Cooperative outreach effort gains momentum in 2009
Ohio’s credit unions have raised more than $125,863 for Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals as of Oct. 31. A variety of fundraisers in 2009 have contributed to the cause: Miracle Jeans Day, Change Bandit programs, CMN balloon sales, chili cook-offs, cookbook sales, and more. A total of $80,000 was raised by the annual Ohio Credit Unions: Marching Miles for Miracle Kids. Top monetary contributors included Credit Union of Ohio, CSE FCU, Day Air CU, KEMBA Financial CU, Marion Community CU, Ohio HealthCare FCU, Standard Register FCU, Telhio CU, and Western CU. Nationally, credit unions were second in “locations” participating in Miracle Jeans Day, behind Wal-Mart. The Credit Unions for Kids Ohio Steering Committee is currently working on a Web site to recognize Credit Unions for Kids contributors and share best practices for those looking to get involved. The Web site is expected to launch in early 2010. Visit the link below for more information.
www.cuforkidsohio.com/


Grants Spotlight
Financial Education: The Northeast Ohio Credit Union Manager’s Group (NEO) received an Ohio Credit Union Foundation grant to help with the costs of a 12-month, multi-touch financial education program reaching credit union members and the community through radio programming, newsletters, and workshops. NEO partnered with radio station 1330 AM WELW and Consumer Credit Counseling Services to provide education on budgeting, debt management, and the importance of savings to a greater audience. The group also sponsored a primetime slot for CUNA’s Home and Family Finance Radio show, and credit union representatives will conduct financial education promotions and interviews during each of the 52 segments. Newsletters and workshops will expand upon the information addressed in the radio show. “Because of our busy lives, we must find different ways to present financial education to credit union members and communities,” said Fred Siegel, Business Development Manager of Eaton Family CU. Participating credit unions include: ACME CU, Cardinal Community CU, L.C.E. FCU, and WES CU.


Financial Education: The Northwest Chapter received an Ohio Credit Union Foundation financial education grant to create new custom game pieces and sets for its “real world” simulation, Finances 101: Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk. More than 700 high school juniors and seniors from 17 schools walked through the life-sized game of LIFE in October where they received jobs with salaries and faced routine choices, such as buying a car and home, acquiring insurance, and paying utilities and monthly expenses. They also encountered unexpected surprises, such as car accidents and winning the lottery. By the end of the experience, students understood how buying decisions affect earnings, the costs of running a household, and how to live within their means. “The professionally-produced game pieces created a professional image and validated the participating credit unions as first-rate financial institutions,” said Bill Hann, Compliance Officer at ProMedica FCU. The financial education program received high marks from teachers and students, and the chapter anticipates continued growth in popularity and participation as schools strive to meet the mandates of Senate Bill 311. Beginning in 2010, incoming freshman are required to receive financial education before graduating, per the state law enacted in 2006. Credit unions interested in borrowing the Finances 101 game can contact Northwest Chapter President Beth Carpenter of TPS CU at (419) 381-2323 or bcarpenter@tpscu.com.

Professional Development: Melissa Eckstein of Cleveland Police CU received an Ohio Credit Union Foundation professional development grant to attend the National Youth Involvement Board’s Annual Conference in Tempe, AZ. The conference focused on understanding young consumers and offering appealing services that meet their needs, with an emphasis on budget-saving alternatives that compete with expensive technology used by other financial institutions. According to Eckstein, “The conference provided attendees with a wealth of information, such as youth marketing programs, turnkey kids’ club programs, and Web-based financial literacy programs that can easily be tailored to meet their credit unions’ needs.”


Professional Development: Monica Caro of Directions CU attended the Credit Union National Association’s Regulatory Compliance School-Update in October thanks to a grant from the Ohio Credit Union Foundation. Caro attended the introduction program in 2008, which provided a detailed overview of core compliance areas and board and staff member liability. The Update brought Caro up to speed on recent regulatory changes to retain her Credit Union Compliance Expert designation. “I plan to utilize the knowledge I received at compliance school to help other credit unions in the Northwest Chapter, as well as my own, understand and address the new regulations and continue to serve credit union members,” said Caro.


Disaster Relief: The Ohio Credit Union Foundation granted $10,000 in disaster relief to the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) for the El Salvador Disaster Relief Fund. The grant provided immediate relief to credit union staff and members, currently totaling more than 120,000, who lost their homes and livelihoods to severe flooding and mudslides. It is the second disaster relief grant issued by the Foundation in 2009. Credit unions can make contributions to WOCCU’s fund, which is administered through the international credit union disaster relief fund, at the link below.
www.woccu.org/give



Professional Development Opportunities
Professional development grants from the Ohio Credit Union Foundation can be used for an array of educational programs, including conferences, seminars, workshops, Webinars, eSchools, and self-study programs. If you are interested in applying for an educational scholarship, visit the Foundation Web site at www.OhioCreditUnionFoundation.org for applications and scholarship information, or contact Ohio Credit Union League Outreach Manager Laura Busque at (800) 486-2917, ext. 227, or lbusque@ohiocul.org.