BEND, Ore. – It's not unusual for a credit union to win an awardfrom its local chamber of commerce. However, when Bend-based MidOregon Credit Union won business of the year from the Redmond,Oregon chamber, the $95 million institution had something to crowabout. “One of our board members said `it's really anaccomplishment considering we're not headquartered there,' and itis,” said Kyle Frick, vice president marketing and sales. Thecredit union has a branch in Redmond, but it was Mid Oregon's workin the community that caught the chamber's eye. Mid Oregonemployees donated about 2,000 hours to community projects and civicorganizations in central Oregon during 2005. The credit union alsodonates money, including participation as the title sponsor in theRedmond Chamber's Music on the Green summer concert series. Inaddition to high visibility in the community, the credit union alsoutilizes creative strategies to solicit donations from members.When promoting skip payment this past holiday season, the creditunion asked members to donate $5 to Portland's DoernbecherChildren's Hospital if they skipped their payment. Nearly 200members obliged, resulting in close to $1,000 in donations. “Lastyear, we got $411, which isn't bad, but this year we remarketed it,tweaked it around and made the hospital and the charity the focus,”Frick said. Redmond isn't the only city taking note of Mid Oregon'scommunity participation. The credit union's hometown of Bend namedthe credit union a finalist in its Business of the Year competitionlast year, and may do so again. “We could actually win two businessof year awards this year. We'll know in March,” Frick said.