Love Coupon Book

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, do you feel like you get the same things for your special someone every year? Roses, chocolates, greeting cards… It’s time to get creative and switch it up this year! Even though the roses and the chocolates are great, nothing says “I love you” more than something that you make yourself! Putting time and effort into a gift makes it even more special. There are a few things you can make your special someone without spending a lot of money. One of my favorite is the love coupon book. This is a way to pamper your special someone and show that you still care deeply about their wishes. With a love coupon book you can make written promises for your loved one to be redeemed whenever they wish and with no restrictions. There are no rules; you decide what you want to promise. Here are a few examples to help you get started:

•        Romantic Dinner for two
•        A night of stargazing
•        A free wish
•        One BIG bear hug
•        24 hours of no arguments- no matter what!
•        A day of games and fun
•        30 minutes of cuddling
•        A movie date to the movie of your choice
•        Favorite homemade meal made by me
•        One full body massage
•        Blank- you fill in
•        One evening treated like royalty
•        Breakfast in bed

There really are no limits to this! So be creative and have fun, this is a gift your other half is really going to appreciate!

Post by: Karla C

SunDrops Rewards - The more you use, the more you’re rewarded!

We are pleased to introduce are new member benefit rewards program, SunDrops!  In Northeast WI, we realize there are tons of different financial institutions competing for your business.  We want to show our appreciation for your business and give you EVEN MORE reasons to continue doing business with us.  

So how does it work?  Beginning on 1/1/2015, members will be awarded points for the different services they use.  The more products and services you use, the more points you earn!  The number of points you earn for each product varies – a loan will earn more points than a savings account, for example.  And you don’t have to do anything differently; everyone is automatically enrolled and you earn points for things you’re already doing, like using a Horizon checking account and direct deposit!  Points are totaled up at the end of each month and ranked in four point levels:  Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum. 

Now let’s get to the good part... what do YOU get out of this?  LOTS OF FREE THINGS!   Here is just a sampling of some of the possible rewards:     

• Bronze level members are eligible for free text banking, free online banking & phone banking, free check cashing and free coin counting.
• By being a silver member you can receive all of the bronze level rewards PLUS things such as upgraded statements, free faxing and photocopies, and even one free box of checks!
• If you are a Gold member, you can receive all of the above PLUS annual discounts on a safety deposit box, free cashier’s checks, and loan rate discounts!  
• Our platinum members get all the benefits listed in addition to free wire transfers, free replacement debit/ATM cards, and free overdraft transfers! 

There are SO many great things members can earn through this program.  At each location we have a brochure that lists how many points each service earns, as well as lists what benefits you earn!  You can also preview the program on our webpage at http://www.horizonccu.com/ProductDetail.php?SID=136. Want to know what level you’re at today?  Just ask!  After 1/1/2015, your point totals will also be listed on your monthly statement and in It’sMe247 Online Banking.  If your family has accounts at the credit union, let us know!  We can link accounts by household so that all the members of a family can enjoy the benefits of the top point earner for that month.  If you want to earn more points but aren’t sure how it’s possible to reach the next level, stop in and we would be glad to help create a plan!

We’re all very excited to launch SunDrops!  We know HCCU has the best members out there, and we can’t wait to say thank you by giving everyone some added perks and benefits!   

Post by: Emily P

Gividends - giving has never been so easy!

Sometimes donating to a charity of choice can be a long and stressful process. First you have to pick a charity you wish to contribute to, then you have to decide how much and how often you would like to donate, and finally you have to hold yourself accountable for those funds and keeping track!

Well enough of all that work, HCCU is coming to the rescue! Beginning January of 2015, we are rolling out a GREAT new program that makes donating simple! Each month all depository accounts, such as a savings, club or money market, receive dividends. This new program is designed to automatically withdraw these dividends for you after they are posted, and donate them to a charity of your choice! We have a list of 10 great local & national charities to pick from, including Bay Area Humane Society, House of Hope, Beacon House, and Paul’s Pantry.  Every little bit helps, and if we all pool our dividends, just think of the difference we can make in our community!

