SW Washington Chapter of Credit Unions

Wrapping up with a Feel Good Friday recap!

Last week, Clark County credit union representatives from Columbia, HAPO, iQ, OnPoint, Pacific NW, People's, Rivermark, and met with Cloth + Foster to deliver a wide array of important items for local foster children, including bedding, arts & crafts supplies, personal hygiene products, and much more. Thank you to Unitus for their participation as well!

Thank you to all our members and community for their generous contributions. They will provide essential supplies to youth during some of their most difficult times.

As credit unions, it's natural for us to join forces for the betterment of our communities; we're proud to embody the spirit of . GoWest Credit Union Association

We're excited to announce the successful conclusion of our Credit Unions Care Week Donation Drive!

Last Friday, Cowlitz County credit union representatives from Fibre Federal, Lower Columbia Longshoremen's, and Red Canoe met with Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families to deliver a substantial collection of socks, underwear, and personal hygiene items for local foster children.

Thank you to all our members and community for their generous contributions. They will provide essential supplies to youth during some of their most difficult times.

As credit unions, it's natural for us to join forces for the betterment of our communities; we're proud to embody the spirit of . Stay tuned for next week when we'll share how our Clark County credit union friends made a difference for foster youth in their region! GoWest Credit Union Association

Happy Credit Unions Care Week, everyone! Our donation drive to support local foster youth in Clark and Cowlitz Counties kicks off today and runs through Friday. You can visit our event pages here on Facebook or our website for more information: https://www.swwchapter.org/events.html
Let's make this drive a smashing success!

Last month, we hosted two Shred Day events in Clark and Cowlitz Counties. Thank you to everyone who attended and pitched in, including our credit union volunteers from Columbia, Fibre, iQ, Lower Columbia Longshoremen's, OnPoint, People's, Red Canoe, and Rivermark!

In all, we helped hundreds of local residents safely discard over 23,000 pounds of confidential documents. And, we collected 1,487 pounds of canned food items and $1,589 in cash donations for our local food banks: Clark County and Lower Columbia CAP. Combined, this will provide 5,046 meals to people in our communities. GoWest Credit Union Association

Did you know that occurs on the third Thursday of October every year?

In honor of this celebration, our Chapter hosts an annual volunteer event on the following Saturday known as “Credit Unions Care Day.” During this event, credit union representatives team up to volunteer at various organizations and give back to our communities in meaningful ways.

This year, Cowlitz and Clark County area credit unions partnered with their local Habitat for Humanities to assist in a variety of projects.

Volunteers with Cowlitz County Habitat for Humanity participated in Brush with Kindness projects and helped with porch repairs and maintenance.

Volunteers with Evergreen Habitat for Humanity assisted with furniture assembly, organizing, cleaning, and helping customers.

Our friends from the Cascadia Chapter of Credit Unions also joined the fun this year and volunteered at their local Oregon Food Bank.

Thank you to all of our SW WA Chapter credit unions who volunteered and helped showcase the !
Columbia Credit Union, Fibre Federal Credit Union, HAPO Community Credit Union, OnPoint Community Credit Union, People's Community Federal Credit Union, Red Canoe Credit Union

GoWest Credit Union Association

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2023 Legislative Dinner at Windy Hills Winery in September. We had a wonderful evening full of networking, education, and credit union advocacy.

A special thanks to our local legislators in attendance, Rep. Peter Abbarno, Rep. Kevin Waters, and Rep. Greg Cheney who took the time to share their thoughts with us, as well as our credit union speakers.

Lindsey Salvestrin, President and CEO of Columbia Credit Union, spoke about housing access and affordability issues; Cori Poland, Chief Experience Officer of Rivermark Community Credit Union, discussed financial literacy and access to financial services; and Joe Amrine, Chief Credit Officer of Fibre Federal Credit Union, shared about efforts to help small businesses and consumers access capital in a complex economic and rate environment.

Shown here are the Southwest Washington Chapter of Credit Unions Board Members, credit union representatives, and these local legislators.

