IN SIDER Volume 1 + May 2007
The CommunityAmerica Magazine start something. Start saving | Start driving | Start digging
[ Welcome to the insider ]
Hi there. Welcome to the very first issue of the INSIDER. What is the INSIDER, you might ask? Think of it as your handy dandy guide to life. You know, with tips and tools to help you live long and prosper. In the spirit of our first issue, we’d like to encourage you to do some firsts, to start something. Whether it’s starting a savings account or planning a road trip or even beginning a remodeling project, inside this issue you’ll find everything you need to know and then some. Go ahead and turn the page. Let’s get started.
VIEWPOINTS
[ SOCKY SAVESALOT ]
Dear Reader, Welcome to the INsider, our new member magazine. As your credit union, we are rooted in the unique advantages we offer to our members. Those advantages take many forms. The $1 million bonus dividend our member/ owners just received, great products, outstanding service and a cherished set of values are just some of the ways CommunityAmerica Credit Union makes a difference for our members. But you already know that. The INsider was created as one more way to help ensure our members get more from their credit union than they would ever expect to get from another financial institution. Within these pages, you’ll find information to help you start something. From bulking up your savings to tips for happy road tripping, the purpose is to entertain, as well as to enrich, educate and enhance your life right now.
Take it from me. It pays to sock it away.
Hey there. I’m Socky Savesalot, the Insider’s very own savings mascot. I’m here to offer my financial advice and inform you that there’s a way to start saving more money today. It starts by making a little sacrifice. I know, I know, it’s a difficult thing to do, but think about it this way: If you brought your lunch to work one day a week, you could save quite a bit. In fact, since the average lunch costs around $10, you would save $520 a year. That’s $520 more you could be earning interest on in a money market account or a 529 plan to help with things like your child’s college fund or your retirement or even just that simple
I hope you enjoy the INsider.
iPod you’ve had your eye on. Sound good? Visit cacu.com to learn more. As for me,
Sincerely, Dennis Pierce
Chief Executive Officer CommunityAmerica Credit Union
that’s it, I’m headed back to the dresser.
The Sarge Says:
Join the fight against fraud.
As a fellow fraud fighter, I salute the efforts of financial institutions to help deter online crime. Unfortunately, they can only do so much. You, my friend, need to make sure to take the necessary precautions to ensure your online experience is a safe one. In other words, man your battle stations, or keyboards, whatever you people do these days. Below are the Sarge’s top three tips. Don’t forget to follow them or I’ll have you cleaning the latrines faster than you can say, “online shopping.” I’ll see you around, and enjoy the web-browsing, soldiers. Now drop and give me 20 double clicks.
Who is the Sarge? After making a brief appearance in a television commercial for CommunityAmerica, the Sarge has become the credit union’s biggest supporter. And now, because of his persistence, we’ve made him one of our spokespeople. We’ve found his direct and sometimes forceful approach helps motivate people and helps them make positive changes.
The Sarge’s Do’s and Don’ts Never provide personal financial information online unless you are shopping on a secure site. This includes your credit card numbers, social security number, personal identification number or date of birth.
Use unique and highly protected passwords to help keep your personal information secure from hackers.
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Make sure to regularly monitor your bank, credit and debit card statements. If something seems fishy, contact your financial institution immediately.
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What a long, inexpensive trip it’s been. See some sights. Save some dough. Ready to pack up the family truckster and hit the open road? Sounds good to us. But before you go, you may want to think about how much that trip is going to cost you. With rising gas prices, hotel rates and the cost of a speeding ticket (slow down, will ya’, Andretti?) a simple road trip can leave your wallet filled with nothing more than receipts and regrets. But before you call off that cross-country expedition all together, allow us to lend you a few ideas on where to go, how to get there and how to make the whole thing a little more wallet-friendly.
Don’t know where to start? How ‘bout right here at home? Since CommunityAmerica is based right here in the Heartland – centrally located with great highway access – you can get from here to pretty much anywhere on a couple tanks of gas. Here are just a few road trips that are an easy day’s drive.
THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ROAD TRIP The Midwest is home to lots of famous bands and even more famous places to see them. From Columbia to KC to Lawrence to Lincoln – you can’t throw a rock without hearing something that is sure to move you.
Columbia, MO The Blue Note is celebrating their 25th year of bringing great bands to the masses. Visit thebluenote.com to see who’s playing next.
Lawrence, KS A trip to Lawrence isn’t complete until you’ve visited the Bottleneck. Check out the back wall near the pool tables for a who’s who of modern rock. They’re online at pipelineproductions.com/live/bottleneck.asp.
Lincoln, NE The unlikely capital of the nation’s emo scene is bursting with color and vibrancy. Local indie label gone international Saddle Creek offers emo heroes like Bright Eyes and Cursive playing their (broken) hearts out nightly. (starcityscene.com, saddle-creek.com.)
