How big is your footprint?

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation.

You might be surprised just how much you are aiding the process of global warming. The following are sites where you can calculate your carbon footprint:

 

Be Green Now Calculator

BP.com Calculator

Carbon Footprint Calculator

 

Here are some more interesting facts for you:

· According to the National Geographic documentary Human Footprint, Americans consume about 989,985,594,240 half gallons of milk over the course of a lifetime.  This is good news because it shows that we are staying healthy by consuming milk, but it’s also bad news because it means we are creating more waste when we throw these plastic milk jugs away

· To make all of the US newspapers for one year it takes 190,000,000 trees! 1000 tons more carbon dioxide is released a day without these trees!

· One shower averages over 25 gallons of water, which is over 700 gallons in a lifetime!

Want to lower your footprint?  Start with recycling glass, metals, plastic and paper! Are you wondering how you can get started?  Where can you recycle in your community? What can be recycled? Who can you call for more information? The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is a good place to start!

Road trip? Think green

It warms my heart when the Contact Center Representatives here at South Carolina Federal Credit Union are able to provide solutions that save our members time and money. I’m even more happy when we can do it and promote environmental awareness.

In honor of our Green Week I would like to share with you a recent success story that illustrates our ability to do just that.

We received a phone call from a member who recently retired and was planning a road trip that would allow he and his wife to travel across the country on a three month long discovery of the United States. He called us to find out how he could conveniently monitor and manage his finances long distance. We happily explained that our online banking system and eStatements would allow him remote access to his detailed account information. We explained how secure online banking really is. He was happy that he still had the security and control of his finances that he desired. He then mentioned that actually, eStatements and Payment Manager fit into his “go green” awareness plans as well. Another happy member!

We encourage you to visit a Branch, call, email, or chat with our Contact Center so we can help you find ways to conveniently manage your finances while also going green!

Get Your Green On!

Many will wear green this Wednesday, but there are lots of reasons to think "green."  Be forwarned, though - thinking “green” can be quite an interesting and exhausting exercise.   For example:

• Preschoolers may want to try some Green Eggs and Ham. Did you know that Dr. Seuss (aka Theodor Seuss Geisel), was born in the month of March? Legend has it that Geisel, who died in 1991 at age 87, wrote the children’s favorite in response to a $50 bet that he could not write a book that used only 50 words
• Wedding planners may be wondering just how much green they will shell out for that momentous event. Why not consider a green (and le$$-green) wedding? Frugal (and brave) brides flock to Running of the Brides events to purchase a drastically reduced wedding gown
• Environmentally conscious folks will be focused on - well - protecting the environment by recycling, driving hybrid cars (or not driving cars at all), or choosing “green” options from billing statements to the best eco-friendly water bottles.
• Nutrition-conscious people may think of avocados, kale, bok choy, and other uber-healthy leafy green vegetables. Some of you will turn green at the thought!
• Suffering from a belly ache? Swallowing a live frog was an old Irish cure for a stomach ache. (speaking of turning green...!)

- Written by Beth Jaskiewicz, SVP, Marketing

Unselfish Acts Reap Great Rewards

A few weeks ago, I was helping one of our members with her Online Business Banking and she told me the story of how she started her caregiver business. Her story and all the details really made an impression on me.

Here is the short version of her story. She started working for a caregiver company right after high school. She grew to love the people she took care of and they grew very attached to her also. One day she got a phone call that one of the people she took care of had passed away. She was very saddened by the news. A few days later, she got another phone call. This time it was from an attorney. She had no idea why an attorney would be calling her. Come to find out, the person who passed away had left her $10k in his will. He noted that the reason he left her that money was because she took care of him with such love, care, and patience. She said she was just being her kind and loving self, but obviously her compassion and care really meant a lot to him. At first she didn't know what to do with the money, but she said that the attorney suggested to her to start her own business because she was good at what she did.

She did just that and she now has 13 employees! She loves what she does and she is a prime example that treating others the way you want to be treated goes a long way!

Have you ever been surprised like this for doing something nice?

Chao for now,

Leslita

What random act of kindness has touched your life?

At the credit union, these random acts of kindness are called "LifeSimplified Moments." They are acts of service that go above and beyond the employee's current job duties and responsibilities. It's more than just being nice and holding the door open for someone or pouring coffee in a cup. Random acts of kindness are ways to touch people's lives whether you know them or not. A way to extend the good graces and blessings you've received and "pay it forward" freely without need of attention or payment.

For me, the entire concept is based on my core values. They are extensions of how I feel about my family, the world, and my faith. So, as a friend would say, "I'm done waxing poetic!" All I'm looking for are the examples of how someone has touched your life, which then might serve as an inspiration to others who need a little love right now.

Okay... I'm waiting... don't have all day... I'd better hear from you, or else... (Just practicing my tough talk so my image isn't tarnished - grin.)

Bring It!

This week, my fellow bloggers and I are talking about making your own luck, inspiration, uplifting events, etc.  Initially, I was going to talk about all the wonderful benefits the credit union offered to its employees like our on-site physical fitness center (had to slip at least one in…lol!)

 

Instead, I want to make it a little more personal and partly due to selfish reasons; my husband and I started P90X this weekend. P90X is a system of 12 extreme workouts designed to transform your body from “regular to ripped” in 90 days.

