AWARDS Royal Credit Union, Eau Claire, Wis., recently awarded 17 members with the Lifetime Volunteer Awards at its holiday dinner. To become a Lifetime Volunteer, a total of 240 hours and five years of service needs to be given to their communities and/or a member needs to become an RCU board director. The recent winners have giver over 15,975 hours of their time to their communities. RCU now has a total of 111 Lifetime Volunteers. BRANCHING OUT Neighbors Federal Credit Union, Baton Rouge, La., recently opened its newest branch at Howell Place, a new business park development near the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. The new facility features more than 5,300 square feet of service area, including four drive-thru lanes and an additional drive-thru ATM. Safe deposit boxes, coin counting machine, children's play area, private loan and new account offices, and online banking stations are also available to accommodate members' needs. Crump and Wilson Architects designed the branch with Grand Construction completing the construction process. Saugus Federal Credit Union, Saugus, Mass., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on its new building on Main Street. Many credit union officials were there to help mark the occasion. The building is scheduled to be completed in mid-2007. TIC Federal Credit Union, Columbus, Ga., continues its reconstruction on its facilities with the main branch located on 13th Street. Once completed the branch will combine the latest financial technology with an open floor plan that creates a true "dialogue" environment for members that is similar to its Peachtree and North branch renovations made last year. Construction is set to be completed by June. In the mean time, a temporary building has been set up on site to continue the credit union's service to members as well as the six-lane drive-thru. Consumers Credit Union, Waukegan, Ill., recently re-opened its Gurnee office after its extensive remodeling and expansion. The upgraded office now features innovative technology, a larger staff and additional space, more than doubling its size from 1,700 to 4,100 square feet. The more spacious office comes with an expanded teller line, a special children's area, a large conference room and extra offices. Through groundbreaking software from InLighten Technologies, new 46 inch televisions provide the very latest rate information, along with credit union promotions, current events, weather, stocks and other news. Nassau Financial Federal Credit Union, Garden City, N.Y., announced recently that it will be the first community-chartered credit union to open a 6,300 square foot branch at Long Beach Road in Oceanside. The new branch will be contemporary with an ATM, a central greeters' station, teller stations with automated cash dispensers for transaction efficiency, Internet caf?/kiosk, private financial advisement offices, a children's play area, and a highly knowledgeable staff. Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union, Englewood, Colo., recently opened its newest branch. Located on Jamaica St., Building Four, the new 3,200 square foot facility will initially employ six individuals. The Englewood branch is located within the CH2M HILL building and has been established to address the needs of CH2M HILL's 14,000 employees. The CH2MHILL Credit Union merged with Addison Avenue in early 2006. The new branch is also open to the public and will serve any eligible AAFCU member. The grand opening celebration was highlighted with member receptions, information fairs, VIP events, door prizes and special prizes for CH2M HILL employees. Guardian Credit Union, Waukesha, Wis., recently opened the doors on its seventh location. The new Sunset Drive branch will offer CU products and services including loans, mortgages, savings, checking, CDs and more. Guardian CU has purchased the new location from the Wisconsin CU Shared Service Center and will maintain this location in a worldwide shared branch network where members of over 1,300 credit unions across the globe may cash checks, make deposits, withdrawals, loan payments, transfer money, purchase money orders, obtain cash advances and balance inquiries. HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, Honolulu, has relocated its Mililani branch within the Mililani Shopping Center. The new branch is located next to Napa Auto Parts and near the Mililani Restaurant. The new branch opened following a traditional Hawaiian blessing with bigger lobby area, new accounts area, mortgage and investment centers and eight traditional teller stations to serve HawaiiUSA FCU members. In addition, there are two remote teller units to serve members of the Hawaii Shared Branching Network and the National CU Service Center Shared Branching Network. Chicago Patrolmen's Federal Credit Union, Chicago, recently opened its second branch on West 111th Street and will no longer be operating out of one single location. The full-service branch is led by Larry Shaw. Employees of CPFCU hosted a branch grand opening celebration that was well-received and attended by senior officials of the Chicago Police Department, Alderman Rugai, CPFCU board members and the CU's business partners. The event was highlighted by a ribbon cutting ceremony. University of Virginia Community Credit Union, Charlottesville, Va., officially opened its new Greene County branch at a ceremony that brought together local officials and members of the business community. The