THE YOU WON’T BELIEVE IT’S REAL ROAD TRIP In Kansas alone there are more quirky, odd, strange and downright “Huh?” sights than any person would dare (or care) to see. A mere two clicks into Roadside America’s Web site will give you info on the Museum of Independent Telephony in Abilene, Baxter Springs’ Big Darn Rabbit or the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City. And that’s just the ABCs. Visit roadsideamerica.com for lots, lots more.
THE FIELD OF DREAMS BATTLE ROYALE ROAD TRIP Dyersville is in the far northeast corner of Iowa, but it’s well worth the miles to visit the Field of Dreams where the 1989 Kevin Costner baseball classic was filmed. You can walk in the outfield, run the bases or even take a little batting practice. And because a property line runs through the middle of the field, you can get two times the Field of Dreamiosity from the two farmers who own the land. Visit either www.leftandcenterfod.com or fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com for two sets of pretty much the same info.
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Who will you dub co-pilot? Have you decided who’s riding shotgun with you? Choose carefully. A successful road trip hangs in the balance. You don’t want Johnny Sleeps All The Time hanging out with you when you need a good conversation to keep you going. You also don’t want Mix Master Boring with you when you need to get pumped up for a late night drive. Listed below you’ll find a couple characteristics that make for the best kind of co-pilot. Eagle Eye. You need someone who can spot road signs and help you navigate with ease so you can keep your eye on the road. DJ Skills. The right music can make all the difference in the world. Make sure your copilot has the right mix to keep you pumped up all night. Map Expertise. You need someone who knows a thing or two about reading a map. It will come in handy and save you the time it takes to stop off at the gas station and ask for directions.
THE DRUID, DRUID WHO’S GOT THE DRUID? ROAD TRIP If you’d like to visit England’s historic Stonehenge but don’t quite have the budget or a car that can drive underwater, look no further than Bollinger County, Missouri. A mere stone’s throw (get it?) from St. Louis, is a slightly smaller – but just as cool – replica of the ancient Druid’s astronomical calendar. The Heartland’s Stonehenge is made up of 12-foot-tall stones levered into their astronomically correct positions. Go to google.com and search for “Heartland’s Stonehenge” for more!
THE NOT-THE-WURST-BUT-THE-BEST HERMANN ROAD TRIP Every fall, Hermann, Missouri hosts their famous Octoberfest. Right on the Missouri River, the festivities take place just 90 minutes from St. Louis. Or, if you’d rather strap on your lederhosen and celebrate with some sausage (and who wouldn’t), you could hit Hermann on the fourth weekend of March when it becomes the “Sausage Capital of Missouri.” The appropriately titled “Wurstfest” features bratwurst, leberwurst and pretty much any other kind of wurst you could ever want. Visit hermannmo.com for details.
These are just a few ideas on where to go. It’s really up to you. Just remember to pack for not only your destination, but also your stops along the way. Heading from Kansas City to California? Well, that night in the mountains isn’t going to be very fun if you’re wearing flip-flops and a tank top.
IN SIDER TIP Now that you’re ready for a road trip, is your wallet? If you want to start stockpiling some dough for your cross-country adventure, we’ve got exactly what you need. A CommunityAmerica savings account offers you all the financial advantages you can handle. Plus, you can specify what you’re saving for by naming the account what you’re saving for – My iPod Acount, My Vacation Account – you see what we’re getting at. And once you’ve reached your goal, you can change the name to reflect what you’re saving for next. You’ll enjoy daily dividends, 24/7 online access and a low minimum deposit. 3
Give your flowerbeds some flair.
Sometimes all it takes is a couple of lilies.
If you’re looking to spruce up your house this year, why not head outside and give it a little curb appeal? It will not only make your house cool, it will make your neighbors jealous in the process. Who doesn’t love that? Listed below, you’ll find some tricks and tips to turn your yard into a budding masterpiece.
Pick your plants carefully.
Give your flowers room to grow.
By researching before you select your plants, you’ll be able to have a great-looking lawn all year long. With blooming flowers throughout the spring and summer, some beautiful fall foliage and a nice structure for winter, your yard can look great in any given month. Also, don’t forget to use a mix of annuals and perennials. Incorporating annuals helps supplement the down time when your perennials are done blooming. This will help add continuous color to your yard. Want to find the perfect flowers, shrubs or even trees for your area? Visit HGTV.com. They have a Zone Finder you can use to find the perfect plants for your area. You can also check out some of their cool landscaping tips.
One of the fundamentals in landscape design is spacing. By correctly measuring and digging, you’ll provide the proper spacing your flowers need to bloom and grow correctly. Another way to help your flowers grow properly is to make sure you add the right soil and plant them at the right depth.