 

Well the selfishness comes in because if I tell just enough people about my commitment to “getting ripped in 90 days” then maybe that will give me the drive to roll out of bed at 4:45am to complete this hour long work-out when sleeping for an extra hour is so much easier to do.  I also have received some inspiration from a couple members of our management team who are on their 3rd and 10^th weeks.

 

Another motive for me to “bring it” is I know my family will reap the rewards and benefits of having a healthier wife and mom.

Guest blogger Corey shares his "nice thing" thought today

In Monday's post, Beth blogs about intentionally making a difference by doing one "nice thing".   Corey Fink, who works with me here at South Carolina Federal Credit Union had an interesting example which I asked him to share:

Almost anytime I arrive at a store where there are shopping carts, inevitably one is near my vehicle or on my way in to the store. So I began the habit of taking them into the store. On occasion I’ll even intercept a person who just finished unloading and return their cart for them. My wife calls me considerate and polite. I just smile quietly, because my motives are more selfish than that.

This habit started when I came out to my truck one time and there was a cart touching the side panel. Like most people who care about their investment, I was not pleased. Rather than get mad at something I could not undo, I decided to start returning carts that were near my vehicle hoping to lessen the chance of a new dent or scratch.

Fast forward two years. I now see the appreciative looks on people’s faces, especially the shopping cart cowboy who has to round up all those renegade carts. My motive has changed (somewhat) from selfishness to kindness. I know I’m not exactly leaving a $20 bill in the cart, but it’s my nice thing, as small as it may be.

Even if it’s small like returning a cart that you didn’t use, what's your nice thing?

"Deep Thought" Days

Do you ever wake up and have those “deep thought” days?  You know the kind:  You wonder if what you do all day makes a difference.    When those questions come to mind, you don’t have to look far to find opportunities to make a difference in your family, your local neighborhood, your workplace or the world.   Just one simple step can lead you down a most interesting and impactful path.  Consider these two examples:

Debbie Tenzer, the author of  Do One Nice Thing: Little Things You Can Do to Make the World a Whole Lot Nicer,  started looking for nice things to do every Monday to counter the "Monday Blues."  She got hooked and now refers to herself as a Nice-a-Holic.   Tenzer committed to doing a nice thing one day a week – not everyday, but once a week.   There are now 42 Mondays left in 2010.

In Same Kind of Different as Me, Ron Hall and Denver Moore relay the true story of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy art dealer (Hall) and a homeless, illiterate man living on the streets in Texas (Moore).  How did the friendship begin?    Hall and his wife volunteered to serve meals once a week at a local shelter.  From that “one day a week” commitment came an amazing story of changed lives.

This week as you think about whether what you do makes a difference, consider intentionally doing one nice thing once a ____ (you fill in the blank).   Let us know what your  “nice thing” is!

- Written by Beth Jaskiewicz, SVP, Marketing

Family vacations – how big, how far, how much?

In the spirit of our "planning ahead" theme this week, I asked our Senior Vice President of Marketing, Beth Jaskiewicz, to share some of her vacation preparation tips. Read below and enjoy!

Be the germ – Don’t wait for others to ask. Start talking with family members early to find out what works for all (or depending on the size of your family, for most). Beach? Mountains? Dude ranch? Extreme sports?

Be realistic – Everyone wants to go to Europe for a month, but unless your job and your checking account can swing that – or you won the lottery – that’s probably not going to happen this year. Also consider age ranges and make sure there’s something for everyone (Beth's family vacation will include over a dozen people, age 1 year to 80 years)

Be creative – Relentlessly search for affordable, fun options.

• Look for deals online. The usual resources – Hotwire, Orbitz, VRBO, etc.

• Thinking of Disney?

• Use your points – CUReward Points for airfare, car rental, hotels, etc. 

Be the chief – Or designate chiefs to take on critical roles. Depending on the crowd, location and interests, you might have many chiefs: Chief of dates; Chief of Reservations; Chief of Menus; Chief of Fun. Everyone wants to enjoy the vacation, so spread the love and let everyone play a part.

What are some of your vacation planning tips that have worked well (or not) ?

Chao for now,

Leslita

Public or Private?

Ok, I need your perspective on this topic. Hubby and I have been having debates lately on the topic of private vs. public schooling for our children. Although our girls are only toddlers this is the best time to plan for their education.

 

My husband believes that since he and I both went to public schools (in NY) and turned out fine we should place the kids in public school. On the other hand, I have begun to weigh the pros and cons with each and would like to at least consider both options.

 

Private or public?…hmmm…this is an incredibly complex question. It's a matter of how good, bad or indifferent we perceive the local private and public schools to be.  Factors to consider include the talents and aspirations of the children as well as our expectations as parents.

 

Every parent wants to ensure their child receives the best education available; we also want to raise an emotionally healthy and well-rounded adult. One of the motivations for me was I don’t want to look back in the next five or ten years and say, “if only we had spent the money”.  There seems to be an expectation that private schools would have a more disciplined work ethic and I want the kids to be subject to that.

 

The bottom line is we need to look into the options that are available and decide with confidence. So, what do you think, private or public?