tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36912092455957442772012-02-07T11:18:53.073-08:00This blog is meant to inform, inspire and connect the folks of Southern Oregon.Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.comBlogger581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-2897522796865592612012-02-03T08:32:00.000-08:002012-02-07T11:18:53.087-08:00

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

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-18331199393093877532012-01-20T15:19:00.000-08:002012-01-23T23:17:43.778-08:00

I regularly write about the credit union difference and how Rogue Federal is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution. Rogue Federal is rooted in the cooperative ideals of self-help and caring for our community. In 2012, cooperatives from around the world are joining together to celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives. The Ashland Food Co-op, Grange Co-op, Medford Food Co-op,

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-7095675570055666322012-01-13T10:59:00.000-08:002012-01-18T08:56:21.550-08:00

It is that time of year when everyone is setting New Year's resolutions, goals for the coming year, or fondly dreaming of a new beginning. As I was looking at all of the financial resources available that I could share with you, I realized that during this time of increasing hope for a brighter tomorrow there is no better time to get "Back to the Basics." So, that’s what I’m going to do,

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-38079906291577434492011-12-16T14:22:00.000-08:002012-01-15T21:10:34.079-08:00

One of the opportunities that the financial crisis has afforded us is to truly consider what is important to us. I recently had the opportunity to attend a training session for credit union staff members in Grants Pass. The training session was conducted by the Josephine County Consumer Credit Counseling Service and focused on Holiday Spending tips to help folks create an affordable gift

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-22433240910020078552011-10-21T10:38:00.000-07:002012-01-15T21:10:45.013-08:00

I recently spent two days in Washington DC working to advocate for reasonable regulatory oversight and protect the rights of credit unions so we can continue to offer our members Business Loans. I am still amazed at how accessible our elected officials are in light of the difficult and challenging times they face in leading our nation. However, I also am saddened by the lack of progress on key

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-82851309133865927092011-09-22T14:25:00.000-07:002012-01-15T21:10:53.660-08:00

As many of you know we have four student branches at Rogue Federal. Starting with our first branch in South Medford High School in 1992, we have expanded to Ashland High School, Eagle Point High School, and added North Medford High School last year. The branches provide a great opportunity for our credit union to reach out to our youth and the folks that are responsible for Rogue Federal being

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-48204217783120348622011-08-05T10:52:00.000-07:002011-08-05T11:04:50.762-07:00

Many of you know that I blab on and on about the importance of supporting our community and looking local first. I love Southern Oregon and, after struggling for over 18 years to return here, I have gained a personal appreciation of the special things about the valley that you cherish only if you live here.One of those things we appreciate is the great parks system throughout Southern Oregon.

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-57844655233801455322011-07-08T10:30:00.000-07:002011-07-08T10:33:24.499-07:00

We celebrate the 4th of July each year to remember our country’s declaration of Independence from Great Britain. As I was sitting at an Independence Day parade, I thought about how we all need to declare our own Independence Day. There are a lot of things that we can declare independence from, but the recent financial crisis has reminded all of us how fragile our financial well being is. So, how

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-626138897226940182011-06-17T08:40:00.000-07:002011-06-17T08:45:38.478-07:00

So, have you noticed how everyone’s jumping on the “Local” bandwagon? This is not a bad thing! In the last blog, I explained what purchasing local meant to me – any purchase that returns value to our valley. But really, Living Local goes way beyond just economics. It’s an attitude, a choice! It’s an investment.So many of you have already come to know Rogue Federal Credit Union for its community

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-78295240839217247462011-05-19T10:49:00.000-07:002011-05-19T10:52:10.643-07:00

As the economy begins to recover and consumers get more comfortable they will begin to spend money again. One of the benefits that I noticed, throughout the financial challenges of the last couple of years, is that our friends and neighbors realized that we were all in this together. We all knew that if we looked locally for goods and services our community benefited… and if our community

