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TOGETHER
We can make a difference |
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| Message From MCUCD |
We've endured months of shoveling, sub-zero temperatures, and staying inside. It's time to break out the running shoes, tune-up the mountain bikes, and blow up the rafts. While more snow is a definite potential, it's okay to allow ourselves to celebrate the pending changing of season. Spring is also a time when many start thinking about their health and getting into summer swimsuit shape. Our financial wellness has a big impact on our overall health. This issue provides an opportunity to reflect on our financial fitness and offers ways to get trained to help others be more economically sound. It also includes a tip from a financial counselor and directs our attention to the topic of the month: consumer protection. Think Spring. Live healthy. Be financially empowered. Alana |
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Making a Difference
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Big Sky Youth Empowerment
 Big Sky Youth Empowerment (BYEP) is an adventure-based, group mentoring program for Bozeman-area teenagers. Its priorities are twofold: to reduce problem behavior and increase students' positive potential by helping them build confidence, develop self-awareness, and build character. To apply, youth must demonstrate need for the program's at-risk youth mentoring services and a willingness to improve their respective situations. BYEP Participants are formed into groups of six students (in the same grade) and three volunteer mentors. They spend about 300 hundred hours a year together, meeting twice a week for after school skill-building workshops and weekend outdoor adventures. The outdoor experiences are designed to build self-esteem, while the workshops address effective communication, financial basics, and independent living skills. As students progress through the program, the focus shifts from personal development to independent
living skills including lessons in personal finance and basic employment skills. The BYEP
Crux program serves students in grades 10 -12 and is devoted to independent living skills.
The mentors coach participants on how to survive after high school, including how to get a
job, rent an apartment, or go to college. We are thrilled to be partnering with BYEP to offer a matched savings account to use towards post-secondary education. For more information on the amazing work they do, visit the
BYEP website.
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Financial Counseling Certification
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Register for the 2014 Training
 FiCEP, CUNA's Financial Counseling Certification Program, enables all credit union staff to become more confident in helping members build a stronger financial future.
This unique financial counseling training program for credit union staff combines the low-cost and convenience of a self-study program with the group hands-on learning and networking of an off-site CUNA School. FiCEP participants will
- Earn designation as Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC)
- Benefit from group training and support
- Receive low cost - discounted pricing through MCUCD
If you are interested in FiCEP and want more information, call Jami at 324-7460. This program
is open to credit union staff, member service reps, lending or collection agents, and community educators.
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| Financial Fitness Day |
Support Financial Education Programs
 Want to support and help raise awareness of credit unions' financial education activities? Here is your chance.
MCUCD has been working with the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) on "Financial Fitness Day" -- a fundraising and awareness campaign taking place April 2. Kicking off National Financial Literacy Month, Financial Fitness Day is dedicated to helping members get their financial health in shape. It's easy to participate! On Wednesday, April 2, just
- hold a Jeans or Casual Day for staff,
- have a Bake Sale for staff and members, and/or
- raise money with "Deduct or Donate a Buck" by asking members to
consider contributing $1 (or more) as they complete their transactions.
The funds raised will be split evenly between NCUF and MCUCD and used to support their financial education initiatives.For more information and a variety of downloadable resources, visit financialfitnessday.com or contact Karen Smith.
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| Tip from a Financial Counselor |
Roxie Peterson Offers Advice to New Homeowners
 As a longtime employee of Park Side Credit Union, Roxie has enjoyed serving the community during her 18 years in Whitefish, Montana. Roxie earned her FiCEP certification last spring, and has been working with clients that are in the process of purchasing a home through Habitat for Humanity. Habitat requires all clients to receive 10 hours of financial counseling. She offers these words of advice.
Tracking Spending is Essential. Budgets are great but if clients don't have a sense of how they are spending their money they are not very helpful. Have clients spend time tracking the what, where, when, and why of what they spend money on. Once there is a clear understanding of what they currently spend money on, you can help them create a budget based on their goals.
Get Grocery Guidance. Use the Sunday paper to plan your weekly meals based on what is on sale at your local store. This is especially useful for families because it cuts down on multiple trips to the store and helps them plan cost-conscious meals. Having all the ingredients for a week of meals in the house offers great flexibility- if your family doesn't feel like Taco Tuesday you have 5 other choices all ready to go.
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| MCUCD FUNdraiser |
2nd Annual Wine Pull 
Back by popular demand MCUCD will hold a Wine Pull during the awards dinner at the MCUN Annual Convention Thursday evening, May 8, at the Great Northern Hotel in Helena.
Attendees will have a chance to win a valuable bottle of wine! For $25 you can "pull" a mystery bottle of white or red wine from our diverse wine selection and 100% of your contribution will benefit the MCUCD programs that serve Montana families. The cost is $25 for the first wine pull and $20 for each additional pull.
Please consider donating a bottle of wine to this year's wine pull. For more information or to make a wine donation contact Jami Kirksey.
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| Topic of the Month |
 March 2-8 was National Consumer Protection Week, and once again MCUCD celebrated by joining government agencies and advocacy organizations to provide consumers valuable resources throughout the month of March. Visit our Consumer Resource page to access resources for the current topic "Consumer Protection," including a newsletter article, poster, featured resource, and resource guide. Use them to educate your members, clients, and community on consumer topics.
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