Approximately ten months ago I was gliding across a very snowy Interstate 94 east of Bismarck, heading to Montana from my home state of New York. Having no clue what I ought to expect in a state that I had neither visited nor had heard much about made me a little nervous. However, it was not long before being captivated by the awe inspiring beauty of the treasure state that my mind was at ease. And, after delving into the credit union movement as well as the community of Billings I have become certain of one conclusion: Montana is now home. No matter where I travel in Montana, I feel part of a greater and tight knit community, perhaps this state really is a small town with really long streets.

A striking feature of Montana is the sense of community, embodied by the statewide presence of cooperatives. From electric, energy, and agricultural cooperatives to health, telecommunication, and food cooperatives, Montanans know how to work together to meet the needs of and empower local communities. Did you know that Montana's credit unions are also cooperatives? Credit unions are not for profit, member owned, democratically run, community oriented and driven institutions that are in fact financial cooperatives. Take time this month to learn more about the cooperative advantage and the difference that credit unions are making across the state.

Be proud and feel good about the benefits that our credit unions and other cooperatives are bringing daily to communities across Montana. But remember, these benefits came through the labors of cooperation and should be similarly appreciated in a collective manner through the sharing of individual stories of empowerment and positive change in our local communities.

Cheers!

Thor Kasenko
 MCUCD AmeriCorps*VISTA - Outreach