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-25379798760448580852011-04-01T14:57:00.000-07:002011-04-04T08:45:30.743-07:00

As a wrap up to the Digital Dollars series I wanted to share some personal thoughts on the balance between the personal touch and remote delivery. I continue to be bullish on the future of our credit union and other community focused financial institutions. That is a big statement in light of the fearsome competition that we face from national financial service providers with resources that

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-56015797958470771222011-03-08T13:18:00.000-08:002011-03-08T13:19:40.808-08:00

I am going to take a little detour from the Digital Dollar series to talk about my visit to Washington, DC this last week. Each year credit unions from around the country gather in Washington, DC in late February or early March to celebrate the credit union difference. We hear from nationally known celebrities like Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the famous pilot that miraculously landed his plane

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-25445093076748221572011-02-18T11:23:00.000-08:002011-02-18T11:59:12.060-08:00

In the last installment of my blog I spoke about the anticipation and fear of these new technologies. As an individual there is so much to hope for as we free ourselves from the shackles of a wallet full, purse full or key chain full of cards and access devices. Just keeping track of all the individual store rewards cards that we must carry around to make sure that we get the best price can be a

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-66292124110465397462011-02-03T14:00:00.000-08:002011-02-03T14:02:05.702-08:00

As I sit here typing away on my iPad after just paying for my coffee with my iPhone, I’m thinking we're way past a “wave”… we're experiencing a technological “tsunami”! With the recent announcement of the iPhone 4 from Verizon, and Smartphone manufacturer HTC's announcement that they will launch two Facebook branded cell phones this month, what's next? It is hard to believe the first “cell phone”

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-21523475878576973392011-01-14T09:42:00.000-08:002011-01-14T09:45:47.135-08:00

Happy New Year! I can still say that, can't I? In my last blog I encouraged folks to increase their “Smile Index”. How's the epidemic going? I was surprised by how many folks spoke to me about this blog post.The response to the "Smile Index" blog post prompted me to think about the power and influence that “1” can have. How many times have you thought, “If I could only have one more hour of sleep

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-64117269924908051722011-01-03T08:37:00.000-08:002011-01-03T08:39:30.035-08:00

As I sit here writing this with Christmas Carols playing in the background I am thinking of how different this December feels than December of 2009. The economic crisis was barreling forward and we were trying to figure out what the economic challenges would bring to the residents of Southern Oregon. Now, I am sitting here and tapping my feet to the music of the season and remembering that I wasn

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-722648465011273062010-12-17T16:59:00.000-08:002010-12-17T17:04:14.550-08:00

Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus… well at least for the Chavez family of Medford!I recently had the privilege of presenting the Chavez family, who are members of our credit union, with a new car! The husband, Elias had purchased a raffle ticket at our South branch to help support the efforts of Oregon Credit Union Foundation’s 1st Annual Credit Union for Kids Charity Raffle. The ticket was

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-31001707341282880172010-12-10T10:40:00.000-08:002010-12-10T10:48:39.537-08:00

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… This has certainly been true in the stores for quite awhile already and each day, there seem to be more and more homes decorated for the season. (I put my lights up this last Sunday and was fortunate to enjoy an amazingly beautiful day.) It’s the time of year for the hustle and bustle to begin. With so many events and get-togethers planned I feel like

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-52797428605700936492010-12-03T17:02:00.000-08:002010-12-03T17:06:41.449-08:00

We continue to see folks struggle everyday in our community. We not only hear the devastating stories from members facing financial hardship, but from our neighbors, who are just hanging on by the last few dollars they have tucked away.Rogue Federal Credit Union, once again, joined forces with News10 to help local families this Holiday season. During the month of November, our credit union

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-86377346785094878692010-11-24T16:15:00.000-08:002010-11-24T16:20:01.029-08:00