Credit unions in attendance: Columbia Credit Union, Fibre Federal Credit Union, HAPO Community Credit Union, iQ Credit Union, NW Priority Credit Union, OnPoint Community Credit Union, People's Community Federal Credit Union, Red Canoe Credit Union, Rivermark Community Credit Union, and Unitus Community Credit Union

GoWest Credit Union Association

We love the cooperative spirit of credit unions. Fibre Federal and Red Canoe Credit Union teamed up to help our local communities fight identity theft by volunteering at our annual free shred day event. It’s just one great example of the “Credit Union Difference!”

Happy Shred Day! Our Fibre Family volunteers and friends at Red Canoe Credit Union have teamed up to help our community fight identity theft. While this event is free, food and cash donations are gladly accepted, and benefit Lower Columbia CAP’s Help Warehouse. Each person is allowed up to 3 boxes of shred, and we will be here from 9am-1pm. A big thank you to the SW Washington Chapter of Credit Unions for always holding this event. Come see us and say hi!

Our annual Shred Day is tomorrow! We will be having two events: one each in Cowlitz and Clark County. Shredding service is free for up to 3 boxes per car, but our credit union volunteers will gladly accept donations of non-perishable food and cash.

Cowlitz County Information:
Address: 8220 12th Ave. Longview, WA 98632 (Behind Fibre Federal Credit Union Main Office)
Food and Cash Donation Beneficiary: Lower Columbia CAP'S Help Warehouse

Clark County Information:
Address: 201 NE Park Plaza Dr. Vancouver, WA 98684
Food and Cash Donation Beneficiary: Clark County Food Bank

Every year, Credit Unions Care Day falls on the Saturday following International Credit Union Day. During this time, credit union volunteers come together to participate in two volunteer events in Clark & Cowlitz counties. Our friends at Cascadia Chapter of Credit Unions also partnered with us this year for a volunteer event in the Portland area.

In Cowlitz County, 15+ volunteers from three different credit unions came together to create 300 “thank you” appreciation bags for local Veterans. The Chapter partnered with the Longview American Legion Post 155 Auxiliary to ensure they were distributed to Veterans in our area. Every bag contained a warm pair of gloves or socks, various treats, and a handwritten card. Thank you to Fibre Federal Credit Union, Lower Columbia Longshoremen's Federal Credit Union, Red Canoe Credit Union, and PUD Federal Credit Union for donating towards this important cause.

In Clark County, 10 volunteers from five credit unions came together to support Clark County Habitat for Humanity. They worked on various projects at their retail store, including building furniture, cleaning, and organizing inventory.

Down in the Portland area, credit union volunteers came together to help eliminate hunger by partnering with the Oregon Food Bank. Their efforts resulted in over 2,300 meals for people in need within the Portland community.

Credit unions were founded on the philosophy of “People Helping People.” It is important for us to give back to our communities, both consistently and cooperatively. Thank you to all our credit union volunteers from Fibre Federal Credit Union, Red Canoe Credit Union, iQ Credit Union, Rivermark Community Credit Union, People's Community Federal Credit Union, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Columbia Credit Union, and Cascadia Chapter of Credit Unions.

Here are a few more pics from our recent Shred Events in Clark and Cowlitz Counties. Lots of fun. And, a great service for the communities we serve.

Thanks to everyone who attended and pitched in to help at our recent Shred Events in Clark and Cowlitz Counties. In all, we helped hundreds of local folks safely dispose of thousands of pounds of confidential documents. And, we raised $2,173 in donations and 2,787 pounds of donated canned food items for our local food banks.

Interested in getting a little exercise while helping your friends and neighbors? Shred Day is a free community-wide event put on by the Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions on Saturday, April 23 from 10 AM - 2 PM. If you're a credit union employee at a participating credit union, volunteer to help at one of our two locations in Clark and Cowlitz Counties. You'll be helping to make the community a safer place. Sign up here: http://www.swwchapter.org/shred-day-2022.html

Spring is just around the corner and you know what that means. Spring cleaning!

Mark your calendar now for our 2022 Shred Events, from 10 AM – 2 PM (or whenever our trucks are full) on Saturday, April 23. Limit 3 boxes per car. This is a free event but canned food and cash donations will be accepted.