I know setting this up may seem like a lot of effort as well, but really it’s simple! Stop in to either of the HCCU branches and speak with an MSR!  It’s as easy as filling out a quick enrollment form that tells us which charity you would like to donate to, what percentage of your dividends, and from which account.  From there, we take care of everything!  And when it comes to tax time, you can see the dividends you earned as well as your donations on your monthly statements, so keeping track is super easy!

Let’s kick off 2015 the right way, and start donating to our local community!

Post by: Emily P

The 52 Week Savings Challenge!

So, it’s the time of year where we are all about spending money, whether it’s for gifts, visits to family, donations to charity, or for the fantastic meals that you’ve been dreaming about all year. It seems that everything around you is telling you to buy, buy, buy, so it may seem like a weird time to talk about saving your money, but we all have to start somewhere!

About a year ago, I found a cool savings challenge that I wanted to try. I’ve struggled for years to save enough money so that I would have a comfortable margin for error- if my car broke down, if an unexpected bill hit, etc- but nothing seemed to motivate me enough to actually start saving. Sure, when the problem was right in front of me, I would say that tomorrow I would start, but tomorrow is always just a little too late to help. The challenge I found seemed relatively easy, and since it was basically a competition, I was going to WIN.

For each week of the year, you put aside another dollar. So, the first week is one dollar, the second is two dollars, the third is three, etc. The most you ever have to do is $52, and that’s at the end of the challenge. By then, you’ve seen your money growing, and feel a sense of real pride. At the end of the year, you have an additional $1378!

If you started the challenge right now, this week, you would have enough saved next year to have a spectacular Christmas season, or perhaps something put aside to start paying for that new car, because the old one just keeps breaking. It’s also rather convenient to have a small fund to “borrow” from, something I’ve done at least three times this year. If I hadn’t been challenging myself, I wouldn’t have had enough to get my car repaired when the brakes went out, I wouldn’t have been able to purchase a new laptop when the old one refused to turn back on, and I wouldn’t have been able to pay my rent one month when the money from a paycheck was going to be a week later than I had anticipated.

And because I’m addicted to a challenge, I have two going on at the same time, about two months apart. When this is all done, I’ll have almost $3000 saved in just over a year, and that’s something I haven’t ever done before. It’s enough to replace the car that keeps breaking, or take a little vacation, or perhaps to save for another rainy day. I do know that I’ll be doing this again next year, and maybe this time I’ll put it in an Add-On CD, so that I won’t be able to touch it unless there’s an emergency. Maybe that will encourage some better fiscal planning on my part. This challenge certainly has. 

Post by: Liz R

Why Reading is Beneficial

When was the last time you read anything other than something on social media? For many of you it may be quite a while, and let me tell you something: you are missing out! Reading is incredibly beneficial to your everyday life. Continue reading and learn some of the perks that come with being a reader.

• Stress relief – No matter what age you are, you always have something causing you to stress out whether it is school, friends, your job or your family. Reading is like therapy for those of us who enjoy it. No matter how much stress is on our shoulders it is easy to get carried away into the story and escape reality for a while. If you have trouble falling asleep at night due to stress, reading for 15 minutes before bed could help you fall asleep sooner.  
• Mental stimulation – Reading helps keep the brain active and engaged. By doing so you give your brain the exercise it needs and keep it from losing its power and keep it healthy which could help prevent illnesses that affect your brain.   
• Memory improvement – When reading a book there are many things that need to be remembered. Like who each character is, their characteristics, their background, plots and schemes, etc. And by creating new memories, the brain creates new brain pathways that also strengthen existing ones which improves your ability to remember things.  
• Stronger analytical thinking skills and vocabulary expansion – Throughout a book you find yourself catching on to details that add to what is going on in the story.  You try to sort them out to determine what happened or what is going to happen. At the end of the book you think about whether you thought the story was well written or not and you learn to express your opinion with solid evidence from the story to support it. You may not realize it but by doing all of that you were able to put critical and analytical thinking skills to work. The more you do it, the better you get at it! By reading you also expose yourself to new words and their meaning by the context around them, which in return helps expand your vocabulary. Knowledge is precious and no matter what happens it cannot be taken away from you!  

