The average American will spend 9-11/42 hours in a 24-hour day with some form of media, according to a report in February by MediaPost. Are you penetrating print, online and/or television to reach your members? Did you know you already possess distinct advantages you can leverage to advertise effectively?

On a recent flight from San Diego to Phoenix we were approaching the city in the Valley of the Sun, where it rarely rains. So, naturally there were thunderstorms just northwest of Phoenix and with the ride starting to get rough the captain announced that he wanted all service suspended, flight attendants seated, and everyone buckled up. As we began descending we started bouncing around pretty good when I noticed one flight attendant unbuckling her seatbelt and trying to steady herself against the fuselage wall as she reached for the microphone. Like others, I dreaded the announcement that was surely coming: "Put your head between your knees." "Call your loved ones." "Smoke 'em if you got 'em."

I am writing in response to your Sept. 14 article, "Key Lawmaker Suggests Piecemeal Passage of CURIA." The article may have left readers with the false impression that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has "backed off" in his support of the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act in the Senate. I can assure you, this is not the case. Sen. Sanders has been a staunch supporter of credit unions and is always willing to call bankers to task, as he did in his GAO request to study banks and thrifts last year.

The purpose of name and logo testing is NOT to learn whether people LIKE a new name or logo. Although appeal is not irrelevant, the primary purpose of the research is to identify the attributes and brand identity that a name or logo communicates, and the extent to which they are consistent with the desired message of the institution.

WARNER-ROBINS, Ga. – A man who held up a teller at an HEA FCU branch before lunch Friday was recognized as a former member of the credit union. Tellers recognized the robber, who wore a hat and sunglasses, as a former member and police used surveillance videos to track him down. The suspect, George Buffkin, 48, was charged with armed robbery.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 19-year-old employee at VyStar CU last week was charged with bank fraud for selling sensitive member information. The teen, identified as Jaleesa Ide, worked as a document processor at the credit union. The information was used to transfer money from member accounts, police said.

WESTBROOK, Maine – The Maine credit unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, in partnership with Good Shepherd Food-Bank, celebrated the second anniversary of the state’s first and only “Food Mobile” by presenting a check in the amount of $7,000 (a symbol of the 7,000 pounds of food the Food Mobile can carry in one trip). The Food Mobile has distributed almost 515,000 pounds of food to pantries across Maine since its inception in 2005. The Maine credit unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised more than $2.3 million to help end hunger in Maine since its inception in 1990.

WATERFORD, Conn. – CorePlus FCU opened its seventh branch in the former Citizens Bank office in the Waterfall Shopping Center. The 3,000-square foot branch will provide the credit union’s 20,000 members with full banking services, including consumer loans, Saturday hours, safety-deposit boxes, two ATMs and drive-through lanes. The $170 million credit union is inviting members and the public to a grand opening Thursday.

WASHOUGAL, Wash. – Officials of Columbia CU will join local dignitaries later this week to break ground on the area’s first financial institution built to LEED “Green” standards. The facility, the first of three green branches planned by the $800 million credit union for 2008, will incorporate environmentally friendly aspects and be rated under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. The building will incorporate sustainable elements such as rainfall and natural light into the building’s functionality. Collected rainwater will provide water to flush toilets and irrigate the landscape. High-efficiency heating and cooling will ensure comfortable temperatures while lowering energy consumption. Natural lighting from skylights will boost the mood of workers and members and natural ventilation will reduce energy use to cool the building.

BRANDON, Vt. – Heritage Family CU has acquired the historic fire station in downtown and plans to turn it into a full service branch. The credit union plans to preserve the 119-year-old building’s brick facade and renovate the two-story building as a state-of-the-art branch. The fire department moved to a new station in 1998, and the water department, which had been using the first floor, moved out earlier this year, leaving the building vacant.

