The Wonderful World Of Wauna – Page 5 – The Official Blog Of Wauna Credit Union

What if my stimulus payment is delayed?

Millions of American are beginning to receive the $600 federal stimulus payment. However, many will have to wait and may even have to file their tax return to collect.

Americans struggle to receive missing stimulus checks — Stimulus Checks Delayed

By law, the IRS must issue all payments by Jan. 15. But beyond then, those entitled to a check, but have yet to receive one, may need to claim it as a credit on their 2020 returns.

The IRS recently began issuing a second round of stimulus payments to those eligible. Unfortunately, because of an IRS error, which has since been remedied, millions of payments were sent to the wrong accounts and some may not have received their stimulus payment.

As of today, January 8th, delayed stimulus payments are being deposited to accounts. We expect most payments to be available right away, but your financial institution could take a few business days to process. Stimulus checks will be deposited to the same account that you received your 2019 tax refund.

Wauna Credit Union understands how important these funds are for so many of our members. We are here for consultation or if you have questions about your accounts.

For more information about stimulus payments, please go here.

Warming Astoria

It’s impossible not to see the struggles of our community when visiting the Riverwalk or supporting the local stores and restaurants. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Astoria hard, and has placed countless obstacles for many just trying to get back on their feet.

The issues with houselessness are vast and complicated. Health and safety risks pose dangerous threats to Astoria’s homeless citizens and these risks worsen during winter, when living out of a car or on the street are lethal, as temperatures drop and winds pick up.

Check presentation — Members of our staff were happy to present a check to the Astoria Warming Center

A beacon of hope exists, however, in the Astoria Warming Center. A modest organization with a huge heart, the Center provides overnight shelter during winter months. Located at the First United Methodist Church, the Center exists solely to support people in need, which includes those experiencing homelessness. Like many beacons of home, the Center relies heavily on donations to keep their doors open. This year that, reliance has increased, as the Center moves toward paid employees.
This reliance was one of the many reasons Wauna Credit Union (WCU) employees voted to support the Astoria Warming Center as the 2020 official credit union charity.
“When we were choosing our annual charity, the Astoria Warming Center was an obvious choice,” said Kristen DeForrest, a member of the WCU Operations team, and a huge supporter of the Warming Center. “Many of our employees live in Astoria and see the good work they do every day.”

Kristen has long volunteered for the Center, and knows how important the role it has in helping the people of Astoria, “We see so many folks every day who just need a little help,” she said, “just giving a warm room to sleep when the temperature starts to dip is a huge benefit.”

Kristen was recently on hand to present a check for $11,299.09 to the Astoria Warming Center’s Board Member, Annie Martin, longtime Center Coordinator, Cheryl Paul, and Kathleen Sullivan, the Center’s new Executive Director. Just shy of $12,000, the donation was raised exclusively by WCU employees.

“Thank you so much for this incredibly generous donation! It means even more that your employees chose us! Please thank your employees for us. Wow! We’re quite choked up. Thank you, Wauna Credit Union,” said Sullivan. “We couldn’t continue without such kindness from the community!”

“The Astoria Warming Center depends on our community partners in order to serve those most in need, Annie Martin added. “We are grateful to the Astoria First United Methodist Church who allows us to use their first level for the center. We also are grateful for the local restaurants who are still donating meals despite the mandated closures due to COVID-19.”

Cheryl Paul, the Center Coordinator for a number of years, said she was proud that the Astoria Warming Center offers up to 28 beds on the nights they are open, as well as offering the public showers on Wednesday afternoons from noon to 4:00PM. “It has been so important to people with nowhere else to go, to have a safe, warm place to get out of the winter weather. Thank you, WCU employees!”

Annually, WUC chooses a new corporate charity to support through employee contributions and volunteer work. For 2021, the employees chose the Amani Center in St Helens www.amanicenter.org. The Amani Center (The Columbia County Child Abuse Assessment Center) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization created to assist our community in responding to child abuse.

Saying Thanks and Being Optimistic

December Statement Insert – Annual Election

Annual Meeting and Board Nominee Notice

Our 54th Annual Meeting (you’re invited!) will be held on March 16th at 6pm Erlene Darby Learning Center 49249 Hwy 30 Westport, OR

The Board of Directors has approved three nominees for three positions on the Board of Directors from applications submitted by members. Their names and biographical information are included below.

