Page 17 - 2015 Contact Magazine: 3rd Quarter

Whatever you do, make sure it’s a real
passion and not just something you’re
doing a cookie cutter for.”

Representatives from MCUL & Affiliates, Frankenmuth Credit Union and the Frankenmuth  Many Stories to Tell
Farmers Market are seen here as part of the 2015 Share the Love campaign.
Vickie Schmitzer, CEO of Frankenmuth
Credit Union, concurred with the
assessment that employee participation
is crucial to success.

Poulin said his credit union plans to once again compete on “We had all of our offices talk to each and every member about
behalf of the Maine Children’s Cancer Program in this year’s Love getting involved,” she said, adding that staff also kept a close eye
My Credit Union Campaign. New Dimensions has raised money for on voting totals. “We could see that we would fall behind on the
the charity for many years, and the cause is one that’s near and weekends, so we said, ‘What are these other credit unions do-
dear to the community it serves. Poulin emphasized that staff is ing that we’re not?’ We told everybody you have to vote on the
the key to success. weekends too, and then we were right back in the running.”

“Really what you need to do is get the buy-in and the commitment Frankenmuth Credit Union won $10,000 for the Frankenmuth

from your staff, and they’ll help you sell it and spread it,” he Farmers Market, and though the credit union’s staff has not

advised. “Without that, getting those votes isn’t going to happen.” yet decided which organization it’ll be championing this year,

Schmitzer said Frankenmuth Credit Union is “definitely in” for

e inner s erspecti e the Love My Credit Union Campaign.

Lisa Mahler knows a thing or two about how important it is to get “We love to have the opportunity to do something for an outside

those votes. As CEO of last year’s grand prize-winning credit union, organization and find a way to include our members with some-

United Bay Community Credit Union, Mahler helped spearhead thing that benefits another organization,” she said. “We’re all

the get-out-the-vote effort. She said the strategy UBCCU relied on about collaboration.”

wasn’t all that different from many other member interactions.

And that partnership with local organizations, said Schmitzer, is a

“Just like our philosophy with doing business and making every big part of what contributed to the program’s success last year—

contact and connection with someone count, we went through and not just in Michigan, but across the country.

spread the word and asked for people to vote,” she said. “So often

it’s just asking the question: ‘Can you take a look and see whose “People love to hear a good story,” she said. “Every day you hear

video you think is best?’ For us, it’s just that communication.” “People love about all of the bad stuff, but there’s so many
For institutions taking part in this year’s competition, Mahler said to hear a good stories that credit unions have to tell, and
people love to read about those and be a part

that the important thing is to make sure the cause is one that the good story.” of them. When you can vote for something,
credit union is truly passionate about.
that gets you involved; you can share that good

story, and people love to share a good story.”

Last year’s voters “could tell that we were sincere and genuine and

true,” she said. “Not that other people weren’t, but when we were Just as important, added Schmitzer, is finding a project that

asking people to log on and vote, somehow we obviously made a allows each credit union to stand out from the other meaningful

connection with them.” stories being told by dozens of other participating institutions.

But most of all, she said, the Love My Credit Union Campaign

Mahler recommended that this year’s participants be sure to is an opportunity for credit unions of all sizes to stand shoulder

commit themselves wholeheartedly to their cause. to shoulder showcasing the credit union difference.

“The video we did on the M&M golf event was something very “There are a lot of credit unions that don’t have big marketing
near and dear to our hearts,” she said. “It’s something we’re budgets, but we all have a story to tell…and getting that out is
very passionate about, and it hits home to us at the credit union very commendable.”
because the story is about us and people we love and care about.

T hird Q uarter 2016 I Contact 17