Discover Advantage – Community Involvement

Committed to our Communities

An important principle to us at Advantage is the commitment to ensuring that we assist in enhancing the quality of life in our communities. Our elected Member Relations Committees (MRCs) in our eleven locations committed over $50,000 at the local level. From team uniforms, sponsoring speakers on drinking and driving, to local Saskatchewan Centennial celebrations, our credit union branches truly support our communities.

In addition to MRC funds, corporate sponsorships of over $75,000 included such programs as our high school and community college scholarship programs, 4-H Beef, Junior Achievement and Public Speaking programs in our schools. In total, Advantage directly committed over $128,000 in community financial support in 2005. In addition to these important monetary contributions, our staff also contributed over 7,500 hours to community causes. If you look at almost any community event being held in any of our locations, you can be sure to find credit union staff helping out.

Our Advantage calendar program continues to grow in popularity. We annually produce a calendar with pictures submitted by many people within our region, based on a particular theme. We are now printing 3000 calendars per year and receive over 100 photos for submission in the calendar. We can only include a small number of those each year, but try to ensure that those chosen represent the people, communities and our lives in Saskatchewan.

The following pictures are just a few examples of how we supported our communities in 2005.

ACU’s new float made its debut at many of our branch community Centennial parades. Pictured above: Melfort Branch staff & their children wait on the float as they prepare to line up at the Melfort Centennial parade.

The Advantage Avengers 2005 Relay for Life Team

Kendall Knutson, BRM of Kinistino/Weldon branches, is chief cook at their Dress Down for Charity Event at the Weldon Branch

Milt Kerpan, MRC and Brad Gaetz, BRM of Watson Branch, present $2000 to the Watson Arena

Don Bohay, BRM of Englefeld Branch, presents a cheque to Charlie Biemans, Principal of Englefeld School, for their gym fund.

The Star City Branch entered the ACU float in the Star City Centennial Parade, accompanied by our Fat Cat® buddy

Eldon Kralkay, BRM of St. Brieux Branch, presents a cheque to Julia McDougall and Nicola Teiber for the St. Brieux Community Childcare Centre Inc.

Greg Wacholtz, BRM of Naicam Branch , presents Annie Walgren with a barbecue set, winner of their Dress Down For Charity draw.

Queenie Law receives the $500 Advantage Credit Union Grad Scholarship, presented by Lacey Wilton, FSR with Kinistino Branch

Staff from the Lake Lenore Branch delivered the Junior Achievement program to the Gr. 5 students at Lake Lenore School.

Marion Olson, BRM of Spalding Branch, presents their Dress Down For Charity proceeds to Reynold Rapp Museum

Gronlid Branch was one of the proud sponsors of their Gronlid sign.

A “Parking Lot” sale was held outside of the Melfort Branch and Administration building to raise funds for Relay for Life.

Jim Thiessen, CEO, presents a cheque for $15,000 to Darren Fedusiak and Neil Shewchuk in support of the Saskatchewan Winter Games which were held in Melfort

2005 MRC Planning Session

Lois Harper (left) of the Melfort Branch and Kendra Kerr (right) from the ACU Marketing Department donate $1000 to the Salvation Army Christmas Hamper program, along with toques, scarves and mitts collected by the Melfort Branch.