Scholarship & Grant Deadline. The first review for 2007 scholarships and grants (Community Service, Small Credit Union Development, Marketing and Business Development, and Financial Independence & Revitalization Effort (FIRE)) will take place following the March 31 application deadline. Printable application forms are available on the ICUL Web site.

Grant application review deadlines are March 31, July 31, and October 31. Grant seekers are encouraged to complete and return the application form to the Foundation as early in the year as possible since grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be reviewed as long as grant funds are available.

March 31 is the main scholarship application deadline. Scholarship seekers are encouraged to complete and return the application form to the Foundation as early in the year as possible since most scholarships are awarded following the March 31 deadline. During the remainder of the year, scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first served basis for as long as funds are available.

If you have any questions about the grant programs, contact Vicki Ponzo or Melanie Murphy at the Foundation using the toll-free number 800-942-7124.

Celebration Weeks Announced. National Credit Union Youth Week is set for April 22-28, 2007; go to www.cuna.coop to access promotional materials. The fourth annual National Youth Week Savings Challenge, sponsored by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), is held in conjunction with National CU Youth Week. The theme for both is "Stash Your Cash at the CU" and features a pirate motif.

Money$mart Week, which is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, is set for April 30-May 5, 2007; go to www.chicagofed.org for more information.

International Credit Union Week is set for October 15-19, 2007, with Thursday, October 18 positioned as International CU Day. These celebratory times are always held during the third week and third Thursday of October, respectively. Go to www.woccu.org for more information or to purchase promotional materials.

Award Deadlines Announced. Applications for the League's Spirit of Service awards is February 23. Applications for the 2007 Desjardins Youth Financial Literacy, Dora Maxwell and Louise Herring awards is August 1. Applications for the League's Hall of Fame award is December 31. Information and application forms for all of the award programs can be accessed online at www.iculeague.coop.

IYIC Donates $18,500. The Illinois Youth Involvement Council (IYIC) raised money during 2006, primarily through candy bar sales, and donated proceeds to CUPAC ($6,500), the ICU Foundation ($6,500), I-CARE ($3,000), and the Washington CU Foundation ($2,500) for the BizKid$ Program.

Milestone Anniversaries. Congratulations to the following credit unions who will celebrate milestone service anniversaries during 2007: 25 Years – Kaskaskia Valley Community CU, Madco CU, and Sweetheart Cup FCU; 50 Years – Blaw Knox ECU, Carus ECU, Chicago Fire Officers Association CU, Citizens Community CU, Cognis CU, Evergreen Park Schools FCU, Federal Life ECU, Granite City EFCU, Hanna ECU, Imperial CU, Macon County School EFCU, Maternity BVM CU, Milledgeville Community CU, Peoria Journal Star CU, Prairie Trail CU, Route 1 Credit Union, Select ECU, and The CU at the University of Chicago; 75 Years – Aurora Postal ECU, University of Illinois ECU, and Urbana Postal CU

New CUCEs. The following people successfully passed all the required exams for CUNA's Regulatory Training and Certification Program and received the Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE) designation: Dierdre White, Alliant CU; Susan Zotta, State Farm FCU; Kara Hood, Illinois State Police FCU; John Lenz, Chicago Patrolmen's FCU; Sam Kaune, First Northern CU; Susan Holland, DHCU Community CU; Sean Miller, Meadows CU; Sandra Zuniga, Motorola ECU; Joe Kregul, Healthcare Associates CU; and Kris Kim, Motorola ECU.

Certificates Awarded. Congratulations to Lou Miller, Land of Lincoln CU, and Kathy Hartsock, Olin Community CU, who received a Compliance Achievement Award for successfully fulfilling the requirements for Level 1 of RegTracC, CUNA's Regulatory and Training Certificate Program.

Chamber Honors CU. The Woodridge Area Chamber of Commerce named Argonne CU business of the year at the end of 2006. The CU was chosen based on community involvement, attendance at events, financial commitment, and chamber participation.

Training Announced. The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) announces its schedule of 2007 training sessions, which are designed to highlight the "People Helping People" philosophy of the credit union movement.

NCUF is holding two Development Education (DE) Training sessions during 2007. Registration for the first class, which is set for April 12-17 in Madison, WI is open now. The second session will be held on Bainbridge Island, WA from August 23-28; registration for this session will open during May.

NCUF will also host a DE Workshop, which is a networking and project development event for DE Training alumni, at America's Credit Union Conference from June 5-7 in Las Vegas.

NCUF has scheduled two Social Impact Management Institutes (SIMIs) during 2007. Separate one- and two-day sessions designed to integrate cooperative values and social responsibility into credit union management strategies are set for March 24 in Monterey, CA, in advance of the California and Nevada Credit Union League's Big Valley Educational Conference and for May 16 in Des Moines, IA, after the Iowa Credit Union League's Serving the Underserved Conference.

For more information on any of these programs, go to the NCUF website at www.ncuf.coop

New CEOs. Welcome to the following new CEOs of Illinois credit unions: Madeline Lipka – Community Trust CU, St. Elizabeths CU - Nathan Kirkwood, Jr., Blaw Knox CU - Crystal Alexander, and Kankakee Terminal Belt CU - Shelley Messer.

Grand Openings. The following credit unions opened new facilities recently: Argonne CU in Romeoville, NuMark CU in Crest Hill, Wrigley Associates CU in Yorkville, Land of Lincoln CU in Vandalia, and Shell Community FCU in Wood River.

Retirements. Best wishes to the following CU CEOs who recently retired: Marite Plume, Argonne CU and Dick Wellner, Corporate America Family CU.

Marathon Finisher. Lynn Esp, Assistant General Counsel at the League, completed the New York Marathon with a time of 4:04:07 and placed 13,331 out of 30,647 runners. Esp is now training to compete in the Iron Man Triathlon.

Passings. The credit union movement mourns the loss of Ross Hanna, former board member of Illinois Central Community CU.

Education Calendar. Add to your knowledge or sharpen your skills by attending one of more of these outstanding educational events.