BOULDER, Colo. – On the premise that credit unions exert more marketing muscle in combination rather than operating separately, a group of Colorado CUs with aid from the state League, organized a successful promotion at a business expo here boosting the CU image and generating high traffic. "We were really thrilled to get the response we got from the public with hundreds passing through our booth," declared Steven Carr, vice president of business development for Boulder Valley Credit Union and co-chair of the League's Flatiron Chapter Marketing Committee. The Marketing Committee, which included nine participating CUs from Boulder and Broomfield, put up the $5,000 sponsorship fee to have the first booth seen by participants entering Boulder's 10th annual Business Expo 2002. The business show held July 18 at a Broomfield resort had more than 2,000 attendees with 150 booths. In the past, one or two area CUs would have smaller booths at the show, "but the booths never received anywhere near the exposure or the traffic," said Carr. Calling the cooperation "an unprecedented milestone" in the history of the Flatiron Chapter, he said the project demonstrated "how we as credit unions can compete individually but still cooperate on something like this to put forward the credit union image as well as show our involvement and support for the community." The booth promoted CUNA's national branding theme and was designed around the slogan, "The Credit Union Comfort Zone." There was a plush leather chair in the booth like those seen in CUNA TV ads. Employee reps from participating CUs wore their own branded shirts, khaki pants and "fun, eye-catching slippers," said Carr. "We received a lot of compliments from everyone," said Ann Campbell, co-chair of the Flatirons Committee and vice president of marketing and business development at Boulder Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union. The Colorado League also provided legislative information for distribution to booth visitors including the names of legislators and contact information along with voter registration material. A $350 gift certificate was offered with 365 entries submitted by visitors, said Carr. The Flatirons booth, 20 feet wide and five feet deep, replaced a large bank booth that had been on the site a year ago, said Carr. Carr and other members of the Marketing Committee expressed particular pleasure at what they said was the "extraordinary unity" of CUs displayed in the booth project. "It was remarkable," said Carr, and underscores the vibrant programming in the League chapter encompassing north suburban Denver CUs. Monthly Chapter meetings and luncheons bring out 50-75 attendees, and the Chapter received 100% participation in CUNA's "Project Zip Code" designed to increase CU membership. The Chapter also achieved recognition for its national youth involvement programs and for its legislative forums. Participating CUs in the Boulder Expo besides Boulder Valley CU and Boulder Municipal CU include: Ashoka CU, Community Financial Federal CU, Indiana Members CU, Norbel CU, Premier Members Federal CU, St. Vrain Valley CU and U of C Federal CU. – [email protected]