Don’t bite off more landscaping than you can chew. Sure, an enormous flower train that spans the length of your yard would be cool. So would a well-designed moat. Unfortunately there is only so much time in the day. Plan your designs for low maintenance. Shrubs are a perfect example of this. They don’t require extra special attention, but they help give your yard a fresher look. By researching the flowers, plants and shrubs you will use, you’ll be able to pick plants that help keep your yard hours to a minimum. For more about how to gussy up that yard, flowerbed or potted plant of yours, check out some of these handy sites: Better Homes & Gardens online. (bhg.com) The classic. Tons of great ideas and info from the people that pretty much started it all. Home And Garden Place (home-and-garden-place.com) Applegate Gardens (applegategardens.co.uk) Lots of great stuff from across the pond, mates.
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Simply adding an extra row or two of flowers will help add a cool layering effect and brighten up your lawn. Don’t forget to use shrubs, too. In the winter, it will help fill the gaps after the flowers are gone. Top off your work with elements like fences, lighting and walls to create a professional look.
It’s time to build the yard of your dreams. So, you’re ready to give your yard a makeover. Now what? Well, you’ve got a couple of options including applying for a Home Equity Line Of Credit or a Home Equity Loan. How do you know which one is right for you? Allow the Insider to be your guide. Home Equity Loans are good for people who want a one-time, lump sum loan. And since the amount, term and pricing are fixed, you are protected during a rising rate environment like the one we have seen the past few years.
A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is an open line of credit secured by a mortgage on your home. This is a revolving line of credit from which advances can be taken for up to 10 years. Often, this type of loan has a variable interest rate that changes over time.
And if neither one of these sounds right to you, talk to one of our financial specialists. They can come up with the perfect plan for the perfect yard. >> V isit cacu.com for our current promotional rate. Hurry! Offer ends June 30.
Insider bulletin board + J une 14, 2007
THE CELEBRATION SCHEDULE:
Member Annual Meeting
CommunityAmerica Ballpark
6:30 - Activities for the kids including arts & crafts tent, inflatables, arcade games, playground and more. Includes complimentary ballpark food
If you’re ready to party, theN you’re invited to ours!
and drinks.
WHAT: CommunityAmerica’s Inaugural Member Appreciation Ballpark Extravaganza.
inning promotions. Will give away 4 prizes – a $250
A.K.A. Member-a-palooza 2K7! WHEN: June 14, 2007 starting at 6:30pm WHERE: CommunityAmerica Ballpark
7:30 - State-of-the-Credit-Union with in-between family pack to Worlds of Fun, a $500 gift card to Legend’s, a $1000 gift card to Nebraska Furniture Mart and a $2000 Vacation Package. 8:00 - A local band will perform, and members and family will have access to the field to run the bases, play ball and enjoy even more membership benefits. 9:00 - Fireworks show
COMMUNITYAMERICA LOCATIONS in kc metro Northland
Johnson County
Jackson County
64th Street 6390 N Cosby Avenue Kansas City, MO 64151
Liberty Hy-Vee 1332 Kansas Street Liberty, MO 64068
Blue Valley 6280 W 135th Street Overland Park, KS 66223
Blue Springs Hy-vee 601 W Highway 40 Blue Springs, MO 64015
112th Street 11125 Ambassador Drive Kansas City, MO 64153
North Oak 9310 N Oak Trafficway Kansas City, MO 64155
Nall 5601 W 95th Street Overland Park, KS 66207
Independence Hy-Vee 1525 E 23rd Street Independence, MO 64055
Bresette’s Sun Fresh Marketplace 7613 NW Prairie View Road Kansas City, MO 64151
Shoal Creek 8450 NE Flintlock Road Kansas City, MO 64157
Olathe 13590 S Black Bob Road Olathe, KS 66062
Noland Hy-Vee 4545 S Noland Road Independence, MO 64055
Coming Soon!
Chouteau Crossing 4357 NE Chouteau Trafficway Kansas City, MO 64117 Englewood Hy-Vee 207 NE Englewood Road Kansas City, MO 64118
Antioch Annex 5400 NE Antioch Kansas City, MO 64118
Prairie Village Hy-Vee 7620 State Line Road Prairie Village, KS 66208 Ridgeview Hy-Vee 18101 W 119th Street Olathe, KS 66061 I N S I D E R + M AY 2 0 0 7
Shawnee 16110 W 65th Street Shawnee, KS 66217
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You want your food fast and your money faster. With a fast food joint on every corner and our 25,000 ATM network, you’re just as close to your money as you are to a value meal. With CommunityAmerica, no matter where you go you’re covered. Road tripping to Omaha and need gas or a snack? Not a problem. Our network provides you with the cash you need whenever and wherever you need it. Plus, since they’re surcharge-free, you can go where you want without getting stung by big fees. Having some problems on the road? We can help. 7 of our branches are open 7 days a week. So JOIN IN. You’ll never know how you banked without us.
913.905.7000
cacu.com
17 Kansas City area locations
This credit union federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. CommunityAmerica is part of the CO-OP Network of ATMs. This convenience will allow CommunityAmerica members to access any ATM across the country that displays the CO-OP logo surcharge free. Transactions are free of charge at any of our branch locations.