DOWNEY, TORRANCE and EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Who says you need a big budget to treat members during the annual meeting.

“I manage three small credit unions in the Los Angeles area and I never realized how successful our annual meetings were until I heard from my peers how challenging it was for them to get member participation,” said Jon Hernandez CEO of CalCom Federal Credit Union, City of Downey Federal Credit Union and Mattel Federal Credit Union. “We've had great participation from our members with up to 242 attendees from as small as $10 million in assets with as low as 1,500 members.”

Hernandez credits his staff for partnering with area businesses to create themed events that members look forward to every year.

“Six months before our meeting staffers start volunteering to be part of the event planning committee,” said Hernandez. “None of this would be possible without the great team of people we have all working together to ensure our members have a memorable, great time on a budget.”

With an eye on saving money, Hernandez says partnering with everyone from sponsors to local businesses has been key.

At $10 million in assets City of Downey Federal Credit Union had some 173 attendees at its last annual meeting which was also a 50th anniversary celebration. The event was held during lunch at a basketball court across the city hall in Downey, California. City employees, police officers, firefighters and their families were treated with lunch and door prizes donated by the credit union and its business partners.

“One year we invited the local high school band to perform and I thought the band director told me we'd have 18 kids performing. Well when the day came there were 80 kids playing music for us and it was an amazing performance,” said Hernandez.

He adds that by simply talking to members of the community, credit unions would be surprised with how many people and businesses would be willing to participate.

With $28 million in assets Mattel FCU is the largest of Hernandez' three credit unions. For its annual meeting the credit union opted to award its “Pioneer Members”, those who have been members for more than 40 years, with commemorative clocks and vacation vouchers. Held at the Mattel Pavillion, the event was led by chairman Lloyd Jones, who has served on the board for over 40 years. The 242 attendees consist of employees of Mattel Inc. and its affiliates Fisher-Price and American Girl and their families. In addition, since the Mattel employees are also members they are eager every year to help out with everything from toys for the kids to food.

“There is one member who is the former executive chef of the Bellagio who is so passionate about what he does that he creates these catered meals that get bigger and better every year,” said Hernandez. “The members tell us they look forward to our annual meetings because they are a good way for them to keep in touch with each other.”

With 4,500 members and three branches the $26 million CalCom FCU annual meeting is held at the CU's main headquarters in Torrance near its primary sponsor Little Company of Mary Hospital. Last year some 85 attendees were greeted by the CU's business partners, treated with jazz music by a local band, served with hors d'oeuvres and enjoyed the drawing of many door prizes. In addition, an election was held with three incumbents and one candidate to serve a three-year term along with 14 active volunteers–nine board directors and five supervisory committee members. With distance being an issue and recognizing that not all members would be able to attend the Torrance event, the credit union is also sure to host a welcome back to school barbeque at its El Segundo branch and order some subway sandwiches for members at its South Gate City branch while providing an informal update on CU news.

“It is important that all our members feel welcome and in the end we make sure we do what it takes and members respond to our genuineness,” said Hernandez. “The catering for each of our events we spend anywhere from $7 to $15 a head and we don't buy our giveaways we ask vendors to do that. For us these annual meetings are a wonderful way to let members know what is going on at their credit union and we see it as another opportunity to give something back to our members.”

–mdigiovanni@cutimes.com

Instant Insights /

A Little Creativity, Community Partnership Help Small Credit Unions Deliver Big For Annual Meeting

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