Utah Credit Unions Name Former
Republican Strategist as President
(Salt Lake City, Utah) -- The Utah League of Credit Unions
today announced that Scott Simpson, former Executive Director
of the Utah Republican Party, has been named as League President.
Simpson, 34, joined the League as Senior Vice President for
Governmental Affairs last April.
Said Steve Christensen, Board Chairman for the League, “We
are excited to have Scott take the helm as president. He
brings with him experience and a record of accomplishment
that is truly impressive. Given the challenges we face year
to year with state lawmakers, we believe Scott’s political
background will be vital, but his first priority will always
be to meet the needs of our member institutions in all areas.
We think Scott can fill both roles extremely well.”
Simpson formerly served two stints as executive director
for the state’s Republican Party, punctuated by a year
as special assistant to Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). He
directed the party’s election efforts in both the 2000
and 2002 election cycles, producing significant electoral
gains in both.
Observers are quick to note the party background Simpson
brings to the League as president. “There is no doubt,” said
Brent Allen of America First Credit Union, “That Scott
Simpson’s leadership will enhance our effectiveness
in the political process.”
Simpson is looking forward to this new challenge. “I
am humbled by the confidence placed in me by the board, especially
given my short time within the credit union movement. I’m
also extremely grateful for the opportunity.”
“
Working for the Utah Republican Party was a great experience,
but moving into the credit union movement has been even more
rewarding. There are so many important dimensions to the
League, of which the political is just one. We will continue
to strive to provide great service and support to our members
in all areas. Luckily, I have a really good, seasoned League
executive team already in place to help me along and support
our efforts.”
Simpson will take up his new duties starting immediately. “We
have a legislative session fast approaching, and are in the
early days of a very important election cycle. It is vital
that we hit the ground running,” said Simpson. “There
is clearly a great deal of work to be done, especially with
an open governor’s seat.”
Simpson replaces Scott Earl, who recently departed after
twelve years of service as League president.
Simpson graduated with a degree in public relations from
Weber State. Prior to his work with the state GOP, Simpson
was marketing director for Excel Entertainment. His wife,
Samantha, and their three daughters reside in Kaysville.
Ogden Home
for Abused Children to Open with a Flat-bed Full of Gifts
from N. Utah Credit Unions
OGDEN, Utah _ The Christmas Box House, a 30-bed home for
abused children, will open its doors in Ogden this Friday,
with a flat-bed trailer full of gifts from the Northern Chapter
of the Utah League of Credit Unions.
Volunteers from the northern chapter will arrive with $2,000
worth of gifts loaded into the flatbed at 10 a.m., Friday,
December 5th, during the new facility’s ribbon-cutting
ceremony. The Christmas Box House is located at 950 East
12th Street in Ogden.
The home may be opening Friday, but Northern Utah credit
unions have been shopping for the house since June, filling
wish lists including basic toiletries, clothes, games and
toys for the children.
“We knew they were going to open a new facility here,
and we wanted to do what we could to help,” said Linda
Smith, who is coordinating the program at America First Credit
Union. “Credit union employees and volunteers from
Ogden to Brigham to Morgan have been helping us for the last
six months, so we’re excited to see it all come together
on Friday.”
In addition to making donations to the Christmas Box House,
credit unions are donating games and toys for a Christmas
store that has been set up inside of the home for the children
to do their Christmas shopping.
“The store will have games, dolls, and toys so the
kids can go shopping, just like they would with mom and dad,” Smith
said.
The flat-bed truck will be loaded with large locking storage
cabinets, boxes of hygiene supplies, baby clothes, diapers,
bottles, laundry baskets, storage buckets, dolls, games and
CD players.
The Northern Chapter of the Utah League of Credit Unions
sponsors a different community group or charity every year.
Participating credit unions include:
Alliance Credit Union
America First Credit Union
Box Elder County Federal Credit Union
Devils Slide Credit Union in Morgan
Goldenwest Credit Union
Horizon Credit Union
Logan Cache Rich Credit Union
Members First Credit Union in Brigham
Ogden School District
Credit Union
Weber Credit
Union
Weber State Credit Union
Rural School Builds High-Tech
Geodesic Dome in Support of Agricultural Education:
Foundation Funds Crucial to Rural Schools
PRICE, Utah _ Mont Harmon Senior High School is completing
construction on a state-of-the-art geodesic dome that will
house a self-contained agricultural environment for students
who live in an agricultural community. The dome was built
with an $18,000 grant from the 100% For Kids Foundation.
“One of the foundation goals is to help bring technology
to rural schools, which often struggle for funding and lack
technological resources for the classroom,” said Scott
Earl, president of the Utah League of Credit Unions. “Agriculture
is a key industry in rural areas, so it makes sense to support
educational programs in that area.”
