OLYMPIA, Wash.-The Washington Credit Union League has seized anovel approach to seize the “credit union difference” message: usea local film festival. The concept might be a springboard for alonger-running film on the Public Broadcasting System. CUNA likesthe Washington League idea, too, with top leaders planning todiscuss a possible PBS project this month. Since a debut screeningNov. 7 at the Olympia Film Festival of “The Story of TULIP”recounting the struggles of a small food co-op CU here, staffers atthe Washington CU League and top brass at CUNA are enthused aboutfinding more screens for the 20-minute film and getting PBSinterested in a full-length production. “This film project standsas a tremendous example of credit unions cooperating with eachother and truly helping people,” declared Don Larsen, CUNAsecretary, calling the film inspirational and deserving to be seenby more of the public and policymakers. Larsen who also ispresident/CEO of Community CU in Tacoma was planning to handdeliver a DVD of the film to Dan Mica, CUNA President and CEO at ameeting Dec. 1 for possible distribution within CUNA. The film wasmade at no cost to the Washington League through servicescontributed by a Tacoma TV producer, Anita Beninger, who hadpreviously worked at PBS with the Washington CU League's Directorof Public Relations, Jamie Chase. The two had collaborated on thisfilm which documents the chartering of Thurston Union of Low IncomePeople Cooperative Credit Union, the first CU chartered inWashington in 10 years. “The Story of TULIP” portrays the triumphsof a group of low-income volunteers who struggled to raise nearly$2 million from 16 U.S. CUs to found the CU in December 2003. Alarge part of the film features the philanthropic contributions oftwo of the 16 CUs, Boeing Employees CU and Washington StateEmployees CU. Highlights of the movie include the CU's first loanto a homeless single mother, as well as teary eyed confessions ofself sacrifice and testimonials about the CU difference from anex-banker of 25 years. The Film Stars CU Regulator, League and CULeaders Featured in the film are Linda Jekel, director, of theWashington Division of Credit Unions; Kevin Foster-Keddie,president/CEO of Washington State Employees CU; John Annaloro,president/CEO of the Washington CU League; and TULIP founders,directors, members and employees. The league said the film shouldbe particularly helpful in showings to Washington lawmakers in linewith a defense against banker attacks. “With our legislatorsreturning to session in January, it's a great time to hear thecredit union difference being talked about in our state capitol,”said Stacy Augustine, senior vice president of policy and publicadvocacy for the League. “We've already received favorable reportsof credit union members talking about the debut of the movie at thefestival.” Chase said a benefit of showing the film in publicarenas like film festivals is that it makes the underserved workdone by CUs “more tangible.” “We tend to lose the public withlengthy definitions instead of examples,” explained Chase. “Thebanks have their duck. What is our duck? This example brings the CUdifference to life. It is memorable and easy to understand.”Annaloro said considering the many changes in the CU movement, thefilm is “a fine opportunity to reassure legislators and the publicthat credit unions are on the right track.” Chase and Beninger havea long history with PBS. They met while producing separate projectsat a PBS affiliate three years ago. Beninger, who donated hundredsof hours to the TULIP film, “is an extremely talented professionaland a volunteer with a huge heart,” said Chase. “She understandsthe credit union difference and decided to bring the story tolife.” Chase herself has distributed three shows to PBS includingtwo series and one hour-long program broadcast on over 100 stationsnationwide. “The Story of TULIP” is formatted as a DVD and indistributing the film, the league is considering hiring a publicrelations firm to offer it to stations as a video press release.Depending on CUNA's response, a decision would be made later as tore-film or re-edit TULIP to transform it into a half hour- orhour-long program for distribution to PBS or some other nationalbroadcaster. Two possibilities might be ABC's Oprah Show or GoodMorning America. The CU itself said overall league support for the$2 million institution has resulted in doubling of new membershipin the last two months, according to Darlene Morales, TULIP'sgeneral manager. “TULIP is operating on the most fundamental basisof a group of people getting together to pull their savings to makelow cost loans to one another,” she said noting that the CU with410 members could not exist without the cooperation of other U.S.CUs and the nonmember deposits from the large [email protected]