Relay For Life…Our Personal Stories, Part III

The Timpe Family at Relay For Life, Kalamazoo County

My Stance Against Cancer

By Jeffrey Timpe, Team Captain

I started participating in Relay For Life after being with Consumers Credit Union for only a week. This year, 2012, marks my fifth year of participation in Relay and fourth as Team Captain. My involvement started simply by someone here at work asking me if I’d like to participate. I thought about it and decided it was for a great cause – and one that was suddenly close to me. 

About the time I joined Relay, a good friend of mine had lost her mother, Ginny, to pancreatic cancer. Ginny had fought the disease for over a year, which included having the Whipple procedure to remove a tumor from the head of the pancreas. The surgery was successful, but Ginny had to heal before she could start more treatment. She subsequently went through many rounds of chemo and radiation and fought hard for herself and her loved ones. Her goal was to stay strong (and to stay alive) so she could see her grandson born. Near the end of her fight, Ginny was placed in the care of family and hospice. Everyone loved Ginny. But unfortunately, she lost her fight with cancer four days before her daughter’s son – her grandson Cody – was born. She wasn’t able to meet Cody or hold him. Ginny was also the first person close to me who had lost their life to cancer. Her death made the devastation of cancer unbearably real.

Ginny’s story is a sad beginning for me and my stance against cancer. But, I do have much more positive news to share about others around me who are currently winning their battles against cancer. My Grandpa, and a family friend, Steve, both have gone through treatment for prostate cancer. Luckily they are in remission. My Uncle Steve recently went through treatment for bladder cancer, and thankfully he is in remission as well.

Another personal wake up call happened about two years ago when a good friend of mine, Tommy, was diagnosed with Melanoma. He was younger than me – just 26 at the time – and had emailed all of us his devastating news. He was diagnosed with cancer and heading to U of M (Hospital) for tests. Fortunately, for Tommy, the cancer was caught early enough, and after treatment he has recovered and is in remission. 

Ultimately, my goal with Relay is to help find a cure for cancer and ways for the people suffering from the disease to enjoy a better life. Relay not only provides money for research to find a cure, but offers many programs that help support people with cancer. Now that I have children of my own, it is my hope that they never have to experience the heartbreak cancer brings to so many of those around us.

I encourage anyone who is interested to learn more about Relay For Life and how they can help win this battle.

About Jeffrey…

Jeffrey Timpe is an Outbound Sales Representative in Consumers Credit Union’s Member Service Center. He is responsible for calling all new indirect loan members and fulfilling online membership requests. His long-range goals are to help build the Outbound Department to include multiple representatives. Jeffrey has worked in numerous call centers throughout his career and loves having first contact with members. A native of West Michigan, he is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in Business Management.

Learn more about the fight against cancer: http://www.cancer.org/index

Join the Consumers Relay team:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GL?team_id=1029132&pg=team&fr_id=38307

Relay For Life Of Kalamazoo County

June 9-10, 2012

10am at Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds

http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GL?fr_id=38307&pg=entry

Relay For Life Of Van Buren County

June 9-10, 2012

10am at Bangor High School

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=38788http://

Relay For Life Holland/Zeeland:

June 15-16, 2012

2pm-2pm at West Ottawa School

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&

Relay For Life Of Branch County (Coldwater):

June 22 & 23, 2012

Noon-Noon at Heritage Park

http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GL?fr_id=37863&pg=entry

 

 

 

5 Steps to Improve Your Credit Score

A good credit score can mean the difference between getting a loan with a low interest rate, getting a loan with a high interest rate, or not getting a loan at all. Review your credit score each year and take the necessary steps to make improvements.

Verify Your Credit Report Information is Correct: Everyone is entitled to a FREE copy of their credit report each year from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies. Request yours individually from each agency or request all three from http://www.annualcreditreport.com/, the only official site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report online. Once you receive your reports, make sure all the information is accurate and make corrections where needed.

Pay Your Bills on Time: This is the single most important thing you can do to establish, maintain, or improve your credit score. Set up whatever system works for you—electronically or manually—and follow it faithfully.  Confirm due dates, time of day postings, and weekend and holiday policies for each creditor before setting up.

