Alternatives Federal Credit Union Annual Report

Posted by on June 24, 2005

This year’s Alternatives Federal Credit Union Annual Report is totally different than ever before. On one side, it’s a poster of our fabulous West End Mural. The other side is our Annual Report, which left us limited space to impart all our news. And we had plenty of successes to impart. In 2004 we:
* Completed more tax returns for low and moderate income people with VITA.
* Made it easier for more members to qualify for the Alternatives VISA Debit Card.
* Expanded online services and introduced BillPay@Home.
* Offered two new ways for members to get financial counseling.
* Started a new IDA, the First Home Club.
* Opened additional Student Credit Union branches.
* Formed a partnership between Business CENTS and Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities.
* Offered participation loans to serve the larger needs of businesses.
* Thoroughly enjoyed our new facility, and the additional comfort and privacy it affords our members.

Perhaps the most visible and fun 2004 project was the West End Mural, featured on the cover of our report. The Mural turned into a true community project and celebration, and we wanted to share it with you in the form of a poster. The Mural was painted over six weeks in the Spring of 2004 (and if you know what the weather in Ithaca is like, you?ll know how truly amazing that is). Those six weeks were edited into a three minute video which you can view, along with the story of the Mural, on our web page: http://www.alternatives.org/mural_pics.html.

Our web page also features profiles of members and their testimonials about how Alternatives? products and services helped them achieve their goals. We were recently featured in a video by the National Credit Union Foundation which you can view from our home page, http://www.alternatives.org

Finally, thank you, for it is through your participation and support that we are empowered to accomplish these goals. It is through the support and efforts of members, funders, colleagues and friends that we are able to fulfill our mission to provide: access to transactional services; savings and community investment opportunities; capital investments and education about capital to individuals, small businesses and non-profits. Together, we will continue to work toward our vision, To build wealth and create economic opportunity for underserved people and communities. There is much to be proud of, and you are all an integral part of the Alternatives Federal Credit Union experiment.

You can view our 2004 Annual Report at http://www.alternatives.org/annual_report04.pdf. (Hint: Because one side is a full size poster, and the other side pages of our annual report, you will have to adjust the view to either see the whole poster or to read the pages.) If you would like a hard copy of the Annual Report , so you can display the beautiful poster of the West End Mural), for more information, or to let us hear your comments, send an email to annualreport@alternatives.org

Thank you for your support,
Leni Hochman, Chief Operations Officer
Alternatives Federal Credit Union
125 N. Fulton Street, Ithaca, NY 14850-3301
LeniH@alternatives.org www.alternatives.org