National Volunteer Week Highlights Volunteer Efforts Of Maine CUs

Friday, April 25, 2008

In celebration of National Volunteer Week (April 27-May 3), the Maine Credit Union movement's unique volunteer program called Credit Unions Share for ME released the final results of volunteer efforts by Maine's credit unions in 2007, and the amount of hours credit unions spent volunteering in their community.  The six year-old, award-winning program documented a record-setting 23,004.50 hours volunteered by credit union staff and directors from January 1 - December 31, 2007, an increase of 18% over the previous year.

Based on figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which calculates the value of one hour volunteered in Maine at $15.25, the value of the time volunteered by Maine's credit unions equaled $350,000 in 2007.

According to the Maine Credit Union League, which coordinates the Program, the amount of volunteers participating in this program also saw a significant increase (13%) from the previous year with 2,304 individuals from credit unions recording time spent volunteering in their communities.

In 2007, the top five credit unions contributing the most volunteer hours were (location of main office and total hours listed in parentheses): Rainbow FCU in Lewiston (2,517); Saco Valley CU in Saco (2,501); Five County CU in Bath (1,920.75); Midcoast FCU in Bath (1,698.50); and Franklin-Somerset FCU in Skowhegan (1,3,43.25).  The top five credit unions with the most total volunteers were: Rainbow FCU in Lewiston (215); Five County CU in Bath (191); Saco Valley CU in Saco (177); Midcoast FCU in Bath (172); and (tie) Ocean Communities FCU in Biddeford and NorState FCU in Madawaska both at 118.
 
Throughout the year, credit union representatives participated in a variety of community-service initiatives from delivering meals to seniors and donating blood to youth athletics and serving as flag bearers at military funerals.  In 2007, the Program averaged 1,917.04 hours volunteered per month with an average of 192 volunteers participating. Credit Unions Share for ME tracks and updates the volunteer efforts of credit unions on a monthly basis.
 
Jon Paradise, Governmental and Public Affairs Manager at the Maine Credit Union League, explained, "By their very structure, credit unions are about volunteers, with each credit union governed by a volunteer, unpaid board of directors. Volunteering to help others in the community is an extension of the credit union philosophy of 'people helping people'.  Credit unions are not just about being located in the communities they serve but truly being a part of them through involvement for the simple reason of 'it's the right thing to do'." Paradise said that these figures are only the documented figures provided by participating credit unions so the actual number is likely higher but we are pleased with the level of participation reflected in these results.  He added, "This program began during National Volunteer Week six years ago so we announce the previous year's figures at this time each year.  It highlights and recognizes the hundreds of individuals who volunteer and are involved with causes and activities in their communities throughout the year."

Through Credit Unions Share for ME, Paradise said that the League hopes to increase awareness of how active Credit Unions, their staff and directors are as an entire movement as well as to encourage new volunteer opportunities.  Credit Unions Share for ME is a way to bring all of those efforts together as a collective movement.