2nd Quarter
A Publication of the
2012
Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union
Upcoming
Events
Tuesday, May 8
Annual Meeting at Evangelo’s
Saturday, May 19
Adventure Sale
Held at Seward Meridian
holiday
closures
Monday, May 28
Memorial Day*
Wednesday, July 4
Independence Day
* Our Retail Community Offices at
Palmer Carrs and Knik Goose Bay
will be open to serve you!
MVFCU is hosting the 2nd annual Adventure Sale on Saturday, May
19th, from 10am - 4pm at our Seward Meridian office. Come by and
get great deals on ATVs, jet skis, side by sides, dirt bikes and more!
Wisdom from your
General Manager
› Page 2
Election Candidate
Profiles
› Page 3
Introducing Jodie,
New Financial
Advisor
› Page 4
There will be a special set of rates for this event - these rates
are good only for the day of the Adventure Sale and only for
our Adventure Sale Vendors!
Come out and get outfitted for your next adventure!
Refreshments will be provided. We look forward to seeing
you Saturday, May 19th!
Scan this code using
a QR Reader on your
smartphone to be
taken directly to our
Adventure Sale page.
Annual Membership Meeting
The Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at Evangelo’s
restaurant in Wasilla. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the business meeting will
start promptly at 7:00 p.m. There will be door prizes, light refreshments and a
parting gift for each member in attendance.
See you there!
gm expressions
Sound the Alarm
To our youngest members, I wish I could tell you that my generation is
leaving you a better future. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the
case. Today, our nation is borrowing huge amounts of money to cover
budget deficits. This is a fancy way of saying we are spending more
than what we are earning, borrowing money to be paid back by future
generations. This is like a family using their credit cards to make their mortgage
payment. This can go on for awhile, but there will surely be a day of reckoning!
You’re probably wondering how things got in such a mess. There are no simple
answers, but it seems that our financial situation began to deteriorate during my life
time. When I was young our newly elected President John F. Kennedy challenged
us to “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your
country.” Today, a new generation has come to expect increasing government
‘entitlements’ paid for by ever increasing deficits and debt. For many, the only good
tax is a tax paid for by someone else. It is amazing to see how far our nation has
drifted.
I read the first two paragraphs of this article to my daughter and she warned me to
be careful, I might upset someone, after all it is an election year! I think it is time to
sound the alarm! As credit union manager, I’m expected to discern whether or not a
member is capable of repaying a loan. If someone is headed for bankruptcy it is my
job to give warning even at the risk of upsetting them. In my humble opinion, our
national deficits are not sustainable and our debt and other unfunded liabilities may
never be honored.
So what do we do? The first step in solving any problem is defining the problem and
then changing the things that are in our control. We start by getting our own house
in order. I encourage each of you to think carefully and separate needs from wants,
always living within your means. Create a habit of saving for the future and use credit
wisely. As a general rule only borrow for provident and productive purposes. These
are old words that aren’t used much today, but they were in the original Federal
Credit Union Act.
Because we live in a democracy, our government will follow our lead. We the people
must decide what kind of future we want. Concluding his speech in 1961, President
Kennedy ended with the following: “With a good conscience our only sure reward,
with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love,
asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must
truly be our own.”
- Al Strawn, General Manager/CEO
page 2
2012 Election Procedure
This year, eVoting will be the default method for all eligible MVFCU members, with paper
ballots being available upon request. eVoting is more convenient, accurate and Earth
friendly than paper, and will save the membership thousands of dollars in printing and
mailing expenses.
There are three (3) positions open for the MVFCU Board of Directors. Election results will
be announced at the 2012 Annual Membership Meeting. There will be no nominations
from the floor at the membership meeting. To vote: visit www.mvfcu.coop between April
3, 2012 and May 3, 2012. Login to MVFCUonline, using your online account information
and click the eVote button above your account holder name. Then follow the easy
directions to cast your ballot. The whole process takes just a few minutes!