The geodesic dome was the brainchild of Mont Harmon science
and mathematics teachers Scott Fincher, Terry Bikakis and
William Ahmu. The teaches say the geodesic dome will help
them give lessons on solar energy, aquaculture, hydroponics,
horticulture, soil water conservancy and other technological
aspects of modern agriculture.
“Mont Harmon needs something of this nature to give
students increased career awareness as well as hands-on activities
in agricultural studies,” according to the grant application. “We
are striving to teach principles and give experience in areas
which no other educational institution in our area provides.”
The geodesic dome will house a pond that will act as a “solar
furnace” as well as provide space for fish, other animals,
and water plant life. A growing area in the dome will provide
for added bedding areas for all types of plants. The combined
space will allow each student provide opportunities to care
for plants throughout the growth cycle.
Community members ranging from nursery workers to contractors
have gotten involved in the project, helping to construct
the dome and offering to help maintain the plants and animals
that will live inside.
“This project shows that with the right combination
of funding and community support, rural schools can give
their students the opportunities they deserve,” Earl
said.
100% of all donations made to 100% For Kids will reach Utah
classrooms; not one cent will be spent on administrative
costs. To make a donation, please contact: Foundation Coordinator
Heidi Bradley, 1805 S. Redwood Rd., Salt Lake City, Utah
84104, (801) 877-2329 or visit: www.100percentforkids.org
Credit Unions Hold Read-A-thon
at Elementary Schools In Honor of International Credit Union
Week SALT LAKE CITY, Utah _ This week (October 13 – 17),
over 1,500 students at 29 elementary schools across Utah
will be buried in books, thanks to credit unions across the
state.
Utah credit unions are sponsoring Read-A-Thons in elementary
and middle schools in honor of International Credit Union
Week. In all, 14 credit unions will help 29 schools by donating
anywhere from $250 to $7,250 to each school.
“We wanted to do something to honor credit union heritage
which is rooted in community spirit, so this year, we decided
to host Read-A-Thons across the state,” said Scott
Earl, president of the Utah League of Credit Unions. “Credit
unions large and small are eager to participate in this event.
It just goes to show that credit union values have not changed.”
Salt Lake City Read-A-Thons will be held at:
- Washington Elementary
in partnership with Deseret First Credit Union
- James
Moss Elementary in partnership with Utah Power & Light
Employees Credit Union
- Adams Elementary, West Elementary
and Washington Elementary in partnership with Deseret First
Credit Union
- Woodrow Wilson Elementary in partnership with
Credit Union One
- Redwood Elementary in partnership with
P&S Credit
Union
- Christmas Box House School in partnership with Granite
Credit Union
Ogden Read-A-Thons will be held at:
- Highland Middle School,
Mount Ogden Middle School in partnership with Ogden School
District Credit Union
- Pioneer Elementary School in partnership
Weber State Credit Union and America First
100% For
Kids Awards Jordan School District Over $86,000 in Grants
West Jordan (Utah) _ 100% For Kids, a Utah Credit Union
Education Foundation launched last year, has awarded Jordan
School district 82 mini grants for $44,565.58. In all, teachers
and schools in the district have received 98 grants for $86,205.97.
The grants cover everything from books to teachers’ out-of-pocket
expenses.
This morning, Jim Hofeling, president of Jordan Credit Union
presented an award at Montevista Elementary School. Yesterday,
he gave a grant to Riverside Elementary School. Three more
Jordan District schools will receive checks in coming weeks.
“Credit unions are committed to supporting education
at the most fundamental level – the classroom level,” Hofeling
said. “We encourage the community to support 100%
For Kids so we can continue to make our children’s
classrooms the best they can be.”
The following major grants and school grants have been awarded
to Jordan School District:
- Monte Vista Elementary School,
$1,000 for educational videos
- Riverside Elementary, $1,500
to purchase a projector for class presentations
- Oquirrh
Hills Middle School, $2,420 for an electric kiln for pottery
classes
- Indian Hills Middle School, $4,986 for a classroom
set of high-tech calculators
- Cottonwood Heights Elementary
School, $1,311 to launch a program designed to enhance
learning with computer technology
- Terra Linda Elementary,
$5,094 to purchase computers to support voice and speech
recognition aspects of ESL software.
100% of all donations made to 100% For Kids will reach Utah
classrooms; not one cent will be spent on administrative
costs. To make a donation, please contact:
Foundation Coordinator, 1805 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City,
Utah 84104.
(801) 972-3400 or visit: www.100percentforkids.org.
