It can be hard to say good-bye. CUNA Mutual Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Relations Larry Blanchard threw together a surprise retirement party for departing NCUA Director of Public and Congressional Affairs (PACA) Bob Loftus. Invitees included many of Loftus' former co-workers including Blanchard, NAFCU Communications Manager John Zimmerman, NCUA Information Specialist Cherie Umbel, new NCUA Director of PACA Cliff Northup, and former Director of Public Affairs Joan Pinkerton. Umbel presented Loftus with a scrapbook of letters from PACA and Capitol Hill staffers. Drivers, start your engines. State and federal regulators and legislators who know NASCUS Vice President Accreditation and Government Relations Mary Martha Fortney will vouch for her professionalism and politeness cultivated by her Southern (Virginia) upbringing. But when Mary Martha's not off at any one of the many meetings she attends any given day and needs to unwind from professional and personal concerns, she can usually be found watching NASCAR racing. An avid race car fan, Mary Martha's interest has rubbed off on at least one of her children. Her youngest daughter and her husband are both drag racers. It wasn't exactly the PowerBall grand prize, but it wasn't bad either. Pat Freeland, investment operations analyst for MEMBERS Capital Advisors, a CUNA Mutual Group subsidiary, recently won a $190,000 home in a big brothers/sisters chapter's annual fundraiser in Madison, Wis. Approximately 7,000 tickets were sold for $50 each. Freeland had the option of $120,000 in cash or the house. He took the house. Pat and his wife Lori have three children. The new house will be built on the east side of Madison, just over a mile from where the family currently resides. Ground breaking is set for mid-September and the Freelands expect to be in their new home by Jan. 14.