new branch is located in Ruckersville at the entrance of the new StoneRidge development. Its 3,200 square foot facility features three drive-thru lanes, a drive-up ATM with envelope depository and two computer kiosks. The credit union will be offering business lending at the Greene branch, as well as a full slate of retail services, including mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and investment services. Members 1st Federal Credit Union, Mechanicsburg, Pa., recently held a ground breaking ceremony for its newest branch location in Lower Paxton Township. The target open date for the branch being constructed by Lobar Associates is June 2007. The full-service location will offer increased convenience in serving the CU's members, four drive-up teller lanes, a drive-up ATM, a coin counter and safe deposit boxes. Allegius Credit Union, Burns Harbor, Ind., has recently opened its fifth office. The full-service Chesterton office began serving members in December 2006 with an open house celebration planned for the Spring of 2007. DONATIONS Los Angeles Federal Credit Union, Glendale, Calif., recently collected over 900 toys (a record) during its annual Toys For Tots toy drive. The Toys for Tots Foundation has been a tradition of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves since 1947. Since its inception, the foundation has delivered over 231 million toys to 116 million children and their mail goal is to provide happiness and hope to disadvantaged children who might otherwise be overlooked during the holidays. Robins Federal Credit Union, Warner Robins, Ga., donated $211 to the Linwood Elementary School Media Center. Robins Federal hosted a "Books Are Fun" book fair for members and staff, where a percentage of the sales were available for donation. The Linwood Library will use the funds to assist with the purchasing of books for the 2007 school year. Vermont Federal Credit Union, Burlington, Vt., recently delivered gifts for over 150 children to the Vermont Children's Aid Society. As part of the annual Holiday Spirit program, Vermont Children's Aid Society distributes angels for local businesses to contribute gifts to families in need in Vermont. VTFCU's generous members and staff provide clothing and toys to children in need. This year, the credit union provided more than half of all the gifts collected by VTCAS. The CU also delivered nearly 300 new preemie outfits to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Vermont Children's Hospital with the help of the March of Dimes. In other news, the CU was also recently recognized for its support of employee members of the Vermont National Guard and Reserve. Rick Ryan, a branch manager at Cincinnati-based Kemba Credit Union, was a welcomed visitor as "Kemba Claus" to the children of Oyler Elementary School in the lower Price Hill area. For several years now, Kemba Credit Union has supported the Adopt-a-Class program and raised more than $8,000 in the process. This money has provided Christmas gifts and holiday dinners for the Oyler students and their families. Hosting the classroom Christmas party is the grand finale to the year long fundraiser effort by Kemba employees and members. In other Kemba Credit Union news, the CU, with the help of local firefighters, delivered several presents to each child at the Ronald McDonald House for its annual holiday celebration. With nearly a full year's worth of planning, Kemba was also able to provide 50 families staying at RMH with a hamper filled with gifts and items of necessity. Enough toys were donated to provide several presents for siblings too. The Ronald McDonald House provides a "home away from home" for families while their child is receiving treatment. Founders Federal Credit Union, Chester, S.C., has stepped forward to donate the necessary money for Chester County's fifth war monument honoring those killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army Specialist Douglas Logan Tinsley, who died in Iraq, will have his name stenciled in black granite in front of the Chester Country War Memorial Building alongside 108 others who have died in previous battles. Founders is working with Chester County Veterans Services Director Judy McWaters and Supervisor Carlisle Roddey to purchase the monument for the current wars. Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, Philadelphia, recently teamed up with the Philadelphia Cares Organization during the holiday season in a citywide effort to provide winter coats to those in need. Through the Philadelphia Cares' Eleventh Annual Winter Coat Drive, PFCU helped to secure this basic necessity. The event stands as a reminder that there are thousands of people whose only holiday wish is a warm coat for their children, parents or themselves. PFCU offered its branches as drop-off points for the coat drive. Members and area residents did their part by dropping off new and "gently used" winter coats in designated bins at PFCU branches. PFCU collected over 800 coats. Whatcom Educational Credit Union, Bellingham, Wash., donated $10,171 to local nonprofits in the fourth quarter of 2006. Some of the groups WECU donated to were: Bellingham Childcare and Learning Center, GRADS Teen Parent Program, Kulshan Community Land Trust, Lighthouse Mission Ministries, Marianne's House, NAMI, Support Officer Community Care, and Whatcome Hispanic Organization. The Social Responsibility Committee oversees WECU's monetary donations and participation in sweat equity