Terra Linda To Receive Grant to Allow
ESL Software to Run Voice And Speech Recognition Components
West Jordan (Utah) _ 100% For Kids, a Utah Credit Union
Education Foundation launched last year, will present Terra
Linda Elementary School with a $5,094 check to purchase computers
to run ESL software.
Sherril Rassmussen, branch manager for the Jordan Landing
branch of Mountain America Credit Union, will present the
award to teacher Debbie Caranza at 8 a.m. Wednesday, August
13 at Terra Linda Elementary School, 8400 South 3400 West
in West Jordan.
“Credit unions are proud to be community partners
dedicated to improving one of our most important commodities
- education,” said Rassmussen. “We applaud Terra
Linda and this project because it not only promotes education,
but it seeks to provide these students with English, the
most important skill they need to succeed in every other
subject.”
Terra Linda Elementary serves 75 ESL students, approximately
10 percent of the student body. Last year, the school purchased
DynEd, among the highest rated ESL software available. The
computers the school is currently using meet the minim system
requirements. However, many of the available software features
are beyond the system’s capacity. The 100% For Kids
grant will allow the school to upgrade the ESL computer system,
allowing students to use the vital voice and speech recognition
components of the software, and greatly increase system speed.
The ESL system will be made available to families of ESL
students after school, allowing for parent-child tutoring
sessions using the software.
In addition to grants like this one to help bolster an ESL
program, the foundation is urging teachers to apply for mini-grants,
which cover out-of-pocket expenses.
“Utah school teachers spend an average of $250 of
their own money on classroom supplies every year,” Rassmussen
said. “Last school year, the foundation awarded a total
of $304,437 in mini grants across the state - that’s
money these dedicated teachers can now keep in their pockets.”
100% of all donations made to 100% For Kids will reach Utah
classrooms; not one cent will be spent on administrative
costs. To make a donation, please contact:
Foundation Coordinator, 1805 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City,
Utah 84104.
(801) 972-3400 or visit: www.100percentforkids.com.
Utah Credit Unions Launch “Poder Economico” Outreach Program Aims to Bring Economic Empowerment to Utah’s
Latino Community
The Utah League of Credit Unions is rolling out an
outreach program aimed at helping credit unions across the
state better serve Latinos. The program, titled "Poder
Economico" translates to “Economic Power Project.”
Latinos are approaching $600 billion in purchasing power,
but only half have relationships with formal financial
institutions. Utah has approximately 265,000 Spanish-speaking
families. If the national average applies here, that
means about 132,500 families do not have a relationship with
a formal financial institution. Consequently, many are
falling prey to loan sharks and payday lenders. Even
in
their home countries, up to 80 percent of Latinos don't
have bank accounts.
In an effort to build trust and reach this growing segment
of Utah’s population, Utah credit unions have recently
started hosting workshops to reach this community and overcome
Latinos' distrust of financial institutions. The Utah League
of Credit Unions is partnering with community leaders, the
Mexican Consulate, Univision Spanish language TV station,
and the Governor’s Office on Hispanic Affairs to offer
financial education to the Latino community.
This is a hot topic of discussion around the country. The
National Credit Union Association recently held a seminar
on the subject. For more information, visit the following
links:
http://www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2003/NR03-0708.htm
http://www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2003/NR03-0710.htm
Statement from the Utah League of Credit Unions Regarding
Current Developments at Utah Copper Employees Credit Union
Scott Earl, president of the Utah League of Credit Unions,
issued the following statement on June 19, 2003:
"There have been various press accounts regarding alleged
embezzlement at Utah Copper Employees Credit Union. While
most have been reasonably accurate, there has been speculation
and some unfortunate misleading information, as well.
"There
are vital points we must stress: the Utah Copper Employees
Credit Union is not, and has not been, closed.
The credit union is open for business, and the members' deposits
are entirely safe. All credit union deposits are federally
insured and privately bonded. Most important of all, we want
to make completely clear that not a single member is in danger
of losing a single dollar, nor will they be.
"From time to time in the financial services industry,
allegations such as these surface and must be taken seriously.
We are all reminded once again of the importance of prudent
reserves and proper insurance for member deposits. When all
is said and done, Utah Copper Employees Credit Union will
fulfill is obligations to all concerned, especially its members.
The credit union's safety and soundness are not in question.
Even if the allegations prove true, this will reinforce the
soundness of the system of audits and insurance put in place
by the state and other entities. The system works.
"Finally, no charges have yet been filed. It is unfair
to those involved to presume guilt to any degree. The credit
union is cooperating fully with federal law enforcement officials
and state regulators. It is important to stress that the
matter is under investigation; any conclusions or inferences
at this stage are premature and inappropriate. There has
been speculation as to the amount of money involved, which
is also premature, since the matter is under investigation
and no such conclusions can be reached."
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