So next time you’re having a bad day, start enjoying some of the incredible benefits that  come with reading, grab a book and enjoy yourself some free entertainment!

PS - In search of your next great read?  Both branches of HCCU are host to a Little Free Library.  Check it out the next time you're in!

Post by: Karla C.

Happy Halloween from HCCU!

We hope you have a safe and happy Halloween!

Fun, Exciting Sports at a Bargain Price!

HEY SPORTS FANS! Looking for something fun to do this weekend, but aren’t looking to spend a ton of money? Have you ever considered attending a University of Wisconsin- Green Bay’s Women or Men’s basketball game? Basketball season has started at UWGB and they would love to have your support!

The Men’s team plays at the Resch Center located on the west side of Green Bay. The team plays on many different days of the week, including a variety of times. Season tickets, ticket packages, as well as individual tickets are all available for purchase on TicketStar.com or at the Resch Center. Tickets for an individual game are as cheap as $11 for an adult and $7 for those 17 and under. What a deal!

The Women’s team plays at the UWGB Kress Events Center. The beautiful facility has a large arena that holds tons of fans, and let me tell you the games are fun and full of energy! All tickets packages and individual tickets are available on TicketStar.com as well as at the University Ticketing and Information Center on campus. Tickets for an individual game are as cheap as $9 for an adult and $7 for those 17 and under.

Mark the games on your calendar! There’s nothing better than watching some great athletics, for a cheap price, in a great environment! UWGB would love to have your support!

Men’s Schedule: http://www.greenbayphoenix.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=22500&SPID=13663&SPSID=109993&DB_OEM_ID=22500

Women’s Schedule: http://www.greenbayphoenix.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=22500&SPID=13698&SPSID=110176&DB_OEM_ID=22500

Post by: Emily P

Coupon Craze

Need a new hobby that will save you money? Start couponing! It will be worth your time and effort! “I don’t have time for it” is probably what you’re thinking. I said the exact same thing. We’ve all seen, or at least heard, the show “Extreme Couponers” where people fill up their store carts and pay little to nothing for the entire transaction. How can you do that too? Read the tips below to start saving!

Tips for couponing:

· Purchase newspapers. Make sure to purchase 4 Sunday newspapers, this is where you are able to find most coupons. Since most coupons state “limit 4 like coupons per household per day”, a good rule is to purchase 4 newspapers, therefore, allowing you to buy maximum amount of products.

· Per Purchase vs. Per Transaction. When a coupon says “Limit 1 coupon per purchase”, per purchase means per item, NOT a transaction.
          Ex. If I buy 4 toothbrushes, I can use 4 coupons; one coupon per item.

· Stack/combine your coupons. Make sure to use manufacturer coupons and store coupons together. You are allowed to do this unless stated otherwise in the stores coupon policy. You cannot stack a manufacturer coupon with another manufacturer coupon, the same with store coupons.
          Ex. If I buy 4 toothbrushes, I can use 4 manufacturer coupons and 4 store coupons.

· Know the stores coupon policy. You always want to make sure you are up-to-date with updates done by the company.

· Don’t buy everything. Once you get a good deal, you don’t want to stop. However, a good rule is to buy only what you need. Otherwise, you will be spending more money than you need to.

Still don’t see where you can save? Read my shopping trip below for a better idea.

