AWARDS

The Credit Union Association of Colorado, Arvada, Colo., honored four long-standing credit union professionals with awards during its 73rd Annual Meeting and Convention. Robert O. Wikoff, board member of Foothills Credit Union, received the 2007 Volunteer Hall of Fame Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to the credit union movement and the community. In addition, Janet Meyers, retired CEO of Jeffco Credit Union, and Marilyn James Rhoades, vice president government affairs and NEPCO branch manager, were presented with the 2007 Professional Hall of Fame Achievement Award for their service to the credit union movement in Colorado. Additionally, Dan Kester, CEO of Sooper Credit Union, received the Credit Union Advocacy Award for his dedicated and tireless commitment to credit union advocacy.

Dale Kimble, president/CEO of DATCU Credit Union, Denton, Texas, has recently been honored with two local citizenship awards. Kimble was named Public Citizen of the Year, one of the highest honors given by the National Association of Scoial Workers, Denton Chapter, and both he and his wife, Pam, were the recipients of the 2007 Distinguished Citizen Award from the Longhorn Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The 2007 Distinguished Citizen Award is presented to a leading citizen within the community for achievements and leadership, professionally or as a community volunteer who has left an enduring impact on the community. This individual is recognized for modeling the principals and values expressed in the Scout Oath and Law.

Oceanside Christopher Federal Credit Union, Oceanside, N.Y., was recently presented with a citation from Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony J. Santino recognizing the credit union's dedication to the community. In his remarks, Councilman Santino referred to the credit union as a “treasure in the community.”

BRANCHING OUT

Shoreline Credit Union, Manitowoc, Wis., has selcted La Macchia Group, LLC to design and build its new main office. The office will be located on Calumet Avenue. The construction begain in March of 2007 and is expected to be complete in the fall or winter. A new, state-of-the-art 24,000 square foot building, Shoreline Plaza, was designed to maximize the use of the site and provide space for future needs of the CU as well as other businesses. The first floor or “garden level” will have a large training, seminar or conference room that will be made available to public organizations as a community service. Shoreline will utilize the main floor. The third floor will be available for lease. The new facility will contain an automated cash vault, which is a cash-dispensing machine that can sort, count, store, deposit and withdraw cash.

DONATIONS

E&A Credit Union, Port Huron, Mich., recently donated to Safe Horizons of Port Huron. At the E&A Grand Opening Gala Night, raffle winner Kathleen Wheelihan won a new gas grill with utensils and a Meijer gift card, which she graciously donated back to the credit union. Upon careful consideration, the credit union decided to turn the donation over to Safe Horizons Executive Director Jenny Schultz, JD. Safe Horizons is a nonprofit affiliation of the United Way. It offers shelter and support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or homelessness. The services and support programs are delivered to the community in a variety of formats ranging from shelter and housing to support groups and legal assistance. All Safe Horizons facilities operate a 24-hour crisis line, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Metro 1 Credit Union, Concord, Calif., recently donated all the furniture at their current Concord Branch to the East Bay Services to the Developmentally Disabled as they relocated the branch. EBSDD purchased the historic Adobe building that was Metro 1's Concord Branch since 1997. Under the direction of Sister Mary Grace, the EBSDD helps teach individuals with developmental disabilities the life skills necessary to live independently.

Technology Credit Union, San Jose, Calif., recently partnered with the Vanished Children Alliance, a national nonprofit that assists in the location and recover of missing or abducted children, to help disseminate information to its members and employees about missing children in the Bay Area. As part of its support, Tech CU will regularly rotate an image of a missing child featured by VCA on its online banking login page. The photo will link to the VCA Web site where members can find out more about the case, as well as a phone number to contact if they have information that may assist in the recovery of the child.

Fort Belvoir Federal Credit Union, Woodbridge, Va., recently supported the 4th Annual Pump N Run held at Fort Belvoir Army Post. All competitors were required to bench press according to their body weight and finished with a 5K race. This year's Pump N Run had over 60 participants. Awards were presented to the Top 5 men and Top 5 women competitors.

Vermont Federal Credit Union, South Burlington, Vt., joined the March of Dimes for their WalkAmerica. All proceeds for these walks benefited the Fletcher Allen Health Care Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit. The NICU supports children who have been born prematurely and their families. Each year, Vermont walks raise $350,000 for the March of Dimes and VTFCU is a primary contributor in terms of corporate sponsorship and volunteers. In addition to WalkAmerica, Vermont FCU continues to support the March of Dimes by sponsoring the annual Signature Chefs Event and also sells beanie babies in its branches from the Fall through the Spring.

Memphis Area Teachers' Credit Union, Memphis, Tenn., recently chose six students as the recipients of the Memphis Area Teachers' Credit Union Future Educators Scholarship Award. Each recipient will receive a $2,500 annual, renewable scholarship. Winners can receive up to $10,000 over four years as long as guidelines continue to be met. MATCU sponsors five of the six scholarships and Dr. Frank Dyer, a member of MATCU's board and chairman of the scholarship committee, sponsors an additional scholarship.

Putnam Federal Credit Union, Carmel, N.Y., recently announced its 2007 Scholarship Award winners. The credit union annually honors three members or their dependents with $2,250 worth of scholarships to use towards a college education. This year's winners are: Kaitlyn Kelly, Aric Beece, and Christopher Sime. This was PFCU's 8th Annual Scholarship Contest. Applicants were judged on criteria including: academic performance, community activities/involvement, references, a statement of personal goals and a personal essay.

Fifteen Oakland County credit unions collected over $30,000 in pledges for the 2007 Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency Walk for Warmth. Proceeds collected in the fundraiser go toward paying the heating bills of needy households in Oakland County. The Oakland Chapter of Credit Unions encouraged member credit unions to raise funds for the cause by agreeing to contribute $100 for each credit union that raised $100 or more. The Chapter's contribution totaled $1,500 and the member credit unions collected the remaining amount from staff and members. This was the second year that the Oakland Chapter coordinated involvement from its member CUs for the Walk for Warmth.

White Crown Federal Credit Union, Denver, has made a $12,580 donation to Urban Peak to help them get homeless youth off the streets. The money for the donation was raised through a popular annual skip-a-loan-payment program. Urban Peak is a nonprofit agency that provides services to homeless youth and those in at-risk situations in Denver and Colorado Springs, including street outreach, overnight shelter, health care, education, evening cultural arts activities and job placement.

Six local students were recent recipients of $500 Academic Awards from STCU Credit Union, Springfield, Mass., to be used toward their college tuition. The annual STCU Credit Union Serafino Scholarship Program Awards are given each year to six local college-bound students, each of whom receive awards of $500. This year's list of students includes four Central High School seniors and one each from East Longmeadow and Agawam high schools.