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There are more than 1,000 credit union volunteers that serve on the boards of Maine credit unions and, just as each credit union in Maine is unique, so, too, is each credit union board member. Credit union volunteers come from various walks of backgrounds, experiences and professions but their commitment and dedication to 
their respective credit unions are a common bond that all volunteers share.
(Sam Novick, Owner of Hub Furniture in Portland, is one of many CU volunteers from various professions. Novick serves as Board Chair at Infinity FCU.)
One such volunteer is the President of the one of southern Maine's longest operating and well-respected furniture companies. Sam Novick, who is the Board Chair at Infinity FCU, brings his business experience that comes from 47 years of working for HUB Furniture. Currently, Novick serves as the President of HUB, a family business started by Novick's grandfather, back in 1913. His association with Infinity FCU dates back to the 1970s when he was a member. "About 10 years ago, I became joined the credit union board. My furniture business focuses on our customer and our community. The credit union focuses on our members and our community. They are surprisingly similar. My experience as an involved member of the Credit Union board has been wonderful. Right now, we are looking at our place in the community and have done strategic planning to prepare for the future. It's really exciting," Novick explained.
For Ethan Minton, who is a member of the Supervisory Committee at Atlantic FCU, it was food that brought him first to the credit union community and then to the credit union. "While in radio, I worked on many campaigns to collect food and raise money for Preble Street and was always impressed with the strong commitment of the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger. While a board member and then program director at Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program in Brunswick, we had a strong partnership with Atlantic FCU. Their President and CEO Roger Sirois was on our board and, in addition to contributing countless hours as a volunteer, he and the Atlantic board contributed tens of thousands of dollars to support our work. When he asked if I'd volunteer on the Supervisory Committee, I jumped at the chance to give back. The experience had been rewarding and educational and I've developed relationships with some of the finest people in Maine!"
Teresa Jones, a 15-year volunteer serving on the Board of Maine Solutions FCU, said she got involved with volunteering at the CU because "I was interested in how credit unions work and was intrigued by the fact that I could contribute to its success." Jones, whose full-time job is as a Human Resources Business Partner at Texas Instruments, a position she has held for more than 20 years, has been part of a number of exciting, recent changes at the CU. These changes include a new main office on Western Avenue in South Portland, a name change and an expanded field of membership.
In Maine, CU volunteers truly represent the communities, membership, mission and values that their CUs serve, as evidenced by the backgrounds of Novick, Minton and Jones. They are just three of the more than 1,000 CU volunteers that contribute thousands of hours each year in service of their credit unions and of the Maine CU System. From educators and small business owners to farmers and legislators, credit union volunteers bring their varied progressions and life experiences to support and ensure that their credit unions remain focused on what matters the most - serving their members. Judging by the strong and vibrant CU System in Maine, they are very good at their "jobs."