Nearly 80 people registered for Members CU’s second annual Wig Walk, a 2.5 walk/fun run benefiting the Wig Bank of Caldwell County that took place on Saturday, May 11th along the Lenoir Greenway. The walk brought in over $4,000 for the Wig Bank, a non profit cancer services center that provides prosthetic wigs for cancer patients, promotes the importance of cancer screenings, and provides funds to cancer patients for transportation to cancer treatment centers.

David Icard, along with cofounder Alicia Stanislaw, opened the doors to the Wig Bank in 2001. Since then, the services offered to their community have expanded to include support groups such as Restorative Yoga, Arm in Arm and Just Us Guys.

“The Wig Bank provides a valuable service to Caldwell County,” remarked Jack V. Braswell, Jr., President/CEO of Members Credit Union. “Since the Wig Bank is operated by volunteers without any paid employees it’s important that the community supports them, and judging from the response to the Wig Walk from the community, it’s safe to say the Wig Bank has Caldwell County’s support.”

Participants in the Wig Walk were encouraged to wear costume wigs during the 2.5-mile trek on the Lenoir Greenway that began at the United Presbyterian Church. Once participants finished their journey and returned to home base, a wig contest was held and the winner was decided by applause.

During the months leading up to the Wig Walk event, additional funds were raised through T-shirt sponsorships that were sold for $100 each. T-shirt sponsors honored friends and family who have battled cancer by having their name printed on the back of the Wig Walk T-shirt. These T-shirts were given out to walkers who registered for the event.

This year the Wig Walk had three corporate sponsors including McCreary Cancer Center, Lenoir HealthCare and the News-Topic. Several local schools and clubs also participated in the event. Members of the Gamewell Girls Running Club from Gamewell Elementary School ran the 2.5 miles and the Burke County 4H-Club volunteered to cheer people on during the walk while handing out water at the halfway point of the course. As walkers and runners passed by the halfway point they were given a chance to spin the wheel and if the wheel landed on a dollar amount, Eric Stiff, Members Credit Union’s VP of Marketing, donated that amount to the Wig Bank. The wheel helped bring in an extra $50.

Thanks to corporate sponsors and the community Members CU raised $4,345. 100% of the proceeds from the 2013 Wig Walk were donated to the Wig Bank. Members CU plans to expand the Wig Walk event to Catawba County in September to help raise funds for the Catawba County Wig Bank.

 Click here to read the story printed in the Lenoir News-Topic.

# # #

About the Wig Bank of Caldwell County

The Wig Bank of Caldwell County was formed after founders David Icard, a salon owner, and Alicia Stanislaw, a registered nurse, discussed the lack of support for cancer patients who were facing the loss of hair, the change of skin texture, and other physical and emotional effects of treatments. With a bag of donated wigs and a desire to offer advice and assistance, Icard and Stanislaw secured a space, enlisted volunteer help, and through mostly word-of-mouth advertisement, opened The Wig Bank of Caldwell County. The Wig Bank’s inviting home allows cancer patients to receive services in a non-clinical atmosphere. www.wigbank.org

The following is a Latino Corner article from the May edition of Notes from MCU. English translation is available below the article written in Spanish:

Sabía usted que sus hijos desde que nacen pueden volverse miembros de MCU y comenzar a construir su futuro y un capital con el cual tener una tranquilidad económica? Ellos pueden aprender a manejar sus finanzas hasta que sean adultos y puedan volar solos con una base económica y un conocimiento en el manejo del dinero.

Desde que nacen hasta los doce años con un capital semilla de $5 y amparados por uno de sus padres o tutor pueden abrir una cuenta Quest Savings que les paga dividendos mensuales sin requerir un saldo/balance mínimo. A los trece años y hasta que cumplan veinte con las mismas condiciones la cuenta se vuelve Savings MyFi con la diferencia que se le expide una ATM Card..

El manejo de una cuenta de cheques se puede iniciar desde los diez y seis años hasta los veintidós con la MyFi Checking estarán amparados por uno de sus padres o tutor hasta los diez y ocho y luego independientes. Con un capital de $25 pueden abrir la cuenta la cual también les pagará dividendos, no requiere saldo mínimo, se les expide una ATM Card/Debito y no se cobra por cheque utilizado.