As you gather with friends and loved ones this Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for? Here is what staff members of Rogue Federal are thankful for this year……I'm thankful to my parents for giving me their support and guidance in my younger years that allowed me to have the wonderful life that I enjoy today.…I have been blessed far more than I deserve. Family, friends, my growing number of kids,

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-71612339941573749312010-11-12T08:25:00.000-08:002010-11-12T08:30:18.485-08:00

For the second year, we are embracing the opportunity to help folks in our communities who continue to struggle to make ends meet. Through our partnership with KTVL Channel 10 and the generous donations from our members, staff, and the community, we are striving to make a difference in the lives of Families In Need this holiday season.If you are not familiar with this program, let me give you a

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-81231369496939357702010-11-03T11:36:00.000-07:002010-11-03T11:41:14.695-07:00

I know that when I began this blog I stated that the intent was to present “unbiased” financial information. But I can’t help it this time...I’m bursting with pride at the accomplishments that your credit union has achieved! So, please indulge me as I do a little bragging on the exceptional staff that is here to serve you every day. Our members are the reason our staff do what they do, so this is

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-68945062667302673062010-10-21T08:17:00.000-07:002010-10-21T08:20:41.262-07:00

Please join with me and 186 million credit union members worldwide to celebrate the credit union difference today on International Credit Union Day! On the third Thursday of October each year credit unions from around the world join together to recognize the unique not-for-profit value position that we bring to our members. If you stop by a branch today their will be sweet treats for our members

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-34347964326419557262010-10-01T11:57:00.000-07:002010-10-01T12:02:16.229-07:00

OR NEW BEGINNINGSOnly a few short months ago, it seems, we were wondering if the weather was ever going to warm up and if we were going to see signs of summer. Well, summer has come and is now threatening to leave as we are experiencing cool nights and chilly mornings – did I hear that Klamath Falls was below freezing last week?What a great time of year though! I love fall and all the benefits it

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-19125488536957814092010-08-20T15:20:00.000-07:002010-08-20T16:43:15.858-07:00

We’ve already discussed the basics of credit scores, how credit scores are created, and how to safeguard your credit score. But what if your credit score has taken a hit? What steps can you take to improve your score? In this blog, I would like to give you some tips on how to repair your credit score and what to do if you find inaccuracies in your report.The fact is there’s no quick fix for

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-86333902691117026142010-08-13T17:02:00.001-07:002010-08-13T17:05:30.800-07:00

Avoiding free credit report and free credit score scams.In last week’s blog I relayed information on how to receive federally mandated free credit reports. The official site for your free credit reports from the major credit reporting agencies s is www.annualcreditreport.com. Unfortunately, thousands of scam artists have also latched on to this consumer benefit. Many scam artists run fake “get

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-69639274044949608872010-08-06T15:25:00.000-07:002010-08-06T15:37:24.485-07:00

Last week I shared some Credit Score Basics with you. This week I will provide some of the background on what goes into a credit score. Simply understanding some of these details and managing your finances accordingly can make significant improvements in your credit score and save you considerably in finance charges and other costs determined by the use of your credit score.Before looking at the

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-38832695637256413392010-07-30T13:48:00.000-07:002010-07-30T14:21:21.149-07:00

I would like to thank all the members who have contacted me through the Ask Gene blog about financial issues and situations that are important to you. Recently, I have had several discussions about credit scores. As the economic situation in our country continues with uncertainty and legislative changes and restrictions to lending are pending, folks are concerned about how this all will impact

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-27845470124488769282010-07-09T09:30:00.000-07:002010-07-09T09:30:00.279-07:00

Each year, Rogue Credit Union is proud to play a part in helping to raise funds for a specific medically related project through Credit Union for Kids. This year’s project is the purchase of a Hugs Protection System for the Pediatrics unit at Rogue Valley Medical Center (RVMC).Rogue Credit Union will be selling bottled water for $1 at Movies in the Park all summer long – all proceeds will go