Two locations:
Clark County: Clark County Food Bank at 6502 NE 47th Ave, Vancouver
Cowlitz County: Fibre Federal Credit Union at 820 12th Ave, Longview

Hello, my name is Jennifer Small. I am the Regional Director for Rivermark Community Credit Union. I am honored to serve as the Vice President of the SW Washington Chapter of Credit Unions for a second term and have been part of the Chapter for over 6 years.

It has been a pleasure to work in the Credit Union industry for over 18 years. From my first day at my first credit union where they talked about the CU Philosophy, and people helping people, I knew Credit Unions was a place I wanted to build a career.

When I am not working I enjoy spending time with my family and encouraging my kids in their passions of Jiu Jitsu, Baseball and drawing.

I am looking forward to a great year with the Chapter and offering events to grow, learn, advocate and live the Credit Union Philosophy.

Hello! My name is Kristal Champagne, and I am an Instructional Designer at Fibre Federal Credit Union. I am excited and honored to serve my first term as treasurer for the SW WA Chapter of Credit Unions.
I have worked in the Credit Union industry and for Fibre for over 17 years. I started as a teller and have worked in several different positions within the Credit Union, but my passion has always been in training and development. I love everything about the Credit Union Philosophy and I’m looking forward to helping spread that during my time on the board.
In my free time I enjoy playing wallyball, which is like volleyball but crazier, and spending time with my family. I am an avid dog lover and if my husband wasn’t the voice of reason that I desperately need, I would have way more than just one.

Hello! My name is Crystal Garrison, and I am the Marketing & Community Development Manager at Fibre Federal Credit Union.

I have been in the Credit Union industry for over six years now and consider myself an avid Credit Union advocate. People helping people is not only the Credit Union motto, but it’s what I get to do daily in my role. I am looking forward to joining the Board this year, as well as continuing to promote and spread Credit Union cooperation.

In my spare time, I love to travel and watch football. I have traveled to 11 different countries and 11 different states. Football is a huge passion of mine, including being a Seattle Seahawks fan, playing fantasy football, and researching analytics.

Hi, my name is Leann Wilkins. I’ve been with iQ Credit Union for 23 years and in my current role as Lending Administration Manager for 8 years.

I joined the chapter in 2015 because I love credit unions and I wanted to find an additional way to serve our industry. In 2022 I started another term as the Chapter Secretary. I’ve held this position in the past, as well as Treasurer and Member-at-Large.

My favorite thing about credit unions is our cooperative nature. Collaboration is key to finding success and you won’t find it stronger anywhere else. I love the ever-present focus of goodwill at all credit unions alike, with a top priority of People Helping People no matter where you turn.

Outside of work I enjoy campfires and RVing, friends, golfing, reading, and relaxing. I’m an avid community volunteer and also serve as Treasurer for ReFuel Washougal, a non-profit that serves the basic needs of the hungry and homeless in the Washougal/Camas community.

Hello everyone, I’m Hillery Losli from iQ Credit Union. It is an honor to be returning as president for the SW WA Chapter of CU’s for my second term. I have been in the CU industry for just over 10 years and 30+ years in the financial sector. It is a privilege to serve the members and staff of iQ, along with the communities in SW WA. When I am not working, I enjoy outdoor adventures with my puppy Chapo, camping, golf and family time. I look forward to leading the chapter through a successful year with micro courses, roundtables and legislative networking being just a few of the activities we have planned to make 2022 fabulous! Cheers.

Shred Events are back! Join us on Saturday, September 25 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at two locations; 1) Clark County Food Bank at 6502 NE 47th Ave in Vancouver, and 2) Fibre Federal Credit Union at 820 12th Ave in Longview. We're looking for credit union volunteers to pitch in and help at these popular events. For more details, and to sign up as a volunteer...http://www.swwchapter.org/shred-day-2021.html

Shred Day 2021 Shred day is a volunteer opportunity for credit union employees to assist fellow community members dispose of private or sensitive documents. The event will take place in Clark and Cowlitz County...