I went to a local store in town which had a sale: buy three (3) oral care products and receive a $5 gift card. I bought three (3) tubes of toothpaste, each for $3.99 bringing me to a total of $11.97 before taxes. I had three (3) manufacturer coupons for the toothpaste each for $2 and three (3) $1 store coupons that I also used for the products, bringing me down to a grand total of $2.97 before taxes. But remember, since I bought three oral care products, I also received a $5 gift card back. So really, I got three tubes of toothpaste for FREE and got back $2.03 as a credit. How awesome is that!

The math:
3 toothpastes @ $3.99 each = 3 x $3.99 = $11.97 (subtotal before coupons & taxes)
3 toothpaste manufacturer coupons @ $2 each = 3 x $2 = -$6.00
3 toothpaste store coupons @ $1 each = 3 x $1 = -$3.00
Total after coupons: $2.97 (subtotal before taxes)
Receive $5 gift card for purchase of 3 oral care products -$5.00
Final Price for 3 tubes of toothpaste: FREE with $2.03 credit

Couponing has now become an exciting hobby for me! Although it does take time to sort through coupons and deals, it will definitely be worth your time! Saving has never been so much fun!

Post by: Kelly V.

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.  

Green Bay Home Building Seminar 10/21/2014

Does your house still fit you?  Have you always wondered what it would be like to have a layout that you designed?  Are you afraid to tackle the building project because you don’t know who to turn to for questions; or maybe you don’t know what questions to ask?  Building a new home can be a daunting task.  We do not want you to tackle that alone.  How would you feel if there were experts available in one spot on one evening in October?

October 21^st, at 5:30 p.m. Horizon Community Credit Union (HCCU) will be hosting a free informational meeting at our Voyager Drive office.  We have assembled some of the best experts in the Green Bay area for a home building seminar.  One of the area’s top builders, realtor, title and homeowner’s insurance agents, and mortgage lenders will be present to answer all of your questions, ranging from some of the most common (listed below) to whatever issue is giving you a headache as you think through the process.

· Will my home fit on my lot?
· Which plan is best for my family?
· How much can I customize?
· What will my new home really cost?
· What are the best rates and financing programs?
· What is the building process?

HCCU is excited to host and be a part of this educational opportunity.  Bring along your questions and thoughts.  If you are planning to attend, you can RSVP by emailing info@horizonccu.com or calling 920-433-0122.  If there is a specific question or topic that you would like covered, please include that as well.  Not sure if you'll be able to make it?  No problem if you find out last minute that you can attend!  All are welcome - you do not need to be a member of Horizon Community Credit Union to take advantage of this educational opportunity!      

We look forward to seeing you.  We are here to help with life’s challenges.  Your success is our destination!

Post by: Pat J

A Cheesehead

Being a cheesehead and going to a Green Bay Packer game is fun, exciting and costly. 

Average game ticket $77.00

Parking spot $20.00

Draft beer $9.00

Soda $5.00

Hot dog $6.00 

Peanuts $5.00

For a family of 4 it would cost approximately $400.00. 

If you were to watch the game at home...

Tickets and parking are free

12 pack of beer $10.00

12 pack of soda $5.00

8 hot dogs and buns $7.00

Big bag of peanuts $6.00

Total cost $28.00. 

That’s a savings of $372.00! Being a cheesehead at home saves you a lot of money!! 

Also, no line for the bathroom – priceless!

Post by: Alice E

The Perfect Gift

Photo Courtesy of digitalart at freedigitalphotos.net

Paper or Plastic?   Replace those paper gift certificates with plastic VISA® gift cards today!  Gift cards are the perfect gift for any occasion or time of the year … birthdays, graduations, showers, weddings, and all holidays.  Buying a gift card is easy and requires very little thought or time.  Shopping for gifts can be a real dilemma.  Just what do you get your significant other, your child, or your co-worker?  Gift cards may be the answer: one size fits all, and the receivers can get exactly what they want.  Our prepaid VISA® cards range from $10 to $500 and can be purchased for $2.50 at both Horizon locations.  So come in today & pick up that perfect gift!  

Post by: Beth B

My CU Staff Wears Jeans to Work!