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-23973775449432891322010-07-01T16:23:00.002-07:002010-07-01T16:33:43.517-07:00

This is one of my favorite times of the year… Independence Day! I love it because it's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag. This year Independence Day falls on a Sunday. On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-19304210634432572432010-06-18T07:49:00.000-07:002010-06-18T12:17:56.262-07:00

As I talk with our members and folks throughout Southern Oregon I have learned that many of you are looking for low or no cost activities for your family. Rogue has always felt that it is our duty and privilege to serve in the communities that we live in, to “actively engage” in local activities and events, supporting local businesses and venues with a family focus. With that in mind, we are

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-18714289235029717302010-06-11T09:20:00.000-07:002010-06-11T10:40:39.530-07:00

One of the great things that I get to do here at the credit union is review all of our member survey comments. We survey members each month to see how we are doing and find out what’s on their mind. I appreciate that our Rogue Federal Credit Union members care enough about their credit union to give open and honest feedback. I get to hear stories about the great things our staff members have done

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-56287294975527416802010-04-06T08:13:00.000-07:002010-04-06T08:25:30.405-07:00

After more than 20 years of effort, credit unions have recently received legislative authority in Oregon to accept deposits of public funds. The Governor signed House Bill 3700 into law on March 27, 2010. This means that local governments and local agencies will be able use our credit union as an alternative to other financial services providers. By allowing local credit unions like Rogue to

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-78894683677483011562010-03-05T09:07:00.000-08:002010-03-05T09:17:30.594-08:00

In my last post I encouraged you to look at your options in a positive light, if you are currently struggling with financial issues – and who isn’t? I suggested some possible solutions and directions you could take to get back on track. I’d like to conclude this series with some common sense tips on how you can hit the reset button and look to the future with hope.Recovery won’t happen overnight,

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-48031710183305823872010-02-16T08:26:00.000-08:002010-02-16T08:29:59.188-08:00

As a follow up to my last post, I’d like to continue to delve into how you can improve your financial fortune. When we face challenges – and we all do – we can overcome them if we allow our weaknesses to be exposed, our limitations to be identified, and our strengths to be magnified. Too often we focus on what’s gone wrong, on who we can blame for what’s gone wrong, or on what we can’t fix. What

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-30016111287829665732010-01-15T15:53:00.000-08:002010-01-15T15:57:37.782-08:00

We’ve made it through another year! Most of us have been fortunate to escape the clutches of this financial crisis. However; we all have been touched by stories of someone (friends, family, and neighbors) who has experienced losses of one sort or another. Fortunately, we’re here, facing a New Year with hope and possibility. The stories of resilience that folks have shared with me are amazing. I

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-23079518905773827522009-12-21T15:30:00.000-08:002009-12-21T15:36:52.824-08:00

The Families in Need campaign continues to tug at my heart. All I can think about writing to you on is another aspect of the Families in Need campaign. In many ways this started out as a simple way to make a difference and join with a valued partner, KTVL. However, it turned out to be a truly rewarding experience that provided unexpected benefits.As you know, the campaign created a considerable

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-56031573831843462322009-12-14T11:44:00.000-08:002009-12-14T11:49:41.634-08:00

Well Southern Oregon, you did not let us down! You stepped up to the challenge put before you and far exceeded expectations. As many of you may know, during the month of November, our credit union partnered with KTVL Channel 10 on their Families In Need campaign. Rogue contributed a gift of $1,000 for the winner of the campaign, chosen by KTVL and in addition placed collection jars in each of our

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-18129753730396312052009-11-25T15:34:00.001-08:002009-11-27T09:51:28.573-08:00

With today being the day before Thanksgiving, it is a great time to reflect on all the reasons that I am thankful. I am thankful that I have the ability to dream about creating a better future for myself, my family, my community, and my country. I believe in the fundamental “right” we have as Americans…that with hard work I can make those dreams a reality. Unfortunately, in many countries

