Community Builders - It's a Volunteer Thing!

Rogue Federal was founded on the desire to make our community a better place to live. The original group of teachers that started the credit union back in 1956 knew that together they were better. With an "anything is possible spirit" the credit union started in a pencil box, then grew into a living room, and ultimately took over the garage at the Johnston residence. Rogue Federal came into being and grew with the selfless contributions of a few dedicated individuals that sacrificed their personal time, talents, and treasures to ensure Southern Oregon had a reliable financial option. The following quote best exemplifies the dedication of the original and current volunteer Board at Rogue Federal,

“Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless.” ~ Sherry Anderson

I am fortunate to serve a volunteer Board of Directors that dedicate countless hours of their personal time to ensure that Rogue Federal is safe, sound, and dedicated to meeting the needs of our members. The greatest reward for them is when we recognize the community heroes that make Southern Oregon a better place to live. So, each year at our Annual Meeting, our celebration of the the credit union difference, we recognize the folks that are tirelessly dedicating themselves to make Southern Oregon a better place to live.

With almost 50 nominations, it was difficult to narrow our choice to the 10 finalists. Reading through their stories, you’ll see that these folks exemplify all that is right with Southern Oregon. From working with youth, serving those with special needs, or helping seniors, our finalists demonstrate that there is considerable need in our community, and people like you and I can make a difference. The voting ends on March 24th and the winners will be recognized at our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 27th. Please come join the celebration of the credit union difference and the amazing things that folks are doing to make Southern Oregon a better place to live!

If this message inspires you to find volunteer opportunities, follow the link to start making a difference today. Also, below is a list of some of the volunteer projects that the Rogue Federal team will be taking on throughout 2012. You are welcome to join us as our staff and volunteers work to do their part in building a better community... our very own Rogue Federal Community Builders!!

Volunteer opportunities that Rogue Federal will be involved in for 2012:

ACCESS Food Repack: April 28th and October 20th
Time: 9am – 1pm
Location: 3630 Aviation Way

ACCESS has a food program that supplies food to families in need in the Rogue Valley. Rogue employees will be working on an assembly line, putting together food packages that will be later shipped out to people in need.

Grants Pass Letter Carriers Food Drive: May 12
Time: 11am – 4pm
Location: Grants Pass

Come out and help the Grants Pass Branch Stamp out Hunger in Josephine County. The Rogue Federal team will be helping to sort food as the Letter Carriers bring in food from their routes. This is a fun event that helps our community for many months.

United Way Day of Caring: May 19
Time and location to be determined.

Movies in the Park: June – September in Medford

Habitat for Humanity: November – December
We will be wrapping gifts at the mall.

100 Best – It’s a Rogue Thing!

Many of you may have heard that Rogue Federal Credit Union was recently recognized as one of Oregon’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon. Rogue Federal was recognized as number 14 in the large employers’ category for the first time at the 100 Best Awards Banquet the first week of March. The 100 Best Companies to Work for in Oregon is an annual program conducted by Oregon Business Magazine. The program is designed to highlight the best places to work in Oregon. Our recognition is clearly an amazing honor for Rogue Federal Credit Union and hopefully a proud moment for our members and our community.


I am excited because there were over 240 applicants for this year’s awards. Each business must answer a questionnaire about benefits and work conditions, but the majority of the scoring is directly related to a staff survey. This honor recognizes that Rogue Federal is a pretty special place to work, and what makes it so special is each and every one of our dedicated staff members. They demonstrate a tireless commitment to creating great relationships with our members and with each other. I am so fortunate to work with a team of such talented people, who kept their heads high and their hearts focused on our members throughout the uncertainty of the financial crisis. There is nothing more that I could have expected from our team and I am forever indebted to them.


Left to right:  Matt Stephenson, Executive Vice
President/COO; Jerry Hauck, Board of Directors
Chairman; Gene Pelham, President/CEO


Rogue Federal was the second of three credit unions recognized in the large employer category. Our recognition at number 14 is pretty special because most of the folks ahead of us have received previous recognition. The other exciting part of this award is that we were one of only three Medford businesses recognized on the list. After attending the event, it is clear that Portland area businesses are the pace setters when it comes to this award, with all of the top awards in each category going to Portland businesses. That just makes our recognition even more special for Southern Oregon.

