March 19, 2009 Banana-Rama Jeans Day Encourages Employee Wellness
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union "went bananas" for wellness on Friday, March 13, with a Banana-Rama Employee Jeans Day to increase awareness about the health benefits of the banana, Capital's fruit-of-the-month. Capital's 175 employees wore jeans as part of the Wellness day and everyone received a free banana.
Capital's Wellness Program, "Walk a Healthy Line in 2009," encourages employees to make healthy choices in a variety of ways. Because Capital's offices are located among three different counties, the company intranet is a main mode of communication and works perfect for informing employees about Wellness topics, from healthy recipes to a quarterly "Wellness Challenge." Employees who make one of the posted banana recipes and send in a recipe review during the month of March are entered into a drawing for a $10 grocery store gift card.
According to Kathy Fandrey, Capital's Vice President Human Resources and Wellness Committee facilitator, the program has been a life-changer for many people.
"The neat thing about our Wellness program is that it appeals to those employees who are just starting to thing about wellness," said Fandrey. "And those who already make wellness a big part of their lives are looking for different challenges too."
Capital has implemented several workplace initiatives as part of their Wellness program, including:
• Quarterly Wellness Challenges to promote healthy food and exercise choices
• Online Wellness information: wellness articles, healthy recipes, and office exercises
• Wellness trivia contests
• Free water days
• Healthy snack boxes
• Annual Wellness Walk for Special Olympics
Last month's Wellness focus was a vegetable-of-the-month—spinach. Sue Zubke, a loan officer at Capital's Greenville office, loves spinach along with other healthy foods, and is an avid supporter of the Wellness Program. Zubke "went vegan" last year on her physician's recommendation, so the Wellness Program came at a perfect time for her.
"Eating right and finding time to exercise was always a struggle," Zubke said. "But participating in the Wellness Challenge has encouraged me to improve."
March 12, 2009 Capital Credit Union Plans Blood Drive
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union will host a blood drive for the Community Blood Center on Wednesday, March 18 , 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., at Capital's office at 1010 Prospect St. in Kimberly. The public is welcome and encouraged to donate. Appointments save time for the donor and are appreciated by calling (920) 731-3195. Walk-ins are welcome.
The #1 reason blood donors say they give is because they "want to help others." Donating blood is a safe, simple process. To donate, you must be at least 17 years-old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, and bring a photo ID. Donors are encouraged to eat a regular meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating. The donation process takes approximately 45 minutes, including screening, actual blood donation, and a brief post-donation recovery time.
Other important facts about donating blood:
• There is a need for blood every three seconds
• 4.5 million lives are saved with blood transfusions every year
• 43,000 pints of donated blood are used each day in the U.S. and Canada
• One pint of blood can save up to three lives
• Eligible donors may donate whole blood every 56 days
• Females receive 53% of blood transfusions; males receive 47%
• People with type O- blood are universal donors of red blood cells
• People with type AB+ blood are universal recipients of red blood cells and universal donors of plasma
• Blood centers often run short of types O and B red blood cells
• There is no substitute for human blood
March 10, 2009 Capital partners with Kimberly High and Workforce Development Inc. for student Reality Store
Kimberly, WI — More than 300 students and 80 volunteers will fill the gymnasium at Kimberly High School for their first ever "Reality Store" this Thursday, March 12, from 8:00-11:30 a.m., hosted by Kimberly High School, Capital Credit Union, and Workforce Development, Inc. Reality Store is a hands-on financial literacy event where students are assigned a career and salary then walk through a simulation of real life financial situations, paying bills and figuring out ways to make their money stretch. Capital Credit Union is sponsoring the event, and several Capital employees, along with employees from other area businesses, are scheduled to volunteer at the different tables set up throughout the gym. Larry's Piggly Wiggly in Little Chute will provide a continental breakfast for the volunteers.
Capital is a strong supporter of financial literacy for youth, and bringing the Reality Store to Kimberly High School is just one of the ways that Capital lives out its mission, according to President and CEO Alan Zierler.
"It is our privilege to sponsor the Reality Store for Kimberly High School students," Zierler said. "We see this event as an investment in the lives of our area youth and the communities we serve. When individuals make sound financial decisions, everyone benefits. This is one way we can impact our future and the financial stability of our country—one person at a time." After attending a similar event at another area high school, Lynn Fischer, personal finance teacher at Kimberly High School, determined that her students would benefit from a Reality Store. Fischer presented the idea to Capital Credit Union representatives for possible sponsorship, and working with Kim Lemieux at Workforce Development, Inc., a plan was drawn up for the Kimberly High event.