DAYTON, Ohio – A teenager and his cousin last week were charged with armed robberies at three credit unions and a bank–three on the same day. Nineteen-year-old Vernell Burney and his 24-year-old cousin Lakeisha Burney were charged with last Tuesday’s hold-ups at Wright Patt FCU, in Englewood, First Day Financial CU, in Miamisburg, then Union Savings Bank, in Fairborn, all within five hours. Lakeisha Burney also was charged with the Oct. 1 robbery at the same branch of First Day Financial CU. Total take in the four heists was less than $5,000.

AUGUSTA, Maine – The state Supreme Court here approved credit unions’ authority to offer interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts, better known as attorney client trust accounts. The Maine Bar Foundation has sought to bar credit unions from offering the lucrative IOLTA accounts. Under the new rule, which will be effective Jan. 1, and applicable NCUA regulations, credit unions may accept IOLTA deposits for: funds deposited that belong to a member of the credit union in question; for all deposits, regardless of membership status, in cases where those deposits are made in IOLTA accounts at low-income designated credit unions.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA said it made eight loans for a total of $2 million through its Community Development Revolving Loan Fund, one of the busiest months for the fund in several years. The low-interest loans went to: West Oahu Community FCU ($300,000); Wailuku FCU ($300,000); Red Lake Co-Op FCU ($300,000); Priority First FCU (300,000); Pahranagat Valley FCU ($200,000); Kootenai Valley FCU ($200,000); Shreveport FCU ($100,000) and North Hawaii Community FCU ($300,000). The loans carry 1% interest rates.

LANSING, Mich. – In a major coup for credit unions, the Office of Financial and Insurance Services, which regulates 225 state chartered credit unions, has named Ken Ross, a former executive with the Michigan CU League, its new commissioner. Ross, who was vice president of regulatory affairs for the league through 2003, will succeed Linda Watters, who resigned last week. Watters will be joining the financial risk-management practice of KPMG LLP, in Chicago. Ross joined OFIS as Watters’ chief of staff in 2003, then was named deputy commissioner earlier this year. While working for the league, he helped draft the credit union reform bill, then worked to implement the law when he went to work for the state regulator.

For the 11th year in a row, as part of the Credit Union Journal’s Day in the Life Project, on the same day in August credit unions in Afghanistan, Mexico and all around the U.S. shot photos of events at their credit unions. Those photos appear in this very special section. Cilck the image to view a PDF of this year's Day in the Life.

EL PASO — Rufino Cabajal Jr. is mostly modest when discussing the success of West Texas Federal Credit Union. When it comes to citing opportunities for growth, however, his vision becomes very clear.

PHILADELPHIA – American Heritage FCU said its 12th annual golf tournament raised more than $25,000 to benefit the Kids-N-Hope Foundation. The charity supports the Music Therapy Program at the Children’s Seashore House of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The tournament was held at PineCrest Country Club in Lansdale and had 141 participants.

VACAVILLE, Calif. – Travis CU said it has been approved by the Small Business Administration as a preferred lender. This gives the $1.7 billion credit union the authority to issue SBA Loan Guarantees and obtain a one-day turnaround from the SBA. To obtain preferred status, lenders must demonstrate a proficiency in processing and servicing SBA-guaranteed loans

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Patriot FCU said it paid a bonus dividend to its 41,000 members for the third straight quarter. Bonus dividends were credited to members’ savings accounts on Sept. 30: 3% on dividends earned for the third quarter; and 3% on qualifying loan interest paid by members during the same period. The $390 million credit union has paid members a total of $1 million in bonus dividends through the first three quarters of the year.

DENVER – Western Union and Yodlee announced a partnership to provide expedited online bill-payment services to credit unions and banks. Drawing upon Western Union's relationships with more than 4,000 billers, the service will allow banks to offer customers same-day or next-day payment of online bills, which can take up to several days to process when banks lack direct relationships with billers. Western Union will process and settle the payments. Credit unions and banks will set the prices for the service.