CANTON, N.C. — For years the $106 million Champion Credit Union has sponsored a "Member Appreciation Day" complete with free lunch and drinks usually held on International Credit Union Day, but it never got much local attention.
However, this year things were different. The Canton CU decided to add a little political zip as a way of helping get lawmaker backing for CURIA.
Combining "political action" by inviting area Congressmen and local politicians to speak brought positive results to the Aug. 16 event drawing 400 members, civic leaders and generating lots of local media coverage.
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"Yes, we decided that we needed to do our part to make direct contact with our Congressmen on CURIA and so we made it 'Political Involvement and Member Appreciation Day'," said Jeremy Cook, marketing coordinator at the 17,000-member Champion.
Among speakers who conveyed kind words about CUs were U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler (D) and Canton Mayor Pat Smathers, also a Democrat who is running for North Carolina lieutenant governor.
Cook said the idea to add political involvement to the "Member Appreciation" mix followed appeals for more CURIA lobbying by state CUs at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Credit Union League held in Pinehurst in June.
The event was mostly a meet and greet affair, but Smathers, the mayor, earned rousing cheers when he said he had traveled across North Carolina and found CUs a significant part of community life.
Commenting on the event, Champion President/CEO Michael Clayton said it was gratifying "we were able to get our elected officials together with the staff and members of the credit union."
During the day a steady stream of members dropped in, many walking over from the adjacent Blue Ridge Paper Products plant. In addition, representatives from other area credit unions also dropped by at Champion's invitation.
"We think it's important for our elected officials to see that credit unions work together on behalf of their members, so we were happy that people from other credit unions were able to make it to the event," said Clayton.
In addition to Rep. Shuler, a former National Football League star quarterback, also on hand were two state lawmakers, Senator Joe Sam Queen and Representative Ray Rapp.
Champion said it scheduled its Member Appreciation/Political Involvement Day to coincide with the August recess in Congress and following adjournment of the North Carolina legislature.
"This was a way for us to serve the community and help our elected officials understand the needs of our members," Clayton concluded.
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