Northwest Community News and Events for 2009
Events and announcements for:
March 2009--Members met at the Annual Meeting on March 18
Our annual meeting was held on March 18 at 5:45 at
our Gateway headquarters. We heard from our CEO (Helen Byrnes) and several of our
other leaders. Board Election 2009 results were announced. We heard about our
progress in 2008 and our plans to continue growing even during the financially
challenging times that may be ahead. Here are some
highlights of our 60th annual meeting!
March 2009--Members help save lives on March 18
On March 18 the Lane Memorial Blood Bank Bloodmobile
took donations in the Gateway
branch parking lot from 7:30 am to 10:30 am. Donated blood saves
countless lives in our community and is urgently needed.
Contact us if you have questions or would
like to donate blood at one of our blood drives.
March 2009--Here come the Change Bandits!
The Change Bandits needed your help and you responded!
During the month of March, members helped the Change Bandits gather change for the
Children's Miracle Network. Our Lane County branches were filled with collection jars,
decorations and an occasional wandering “change bandit”. With your help, our Gateway
branch raosed the most money of any other participating credit union branch! Thank you,
contributors and congratulations, Gateway branch!
The winning branch staff were rewarded with a plaque
bearing their names above the pediatrics unit's entrance.
Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated
to saving and improving the lives of children. They do this by raising funds for children’s
hospitals across North America, such as the pediatrics center at Riverbend Medical Campus.
If you were not able to donate but would still like to help, you can find other ways to make
a difference at the Children’s Miracle Network website.
February 2009--Feeling taxed?
It's tax time again. This is the time of year that many
people look at their savings plan and wonder if there might be better ways to protect
their money from being whittled away by taxes and inflation. Sound familiar? If so,
we have some ideas to share. Read more here.
February 2009--Into the outdoors? Here are three shows you’ll dig:
The Northwest is a beautiful place to play outdoors.
What do you like to do out there? Three Boat & Sportsman’s Shows across western Oregon
represented your favorite outdoor activities for three weekends in January and
February. Boating, camping, fishing, hunting, hiking and many more of the Northwest’s
favorite recreational interests were presented through hundreds of exhibits. Kids
and adults were entertained and excited by the climbing wall, archery range,
shooting gallery, live trout pond and other wildlife shows. You could get some great
outdoor ideas by watching demonstrations, seeing exhibits and hearing lectures on
your favorite outdoor activities.
At our booth we offered some ideas on
how to finance the outdoor gear you've been eyeing. We also offered on-site
applications, but you can still check out our rates
on RVs, boats, motorcycles and apply online
any time.
Eugene: KEZI
Boat & Sportsmen’s Show presented by Bi-Mart
Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009
Lane County Fairgrounds Convention Center
Roseburg: Northwest
Community Credit Union Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Show presented by Bi-Mart
February 13-15, 2009
Douglas County Fairgrounds Complex
Medford: KDRV
Jackson County Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Show presented by Bi-Mart
February 20-22, 2009
Jackson County Expo Center
February 2009--GM and Chrysler offer rebates just for credit union members. Finance with Northwest and get a great rate too!
GM and Chrysler have put together some rebates that are
just for Credit Union members to take advantage. It’s part of a program called Invest
in America and you can find information about it at
www.lovemycreditunion.org and
www.gm.com/creditunion.
February 2009--Pair crowned Eugene/Springfield's Most Eligible
On February 7, we celebrated our community's
single heroes and crowned two of them the Most Eligible singles.
Read about Northwest Community's Most
Eligible, a fundraiser for foster kids and Junior League of Eugene.
February 2009--Beaverton branch just a block from new WES station
Our Beaverton branch
is just a block away from Tri Met’s new WES Hall/Nimbus park and ride.
Last week was the new light rail rout's grand opening celebration and we were there.
Take a look at the photos!
February 2009--Pre-event bash narrows down the field of Most Eligible contestants
At the Valley River Mall on Thursday evening (Feb. 5)
between 6:30 and 8 PM, a panel of celebrity judges narrowed down our field of contestants.
Visitors could enter to win a pair of tickets to the main event and concert on Feb. 7.
Read about Northwest Community's Most Eligible pre-event
bash.
January 2009--Here's a chance to help injured animals heal and return to the wild
Between January 20 and February 14, Grants Pass area
banks and credit union branches will compete to see who can raise the most for
Wildlife Images, a local non-profit organization that rehabilitates animals and
returns them to the wild. Read more and see how you
can help.
January 2009--Oregon City and Beaverton branches paint the town green
On January 17, our Beaverton and Oregon City branch
staff helped put a nice new coat of green on neighborhood streets and
parks by planting new trees. This was our Portland area
branches’ second tree planting with Friends of Trees, a non-profit group of volunteers
that helps bring the benefits of a leafy canopy to neighborhoods all across the city.
If you’d like to volunteer to help plant and care for
Portland's trees, donate or see about getting trees for your neighborhood, find out more
at the
Friends
of Trees website.
January 2009--Lane County businesses (like yours and ours) resolve to get greener
The Green Lane sustainable business association of Lane
County held their kick-off party at our Gateway
branch on the evening of January 15. The party packed our lobby with
presentations of what local businesses are doing to make their operations more
sustainable and demonstrations of how many of those sustainable solutions can save
businesses money. If you would like more information about joining Green Lane or want
to learn how your Lane County business can become more sustainable, visit the
Green
Lane website.
January 2009--You can help save lives in our community; Donate blood on Jan. 7
On January 7 the Lane Memorial Blood Bank Bloodmobile
took donations in the Gateway branch parking
lot in Springfield from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Donated blood saves countless lives in our
community and is urgently needed. Contact us if
you have questions or would like to donate blood at one of our blood drives.
January 2009--Should you be skeptical about mortgage renegotiation offers?
The answer is yes. The prospect of losing your home to
foreclosure is terrifying and as with any fear, there are always shady business people
ready to make buck off of those looking for salvation.
(This article about “mortgage
mod” firms is a good read.)
Before you spring for the apparent safety of any
mortgage modification offer, you should explore your options. Researching the
possibilities could save you thousands of dollars in fees that you weren’t
expecting.
To start, check with your current mortgage company to
see what solutions they can offer you. You can also check to see if you can refinance
through a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) program. (Get
help from HUD in Oregon.)
And you’re always welcome to
ask us how we can help you explore
your refinance options.
January 2009--We’re looking for candidates for 2009’s Most Eligible
Northwest and Junior League of Eugene are looking for
the community’s most eligible single people. Despite how it might first sound, we’re
not having a beauty pageant. We’re looking for someone who makes an outstanding
difference in the Eugene/Springfield community through their professional career or a
volunteer position.
Sound like someone you know? You still have a little
time left to recommend someone for candidacy! After all candidates are reviewed,
on February 7th at the McDonald Theatre, we will throw a coronation celebration and
crown the winner! (Read the 2009 Most Eligible
details or recommend a candidate here.)
Not only will the candidates be recognized for what they
do in our community, but all proceeds will benefit foster children in our area through
Junior League’s A Caring Place and A Caring Response. These services provide much
needed assistance for foster children and their foster families.
January 2009--Follow us on Twitter!
For the latest Northwest
updates, you can follow our very
own Deanna on Twitter! She will post special rates,
upcoming events, community activities and ways that you can be involved with your
Northwest Community.
January 2009--We wish you a safe and happy New Year!
From us here at Northwest Community, have a safe and
happy new year! Our branches will be closed for
New Year's Day on Thursday, January 1. Branches will open at their
regularly scheduled times on Friday,
January 2. (Please note that our North Bend branch
will now open earlier, beginning Fri, Jan. 2.)