From the bottom of my heart, I am so thankful for the statewide recognition for our staff. I am honored to work with such dedicated folks, but I have always known they were special because… “It’s a Rogue Thing!”

Looking for a few good Southern Oregon Heroes!

I’ve been writing a lot lately about cooperatives and the important role they play in our communities, from providing employment to making contributions to benefit various organizations, charities, and events. Their impact and involvement help our local communities thrive. In many ways their ongoing commitment to Southern Oregon could be described as heroic. Well… I’m not done writing about the impact a dedicated volunteer or organization can have yet! This blog is devoted to another aspect of community involvement, namely those quiet heroes who, out of the goodness of their hearts, go above and beyond their regular days’ work and responsibilities to positively impact the lives of others – better known as “Community Builders. ”

Today, we’re launching the Fourth Annual Rogue Federal Community Builder Campaign. We’re asking you to tell us who you think is the most devoted, unselfish, inspirational “Community Builder” in Southern Oregon. We know that there are many folks out there who are working hard to make Southern Oregon a better place to live. But we need you to tell us who they are. Think about the folks you know that put in long hours volunteering for the benefit of others; those amazingly unselfish folks that give of their time, their talents, and their treasures. You know who they are, the folks that you look up to, the folks that truly make a difference and most often the folks that do these amazing things without any desire for recognition and reward. These are the people we consider worthy to be recognized as Rogue Federal Community Builders.

From now until March 7, go to www.roguefcu.org to read about past winners and their outstanding contributions to Southern Oregon. Then while you are there, take some time to nominate someone as this year’s Community Builder. We will review all the nominations and choose 10 finalists whose efforts rise to the top. Then, from March 16-24, you will have the opportunity to vote for your top 3 favorites. We’ll recognize all 10 finalists and announce the winners at our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 27, at 5:30 PM. The person who receives the most votes will receive $1,000 to further their cause or benefit a charity of their choice. Second and third place will receive $500 each.

The staff and volunteers at Rogue Federal Credit Union take pride in our efforts to recognize the folks that truly make a difference in Southern Oregon. I feel that, as a cooperative, we have a responsibility to give back, not just to the members of our community who participate with us cooperatively, but to every citizen who plays a role in making Southern Oregon a better place to live. If our community succeeds our cooperative succeeds.

So won’t you help us identify who those unsung heroes are and nominate them today? Let’s show them our support for all that they do.

Chamber Leadership Program

If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I love to talk on-and-on about the importance of supporting our local community. I have experienced the impact of community support first hand and also value the satisfaction felt when you get out and live local by helping others.

I have been fortunate, over the years, to work with various local organizations that help make Southern Oregon such a great place to live. As I look back, one organization that consistently stands out is the Chamber Leadership Program, organized by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Each year several dozen community members, most of them local businesspeople and professionals, sign up for the chamber's leadership program, to work on a project that helps others around Southern Oregon Each class selects one project from the dozens of community proposals submitted, based on need and the viability of the project, and then spends the next few months fundraising and securing resources.

In the past, some of the projects completed by the Chamber Leadership Group have included building a handicap accessible playground for children at Fichtner Mainwaring Park, building a classroom for the Southern Oregon Child Study and Treatment Program boys’ home. The year I participated in the Chamber Leadership Program, we built a playground at the Kids Imagination Discovery Space in Medford.

Another great organization in the Rogue Valley is the Medford Gospel Rescue Mission. The mission helps to provide thousands of families each year with clothing, shelter and food. Last year, over 90,000 free meals were served through its Main Ingredient restaurant. This year, the Chamber Leadership group has chosen to build a Community Garden for the Medford Gospel Rescue Mission. This Community Garden will not only provide a reliable source of healthy food for the restaurant, but also give the beneficiaries of the restaurant an opportunity to participate in the growing and preparation of their own food. This will allow community members to learn the essentials of gardening and the importance and benefits of eating healthy, unprocessed foods.

I couldn’t think of a better opportunity to make a big impact on folks right here in Southern Oregon than by our participation in this project. The Chamber Leadership Program is looking for help from the community as they turn what is currently a grungy asphalt parking lot into a 4,000 square foot flourishing garden that produces healthy food for the community.

If you have any resources available or would like to donate time, money or materials, please contact the 2012 Chamber Leadership Program on their Facebook page at Gospel Garden Project.