If you stop in either of our branches today, you will see members of the HCCU staff wearing jeans.  It might seem strange to see everyone dressed so casually, but we promise there's a good reason for it!  So why the jeans?

Today is Miracle Jeans Day - a fundraising day for Children's Miracle Network!  Each employee who wears jeans makes a $5 donation to Children's Miracle Network.  These donations are sent to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin to help children and families in our area who are facing life-threatening illnesses!  By wearing jeans today, we are helping to continue the tradition of excellent care that our local Children's Hospital provides.  Did you know that in the US News and World Report's 2014-2015 ranking of best hospitals, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin was recognized in all 10 pediatric specialty areas?  That means that some of the best care in the country is right in our backyard, and at HCCU we are proud to support the fabulous work they do.  That's why, a few days a year, Horizon Community Credit Union goes casual for kids!

Tips for Road Trips

Packing a cooler with drinks and bringing snacks and sandwiches along on a road trip is a smart thing to do.  Everyone gets thirsty and hungry on trips, so bringing your own goodies will save you money along the way.  (It's also healthier than a candy bar or a Big Mac!)  

Let's say you're on a road trip... You stop to get gas on your trip and you go inside the gas station to pay for your gas. You notice that a bottle of water cost $1.50. You paid $3.00 for a whole case at the local grocery store before you left.  A loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter cost around $5.00.  That’s almost the cost of a single sandwich at the gas station or fast food restaurant!  A bunch of bananas costs around a $1.00.  You’d  pay that for just one.  So pack up your sandwiches, beverages, fruit and veggies.  You can eat them along the way or stop and have a nice picnic.  Think of all the money you will save!  And who doesn't need a little more spending money on vacation?!

Post by: Alice E

Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

No, you don’t HAVE to, you WANT to…

Face it, there are some things that we just don't like to do.  They might be a pain, a time-suck, or just undesirable.  I'm talking about things like paying bills, going to the DMV, having dinner with that friend... You have probably said it yourself, or hear it everyday from friends, your kids, coworkers, spouse, etc. - “Ugh, I have to go to work”; “I have to take out the garbage”; “I have to do my homework”; I have to, I have to, I HAVE to…do NOTHING!  

A few months ago, HCCU brought in a wonderful speaker who stirred up my thoughts and motivation to do, or not do, things I dreaded.  How, you may ask?  Simply by replacing the word “have” with “want”.  You don’t have to do anything, you have a choice about everything you do.  All these things that you think you have to do, you simply want to do.  You might be wondering, “Is she crazy, who would ever WANT to take out the garbage?” Okay, point taken.  But seriously, you do WANT to. You want to take out the garbage because otherwise it’ll stink up the house.

You want to go to work so you see that paycheck at the end of the week.  You don't have to go to work.  You really don't!  Stay in bed and just don't go if you really don't want to.  "But then I might lose my job" you say?  Right!  So get up and go to work because you want to, because you want to keep your job and keep getting a paycheck.  

You want to do your homework because you want to graduate.  Catching on?  You're not forced to do anything.  You don't have to!  You have a choice about everything, and you want to do something because of what the end result will be.  By owning your choices, you'll feel more empowered and in charge of your life.     

So remember this tomorrow morning, after the long holiday weekend, when you’re snuggled nice and warm in your bed with your blankets covering you and your alarm goes off.  Tell yourself, “I want to get up because I want to go to work today”.  Don’t tell yourself you have to, because you don’t have to do anything, you can stay snuggled up all morning if you decide to do that. It’s easy to catch on, just switch “have” with “want” and take control of your choices in life and you'll be a step closer to a positive you!  Carry this new outlook into your work week and see if it changes your attitude at all!  :)

Post by: Kelly V

Image courtesy of samuiblue at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

TOOLS 4 SCHOOLS FUNDRAISER

What a success we had with the help of our members! Our goal was $500.00 dollars and we hit over $1000.00 in cash donations along with school supplies donated by our HCCU members and wonderful partners and peers that we are so lucky to work with.