If you do not have Internet access, you may obtain a paper ballot by visiting any MVFCU
Community Office or by calling 745-4891 or 694-4891 and requesting a paper ballot be
mailed to you. Requests for mail ballots must be made by the close of business on April 17,
2012. All ballots must be received by the end of the day on May 3rd, 2012.
Board of Directors Candidates
Larry Wiget
Eagle River Resident
MVFCU member since 2011
Education: ED.D., Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Media,
University of Northern Colorado.
Employment: Owner, Baywind Strategic Communications.
John Duffy (Incumbent)
Wasilla Resident
MVFCU member since 1990
Education: MS in Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Employment: Retired.
Christopher Gates
Palmer Resident
MVFCU member since 2011
Education: BS in Transportation Logistics, University of Tennessee.
Employment: Owner/ Operator: Gates & Company, Lazy Mountain Stables and
Among Friends ALH.
Joseph Hawkins
Smartphone Users!
David Combs
Palmer Resident
MVFCU member since 1982
Education: BA, Business Administration & Management, George Fox University
Employment: Accountant, Combs Insurance Agency.
Scan this code with a
QR Reader to visit the
Annual Election page at
mvfcu.coop.
Photo courtesy Nessa Voigt
Wasilla Resident
MVFCU member since 2001
Education: Doctorate of Chiropractic - Parker College of Chiropractic.
Employment: Owner of Bionic Chiropractic and Smart Energy Works.
page 3
we now have four
FREE mta hotspots!
@ Palmer, Seward Meridian, Wasilla and Eagle River
CONTACT MVFCU
on the web:
www.mvfcu.coop
Introducing Jodie Smith, Matanuska
Valley Financial Services Financial Advisor
Your credit union proudly welcomes Jodie Smith as the
new full-time Matanuska Valley Financial Services (MVFS)
Advisor located at Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union.
Jodie joins the MVFS team that has been serving the
retirement, investment and insurance needs of MVFCU
members and their families since 1993.
Main Switchboard &
Contact Center:
745-4891 • 694-4891
Easy Access:
746-3279 • 694-7702
24/7 consumer loan
by phone:
1-800-976-5198
Real Estate &
Commercial Lending:
745-9165
694-4891 ext. 165
Lost or stolen visa
check card:
(after Business hours)
1-800-682-6075
MVFCU Fax Numbers:
Main Admin: 745-9131
Palmer: 745-9115
Wasilla: 373-6877
Seward Meridian: 761-4610
Eagle River: 694-7701
Meadow Lakes: 357-3965
Big Lake: 892-4892
Willow: 495-6272
Sunshine: 733-4892
Palmer Carrs: 745-8124
Knik-Goose Bay: 357-8104
CONTACT MVFS
Jodie was born and raised here in the Valley, and is a
graduate from Colony High School. She and her husband
Andy now reside in Wasilla with their two children, ages 9 &
7. She brings over 11 years of experience in the financial
industry and has been with Matanuska Valley Federal Credit since January of 2011.
Jodie is very passionate about wanting to help the members of the community
achieve their financial goals. She states “I am here to help our members, whatever
their age, create a sound financial strategy for the lifestyle they want to live in
retirement.”
Whether you’re just beginning a family, paying for a child’s education or nearing
retirement, MVFS is here to help you with your unique financial needs. You may
have just one financial issue you want to tackle, or you may realize it’s time to put
together a comprehensive financial plan. Whatever your financial goals may be,
Jodie is here to help you achieve them.
To meet with Jodie at no cost or obligation, call
907-745-9182 or 907-694-7722.
Representatives are registered, securities are sold, and investment advisory services offered
through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. (CBSI), member FINRA/SIPC , a registered broker/
dealer and investment advisor, 2000 Heritage Way, Waverly, Iowa 50677, toll-free 800-3692862. Nondeposit investment and insurance products are not federally insured, involve
investment risk, may lose value and are not obligations of or guaranteed by the
financial institution. CBSI is under contract with the financial institution, through the financial
services program, to make securities available to members.
FR031207-8347
745-9182 • 694-7722
Scan this code using a QR
Reader on your smartphone
to learn more about our
Land and Cabin Loans.
Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States Government. National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency.