JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MAINE'S CREDIT UNIONS

WHEREAS,  Maine's credit unions are locally owned and governed financial cooperatives dedicated and committed to serving the needs of their members. The not-for-profit structure of credit unions provides each member with an equal voice and representation in the operations of the credit union. Serving members in all 16 Maine counties and in every community, Maine's credit unions are devoted to the more than 600,000 Maine consumers who use credit unions; and

WHEREAS,  Maine's credit unions are consistently recognized for serving their members, as indicated by the consistently high performance and satisfaction that consumers assign to Maine's credit unions. Since 1983, credit unions have ranked first in consumer satisfaction out of all financial institutions. With lower and fewer fees and an unmatched level of member service, Maine's credit unions are prominent in the State's financial services industry and continue to grow; and

WHEREAS,  Maine is once again ranked as the nation’s 5th strongest credit union state based on the percentage of population that uses a credit union, a position Maine has held for 6 consecutive years. Nearly one in every 2 Maine residents uses a credit union; and

WHEREAS,  the 1,950 full-time and part-time employees of Maine's credit unions and the hundreds of unpaid volunteers who serve on credit union boards and committees demonstrate the core credit union values, philosophy and mission of Maine people helping Maine people by contributing to the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS,  Maine's credit unions and their members have raised more than $2,300,000 to help end hunger in Maine since 1990. One hundred percent of all money that is raised through the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger stays in Maine and goes directly to assist thousands of Maine families and individuals who otherwise would go hungry. Because of the commitment of Maine's credit unions to the cause of ending hunger in Maine, the State is recognized nationally for its leadership role in raising awareness of, funds for and solutions to the problem of hunger not only in Maine but in a growing number of other states as well; and

WHEREAS,  in addition to working to end hunger, Maine's credit unions also provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to positively affect the lives of Maine people. The lives of Maine's citizens are positively affected every day because of the efforts of Maine's credit unions, which voluntarily contribute time and financial resources to organizations and agencies in their own communities, such as the Red Cross and the Special Olympics; and

WHEREAS,  since 1921, Maine's credit unions have been a source of economic stability and assistance in helping thousands of people in communities across Maine realize financial success. Throughout Maine, credit unions continue to play a vital economic and socially responsible role in the lives of individuals and remain a local, significant and stable presence in the communities they serve; now, therefore, be it

That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Legislature, now assembled in the First Regular Session, take this occasion to recognize the Maine Credit Union League and Maine's credit unions for their positive contributions and the significant role they have played in the lives of Maine citizens and their communities for more than 85 years. Their service and dedication to this State is a tribute to many of those values and principles that we all hold dear; and be it further

That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Maine Credit Union League and its 69 affiliated credit unions.