Queremos que sus hijos crezcan con nosotros, lo invitamos a que los traiga a MCU y comiencen a moldear su futuro.

Los esperamos cordialmente,
Mauricio Cote

Translated in English:

Did you know that as soon as your baby is born, he is eligibe to become a member and begin building his future towards financial stability? Your children can learn to manage their finances now, and by the time they enter adulthood they will be financially independent. With an initial deposit of $ 5, you can open a Savings Quest Account for your child while they are between the ages of zero to thirteen that pays monthly dividends without requiring a minimum balance. At age thirteen the account becomes a MyFi Savings Account, a teen savings account that offers all of the low maintenance of a Savings Quest Account, and adds the convienence of an ATM Card.

At age sixteen, your child can learn how to manage a checking account with a MyFi Checking. This account requires a parent or guardian to be joint on the account until the teen member reaches the age of eighteen. The initial deposit to open this account is only $ 25 and includes paid dividends, no minimum balance requirement, an MCU Cash Card / MCU VISA Debit Card, and no charge for checks used.

We want your children to grow up with us, we invite you to bring them to MCU and begin to shape their future.

Cordially,
Mauricio Cote

Winston-Salem, NC, February 4, 2013 – Mauricio Cote has been promoted to Director of Latino Services at Members Credit Union, a financial institution with $246 million in assets based in Winston-Salem.

Cote, originally from Bucaramanga, Colombia, made his first move to Winston-Salem in 1963, but did not settle down permanently until 2005. That same year he became a member at Members Credit Union (MCU) and fell in love with the credit union philosophy. Cote began his career at MCU in 2011 as Branch Manager in Kernersville. While in Kernersville, he developed strong relationships with MCU’s Latino members and will continue to foster that bond from MCU’s corporate office in Winston-Salem. His new role will allow him to focus on assisting Hispanic MCU members in achieving overall financial stability and educating them on all products and services MCU has to offer.

Winston-Salem, NC, February 4, 2013 – Elizabeth Lefler has been promoted to Branch Manager at the Kernersville Branch of Members Credit Union, a financial institution based in Winston-Salem.

Lefler has dedicated over 13 years of service to Members Credit Union (MCU). She began her career in 1999 as a receptionist at MCU’s corporate office. Since then, she has gained experience as a Teller and Member Services Representative. Lefler has also been a presence in several branches including, MCU’s corporate office, High Point Branch, and Kernersville Branch.

Lefler’s diverse experience at MCU has contributed to her expertise in credit union services, and she has built a professional relationship with members that will allow her to succeed in her new role as Branch Manager. She is looking forward to providing outstanding service to members and educating them on the products and services MCU has to offer. In addition to her new title of Branch Manager, she will also be the Loan Officer at the MCU’s Kernersville Branch.

Our Annual Meeting will be held January 29, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. in the Winston-Salem corporate office. All members are invited to attend to hear reports on the financial condition of the credit union.

One of the most important agenda items for this meeting is the election of four Board of Directors positions. The Nominations Committee has submitted the following list of candidates to fill four three-year terms on the Board of Directors:

Ben Borugian is a recent graduate from Winston-Salem State University with a Masters of Business Administration. Borugian is an independent IT Consultant and has been associated with Members Credit Union for 16 years.

Jack V. Braswell, Jr. is the President/CEO of Members Credit Union. He joined MCU on September 4, 1979, as Treasurer, and was promoted to President/CEO in 1991. Braswell graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Business Degree and has served on MCU’s Board of Directors for 33 years.

Karen Keller is town clerk of Bethania, NC and has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Waterbury State Technical College in Waterbury, CT. She served on the Supervisory Committee of Technicraft CU in Thomaston, CT for 3 years and has been a Member Credit Union Board Member since 2002.

Nelson Lowe retired in 1998 as the VP of Human Resources at Chatham Manufacturing Company (now True Textiles) after a 36 year career. Mr. Lowe served the Chatham Employee Credit Association as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee or President from 1972 until its merger with MCU in 2009.

If you cannot attend, but wish to cast your vote,  you may use the Absentee Ballot below. This ballot is also located in the January 2013 Newsletter. Please print and mail your completed ballot to the address listed at the bottom of the form or drop it off at your local branch. Click HERE for branch locations. All absentee ballots must be received at Members CU’s administrative office by 5:00 PM, Monday, January 28, 2013.