Students participating in the Reality Store choose a career and are assigned an average starting salary. Students then work their way through a variety of booths such as a credit union, real estate business, utility services, car dealership, insurance agency, grocery store, day care, etc., to spend their money. They also encounter some "fate" scenarios which may increase or decrease their income. In some cases, participants may require the assistance of an SOS booth to reassess their financial purchases and revise their budgets.
The purpose of this event is to help students learn basic skills in financial planning, goal setting, decision making, and career planning. Activities that day will help students examine their attitudes about their futures and career expectations. The goal is that, after their trip through the Reality Store, students will have developed a more realistic idea of what life will hold for them as adults.
February 27, 2009 Annual Meeting Marks Start of Capital's 75th Anniversary Year
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union marked the beginning of their 75th anniversary year during their Annual Meeting on Wednesday, February 4, at Liberty Hall in Kimberly. Board Chairperson Melanie Haen presided over the meeting which included a business meeting and a special look back at the credit union's history. Members voted in Aaron J. Steffens of Kaukauna as a new Board director and re-elected two incumbent directors: Nancy Rietveld of Appleton and Bruce Weiland of Shiocton. All three directors will serve a three-year term.
Steffens works at Eagle Appraisal, LLC, in Little Chute and holds a bachelor's degree in History and Social Science from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. He looks forward to this first term as a volunteer Board member as "a chance to serve our community, bringing my unique blend of experience, through work, study and service." Rietveld, Manager of Training and Onboarding at Thrivent Financial, has been a Capital Board member for 7 years. Weiland is employed at Fox Valley Technical College and has served on Capital's Board of Directors for 25 years.
With more than 300 members in attendance, Alan M. Zierler, Capital's President and CEO reported a profitable year for the credit union, reassuring them about the credit union's stability.
"Capital Credit Union remains one of the strongest, safest financial institutions anywhere," Zierler said. "Under a formula developed by the U.S. Government, every federally insured credit union in the United States must maintain, at a minimum, 7 percent of its assets in reserves. Capital's reserves are more than what is required."
The credit union also announced the establishment of a Capital Charitable Giving Fund in 2009 to benefit non-profit organizations in the Fox Cities area. The fund is a positive outcome of a legal settlement involving a well on Capital's property in Freedom. Capital donated $80,000 in addition to the $420,000 settlement to create a $500,000 endowment fund which will be administered by the Community Foundation in Appleton. Chairperson Haen explained that approximately 5 percent of the fund will be available as grants to non-profit organizations every year.
"This is a dream come true for us at Capital," said Haen. "We are excited about the opportunity to touch the lives of our neighbors, friends and fellow community residents in this meaningful way." Grant applications will be accepted from eligible non-profit organizations beginning in July 2009.
Giving back to the communities they serve is an important part of Capital's mission. The credit union focused their charitable donations in 2008 to help with the basic needs of lower income residents and the working poor in the greater Fox Cities area. In August last year Capital stepped up as a "founding donor" for the Fox Cities Community Health Center Dental Clinic with a donation of $100,000 over four years. The clinic opened in January this year, providing oral health care to thousands of uninsured and underinsured children and adults in Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties.
Capital's Annual Food Drive also collected more than 3,200 pounds of food and pet care items for six area food pantries and three animal care associations in June last year. Especially in the current economic environment, Capital is committed to giving back to those in the communities they serve.
"So many in our communities are struggling to get by due to layoffs and job losses," said Zierler. "By focusing our donations on basic needs, we feel like we can give those people and others in our communities a chance to recover and get back on their feet."
Capital was also recognized with several awards for their asset category in 2008, including: a first place national Diamond Award from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) in the Community PR category, first place state award for the Dora Maxwell Award for Social Responsibility, a first place Louise Herring Award for Philosophy in Action at the state level, and a second place Des Jardins Youth Financial Education Award.
A member-owned cooperative, Capital was founded in September 1934 as Kimberly Credit Union, located in the Kimberly Mill and serving the employees and family members of Kimberly-Clark. Each credit union member is a shareholder and members 18 years of age or older can vote for Board positions. Capital is a full-service financial institution with community charters in four counties, returning profits to their members with a wide variety of financial products and services. With assets of more than $324 million, Capital serves over 32,000 members in Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet and Brown counties from 12 locations across Northeast Wisconsin and at capitalcu.com.