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-32523339943486763722009-10-26T10:41:00.000-07:002009-10-26T16:32:23.766-07:00

Our credit union has been actively involved in trying to find ways to help folks weather the financial crisis. Through our Building Hope foreclosure prevention seminars to our Rogue Solutions member loan counseling program we are simply trying to be a trusted resource that folks can turn to. With that in mind when the opportunity to partner with KTVL Channel 10 on their Families In Need campaign

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-69906210396634974742009-09-14T21:44:00.000-07:002009-09-15T11:30:02.797-07:00

Well, how does it feel? Are you making headway? Are you staying on budget (or at least near budget), or has the urgency of everyday life gotten in the way of working towards your future?It is OK if you didn’t track every expense or if you swayed from your goals as long as you made improvement. Our society has become influenced by the “gotta have it now” instant gratification mentality. Many of us

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-85788430898037236042009-08-31T10:55:00.000-07:002009-08-31T12:31:55.998-07:00

Now that you have taken the time to figure how you are spending your money it is time to make sure you are spending it where you want to. This is where it gets difficult… and why it is so important to remember your goals that we talked about in the first installment of this series.Each person’s situation is different, but there are always surprises after you sit down and honestly track your

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-40990897134510612442009-08-14T12:50:00.000-07:002009-08-14T17:29:49.720-07:00

Gene will return next time with a post in his spending plan series. I am Tisha Oehmen, Chief Operations Officer here at Rogue Federal Credit Union. Gene asked me to answer a question we've been hearing a lot, "Why are you changing my loan payment due date?" It's a good question, but the answer might take a little explaining—so please, bear with me.The first thing you need to know is that there

Tisha Oehmennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-32704564912542163282009-07-31T15:11:00.001-07:002009-08-31T10:59:52.091-07:00

Now that you know where you would like to go it is time to figure out how to get there. While each of us may find a different route to achieving our personal financial goals, true success always comes down to being completely honest with ourselves and holding ourselves accountable. Ouch! Yes, I can admit that I am often my own worst enemy, but even if we suffer setbacks we will be OK if we keep

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-50905968625608899792009-07-20T11:51:00.000-07:002009-08-31T11:00:06.856-07:00

On the last blog I wrote about declaring financial independence. I described financial independence as … the opportunity to pursue your life’s ambitions absent of the chains of financial obligations. I know that sounds like something we would all love to do, but is it really possible? Well, after years of working at it, I am closer than I have ever been. However, the thought of attaining

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-43867944151038725102009-07-07T13:36:00.000-07:002009-07-07T14:56:15.754-07:00

The 4th of July weekend was a great reminder to me that there is no better time to seek financial independence than today. Yes, I know that unemployment is at 14% and many folks are having a hard time just making ends meet. However, there are 86% of the population still working!!So, why do I bring this all up? Well after reflecting on the holiday and the time with family and friends, my wife and

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-51938207736987273592009-06-30T14:58:00.000-07:002009-06-30T15:15:28.004-07:00

You will notice that this post is a bit of a departure from my attempt at providing unbiased information regarding financial matters. In fact, I am going to be downright biased… biased towards OUR credit union, Rogue Federal Credit Union. Many folks in Southern Oregon continue to struggle with financial difficulty and uncertainty. We are now certain that this crisis will have a profound affect on

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-23874461023836204912009-06-08T13:00:00.000-07:002009-06-08T13:09:14.374-07:00

With the recent rise in gas prices I am reminded of how fortunate we are that gas prices are not $4 per gallon. The auto industry challenges, global warming, and the recent rise in fuel prices have started folks thinking about saving money and the planet again. A recent inquiry to the Ask Gene blog asked about rebates available on fuel-efficient cars. While I knew that we offered a special loan

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-20083498791895187742009-06-01T09:48:00.000-07:002009-06-01T09:55:39.893-07:00

