Call For Entries:  Illinois Credit Union League
Statewide Award Competitions

Please consider this letter the official call for entries for the annual Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award Program, the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award and the Louise Herring Award for Philosophy in Action award competitions. 

The Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award recognizes leadership within the credit union movement on behalf of youth financial literacy. It considers all activities supporting the personal finance education of young members and nonmembers, including, but not limited to, face-to-face teaching, publicity, lobbying for curriculum requirements, teacher and volunteer training, and promotion and use of the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program®. Projects submitted for the Desjardins competition should include activities that took place from June 1, 2004 through May 30, 2005.  All Desjardins entries must be submitted to the League office by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1, 2005.

The Dora Maxwell and Louise Herring programs identify credit unions that demonstrate the credit union “People Helping People” philosophy.  The Dora Maxwell Award program honors the work of credit unions for external activities in the community, and the Louise Herring Award program recognizes the practical application of credit union philosophy in daily internal operations.  Projects submitted for the Dora Maxwell and Louise Herring competitions should include activities that took place from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.  All Dora Maxwell and Louise Herring entries must be submitted to the League office by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 1, 2005.

In each competition, your credit union will compete with others in the same asset category.  In addition, individual chapters are eligible to enter the chapter category in the Dora Maxwell competition or the Desjardins competition. There is no chapter category for the Louise Herring Award program.  Please note for all competitions, submitting one extraordinary project with well-defined, measurable goals is the rule.  Questions on the respective entry forms must be answered based on one project. 

Winning credit unions at the state level will be recognized at the Keynote & Awards program held during the League’s 76th Annual Convention (April 20 – 22, 2006) and at their respective chapters.  State winners from each competition will then advance to the national competition for judging. In addition, national winners will be recognized at the February 2006 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

You are strongly encouraged to enter any or all of these award competitions. They are an excellent way for your credit union to be honored for its efforts and serve as an example for others to follow.

Entry forms and other information for all three competitions are available via the links below:

Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award
Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award
Louise Herring Award for Philosophy in Action

For more information, please contact William Wille, Public Relations Specialist, at (800) 942-7124, ext. 3216.