Know What Goes Into Your Score: Too much available credit—not enough available credit. All installment loans. All revolving loans. A good credit score is a combination of timely, payment, outstanding debt, length of history, recent applications, and types of accounts. Make sure your history is balanced.

Make the Effort to Correct Mistakes: Visit www.FTC.gov for all the legal tips and steps to tale to correct the errors on your report. You have rights so use them.

Beware of Repair Scams: There are lots of people and “companies” that will offer to repair your credit for a fee. Many will often promise a clean report or instant results. The truth is, anyone can repair their own credit for FREE and the results, although potentially fast, usually take a while to make an impact.

Your financial advisors at Consumers Credit Union are here to help keep your credit score strong. Give us a call at 800.991.2221 or visit one of our convenient locations for assistance.

 

Source: PSB, our trusted partner

Housing Questions? Turn To Us And Accel…

Are you looking for advice on purchasing a home, default issues, foreclosure avoidance, or reverse mortgages? Accel’s housing counseling services can help you. Since Consumers Credit Union is partnered with Accel, all of these services are free to you! Accel counselors are HUD-approved, knowledgeable and extremely helpful in assisting you with a variety of housing counseling services, including:

Mortgage Default and Delinquency Housing Counseling

If you are behind on your mortgage payments, Accel’s certified housing counselors can help you get back on track. They can help you to establish a budget, set priorities, and determine strategies for saving your home.

First-Time  Home Buyer Counseling

Accel can help you prepare for buying your first home. They will help educate you on the home buying process and prepare you for the requirements and responsibilities of home ownership.

Reverse Mortgage Housing Counseling

Available for homeowners over the age of 62, reverse mortgages use your home’s equity to increase monthly income. You need to know the pros and cons. During your housing counseling session, Accel’s certified housing counseling experts will explain reverse mortgages, analyze your situation, and help you determine if it is an option you should consider.

Home Equity Loan Housing Counseling

Home equity loans can look quite enticing when you are searching for a way to pay down your debt. Accel housing counseling can help you determine if a home equity loan is the best solution for your personal situation. If it is, their housing counselors can provide valuable information to help ensure that you don’t run into a similar predicament in the future.

To speak with an Accel housing counselor, call 877- 33ACCEL or visit their website at http://www.accelservices.org/members/about/about-accel.htm.

Tracy Gauthier Receives CUCE Designation & Promotion To Compliance Specialist

Congratulations…Tracy Gauthier

Tracy Gauthier has been promoted from Office Manager at our Stadium Drive location, to Compliance Specialist.  In her role, she will be focusing on ensuring that Consumers Credit Union remains compliant with all applicable laws and regulations without compromising member service.  While she has only been in her role for a short time, she is already making a big impact! 

Just after starting in the position, Tracy took and passed a series of challenging compliance exams administered by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). By passing these tests (on her first attempt, no less) and by completing the necessary coursework, Tracy has obtained the certification of Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE), a respected credential within our industry. 

Members can feel confident that they have put their trust in the right financial institution who is focused on not only doing things right, but doing the right thing when managing their money.

Thank  you for following our staff stories as we share their successes with you. We hope you enjoy learning more about these unique individuals and why they are passionate about serving our members. For career opportunities, visit https://www.consumerscu.org/Careers/.

Alex Bierlein Promoted To Employee Service Representative / Trainer

We are pleased to announce the promotion of Alex Bierlein.  Alex has been promoted from Assistant Manager of our 9^th Street location, to Employee Service Representative/Training and Documentation Specialist. 

Congratulations…Alex Bierlein

As Assistant Manager he displayed exceptional member service and technical skills. He will now be focused on transferring his knowledge to others by helping develop our employees to better serve our members.  He will dually concentrate on answering employee member service questions and designing training programs to make our member service even stronger.  By developing the knowledge, skills and abilities of our employees he will ensure we are always delivering the highest level of member service possible.

Thank  you for following our staff stories as we share their successes with you. We hope you enjoy learning more about these unique individuals and why they are passionate about serving our members. For career opportunities, visit https://www.consumerscu.org/Careers/.

