It has been observed that a picture is worth a thousand words (generally credited to newspaper editor Arthur Brisbane in the early 20th century), so, if that’s true, here for the first time are thousands and thousands of words in the form of a first-ever column of various pictures I’ve gathered recently.
Your feedback and thoughts (in the form of a picture, of course) are welcome at any time. And if it’s a picture of a certain finger, thanks, I’m good.
And now, in no particular logical order:
Putting AI Spending Into Context (and It’s Only Growing)
You can’t attend any credit union event without the discussion turning to AI. This graphic was shared by Dr. Elliott Eisenberg, one of the most popular speakers on the CU circuit, with an audience to illustrate just how great the spend is on AI in a historical context.
What’s in a Name? Theft
Above are some of the decorations that appeared on tables at Disney’s Yacht Club in Orlando, where NACUSO recently held its annual meeting. A hotel employee explained to me that none of the decorations include the word ‘Disney’ or the Disney logo. If they did, he said, they would be immediately stolen by Disney collectors, as all Disney hotels have learned. Seriously, Disney ‘collectors’: collect something better to do.
Perhaps the Most Fitting Ground Breaking Ever
Earthmover Credit Union recently broke ground on a new branch in Romeoville, Ill. Has there ever been a more appropriate groundbreaking photo than representatives of Earthmover Credit Union moving earth?
An Excellent FORUM for a Reminder
Kudos to FORUM Credit Union in Indiana for featuring the Seven Cooperative Principles on the wall of one of their facilities. I’ve been to so many CU offices and branches where there isn’t a single word or reminder about what makes the credit union different and why it exists. Instead, walls are full of generic art that looks like it was left over after the decorating was finished at a La Quinta. You have a story to tell–tell it. And not just to your members, but your employees!
The Frontier (for a Great Meeting) State
I have had the great pleasure to speak to the Alaska League meeting over the last few years, and it’s always a terrific meeting. The people are among the most hospitable and welcoming in credit unions, which is saying something. This year’s meeting included an excursion that featured dinner on the Alaska Railway. Attendees were bussed 90 minutes south of Fairbanks to the tiny town of Nenana. When the three busloads of attendees arrived to meet the train, the train wasn’t there to meet the ad was running 45 minutes late. Nearly every business in town was closed (and there aren’t many) But not for long. Nenana may not have a single stoplight, but it does, apparently, have a bat signal. Within 5-10 minutes of attendees standing in the street (above), locals suddenly arrived to open up the general store and the cafe/gallery, and another bartender hopped behind the bar at Moocher’s to double the staffing. Below are some views from the train and of Denali, North America’s highest peak.
If You Like to Turn Down the AC in Your Hotel Room…
About an hour outside Fairbanks, home to this year’s Alaska league meeting, is Chena Hot Springs, where you will find the Ice Museum. It’s full of large and intricate ice carvings in a building that’s kept at 25 degrees (which is where you go to warm up in the winter). You can spend the night inside the Ice Museum, including in this polar bear bed. It’s just $600 a night. But the hot springs are pretty toasty.
The Great Credit Union Graveyard
Visit NCUA’s search engine for information on credit unions and you will (sadly) find the Great Vault of Charters Past. I am frequently in the database pulling credit union data for the CU Daily’s reporting, including our ongoing series on mergers. Above are just two examples of credit unions that used to have a word or name in common, nearly all of which are gone. Only those with two buttons to the right of their names are still operating, and in the case of Pueblo Government Agencies CU, it will soon be joining the one-button CUs as it also merges.
A Throwback URL
Above is the website of Southern Chautauqua FCU. Check out its URL, no doubt a throwback to to the days when people used phones to, you know, talk to people.
So, What are You in For?
Speaking of talking to people… Perhaps this one amuses only me, but I shot this picture on a rental car bus at the Ontario (Calif.) airport. The sign over the driver warns, ‘Unnecessary Conversation With Operator is Prohibited by Law.’ I was going to ask him to slow down so I could get a better picture, but then I re-read the sign. That has to be a tough one to explain to the other inmates.
Frank J. Diekmann is Cooperator-in-Chief at the CU Daily and can be reached at [email protected]. in words or pictures.
