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There’s still time to submit your entries for the prestigious state Dora Maxwell, Louise Herring, and Desjardins Awards! These annual awards encourage and recognize credit unions that demonstrate social responsibility, live the credit union philosophy, and provide financial education. Entries are due no later than Friday, March 27.
“Maine credit unions don’t live by the People Helping People philosophy because they have to,” said Tim Brooks, League Vice President of Corporate Marketing & Communications. “They do it because it’s simply the right thing to do for their communities. Awards aren’t the driving force behind their efforts, but our credit unions certainly deserve recognition for the tremendous impact they make to improve the lives of all Mainers.”
Award Categories
The Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award is given to a credit union or chapter for its social responsibility projects within the community. The award is given for external activities. Credit unions could receive the award for involvement in almost any kind of activity that helps other people or strengthens the structure of a community. This may include raising funds for charity, educational activities, or community involvement projects, such as a volunteer fair, building low-income housing, or loaning employees a few hours a week to work in hospitals, retirement homes, schools, etc.
The Desjardins Award recognizes leadership within the credit union movement on behalf of financial literacy for all ages. Naming the award after Alphonse Desjardins emphasizes the movement’s long-time commitment to youth. Besides founding the first credit unions in Canada and the U.S., Desjardins pioneered youth savings clubs and in-school “banks,” known as caisses scolaires. The recognition program considers all activities supporting the personal finance education of members and non-members, including, but not limited to, face-to-face teaching using proprietary materials and curricula, such as the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program® (HSFPP), as well as financial literacy leadership efforts.
The Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award is given to a credit union for its practical application of credit union philosophy within the actual operation of the credit union. It is awarded for internal programs and services that benefit membership. Credit unions could receive the award for programs or policies that demonstrate their commitment to the practical application of the “People-Helping-People” philosophy.
Submission Instructions
Award entries for the League’s State Awards Program are submitted through the CUNA Awards website.
You will automatically establish an account when you create an application to submit your first project. You may save your work and return to the submission site as often as needed as long as you complete and submit all parts of the project submission by the due date for the respective awards program.
Award Winners
Entries are judged by a panel of state public relations and communications professionals, and award winners will be announced at the League’s Convention on May 15. First-place winners are entered automatically into CUNA’s National Award program.
In 2019, the Maine Credit Union League was a National Award Program winner. The League won first-place Desjardins Youth, Financial Education Award, for efforts to improve financial literacy for both youth and adults.
Award FAQs
What is the time period the awards cover?
Awards are given for activities completed between March 1, 2019 and March 1, 2020.
Can a credit union compete in all of the competitions?
Yes. A credit union may submit one entry for each of the awards, but each entry must be unique.
Can a credit union enter the same entry in multiple programs?
No. Each program has different objectives and requirements. Entries should be tailored to match the defined goals of the particular competition.