February 26, 2009 Capital Offers Free Ameriprise "Planning Your Retirement Income" Seminar
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union and Ameriprise Financial will offer a FREE "Planning Your Retirement Income" seminar with Ameriprise representatives Timothy J. Van Zeeland and Jamie T. Van Hammond on Tuesday, March 17, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at 855 Eisenhower Drive in Kimberly. Whether you're one of the millions of Americans changing jobs or if you're just interested in exploring investment strategies and options, this timely seminar is designed to answer your questions about retirement saving and investing. The public is welcome to attend. A complimentary light supper will be served at 5:30 p.m. and there will be time for questions after the seminar.
Especially in today's economic environment, saving money to build your retirement nest egg and investing for a more secure financial future can be challenging. This seminar can help you jumpstart your desired retirement lifestyle with smart accumulation strategies that help ensure the healthy—and wealthy—retirement that you've worked so hard for. Join us and get the facts you need in this FREE, easy-to-understand seminar.
To sign up for the Planning Your Retirement Income seminar, or to learn more about Ameriprise Financial Planning Services at Capital Credit Union, call 731-3195, toll-free at 1-866-731-3195.
January 20, 2009 Capital Credit Union Celebrates 75 Years at Annual Meeting
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union will celebrate their 75th year as a credit union during their Annual Meeting of the membership on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Liberty Hall, 800 Eisenhower Drive in Kimberly. Board Chairperson Melanie Haen will preside over the meeting and Capital's President and CEO Alan M. Zierler will report on the credit union's assets, loans and performance in 2008. All Capital members are invited to attend. The meeting will include an election by Capital members for three directors to each serve three-year Board terms. Attendees will enjoy refreshments, a special look back at the credit union's history, and a chance to win cash prizes and visit after the meeting.
"Seventy-five years later, Capital Credit Union remains a safe, solid financial institution that positively impacts the lives of our members and those in the communities we serve," said Zierler. "True to the credit union philosophy of 'people helping people,' we continue to give back to our communities through charitable donations, volunteerism and community-oriented programs and events."
A member-owned cooperative, Capital was founded in September 1934 as Kimberly Credit Union, located in the Kimberly Mill. Each credit union member is a shareholder and members 18 years of age or older can vote for Board positions. Capital is a full-service financial institution with community charters in four counties, returning profits to their members with a wide variety of financial products and services. With assets of more than $324 million, Capital serves over 32,000 members in Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet and Brown counties from 12 locations across Northeast Wisconsin and at capitalcu.com.
January 8, 2009 Capital Offers Free Ameriprise "Tax Planning" Seminar
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union and Ameriprise Financial will offer a FREE "Tax Planning" seminar with Ameriprise representatives Timothy J. Van Zeeland and Jamie T. Van Hammond on Tuesday, January 20, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at 855 Eisenhower Drive in Kimberly. A complimentary light supper will be served at 5:30 p.m. and there will be time for questions after the seminar. The public is invited with reservations requested by calling 731-3195, toll-free at 1-866-731-3195.
Smart tax planning involves creating a tax-efficient portfolio and taking advantage of the opportunities that are present in our ever-changing tax laws. This seminar will present a solid overview of tax strategies for income, capital gains and estate taxes. Attendees will learn about pre-tax savings, tax-free earnings and tax-advantaged savings. Topics also include the alternative minimum tax, factors that may trigger it, and the tax benefits of charitable giving.
Upcoming Ameriprise Financial Seminars:
• Tuesday, February 10 - Insuring What Matters Most
• Tuesday, March 17 - Planning Your Retirement Income
Watch for details to follow about upcoming seminars. All three seminars will be held at Capital's 855 Eisenhower Drive office, Kimberly. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited, so sign up today!
To register for this free seminar or to learn more about Ameriprise Financial Planning Services at Capital Credit Union call 731-3195, toll-free at 1-866-731-3195.
Celebrating 75 years as a credit union in 2009, Capital Credit Union is headquartered in Kimberly, Wisconsin, (www.capitalcu.com) has assets of more than $324 million, and serves more than 32,000 members with 12 offices located throughout the greater Fox Valley area, Greenville, Oshkosh and Freedom