Chrissy Johnston, Incumbent, Scappoose I am excited for the opportunity to continue serving on the Wauna Credit Union Board of Directors. I was born and raised in Scappoose, where I still live today. I’m a mother to three school aged children and a small business owner. Prior to owning my own businesses, I worked for a major bank for 12 years and worked my way up from a teller position to management. After the birth of my son, I left the bank to work for a credit union specializing in training new employees, which gave me a clear understanding of the difference between banks and credit unions. I am passionate about the credit union movement and the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” I feel that my background and experience allow me to serve on the Wauna Credit Union Board of Directors, with a well-rounded approach and I would be honored to continue to represent the membership.

Jennifer Teeter, Incumbent, Astoria I have served on the Wauna Board of Directors for seven years and have been elected Finance Officer for six of those years. Wauna has grown substantially, in part due to the successful collaboration between members of the board. I would like to continue to be a part of Wauna’s future successes. I am an Audit Manager for Isler CPA, working from my home in Astoria, auditing local governments and non-profits. Before moving to Astoria/Warrenton in March 2013 I worked out of Isler’s office in Eugene. I look forward to continuing to serve you as a member of your board of directors.

Dr. Michael R Hoag, Scappoose I attended Scappoose schools, graduating in 1969. I attended Oregon College of Education (Western Oregon University now) and University of Oregon School of Dentistry ( OHSU ), graduating in 1976. I practiced general dentistry in Scappoose from 1976 until 1988. I then joined OHSU School of Dentistry in 1990 and retired from OHSU in 2010. While at OHSU, I worked in the Department of Restorative Dentistry as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Removable Prosthetics. I also worked in the Department of Behavioral Sciences as an instructor for Preventative Dentistry and as an instructor for Dental Hygiene in Dental Anatomy. For the Scappoose School District, I was an assistant girls basketball coach from 1978-1981 and 2000-2002, Varsity Girls Basketball Coach from 1982-1997. Varsity Softball Coach from 1996-2006. I also held various assistant coach positions in football, baseball and softball during my time there. I am currently an assistant softball coach. I have held leadership positions in the Scappoose Booster Club. I held a board position for Oregon Dental Service (Mada Health) from 1977-1980. I held the president position in the Scappoose Alumni Association from 2000-2010 and presided over two All School Reunions (2005, 2010). I volunteered as a softball coach, baseball coach, umpire and officer for Scappoose Little League for many years. I held a board position for six years in the Portland Softball Umpire’s Association. I officiated in two State 6A Softball Championship games (2011 and 2018) and was honored with the State of Oregon Softball Umpire of the Year in 2018. I was an ASA National Championship Umpire in 2012 for the 23U National Tournament. I have served on the Wauna Credit Union Supervisory Committee since 2016 and have been the chair for the past three years. I continue to be active in my community through working with our youth and alumni associations. I am currently assisting the Scappoose 100 year celebration committee in planning the City of Scappoose’s Centennial Celebration to be held in the summer of 2021. It is very important to give back to the community that has provided a great life for myself and my family. I have been married to Patti Heller for over 25 years and we have four children and eleven grandchildren. I am proud to be part of the Wauna Family and look forward to being part of the Board of Directors.An election will not be conducted by ballot, and there will be no nominations from the floor at the annual meeting when the number of nominees equals the number of positions to be filled, which is currently the situation. Any member who desires to run for the Board may do so now only by a nomination by petition signed by 270 credit union members in good standing 18 years of age or older. An application may be requested by calling 1-800-773-3236, Ext 3124. Completed applications may be mailed to ATTN: Governance Committee P.O. Box 67 Clatskanie, OR 97016 or delivered in person to any branch. Completed applications must be received by end of business on February 4, 2021

Reunion anual y aviso para los nominados de la junta nuestra 54a Reunion Anual se llevara a cabo el 16 de marzo a las 6:00 pm Erlene D arby Le arning Center 49249 Hwy 30 Westp ort, OR

La Junta Directiva ha aprobado tres nominados para tres puestos en la Junta Directiva de las solicitudes presentadas por los miembros. S us nombres e informaci6n biografica se incluyen a continuaci6n.

