WASHINGTON — Actor and former first son Steve Ford toldofficials of Maine credit unions that they will live moresatisfying lives if they go outside their comfort zone to helpothers.

Ford, who played one of Meg Ryan's boyfriends (before she woundup with Billy Crystal) in the 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry MetSally,” talked about his experiences giving inspirational speechesto prisons and going to Africa on humanitarian missions during aSaturday speech at the 70th annual convention of the Maine CreditUnion League in Portland.

The son of the late former President Gerald Ford said that sevenyears ago he took time off from his acting, after accepting achallenge from his nieces and nephew to become more involved inhelping others. He noted that he often gets more inspiration fromthose he speaks to or helps than they get from him.

Approximately 700 people attended the two-day convention whichalso featured speeches by U.S. Reps. Tom Allen Michael Michaud(both D-Maine). Attendees also heard from Adam Cote, a lawyer andlife-long credit union member whom the league has endorsed in thesix-candidate Democratic primary to replace Allen, who ischallenging Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in this year's election.The league invited Collins to appear but she had anotherengagement.

There are 68 credit unions in Maine.