Credit Union Times - Centennial Edition - (Page I3) CeLeBrAtiNg 100 YeArS , SPeCiAL CeNteNNiAL editioN America’s Credit Union Museum: Celebrating 100 Years of People Helping People By MYriaM Di GiOVanni CU Times Senior Staff Reporter MANCHESTER, N.H. — What’s the best way to mark 100 years of people helping people? For America’s Credit Union Museum the answer was to create a historic tribute to all that credit unions have done and continue to do for their members. Credit unions got their start in the United States on Dec. 16, 1908, in the 7,800-square-foot, three-story Victorian home of local attorney Joseph Boivin, who with counsel and guidance from Canada’s credit union movement leader Alphonse Desjardins ran the first credit union. Originally called St. Mary’s Cooperative Credit Union, the credit union’s name was revised in 1925 to La Caisse Populaire Ste. Marie, or Bank of the People St. Mary’s. Today the site has been transformed into a historic treasure trove known as America’s Credit Union Muse- The Defense Credit Union Council room is a popular um. On the first floor, visitors can walk through the Financial Literacy Education Committee, and since then original receiving hall furnished with antiques and view our CU 4 Reality Financial education program has made a four rooms where business used to be conducted. There real difference in the lives of young people today.” is also a children’s room designed to give young people a Created to give middle and high school students a perspective on the value of money from 1908 to now. reality check, Powell said, the program begins with a Videos in the viewing room provide an overview of classroom curriculum developed by educators for educathe credit union movement. Elevators to the second floor tors. The curriculum can be customized and integrated lead to exhibit rooms. The third floor boasts a state-of- into an existing classroom curriculum. the-art conference and training room, complete with two The course concludes with a CU 4 Reality Fair, a simuscreens and two projectors to be used simultaneously or lation of spending and budgeting based on career choices independently of one another and an on-site catering and lifestyle decisions. The students create personal budkitchen. gets and allocate dollars for clothing, food, The museum opened its doors in housing, utilities, transportation and 2002, but the project got its start other surprises that life may throw in 1994 when Armand and at them. The fair is designed to Joanne Lemire donated the help students realize the realiBoivin family home to the ties of life and make their New England Credit Union mistakes in a safe environHeritage Foundation. With ment before heading out on an eye on restoring the their own. house to create a national Powell, who has been a credit union museum and part of the museum for building a state-of-the-art nine years, said her work conference and training here is a labor of love. facility, Rochester, N.H., “One of my favorite exhibdesign-build firm Willey its here is the room sponsored Brothers and local contracby the Defense Credit Union tor Jewett Construction Co. Council and Service Credit Union were selected for the renovathat features a beautiful eagle in tion. honor of defense credit unions that This is an exterior shot of “When we first opened the America’s Credit Union Museum take care of our military men and museum in 2002 CUNA in Manchester, N.H. women and their families,” she said. Mutual Group developed this “There is this great story about World great video overview of credit unions and we thought with our 100th anniversary, it was a great opportunity to produce a new video,” said Peggy Powell, the museum’s executive director. The DVD, “Credit Unions: 100 Years of Building Financial Futures,” was sponsored by CUNA, the American Association of Credit Union Leagues, CUNA Mutual Group, U.S. Central and St. Mary’s Bank. BOSTON — A Boston newspaperman The 30-minute video chronicles and showcases the in 1923 created a new logo cartoon to events and people responsible for the development of graphically symbolize the credit union the credit union movement. movement. “It took almost a year, and over 20 credit union leaders Joseph Stern, an artist with the appear in it discussing everything from when credit unions Boston Herald, created the drawing, first started to the Credit Union House, corporates and which depicts a small man seeking more,” said Powell. “It was very well done, and I think it protection from the rain under an has been so well received because it brings history to life umbrella with a credit union label. in an interesting way. I’ve received phone calls from people The happy little credit union member telling me how they were inspired by the video.” is protected as hard times, sickness According to Powell, the DVD helps to further rein- and financial distress rain down. force the two goals for the museum: commemorating the Roy F. Bergengren, executive secfounders and site of America’s first credit union and retary of the Credit Union National serving as an educational tool. Extension Bureau, had asked his “This DVD speaks to what credit unions have accom- friend, Joe Stern, to create a symbol plished and the good we continue to do. Along those lines that showed how credit unions help we are also really proud of our financial education efforts,” people. the museum director said. “In 2004, we established a Stern, an Austrian immigrant www.cutimes.com stop in the museum. America’s Credit Union Museum celebrates 100 years of credit unions with the release of this new DVD. War II and the invasion of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. There was a credit union in the back of a hanger which was being bombed by the Japanese and this credit union treasurer went in and tried to save the records of his members,” said Powell. “It just speaks to how committed people are in the movement, and that commitment is still there to today.” Powell said the exhibit is just one of many that tell the story of the difference credit unions have made. “I used to work for banks early on and never knew about credit unions until I started here, but the more I learned the more I realized that this was the perfect fit for me. And as a history lover, it’s been a labor of love,” said Powell. “We’ve certainly had our challenges, but we are gaining more and more public recognition.” —mdigiovanni@cutimes.com Boston Newspaper Artist, Joseph Stern, Created the ‘Little Man’ Logo in 1923 who had just started his job at the newspaper, gave Roy a cartoon starring the little man and his credit union. The Credit Union National Extension Bureau would become the Credit Union National Association in 1934. Stern also drew cartoons for Bergengren’s magazine, The Bridge, which was first published in June 1924. The magazine shared information about credit unions with credit unions. In each issue, the little man appeared in a bridge tender’s outfit holding a sign saying, “The Road is Open.” Stern created many drawings for The Bridge, which is called Credit Union Magazine today. At one point, The Bridge even had a column named “Under the Umbrella.” Credit Union Times, December 2008 3 http://www.cutimes.com
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