Of course, we did have some extra motivation with getting to throw a pie in our boss's (Pat Josephson, Horizon's President/CEO) face for reaching our $500.00 dollar goal. Staff got so much pleasure from watching that. I am sure a lot of you out there would love the opportunity to pie him as well!  Thank you for giving us that experience, along with helping out our community.

Martin and Nicolet Elementary Schools here in Green Bay reaped the rewards of your generosity this year; they were over-the-top grateful for all the wonderful supplies that we were able to purchase and donate with all your help.

Thank you again for helping us crush our goal. We look forward to doing this very rewarding fundraiser again next year.

Along with the Tools 4 Schools, we had three of our staff members participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, what a great Month. Thank you to all who went ahead and completed your own ALS Challenge. What a great cause and a fun way to inform everyone of this debilitating disease. Check out our photos and videos of the Ice Bucket Challenge and pie-throwing on HCCU’s Facebook page!

Don’t forget to donate!

Post by: Katie B. and Lori S.

September Community Events

Just because school is starting doesn't mean that the fun has to stop! Check out these events around the area in September to either bring the kids or have a date night!

Art Harvest featuring Fall Family Festival at Green Bay Botanical Gardens
September 6th from 9-4
Free Admission!
Homemade lemonade, teas and coffee served by La Java. Concessions served all day include brats, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, veggie patties, chips, ice cream and more! There will be FREE parking and shuttle bus pick-up and drop-off at NWTC Lot G. Plenty of free activities for the kids! From pumpkin bowling, apple toss, build your own scarecrow, pumpkin ring toss, face painting from 10 - 3, pumpkin Golf, and wagon rides! Children will also have a chance to win prizes by participating in games and activities!

2014 Fall Harvest Fest
September 6 from Noon-6pm at Parallel 44
There will be a Traditional Grape Stomp starting at 3 pm. If you are interested in stomping, come early and enter your name in a drawing to stomp. Wine sampling (available for $6) includes 5 samples and a Parallel 44 Signature Wine Glass. Vineyard Tours will occur on the hour at 1, 2, 4 & 5 pm. Live Music Talk of the Town and local food vendors. Local Art Vendors will also be present displaying and selling their crafts!

“If Tombstones Could Talk" Woodlawn Cemetery Walk
September 9 & September 10 @ 6:30
September 13, 2014 @ 2:00
$6.00/person and $14.00/family --- Reservations Required
Come and listening about some of Green Bay's past residents, who now rest at Woodlawn Cemetery. You’ll get to hear some fascinating stories about lives in the earlier eras. The Tour involves walking and standing. Lightweight, portable chairs and flashlights are recommended.

Wet Whistle Wine Fest
September 12th from 4-8
September 13th from 10-6
Von Stiehl Winery- Algoma
Wine festival featuring food, grape stomping, music, arts and crafts.

Rails & Ales Brewfest
September 20th from 6:00 - 10:00
Standard Ticket - $35 in advance; $45 at the door
Premium Ticket - $55 advance reservation only
Walk around the Museum's historic trains while sampling dozens of craft beers, fine wines, and food prepared by local chefs! With the standard ticket you’ll enjoy unlimited craft beer, wine and food samples and take home a souvenir pint glass. And with the Premium ticket, you’ll enjoy a three-course dinner aboard the Museum's restored 1939 dinette-lounge car Silver Spirit paired with additional craft beer selections, as well as unlimited craft beer, wine and food samples in the Sampling Hall and take home a souvenir pint glass.

Fallfest on the Fox
September 27th from 10-2
Fallfest will take place in the Adams Street parking lot in Downtown Green Bay.  Fallfest on the Fox officially kicks off with the longtime favorite, the Annual ASPIRO Awareness Walk. The two mile walk will take participants through Downtown Green Bay, on the Fox River Trail and end on the Fallfest grounds.  Fallfest on the Fox will host the famous Chili Cook-Off and a popular children’s area with games and bounce house.  The ASPIRO Pub & Grill will provide food and beverage choices.  Also, Big Mouth will perform from 10:30 pm – 1:30 pm.