MCU’s Corporate Office is located at 2098 Frontis Plaza Blvd. Winston-Salem, NC 27103. Please call (336) 748-4800 if you have any questions or concerns.

(Click the ballot for printer friendly view.)

To print please right click the image and click “save image as” to save to your computer. Then find the file on your computer and print. Fill out the ballot and send it to Supervisory Committee, Members Credit Union, PO Box 5297, Winston-Salem, NC 27113. Absentee ballot must be received at the administrative office by 5:00 PM, Monday January 28, 2013.

Below is a Member Testimonial that was sent to Wendy Havens, MCU’s Director of Member Services. 

Ms. Havens,

I just wanted to drop a message your way to commend one of your folks.  Tanya Council is someone I’ve worked with off and on for some time now.  She’s ALWAYS been accommodating, professional, respectful and above all: effective. She never fails to provide an answer, help me figure something out, make a competent suggestion or simply be available to help, in general.

There are many reasons why I prefer a credit union, Members specifically.  Having staff the caliber of Ms. Council is the added bonus that separates Members from other credit unions and leaves the major banks without consideration at all from my perspective.

Keep up the good work from every angle.

Sincerely,
Sherman Walker

(Left to right top row) Eric Stiff, Elizabeth Frank, BCH Child Life Specialist, Johnnie Pruitt, Director of Critical Children at Christmas. (Left to right bottom row) Andrea Blanton, MCU’s PR Assistant, Courtney Johnson, BCH Child Life practicum student, Cindy Mahan, BCH Child Life Supervisor, and Lynn Butner, BCH Child Life Dept. Secretary, pictured with all of the toys donated by MCU members, sponsor companies, and employees.

Winston-Salem NC, – Members Credit Union (MCU) members and employees donated over 500 toys and  $325 worth of gift cards to Critical Children at Christmas (CCC), a non-profit organization directed by MCU member, Johnnie Pruitt. CCC collects and delivers toys to critically ill children admitted to Brenner Children’s Hospital (BCH) in Winston-Salem, NC. This was the fifth year that the credit union held a toy drive that benefited BCH.

“The generosity of our members and employees is amazing, remarked Eric Stiff, VP/ Director of Marketing at MCU. “We are so grateful to those who donated and made this year’s toy drive a great success.”

The toy drive received an extra boost of support thanks to MCU Sponsor Company participation from Amarr Garage Doors and their distributor Piedmont Garage Doors. Both companies collected toys at their Winston-Salem and Kernersville locations.

The toys were delivered to BCH on Monday, December 10, 2012. Hospital employees inspect and sort the toys before they are handed out to the young hospital patients. Pruitt dresses up as Santa Claus and personally deliver the toys to children admitted in the hospital over the holidays.

If you would like more information about Brenner Children’s Hospital please visit www.brennerchildrens.org

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Carlos Patiño, Members CU’s VP/Director of Latino Services, passed away after a long and hard fought battle with cancer on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. His energy and enthusiasm for working at Members CU was unyielding, and he was genuinely kind towards every employee and member who had the honor of knowing him, working with him, and being his friend. 

A funeral service will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, December 15 at Our Lady of Mercy Church. The church is located at 1730 Link Road in Winston-Salem. In lieu of flowers, Carlos’ family requests that donations be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Donations can be made by phone at 800-805-5856 or online at www.stjude.org/tributes.

Winston-Salem, NC –Members Credit Union (MCU) will offer a Holiday Skip-a-Pay program for the fifth year in a row to their members. The program allows members to extend either their November or December due date on most MCU, non-mortgage related loans, without any fees or penalties by one month.  Loans with a line of credit (i.e. Visa Debit and Credit Cards) may only be skipped for the month of December.

“Our ability to offer a loan extension program for five years in a row highlights our credit union’s strong financial condition,”says Jack V. Braswell Jr., MCU President/CEO. “The best part is that we are able to put extra money in our member’s pockets when they need it most.”

In 2011, there were 2,864 loans extended through the Holiday Skip-a-Pay program that accounted for $17,811,183 in member loan obligation. While the 2012 program will conclude in December, loan modifications will continue to be made on a case by case basis.

Members who wish to take advantage of this program should call their local loan officer or the main branch at 800-951-800, ext. 256.