Vantage Credit Union recently held a putt-off in place of itsannual golf tournament to help raise scholarship funds for areahigh school students.
In addition to playing two holes created by the Vantage CreditUnion marketing department, employees at the credit union'sadministrative branch could stop in for lunch and enter to winattendance prizes. Participants enjoyed hot dogs, chips, popcorn,and chocolate chip cookies donated by Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
The Vantage CU marketing department constructed two holes at itsheadquarters for the event, making it easy for staffers toplay.
On the first hole, 21 employees made holes-in-one and were enteredto win a $25 Target gift card. The second hole was a par 3 andnetted 2 holes-in-one, which won back entry money for the luckygolfers. Open to everyone from the CEO and senior managers tofinancial service representative and tellers, the event helpedemployees raise $552 toward scholarships.
“It was a great way for us to include employees in our scholarshipfundraising efforts and for them to have a little fun in theprocess,” Vantage CU Marketing Vice President Kathy Palmer said.“It was successful and could very well turn out to be a creditunion wide, annual fundraising event.”

CUNA Council Offers Green Advice

A new CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council whitepaper explores how to incorporate green initiatives into a creditunion's brand and image.
“Going Green-A Marketing Perspective” builds awareness ofunderlying requirements for incorporating green into a creditunion's branding efforts. According to the report, before launchinga green marketing campaign, it is important that credit unionsdevelop a big picture mentality about environmental sustainabilitythat incorporates what they have done, what they are doing, andwhat they could do in the future. Without a demonstrated foundationof green commitment, the paper said credit unions run the risk of abacklash from environmental groups, who watch for unsubstantiatedor inflated promotion of green efforts-also known asgreenwashing.
“People who are interested in the environment and sustainabilitycan smell trickery a mile away,” cautioned Kim Deppe, vicepresident of marketing for Community First CU. “There's a lot ofsuspicion particularly among young people about slapping somethingup against the wall and calling yourself green. Be sure that you'rebeing genuine about it and truly representing yourself accurately,because the downside risk about trying to be something you're notis that you lose credibility with some very important audiencesegments.”
“Being eco-friendly is more than a passing trend; it is animportant part of a credit union's business model,” said Ann Legg,council chair and vice president of marketing for Cabrillo CU inSan Diego. “Being green is integral to sustainability, viabilityand relevancy.”
The paper is available online at www.cunacouncils.org.

Social Media Webinar Slated

CUNA is helping credit unions navigate the social mediamaze.
The Social Media Webinar Series explains how to develop andincorporate a social media strategy into credit union marketingefforts by using free tools such as blogs, YouTube, Twitter,MySpace and Facebook.
The four-session series runs Aug. 11-27 in conjunction with theCUNA Marketing and Business Development Council. Topics range froma social media introduction and tools to achieve businessobjectives to tying social media strategy into overall marketingplans and a peer-to-peer social media Web roundtable.
For more information go to training.cuna.org and enter “SocialMedia” in the event finder search engine or call 800-356-9655, ext.4249.

Indiana CU Joins Initiative

FORUM Credit Union has been accepted as a member of the GreaterIndianapolis Chamber of Commerce Green Business Initiative.
Members of the Green Business Initiative pledge to continuallystrive toward environmentally safe and sustainable businesspractices and operations to ensure that the greater Indianapolisregion is environmentally healthy and viable. Members also pledgeto meet all existing federal, state and local environmentregulations.
To maintain Green Business status, members must be, at minimum, abronze member of the Central Indiana Clean Air Partnership andsubmit an application to the chamber's review committee. Membersmust also meet at least one green practice in each of the sixcategories including waste prevention, recycling, purchasing,energy conservation, water conservation and transportation.

Name That Checking Account

Connex Credit Union is turning to the locals and members forhelp in naming its new checking account. The “Unbank-UnnamedChecking” naming contest is designed to help personalize the creditunion's new high-interest checking product.
“Our members are full of great ideas,” said Tansley Stearns, vicepresident of sales and service for Connex Credit Union. “As theUnbank, we never lose sight of the fact that our members play atremendous ownership role in Connex. Now we're asking them to helpwith a creative effort.”
Contestants had through July 30 to submit their ideas online. Onewinner will be chosen and, in addition to bragging rights, he orshe will receive $1,000.

MAC Names Paul Stull to Board

The Marketing Association of Credit Unions recently electedArizona State Credit Union Vice President of Marketing Paul Stullto its board.
Stull was joined by Sarah Cecchin, assistant vice president ofmarketing for Pacific Service CU, and Carlos Cons, vice presidentof marketing for DataPage Inc., to serve on the MAC Board for athree-year term.
Cecchin, who is MAC's chair-elect and Cons, the association'ssuppliers advisory council liaison, were both re-elected to theirposts.
MAC has offered professional development to credit union marketingprofessionals since 1988.

Ala. CU Makes Saving a Priority

Before a new school year begins, Alabama Telco Credit Union ishoping to make savings a top priority for parents and kidsalike.
The credit union has unveiled its Kids Savings School, designed forkids ages three through 11 in an effort to jumpstart good savingshabits.
“We feel this is a necessary and exciting product to offer ourmembers. It not only teaches kids good saving and spending habits,it also helps them take the first step toward building arelationship with their credit union, making it easier for them toapply for other financial products as they grow into a teenager andyoung adult,” said Vice President of Marketing Stanton Davis.
In addition to visiting area schools during the upcoming 2009-2010school year to promote the program, the credit union has created aspecial kids section on its Web site (www.alatelco.org) wherechildren can play games while learning about money and savings. Thesite also serves as an educational financial resource for parentsand teachers by providing tips on how to encourage and raisefinancially savvy kids.
“Based on a 2008 financial literacy survey of high school seniorsand college students, 75% of young American adults are likely tolack the skills needed to make beneficial financial decisions…Wefeel we can be a valuable resource and educational tool when itcomes to helping parents guide their children in the rightdirection financially,” said Davis.

We All Scream for Ice Cream

Point Loma Credit Union scooped up a few new members with itslatest summer campaign.
The credit union offered current members a $25 Cold Stone Creamerygift card for each new member they referred. To sweeten the deal,the new member received one, too.
To help ensure that it grew not only in membership numbers but alsoin product and service usage, new members were required to open atleast one additional account or service to receive thepremium.
According to PLCU Public Relations Manager Michele White, thesummer promotion exceeded expectations. About 398 new membersopened 883 deposit products with a cumulative balance of $643,200.In addition, 33 new loans totaling $307,900 were opened.