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Many credit union volunteers often devote thousands of hours and decades of service to their credit unions with nothing expected in return - just the piece of mind knowing that they served their credit union and their member owners to the best of their ability. Through the years, a number of credit unions have begun honoring long-time volunteers to provide a lasting recognition of their service and their contributions. In some cases, it's a room named in a person's honor, or a plaque honoring their service, a scholarship or some other way of letting a volunteer know they were/are appreciated.
For example, Joseph A. ‘Tony’ Poirier was on the board of directors at Oxford FCU for 51 years, including 43 years as chairman. In recognition of his leadership and his tenure at the credit union, the training room at Oxford FCU was named in his honor. In addition, Oxford FCU established an award entitled the Tony Poirier Volunteer Service Award, recognizing outstanding volunteer service. Matt Kaubris, President/CEO of Oxford FCU, explained the impact of Tony on the credit union. "He was instrumental in the growth of Oxford FCU and intimately involved in the location selection, design and construction of Oxford FCU’s beautiful buildings. In honor of Tony, the credit union closed for an hour for the entire staff to attend Tony’s funeral service."
At Maine Family FCU, Rachel Caron, President/CEO, spoke of the multiple ways in which her CU has honored volunteers. "When we did the addition and remodeled the main building in 2010, Maine Family dedicated the teller/café area to long-time board chair Maurice Fontaine. The financial service area is dedicated to Roger Bissonnette and the training room was dedicated to former board chair Dennis Courtemanche. We also have three scholarships named in honor of volunteers, including Maurice Fontaine, Roger Bissonnette and, in honor of the original parish leaders whose idea it was to charter Ste. Famille Federal Credit Union.....the Founders' Scholarship."
Honoring volunteers is not restricted to just credit unions, as the Maine CU League honors several past volunteers with Awards named in their honor, including the Alexander Ferguson Award for Outstanding CU Volunteer; and the Jeannette G. Morin Award for Outstanding CU Employee.
In addition to volunteers, a number of CUs have honored past leaders by naming buildings in their honor, such as Winthrop Area FCU naming its office the Marion Healey Building; and Maine State CU naming a building in honor of its late, long-time President/CEO Normand Dubreuil; and Trademark FCU established a special, charitable giving fund honoring long-time President/CEO and VP, Judy Griffin and Paul Guerrette.
The ways in which the legacies of long-time volunteers and leaders are honored are as unique as each credit union. However, in their own way, each volunteer is appreciated for their service, whether it be a few years or multiple decades. Each one is certainly appreciated.