That famous question from a credit card commercial is one that we should all be paying attention to today. Many of you are aware that President Obama recently signed into law new credit card regulations that are designed to protect consumers. This new law does exactly that with a variety of rules focused on leveling the playing field between the card issuer and the consumer.I was reminded the

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-11947311510898717982009-05-08T10:41:00.000-07:002009-05-08T10:48:51.932-07:00

Last week I was invited to attend a meeting of a group of concerned citizens in one of the communities that we serve. I met with the group in the home of one of their members. As we discussed Rogue Federal and how our members' deposits are reinvested in loans in Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties the discussion led to how we must all reinvest in our community. The conversation quickly

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-76473068771169607342009-04-27T08:00:00.000-07:002009-04-26T21:42:07.876-07:00

This week I am taking the liberty to talk about something that is important to me and Rogue Federal Credit Union. In our effort to be part of the solution for Southern Oregon we decided that is was time to recognize the unsung heroes in our community. Starting in February we introduced our Community Builders program and asked Southern Oregon to tell us who they think are the key people out there

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-3741628063367120372009-04-20T08:00:00.000-07:002009-04-19T19:19:53.850-07:00

Throughout this whole financial crisis it has been the everyday person that has been the silent victim of our country’s economic challenges. While we have “invested” billions of dollars to help financial institutions, auto manufacturers, and other types of businesses – the bailout has had limited benefit for you. Well, that is beginning to change and it is time for you to take advantage of the

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-52527944487789327792009-04-13T07:00:00.000-07:002009-04-12T21:54:00.649-07:00

No, this is not about balancing your stock portfolio… it is about remembering what is important. As I was sitting in my backyard lamenting over the fact that the value of my home had dropped so much that I could not take advantage of the reduced mortgage rates (good news on this front and a topic of a future blog post) I took a moment to reflect on how truly fortunate I am. I am healthy and enjoy

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-42146139504215092812009-04-02T14:23:00.000-07:002009-04-02T14:27:15.136-07:00

A new television commercial caught my eye and made me think of how I am looking at the challenges that we all face today. The commercial reminded America to band together and put our "Rally Caps" on. For those of you who aren't familiar with the term "Rally Caps" it is a sports metaphor linked to baseball. The idea is that if you are behind and need to rally your team to victory you need to

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-75072591730668268112009-03-22T22:33:00.000-07:002009-03-22T22:35:33.711-07:00

I have been studying the impact of loyalty on the success of our credit union. It is clear that building an organization that members can be loyal to is critical to our long-term success. In addition, the current economic challenges that we face have made it clear that loyalty to our community is important to the viability of Southern Oregon. After a recent meeting I was struck by the intense

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-60364668077072421992009-03-04T11:03:00.000-08:002009-03-20T11:53:24.427-07:00

During the last week of February I had the opportunity to attend a Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. This conference proved to be timely since our elected officials are working furiously to address our country’s economic crisis. The timing was ideal since our elected representative’s expediency has resulted in them not having enough information to fully grasp the long-term

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-52795427466548493652009-02-19T22:41:00.000-08:002009-02-12T10:04:51.899-08:00

Hello Southern Oregon! My name is Gene Pelham. I am a long-time Rogue Valley resident and I love our community. I am also honored to be the President/CEO of Rogue Federal Credit Union. I created this blog to reach out to our community for several reasons:First, I have found that people are looking for answers in this unprecedented economic environment. I hear your questions everyday and feel that

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3691209245595744277.post-9391806170747415802009-02-19T16:16:00.000-08:002009-02-12T10:06:25.314-08:00

It's true! Effective July 1, 2010 legislation will pass that will benefit anyone carrying a credit card balance. The ruling restricts raising interest rates on existing balances except in limited circumstances; prevents lenders from applying any payments over the minimum balance due in a way that would maximize interest charges; provides more change in term notifications, clearer disclosure

Gene Pelhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323491228703601028noreply@blogger.com2