Celebrate International Credit Union Day with us!

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  Treats and giveaways will be available daily in our branches for all of our members.

• There is a coloring contest for kids with winners receiving $20 VISA Gift Cards.  Members of HCCU under the age of 13 who complete the International Credit Union Day Coloring Sheet and return it to either branch of the credit union by Saturday, October 22nd will be entered into a drawing for a $20 VISA gift card! Stop at a branch or go to http://horizonccu.com/MemberServicesDetail.php?SID=97 to print a coloring sheet.

• HCCU Employees will be performing 84 Random Acts of Kindness in our communities in the weeks leading up to International Credit Union Day.  That’s 1 act of kindness for each year we’ve been a credit union!
  

What is ICU day?

International Credit Union Day Celebrates The Authentic Difference

On October 20, 2016, credit unions around the world will celebrate International Credit Union Day (ICU Day).

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives, offering the same services as other financial institutions, but with a people-first philosophy.  Since 1948, on the third Thursday of every October, credit unions have celebrated the principles that make credit unions the best financial partners of people all over the world.  “The authentic difference,” this year’s ICU Day theme, zeroes in on what makes credit unions different from banks, fintech startups and other financial institutions—our principles.  

Credit unions all over the world have operated according to the same core principles since the 1850s, when a group of weary German workers, tired of being exploited by loan sharks, formed the world’s first credit union by banding together to provide affordable credit to each other.

These principles are derived from the 7 cooperative principles, shared by all cooperatives. They are:  

1. Democratic Control

One member = One vote. Whether you have $5 or $5 million, your voice is equal.

2. Open and Voluntary Membership

Members are connected by a bond of association, fostering a sense of community.

3. Non-Discrimination

Credit unions are open to all without regard for race, orientation, nationality, sex, religion, gender, or politics.

4. Service to Members

Credit unions are ranked No. 1 in service in numerous surveys, because they exist to serve members, not profit.

5. Distribution to Members

Credit unions return all profits to their members through dividends, lower fees, better savings rates, and improved services.

6. Building Financial Stability

Credit unions are historically stable organizations. They’re owned by the people they serve, so they don’t take unnecessary risks.

7. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Credit unions and cooperatives share the same principles. Together, they amplify each other’s good works.

8. Social Responsibility

Credit unions strive for social justice by committing to strengthening their communities and helping people of modest means.

9. Ongoing Education

Credit unions prioritize financial education for their members, employees, and communities as part of their pursuit of social justice.

This is why we celebrate ICU Day at Horizon Community Credit Union (HCCU).  We think ideas like people before profit, social responsibility, and financial education improve lives. It’s why cooperative banking is a key component of helping people in developing countries get access to microloans, or a middle-class couple in Green Bay receive an affordable mortgage for their first home.  

So when we wish you a Happy ICU Day at HCCU, know that we’re thanking you for belonging to a movement that’s helping your neighbors—and people around the world—grow and thrive and follow their dreams.

If you have any questions about the credit union philosophy or how HCCU can help you, stop by or contact us at (920) 433-0122 or at info@horizonccu.com.

Copyright 2016 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. For use with members of a single credit union. All other rights reserved.

Changing the World, 83 Acts of Kindness at a Time...

Credit unions across the world celebrate International Credit Union (ICU) Day each year on the third Thursday of October.This year, the theme for ICU Day was "People Helping People." At its most basic level, a credit union is people pooling their money to provide each other with affordable loans—it is literally people helping people. This is why Horizon Community Credit Union celebrates ICU Day. Because credit unions empower people, wherever they are in the world or life, to take control of their financial future.

We decided to celebrate by performing 83 Random Acts of Kindness--one act of kindness for each year HCCU has been helping members achieve success. Each staff member was asked to perform a minimum of 5-6 random acts of kindness and live the theme of People Helping People. Some of our staff got particularly creative--take a look!

