National Dora Maxwell Award: SLCU Earns First Place Honors

Washington, D.C. Soo Line Credit Union earned first place honors in the national Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award program for credit unions.

This social responsibility recognition awards program, sponsored by the Minnesota Credit Union Network and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), honors credit unions for their involvement in community projects and activities.

The focus of SLCU’s entry was a community Halloween party hosted in Glenwood to provide youth with an alternative to trick-or-treating. The event included games, prizes and treats. A total of 37 businesses and local organizations donated time, money and materials, and 34 volunteers manned the event. Nearly 300 young people and their parents attended the 2-hour event held on October 31, 2006 at Central Square in Glenwood.

The second community Halloween party was held in Glenwood on October 31, 2007 with a total of 50 businesses, local organizations and individuals donating time, money and materials. Again nearly 300 young people and their parents attended the 2-hour event. Plans are already underway for the third community Halloween party to be held October 31, 2008.

SLCU’s 2007 entry placed first on the state level in August and competed nationally in November against credit unions from across the country. This was SLCU’s first year participating in the Dora Maxwell competition. All forty-six national award winners, including Soo Line Credit Union, were honored at a reception in Washington, D.C., March 5, 2008.

Outstanding Volunteer Award

April 8, 2006. Kat Asmus-Smithe of Soo Line Credit Union received formal recognition as the Minnesota Family Involvement Council (FIC) Outstanding Volunteer.

Kat handles the FIC newsletter, helps coordinate donations for the annual silent auction, is a judge in the FIC scholarship competition, and assists in all other committee projects.

The FIC is a volunteer-based organization fun by credit union professionals and board members. Its mission is to enhance the future of the credit union Movement by promoting financial awareness, financial education and full-family involvement in Minnesota credit unions. The recipient of this annual award is voted on by the members of the council.