Press
Pennsylvania CU Chapter uses CUNA Seminars in a Box to Produce Public Television Program
MADISON, WI (February 6, 2013) – In an effort to revitalize financially suffering communities in Pennsylvania, the Schuylkill Valley Chapter of Credit Unions is producing a public television series entitled Home Buyer Education, utilizing CUNA Seminars in a Box™ for Members as its primary teaching tool. The program material, developed to increase financial literacy in the community and prepare viewers for home buying, is split into six segments, the first of which aired Tuesday, January 22, 2013 on Berks County Television (BCTV) in Reading, PA.
Trish Shermot, Marketing and Planning Manager, CTCE Credit Union and presenter of the first segment of Home Buyer Education, conceived the original fusion of the public television format with the Seminars in a Box for Members series. When she was approached, last year, by Ann Sheehan, Director of BCTV, for ways they might bring financial education to the community and improve the state of the city, Shermot’s first thought was Seminars in a Box. “CTCE had used Seminars in a Box previously because they’re so turnkey and so easy. I showed Ann the link and, after she looked into it, she said she wanted to do all three seminars,” recalls Shermot.
Seminars in a Box for Members are designed to provide credit unions with effective financial education materials to bring to their members in presentations and workshops. The thought that the same material might be implemented to fit a television program was a brand new idea for everyone involved. “Trish approached me last summer about taking Seminars in a Box to the airwaves via the local public TV station,” says Jan Garkey, Manager of Member Education for CUNA, “And what the Schuylkill Valley Chapter of Credit Unions accomplished was phenomenal. This successful collaboration highlights the commitment credit unions have to working together, as well as their commitment to financial literacy throughout the community.”
After the airing of the first Home Buyer Education segment, Schuylkill Chapter credit unions have begun to receive positive feedback. By keeping their aims non-competitive and embracing the message, “support local credit unions,” they’ve created a program that the community is praising for its positive and worthwhile effect, even hearing from a realtor that the information presented was impressively thorough.
“Credit unions work together best,” says Shermot. “I think that a television show, because it’s so different, will help us stand out from other financial institutions. We’re here to help people make good decisions through financial education. It’s living the credit union difference!”
The second segment of Home Buyers Education is set to air at 7:00pm, Wednesday, February 13 on BCTV.
If your credit union is interested in using Seminars in Box for Members on television, please contact Jan Garkey at 800-356-9655, ext. 4092.
About CUNA
With its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, Credit Union National Association (CUNA) serves 90 percent of America’s 7,200 state and federally chartered credit unions, which are owned by more than 95 million consumer members. Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives providing affordable financial services to people from all walks of life. For more information about CUNA, visit www.cuna.org or the CUNAverse blog and follow @CUNAverse on Twitter. For more information about credit unions, visit www.aSmarterChoice.org and follow @asmarterchoice on Twitter.