1. Gave "thank you" note to mailman for delivering my mail to be even when the address is incorrect
2. Paid for coffee/meal for someone at Starbucks
3. Donated products (toiletry, personal care, etc) to UWGB students
4. Helped someone save $10 on their purchase with coupons!
5. Donated diapers to families in need
6. Gave someone $5 in an envelope
7. Bought a young lady a Starbucks coffee ($4)
8. Printed something for a friend
9. Cleaned room for a resident at nursing home me and my grandma visit
10. Made cookies for my Grandma’s neighbor
11. Helped lady with kids at the store with bagging groceries
12. Helped older gentleman put groceries in his car
13. Bought older lady $7 meal at McDonalds
14. Dropped off money at my local utilities office so that funds could be applied to a deserving persons bill especially since weather is getting colder
15. Donated food to the local food pantry via a food drive at Copps grocery store
16. Donated Cat food to the local shelter via a drive at the local Petco
17. Purchased Breast Cancer Awareness flowers and gave them to someone who is a Cancer Survivor
18. Tipped waitress 100% of my total bill at my networking lunch
19. Made baked goods for my boyfriends work crew
20. Gave someone my cart
21. Baked cookies for my neighbor
22. Paid for the order of the person behind me in the McDonald’s drive-thru
23. Wrote a thank you to the mail person
24. Gave my seat to someone
25. Bought coffee for an outgoing GM
26. Bought coffee for an incoming GM
27. Printed something for a friend
28. Opened door for stranger
29. Paid for someone’s dinner
30. Let someone merge in front of me during rush hour
31. Helped someone with a work challenge
32. Took a picture for someone per their request
33. Bought tickets to a concert for a friend
34. Gave $5 to the Kwik Trip cashier to pay for part of the next customer’s purchase.
35. Baked a nice warm meal for two friends so they could eat something hearty for lunch, versus a sandwich.  
36. Bought lunch for someone
37. Let a lady with two anxious kids and a huge cart of groceries check out before me at Target.
38. Paid for the person behind me in line at McDonald’s drive thru
39. Left a $5 tip for the bartender who got me a water during my volleyball game.
40. Printed something for a friend.
41. Said “Yes” when Goodwill cashier asked if I wanted to round up for a charity.
42. Made copies of old photos and sent them with a handwritten letter to a good friend who I haven’t talked to in a while.
43. Bought a $5 Starbucks gift card and gave it to the gentleman who held the door open for me and was so cheerful.
44. Brought a package of cookies to the workers at Maple Ridge Nursing Home
45. Brought snacks to the teachers at LearningRx along with a thank you note to everyone working there because they are so great with the kids and so happy all the time!
46. Gave a package of cookies to the girl working the drive-thru at McDonalds to share with her co-workers.
47. Left a pack of gum with the McDonalds drive-thru worker to give to the car behind me in line.
48. Brought snacks to the staff at Bright Beginnings Daycare, where my daughter went years ago, and her favorite teacher was still there!
49. Bought coffee for someone
50. Made pies, dropped them off at my grandma’s nursing home and visited.  
51. Got stopped at a drawbridge and I let cars from side road and other oncoming traffic go in front of me.
52. Dropped books off at a few Little Free Libraries around town.
53. I was getting pumpkins at a roadside vendor and gave $10.00 to some kids that were there to buy pumpkins also.
54. Donated some clothing to Goodwill.
55. Let a shopper go in front of me at the grocery store.
56. I go to the Y almost every day and one of the ladies at the front desk always calls me by name and has a huge smile on her face when I come in.  I look forward to it when I arrive and somehow every day she is there I am just happier going in the morning.  So today, I dropped off two $5 Starbucks gift cards with a note saying thanks for the bright smile so early in the morning….I asked her to use one for herself and to hand one off to someone that inspires her day!
57. Bought coffee for the person behind me
58. Bought lunch for the person behind me
59. I left a thank you note in our mailbox at home for our mail carrier because he is always so friendly and says “hi” when the kids are outside playing. He really enjoyed it. He said he has been with the US Postal Service for 8 years now (retiree) and no one has ever done this. I was really glad he liked it and my kids really appreciated it.
60. I purchased a beverage through the drive thru at McDonalds for the person behind me.
61. I bought the person behind me in the car wash line an ultimate wash. I got a honk and a wave when I was leaving the lot.
62. We donated our unused Nintendo Wii to Goodwill on the east side. Hopefully some other children can enjoy it and put it to use.
63. I opened the door for a member’s grandmother who came in to deposit a check for her granddaughter who was traveling outside of the country. The doors at Eastman are quite heavy and she would have struggled with them.
64. Paid for the people behind me at Culver’s drive thru. They actually turned it around and bought me ice cream with the money instead. So nice!
65. Paid for the car behind me at Wendy’s drive thru.
66. Gave up my seat for someone.
67. Donated some of my unused clothes.
68. Mowed my neighbors lawn after I mowed mine.
69. Made my neighbor’s dinner.
70. I used $5 to buy two people sitting outside McDonalds a coffee and Sausage McMuffin.
71. I used 5 dollars to prepay a gas pump (I left a note saying it was prepaid)
72. I went out to eat this past weekend and between me and a friend we paid for a couple’s 10th anniversary dinner.
73. Paid  $4.19 for the person behind me at McDonalds.
74. I opened the door for a lady at a restaurant
75. I opened the door to the credit union for two ladies. I gave one a hug!
76. I opened the door for a member as he was entering the credit union.
77. I opened  the door for a member as she was leaving the credit union.
78. Let a person go ahead of me in line at the grocery store.
79. A guy I see everyday standing at the bus stop, I stopped and gave him coffee one day and found out his name (Lenard).  He was very surprised and happy, we wave to each other everyday when I pull up at the stop he is waiting at. 
80. Gave a ride to one of my son's friends at school for a school activity they had last weekend. He wanted to go but couldn’t because he didn’t have a ride and wasn’t allowed to ride with other kids who had their licenses as the parents didn’t feel they had enough driving experience.  Happier than a pig in mud.
    
