The third Thursday every October has marked International Credit Union Day each year since 1948. On this day, credit unions around the world celebrate their impact locally and abroad as not-for-profit financial cooperatives.

Why do they do this? Because credit unions from Philadelphia to the Philippines participate in a global financial cooperative movement with a unique structure and shared principles. With these, credit unions have the power to change people’s lives and are set apart from all other financial institutions.

It’s important for credit unions to celebrate this credit union difference during International Credit Union Day, especially during the current economic climate. Doing so reaffirms the positive impact of people helping people and introduces why credit unions are different from other financial institutions to those unfamiliar.

Service 1st Federal Credit Union in Danville, PA planned a full week of community service projects to celebrate 2010’s International Credit Union Week.

CUNA is proud to promote International Credit Union Day and support credit union celebrations–both large and small–across the United States. There are many examples of how credit unions have shared this event with their members and their community and dozens of ideas for how to host your own celebration.

For example, a recent News Now article highlighted the 2011 plans for South Dakota’s East River FCU and Stage Employees FCU in Las Vegas.

Stage Employees FCU members service representative Colleen Hermann shared in the article how even a tight budget won’t stop her credit union from using signage and small giveaways to tie her credit union to the larger cooperative celebration.

Mechelle Johnson, President/CEO of East River FCU explained in the article how they plan to use International Credit Union Day as an opportunity to thank members with a shred-it day and an open house, communicate the credit union difference with activity books and t-shirt giveaways, and help their community through a canned food drive.

We want to know: how does your credit union plan to celebrate?

Share your celebration plans by September 30 by either commenting on this post, posting to the ICU Day Facebook page or send your plans to ICUDay@cuna.coop and you’ll be entered to win a free ICU Day Celebration kit, a $198 value! Remember to include copies of promotional materials and photos of decorations and staff in their ICU Day finest.

Celebration Kit Includes:

ICU Day 2011 promo materials

• Large posters (5) to decorate the branch
• Stuffer/brochures (500) to explain the credit union difference and introduce 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC)
• Skittles (1 case of 250 packets) to treat members on Oct. 20
• Tattoos (1 bundle of 200) to reward young ones making deposits during Oct. and the 2012 IYC

The winner will be announced Oct. 4 on Facebook and Oct. 5 in the free ICU Day Update e-newsletter (sign up today)

If you’ve already shared your plans…GREAT! Then you’re already entered.

Thank you for helping to show credit union members around the country how credit unions build a better world!