first Ritz-Carlton hotel opened its doors in Boston in May, 1927. The hotel based its original business plan on providing the ultimate in luxury, innovation, and privacy to the world's financial elite. Success has not been easy-there have been good times and bad. During the Great Depression lights were kept on in vacant rooms to portray an aura of success. The Ritz-Carlton never lost sight of its mission and vision. Today, the Ritz-Carlton name remains synonymous with luxury and, despite the Great Recession, the lights are still on.

If only we had watched our expenses more carefully. If only we had paid closer attention to members' changing credit scores. If only, and this is the big one, we had not invested in the corporates.

I encourage the NCUA to better align its budgeting process with actual spending and resist assessing federal credit unions too much.

The Ritz-Carlton never lost sight of its mission and vision, and today its name remains synonymous with luxury, and the lights are still on.

Improving operational efficiencies usually conjures up images of extensive software overhauls, such as a new core system, revamping the member service call center, or adding remote or mobile banking systems. But for most credit unions, there are easy solutions in commonly overlooked departments.

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. – Employees of TopLine FCU exchanged donations of clothing to the Community Emergency Assistance Program Clothing Closet for the opportunity to wear jeans to work on Fridays, donating more than 1,100 clothing items and $230 in cash to help restock the local agency’s Clothing Closet to assist local families in need.

FLINT, Mich. – More than 12,000 members of Dort FCU joined credit union officials for a night at the movies as part of last Monday’s 6th Annual Member Appreciation Movie Day.

SAN ANTONIO – United SA FCU has introduced an investment services division.

DURHAM, N.C. – Latino Community CU is opening a new service facility in Carrboro, its 10th branch in North Carolina.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Hudson Valley FCU has hired local advertising agency Focus Media to promote its financial services CUSO.

MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin CU will begin offering members free access to their credit scores via its online banking solution effective Sept. 13.

MARSHALL, Texas – In a legal action that could have wide-ranging ramifications for credit unions, banks and retailers, a local firm on Friday filed suit in federal court claiming America First CU, Wescom CU, Zions Bank, Capital One and major retailers are infringing on its patent for creating online customized branded merchandise.

CHICAGO – The FDIC on Friday closed Palos Bank and Trust Co., a $495 million bank in nearby Palos Heights, the 110th bank failure for 2010.

WASHINGTON – When lawyers for tiny Kappa Alpha Psi FCU meet those for NCUA Wednesday in a show-cause hearing to liquidate the all-African-American credit union something more will be on trial: the federal regulator’s ability to save small credit unions from extinction.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Coastal FCU is rolling back the fees it charges members for over-drafting their accounts all the way to one cent–just as the new law requiring opt-in for all members is scheduled to take effect Sunday.

HOUSTON – ATM operator Cardtronics said yesterday it is offering $200 million in senior subordinated notes and will use the proceeds to buy back $200 million of 9 1/4% senior subordinated notes in a tender offer.

CINCINNATI – Fifth Third Processing Solutions, which processes cards for almost 800 credit unions, said yesterday it has signed with edo Interactive’s Prewards to offer the company’s loyalty and rewards programs to its cards processing clients.

GARDNER, Mass. – As the premier sponsor of the city of Gardner's 225th Anniversary Celebration, GFA FCU ran three contests awarding $225 cash prizes and a pair of Red Sox tickets.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Members CU distributed more than 500 school uniforms at IPS School #43 Tuesday.