    
81. A gal pulled up to me at stop light asked me how to get to a business. She was lost and had an appointment was going to be late. Rather than try to explain, I told her to follow me and drove her to the parking lot of the building and got her there in time.  She was very happy.
82. Purchased ten dollars worth of tickets from a gal for a raffle. She was trying to raise money for a cause and couldn’t get anyone to contribute. She was so happy she let me know it encouraged her to keep plugging away and ended up selling $332.00 for the cause.  It was nice of her to let me know she far exceeded her goal and that I helped in a small way to motivate her.
83. Boys Scouts were trying to sell their goods to raise funds out in front of Festival.  Everyone was walking by and saying maybe later, no, too expensive. So, I bought a can of one of their goods and turned around and gave it to someone who was trying hard to ward them off.  They were shocked.  They bought something as well.  Not sure if they gave it away, I left before I could see if they did.  Great feeling.

We were inspired to perform these acts by the theme of ICU Day 2015--- but you don't need any excuse to be kind. Give yourself a random acts of kindness challenge, and pay attention to how you feel!  Also, if someone is kind to you, pay it forward! If we all act in kindness, we just might change the world!

Written/Compiled by: Breanna B. 

Happy International Credit Union Day!

International Credit Union Day has been celebrated since 1948.  The day was started to reflect on the history of credit unions and to promote our achievements.  It is meant to honor those who have dedicated their lives to the credit union movement and to bettering the lives of our credit union members worldwide.

This year's theme for the day is "Local Service, Global Good", and while we aim to live that mission every day, we wanted to do a little something extra today at Horizon Community Credit Union.  HCCU staff and members spent the morning putting together lunches for area non-profits, to be given to the people they serve and their volunteers.  

We would like to give a big thanks to those who helped us prepare the lunches, and to the volunteer and non-profit organizations in the area for the work that they do to improve our community.