NAFCU’s Celebration of 100 Years of Credit Union History
NAFCU: Here to Help You Celebrate the Centennial!
Take advantage of this great opportunity to let members and potential members know credit unions have a rich history and, as we celebrate 100 years since the founding of the first credit union, make sure you get the word out about how far we've come and how proud we are of this milestone.
NAFCU has provided free marketing collateral to help you celebrate:
100th Anniversary Logo  |
100th Anniversary Pin  |
100th Anniversary Sticker  |
1908: "The Birth of the American Credit Union"
Democratic Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes of New Hampshire introduced a House resolution recognizing the establishment of St. Mary’s Cooperative Credit Association in 1908 as “the birth of the American credit union.”
H.Res.1145 cites the advent of the growth of the credit union movement to now some 8,500 institutions with more than 90 million members nationwide. It cites the specific activities of St. Mary’s, the 1934 enactment of the Federal Credit Union Act, credit unions’ work in serving members throughout the Great Depression and the more recent establishment of the Credit Union Museum.
NAFCU will be celebrating this significant milestone during NAFCU’s 41st Annual Conference & Exhibition all the way through NAFCU's 42nd Annual Conference & Exhibition in 2009 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center near Washington, D.C.
Tips to Celebrate Credit Union Centennial Locally
Credit unions can get into the centennial spirit through a number of events. You can make it as large or small as your budget and time allow. While highlighting the credit union centennial, you can leverage your credit union’s achievements too.
We will continue to update the list of recommendations, so make sure to check back regularly.
Host a centennial birthday party.
Invite local dignitaries, members and media to attend a 100-year birthday celebration. This can be done alone or in conjunction with the unfurling of a centennial banner or the unveiling of the centennial logo at the branch. Photograph your event for posting on your Web site and distribution to the media.
Create a section on your Web site’s home page that highlights the centennial.
You can post the centennial logo and incorporate some of your credit union’s accomplishments as part of the successful history of credit unions.
Invite members to submit highlights of their credit union experiences online.
You can showcase the stories on your Web site as well as your newsletter.
Seek local proclamation on value of credit unions.
Your mayor’s office will usually issue these in honor of a landmark achievement.
Incorporate a centennial message for telephone on-hold systems and email signatures. The message can be as simple as “Celebrating one hundred years of credit union history” and perhaps combined with your credit union’s other branding statements.
Integrate centennial messaging into your member/community events and printed materials.
Contact NAFCU Public Relations Manager Patty Briotta at pbriotta@nafcu.org if you have any questions concerning the aforementioned ideas or would like to discuss others.
NAFCU'S CELEBRATION BEGINS!
100th Anniversary Celebration
Be part of the 100 year celebration of the founding of the first credit union with your NAFCU friends in the exhibit hall on Friday, July 11 during the exhibition finale. A special raffle will be featured at NAFCU booth #301, directly in the entrance of the exhibit hall, where one lucky delegate will win a FREE registration to NAFCU's 42nd Annual Conference & Exhibition at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, Washington, DC on July 21-25, 2009! We will also be handing out the official 100th anniversary celebration pin at the NAFCU Booth, so be sure to stop by and show your dedication by wearing your pin for the remainder of the conference on to NAFCU's 42nd Annual Conference & Exhibition!
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Credit Union Museum Show |
100th Anniversary Time Capsule
At NAFCU’s booth, we will be collecting small tokens and personal letters from credit union leaders from across the country to include in a 100-year time capsule that will be opened at the bicentennial in 2108. Bring a memento from your credit union that means something special and helps to signify the credit union movement!
Leader Letters to the Next Century Predecessors
CEOs and board chairman act now and get your creativity flowing with your opportunity to address the leaders of your credit union 100 years from now! As part of NAFCU’s time capsule you will be able to let your predecessors know the current issues that are affecting your credit union specifically, share with them the best practices and trends that you are implementing to benefit your members or even tell them about the members that you are currently serving! Bring them with you to San Diego and drop them by NAFCU booth #301, directly in the entrance of the exhibit hall for inclusion in the time capsule.
Letter from NAFCU's President and CEO Fred Becker