projects. Insight Financial Credit Union, Orlando, Fla., was a proud sponsor of Baby DJ with XL106.7′s Doc & Johnny Morning Show this holiday season. All 10 Insight Financial branches served as drop off locations where the community donated toys for families in need. The toys were then delivered to Doc & Johnny's Toy Warehouse where volunteers from the credit union helped parents pick out toys and gifts for their children. Overall, credit union staff and members delivered six truckloads of toys to the Toy Warehouse. Insight Financial maintains the account for the Baby DJ Fund, which anyone can donate to throughout the year. Patent and Trademark Office Federal Credit Union, Alexandra, Va., participates in the Meals on Wheels program that serves the City of Alexandria community. The CU has three teams that deliver nutritious meals three times a month to physically challenged or homebound senior citizens. Meals on Wheels volunteers are the only human contact some recipients have all day. Family Trust Federal Credit Union, Rock Hill, S.C., awarded two, $500 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarships to Clinton Junior College students: Vivian Hart and Terrance Reid. Family Trust has awarded approximately $7,000 since the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship was first offered in 2000. In addition to scholarships, Family Trust is upholding its dedication to education by donating $2,400 to Clinton Junior College Library Fund. The donation is the fourth of a five-year commitment by Family Trust. United Teletech Financial Federal Credit Union, Tinton Falls, N.J., recently contributed more than 200 coats and gifts to the United Way of Monmouth Country. Donations came from employees and members of the credit union. SC Telco Federal Credit Union, Greenville, S.C., recently donated $3,833 to the BellSouth Pioneers in support of the Kid's Perfect Pack Campaign. In addition to the monetary donation, the credit union donated numerous supplies and toys to the campaign. The credit union's members raised over $2,300 in support of the campaign and SC Telco matched $1,500 in member donations corporately. The "Kid's Perfect Pack" campaign benefits approximately 5,000 incoming foster children throughout South Carolina. MILESTONES SeaComm Federal Credit Union, Massena, N.Y., recently celebrated five years and over 800,000 phone calls at its call center. The credit union call center allows members to reach a "live person" by telephone to help in transacting much of the same business they would conduct in person at one of SeaComm's five branches. Silver State Schools Credit Union, Las Vegas, recently became the largest credit union in Nevada, reporting assets of over $850 million. The CU has served members of the state's education community since 1951. In 2006, SSSCU grew by over $60 million, adding more than 3,000 new members. Capital Communications Federal Credit Union, Albany, N.Y., has surpassed $500 million in assets. The CU is the second largest in the capital region based on asset size, according to The Business Review, and has more than 50,000 members. Patelco Credit Union, San Francisco, became the 10th credit union in the country to hit the $4 billion mark in assets recently. Patelco serves over 230,000 members with 37 branches throughout California and a branch in Illinois. It took the CU 59 years to reach the $1 billion mark, which it did in 1995. ART: 50th Anniversary Logo_1807.jpg United Heritage Credit Union, Austin, Texas, marked 2007 with its 50th anniversary celebration. The CU began in 1957 as Military Federal Credit Union with only eight members and $40 in deposits. Look ahead 50 years and United Heritage now has 62,000 members, over $450 million in assets and eight locations with three more in the works. ART: Amy Trull and Mr Fish.jpg CUT: Amy Trull, a Champion CU representative, stands with $75 winner, G.R. Fish. Fish won the money as part of the CU's 75th anniversary celebration. Champion Credit Union, Canton, N.C., recently announced that G.R. Fish, Ricky Anders and Mike Riccardi were the first winners of the weekly cash drawing for $75, representing the number of years Champion Credit Union has been in operation. Every Friday the 75 year milestone will continue to be celebrated by awarding a luck member $75. ART: LAFCU_LACityPrtnB.tif CUT: Los Angeles City Deputy Mayor Bud Ovrum presented a specially-created plaque that congratulated LAFCU for 70 years of service to its members. The city of Los Angeles and the United States Congress recently honored Los Angeles Federal Credit Union, Glendale, Calif., on the occasion of its 70th anniversary. Los Angeles City Deputy Mayor Bud Ovrum presented a specially-created plaque that congratulated the CU for 70 years of service. The Congresswoman from California's 37th District, Juanita Millender-McDonald, presented a special resolution "in recognition of Credit Union Appreciation Day" that proclaimed the "honor and recognition which LAFCU's history of service has so diligently earned." ART: CFFCU 50th Event 4C.jpg CUT: Cy-Fair FCU recently marked its 50th anniversary with a celebration. Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union, Cy-Fair, Texas, marked its 50th anniversary during a celebratory week in honor of a half century of service to its members and the community. Debbie Blackshear, president, presided over the ceremony at the Main Branch. Many important people from the community celebrated with the credit union.