As always, there are local farmer's markets going on through the month of September:

Green Bay Farmer’s Market
Wednesdays starting at 3 pm and Saturdays starting at 7am

Stadium District Farmer's Market
Thursdays starting at 3 pm at Stadium View

Oneida Farmer's Market
Thursdays from 12 pm-6 pm at Oneida One Stop on Hwy. 54

(East) De Pere Farmer's Market
Thursdays from 7 am-12 pm
*Parking available in Seroogy’s Parking Lot

Post by: Sara D

Image courtesy of Evgeni Dinev at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

All about MONEY!

· On February 3, 1690, the Massachusetts Bay Colony, one of the Thirteen Original Colonies, issued the first paper money to cover military costs.

· In 1785, Congress adopted the dollar as the money unit of the United States.

· On January 23, 1901, the first credit union in North America, the Caisse Populaire de Lévis in Quebec, Canada, began operations with a 10-cent deposit.

· In 1909, Abraham Lincoln was the first American to be pictured on an American coin.

· In 1963, the motto “In God We Trust” first began to appear on U.S. paper currency.

· On September 2, 1969 Chemical Bank installed the first ATM in the U.S in Rockville Centre, New York.

· It costs more than a penny to make a penny. It costs roughly 2.5 cents.

· A quarter has 119 grooves on its circumference and a dime has one less.

· In Old English, the word “pygg” referred to a type of clay that people would use to make containers that held money. As language changed, “pygg” and “pig” started to sound similar, which is why we have banks that look like pigs.

Volunteering……an opportunity to give back!

Helping others can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. You can do cleanup work for an elderly person, coach youth sports, aid in a building project, serve on a board of directors, work fun community events and more. There's almost no limit to the opportunities open to you as a volunteer, and most of it may not require you to have any prior experience (but it can if you would prefer). Here are some things to consider before diving in.

Before you get started, think about why you want to volunteer. Do you want to meet new people? Could the volunteer work enable you to spend time doing something you enjoy? Do you have a cause that is near and dear to your heart?

When you are clear on the why, think about what you could do, where you might want to do it, would you rather work individually or in a group, and available times to do it.

There are many resources that can help you in your search. Start with friends, family and co-workers. They may know of organizations that would interest you, maybe even ones that would allow you to work with them. Contact local volunteer agencies; they often have a large list of possibilities. You can search for them on-line. One such place is VolunteerMatch (http://www.volunteermatch.org) it lets you search for projects by your city or Zip code, as well as keywords (such as "environment" or "mentoring") that describe what you want to do. For a list of volunteer opportunities locally, check out The Volunteer Center of Brown County (http://www.volunteergb.org/).

Once you have found a likely group or organization, you will want to call to learn more about volunteer opportunities. In order to assure yourself you made the right choice, schedule a visit and take a tour of the organization. They may even ask you to interview. Don’t be nervous, your new role will be an important one.

Volunteering can be a great opportunity to step outside the routine of your daily life. You have a lot to offer, so try to find the place that's right for you and start making a difference!

Post by: Pat J

Miracle Treat Day: Buy a Blizzard Treat Today!

It’s summer, the weather is great, being outdoors is awesome, everybody is having fun…..what’s missing?

Ice cream! Who doesn’t like something cold and yummy from Dairy Queen? As a huge bonus, August 14th is Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen. What does that mean? This Thursday, $1 or more from every Blizzard®Treat purchased at participating DQ® stores will be donated to your local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® to help children in need. Having the opportunity to put a smile on a child’s face and yours, now that works!

Here is the link, check it out:

http://www.miracletreatday.com/?gclid=CLfotNnqkMACFQkLaQodhT4A5Q

Now get yourself to a DQ and order up a Blizzard®!

Post by: Pat J