Relay For Life, Our Personal Stories…Part II

Relay For Life: My Memories, By Lynne Jarman-Johnson

My memories of cancer begin before I was born. I’m told I am a clone to my Grandma J; the grandma I never met. There was a room all made up for her in the back of our house. She was coming to live with us near the same time I was going to arrive into our family. I like to think we passed as angels along our route.  Grandma J  had cancer.  That is how final it is.  Right at the beginning cancer infected my life.

Grandma Bessie was taken the day before my 16th birthday. Thanks Cancer. Your timing is impeccable.

I have a favorite photo in our bathroom wall of fame that shows Laureen, my mentor and friend.  She and I went to the hat shop together to cover her beautiful head as the chemo took its toll. She is wearing the hat we chose and she looks so vibrant.  Laureen spoke to me for an hour the day before breast cancer claimed her.  She asked about each one of my kids by name. She told me she loved me. Laureen’s words and guidance are with me daily. Cancer can’t take those away.

My Dad actually died of kidney failure caused by congestive heart failure.  I like to say his heart was so big it broke.  Before he died he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I remember his pride. Cancer tried to take that away too.  He wouldn’t let it.  Take that Cancer.

“Wake her up Momma.” My 5-year-old son said as he gazed at the love of his life so still and cold. He had asked her to marry him only a summer before.  How can the beauty of Allie be a part of the ugliness of cancer.  There is nothing that can make your heart heal when a child is not permitted to grow older. Nothing. The only thing you can do is put one foot in front of the other and you share the great works of Allie’s Angels. (http://www.alliesangels.com/)

There are so many other names to add to the list.  I can’t help but think of Denise who didn’t have the chance to watch her young boys grow into beautiful caring young men. There’s Steve who brought a cheer to every MSU event he could touch.

And then there are the survivors.  Their stories have touched me just as powerfully. 

JZ - Zimmerman.  Colon Cancer tried. Oh yes it tried.  He met me over lunch to have me shop for gifts for his Wife for Christmas just in case he wasn’t present to give the presents. Can you imagine even thinking that.  I’m told they were the best gifts Annie ever received. We can laugh about it now.  We laugh in the face of cancer.  John is healthy – and that is our greatest gift.

I remember the fear in our family that cut to the bone when Leukemia came calling to our daughter’s best friend Lindsey.  She is living a vibrant life in London with her charges calling her Mary Poppins.  There is magic in surviving.

I will walk in Relay for Life with my colleagues.  I will walk in  memory and in honor of the names I have mentioned.  I will walk for friends who need support and for everyone who will benefit – when there is a cure. The name says it all.  Relay is for Life.

Lynne Jarman-Johnson is Chief Marketing Officer for Consumers Credit Union. 

Learn more about the fight against cancer: http://www.cancer.org/index

Join the Consumers Relay team:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GL?team_id=1029132&pg=team&fr_id=38307

Relay For Life Of Kalamazoo County

June 9-10, 2012

10am at Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds

http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GL?fr_id=38307&pg=entry

Relay For Life Of Van Buren County

June 9-10, 2012

10am at Bangor High School

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=38788

Relay For Life Holland/Zeeland:

June 15-16, 2012

2pm at West Ottawa School

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&

Relay For Life Of Branch County (Coldwater):

June 22 & 23, 2012

Noon-Noon at Heritage Park

http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GL?fr_id=37863&pg=entry

Employee Growth & Development = Greater Opportunities to Serve Our Members!

The number one goal on our strategic plan is focused on TEAM.

At Consumers Credit Union, we are always thrilled when we can grow and develop employees internally to fill the needs of our growing organization.  The number one goal on our strategic plan is focused on TEAM.  We are committed to fostering an environment of growth and opportunity for our employees.  

Delivering the highest level of member service is our focus and that means we must have the strongest team members possible in every role.  Having a strong and engaged team is what makes Consumers Credit Union a great place to work and do business.

We will be sharing many of our staff stories and their successes on our blog, beginning with Alex and Tracy. We hope you will enjoy learning more about them and why they are passionate about serving the members of Consumers.

