A Day to Remember

by Ron Daly 

I try not to get too sappy with my posts, but sometimes you just have to say something. 

With memorial day coming up, I'm sure most folks are thinking about the three day weekend. With all the added stresses compounding - gas going back up for the summer travel season, trying to figure out what to do with the kids who are getting out of school, making arrangements, fixing up the house, visiting family - it's hard to find a moment to remember why it's all here. 

I took a moment yesterday to think about the meaning of a thing like Memorial Day. It's a day of remembrance, not just for those who gave their lives for liberty, but for those who still fight today. The thought of these men and women fighting for the life of our country humbles me. I may be just like any other American, starting my summer and making my plans, but I always give pause to think about what the day is for and to appreciate my family and my home. 

When I started thinking about setting aside a day of memory, a day that's built for remembrance and reflection, I started thinking about the state of our country and the state of credit unions. I remember when I went to work for the credit union some years back, how I worked hard and how I got to where I am now. I remember when times were lean before now, and looking back helps me find new ways to shoulder my burdens in these days of recession and "doing more with less". I'll never say the current recession is a good thing - it isn't. Nothing good about nearly 10% unemployment and shrinking markets that can't find their feet. But if there's a silver lining to be had, look no further than a re-committed sense of purpose in our industry. 

The squabbles about having to expand our message, needing to be more competitive with banks and with each other, the need of more capital, and the future of the industry go on as you read this. But if one credit union (or bank... remember, too, that not all banks are created equal) has reached out to people in need and helped them - not with a donation but with a new direction -  it means we're remembering our core values. We were designed to help the man that's down, to enlighten those who didn't know before what they had to do to make their dream come together, to inspire someone to take stock in a community of borrowers that each had a share in the success. 

Sometimes I forget. It happens to everyone in this industry. But I took the time to remember. And I pledge to take a moment every day to remember not just the values of our industry but the values of our country. I will be a better neighbor, a kinder partner, a stronger leader. I won't take for granted the service and the goodness of the people that forged our prosperity and believed enough in our dreams and our passions to devote their lives to our country's protection.

I'm going to take the time to remember. I hope you will, too. Have a happy Memorial Day.

Comments

[Kelley Parks]

Ron - What a great post. Thanks for that reminder.

[Denise Wymore]

The best thing we could do to honor those CU founders who fought their own battles to give us the financial cooperative that just celebrated its 100th birthday - is to cooperate - with each other.

It's one of the seven cooperative principles. Cooperation among cooperatives is essential. Our enemy is usury, not other credit unions.

Our original cause has re-emerged. The "little guy" is not being served by the banking industry. Loan sharks (credit card companies) are rampant. Promoting thrift is critical to our economy.

We KNOW how to do these things - it's in our DNA.
The best way to educate the public about the credit union difference is to BE a credit union.