To join our great staff or for career opportunities, visit https://www.consumerscu.org/Careers/.

Shelby Stamps Out Hunger!

Congratulations to Shelby, our Dollar Dog Member who took home top prize for the 2012 Kalamazoo Letter Carrier poster contest!  Shelby attends Winchell Elementary.  Don’t forget to put out your non-perishable food items this Saturday, May 12.  Shelby’s artwork shows us how!

Shelby’s work of art helps thousands to Stamp Out Hunber

Relay For Life, Our Personal Stories…Part I

Glenna with her dad, Larry, and mom Yvonne

Consumers Credit Union is starting a five-week blog series leading up to Kalamazoo’s Relay For Life, shared  from the hearts of staff, on why the fight against cancer is important to them. Here is Part I from Glenna Kane, Relay’s 2012 event Chairperson. We hope the stories touch you in some way. 

Why I Waged My War On Cancer

By Glenna Kane

My passion to get involved with Relay started at the end of 2005. At that time, my dad, Larry Urban, was finishing his treatment for lymphoma. My dad, mom, and sister all lived in Florida and dad attended his first Relay For Life there as a Survivor.

Our worst fears surfaced in January 2006. After three biopsies it was determined that dad had lung cancer. Being 1,400 miles away, I felt helpless and the only way I could help was to start fighting to find a cure here, in Michigan. I called our local American Cancer Society office and found out how I could get involved with Relay For Life in Kalamazoo.

June 16th 2006…I spent 24 hours at Relay, on the track, as my dad was checking into the hospital in Florida. We talked and he wanted to be sure I reached my goal of $1,000. (I had just made it!) As I sat there and reflected on what he was going through, I realized this was where I was meant to be – surrounded by people who knew exactly what I was feeling. It was surreal. Unfortunately, my dad never walked out of that hospital. He passed on June 29th.

Shortly before his death, I flew to Florida and had three hours to see what cancer was about to take from me. It was there I vowed to keep fighting so hopefully I would never have to see another friend or family member suffer as he did. Since my first Relay in 2006, and with the help of friends, family, co-workers, and my employer, I have raised over $60,000 in the fight. I am determined to see this disease beat in my lifetime.

Glenna Kane is a Senior Loan Officer and Member Service Representative at Consumers Credit Union. She assists members so they can reach financial goals and achieve life dreams… Glenna has been serving Consumers members since 1998.

Learn more about the fight against cancer: http://www.cancer.org/index

Join the Consumers Relay team:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GL?team_id=1029132&pg=team&fr_id=38307

Relay For Life Of Kalamazoo County

June 9-10, 2012

10am at Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds

http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GL?fr_id=38307&pg=entry

Relay For Life Of Van Buren County

June 9-10, 2012

10am at Bangor High School

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=38788

Relay For Life Holland/Zeeland:

June 15-16, 2012

2pm at West Ottawa School

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&

Relay For Life Of Branch County (Coldwater):

June 22 & 23, 2012

Noon-Noon at Heritage Park

http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GL?fr_id=37863&pg=entry

Cindy Lyman Joins Centre Ave As Office Manager

Cindy Lyman

Kalamazoo, Mich. – Cindy Lyman is the new Office Manager for Consumers Credit Union’s Centre Avenue Office, located at 1511 West Centre Avenue, Portage.  Her primary duties are to build member relationships, accomplish office growth goals, implement new strategies for greater office efficiencies, and look for new and innovative ways to serve members.  Staff development and coaching will also be a top priority for Lyman.    

Lyman has been in banking most of her career, over 20 years, with the last 15 in branch management.  Most recently she worked as Vice President, Manager III at Chase Bank in Portage – where she served the Portage community for 12 years. She also worked as a teller at Saginaw Medical Federal Credit Union and Saginaw General Hospital while attending Saginaw Valley State University. Lyman graduated from SVSU with a BBA in Finance. 

True to the credit union philosophy, Lyman adds, “I find a great deal of gratification when I am able to put a smile on someone’s face, maybe even make their day by something I have said or done for them.”