Chrissy Johnston, titular, Scappoose Estoy emocionado por la oportunidad de continuar sirviendo en la Junta Directiva de Wauna Credit Union. Naef y crecf en Scappoose, donde todavfa vivo hoy. Soy madre de tres ninos en edad escolar y propietaria de una pequena empresa. Antes de ser dueno de mi propio negocio, trabaje para un banco importante durante 12 anos y Trabaje mi camino desde un puesto de cajero a la gerencia. Despues del nacimiento de mi hijo, deje el banco para trabajar para una cooperativa de ahorro y credito que se especializa en capacitar a nuevos empleados, lo que me dio una idea clara de la diferencia entre las bancos y las cooperativas de ahorro y credito. Me apasiona el movimiento de las cooperativas de ahorro y credito y la filosoffa de las cooperativas de ahorro y credito de “la gente ayuda a la gente”. Siento que mis antecedentes y experiencia me penmiten fonmar parte de la Junta Directiva de Wauna Credit Union con un enfoque integral y serfa un honor para mf continuar representando a las miembros.

Jennifer Teeter, titular, Astoria He servido en la Junta Directiva de Wauna durante siete anos y he sido elegido Ofidal de Finanzas durante seis de esos anos. Wauna ha crecido sustancialmente en parte debido a la exitosa colaboraci6n entre las miembros de la junta. Me gustarfa seguir siendo parte de las exitos futuros de Wauna. Soy Gerente de Auditorfa para Isler CPA, trabajo desde mi casa en Astoria, auditando gobiemos locales y organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Antes de mudanme a Astoria/ Warrenton en marzo de 2013, trabaje en la ofidna de Isler en Eugene. Espero seguir sirviendole coma miembro de su junta directiva.

Dr. Michael R Hoag, Scappoose Asistf a las escuelas de Scappoose y me gradue en 1969. Asistf a la Facultad de Educaci6n de Oregon (Western Oregon University ahora) y la Escuela de Odontologfa de la Universidad de Oregon (OHSU), y me gradue en 1976. Practique odontologfa general en Scappoose desde 1976 hasta 1988. Luego me unf Facultad de Odontologfa de OHSU en 1990 y me retire de OHSU en 2010. Mientras estaba en OHSU, trabaje en el Departamento de Odontologfa Restauradora coma Profesor Asistente en el Departamento de Pr6tesis Removibles. Tambien trabaje en el Departamento de Ciencias del Comportamiento coma instructora de Odontologfa Preventiva y coma instructora de Higiene Dental en Anatomfa Dental. Para el Distrito Escolar Scappoose fui entrenadora asistente de baloncesto femenino de 1978-1981 y 2000-2002, entrenadora de baloncesto femenino universitario de 1982-1997. Entrenador de softbol universitario de 1996 a 2006. Tambien ocupe varios puestos de asistente de entrenador en futbol, beisbol y s6ftbol durante mi tiempo allf. Actualmente soy entrenador asistente de softbol. Ocupe puestos de liderazgo en el Scappoose Booster Club. Ocupe un puesto en la junta de Oregon Dental Service (Mada Health) de 1977 a 1980. Ocupe el cargo de presidente en la Asociaci6n de Antiguos Alumnos Scappoose de 2000 a 2010 y presidf dos Reuniones de Todas las Escuelas (2005, 2010). Me ofrecf coma entrenador de softbol, entrenador de beisbol, arbitro y oficial de Scappoose Little League durante muchos anos. Ocupe un puesto en la junta durante seis anos en Portland Asociaci6n de Arbitros de Softbol. Oficie en dos juegos del Campeonato Estatal de Softbol 6A (2011 y 2018) y fui honrado con el Arbitro del Ano de Softbol del Estado de Oregon en 2018. Fui Arbitro del Campeonato Nacional ASA en 2012 para el Torneo Nacional 23U. He servido en el Comite de Supervision de Wauna Credit Union desde 2016 y he sido el presidente durante las ultimas tres anos. He estado activo y sigo siendo activo en mi comunidad a traves del trabajo con nuestras asociaciones de j6venes y ex alumnos. Actualmente estoy ayudando al comite de celebraci6n de las 100 anos de Scappoose en la planificaci6n de la celebraci6n del centenario de la ciudad de Scappoose que se llevara a cabo en el verano de 2021. Es muy importante retribuir a la comunidad que ha brindado una gran vida para mf y mi familia. Estoy casada con Patti Heller desde hace mas de 25 anos y tenemos cuatro hijos y once nietos. Estoy orgulloso de ser parte de la familia de Wauna Credit Union y espero ser parte de la Junta Directiva.

Las elecciones no se llevaran a cabo mediante votacion y no habra nominaciones por parte del publico en la reunion anual cuando el numero de nominados sea igual al numero de puestos por cubrir, que es la situacion actualmente. Cualquier miembro que desee postularse para la Junta puede hacerlo ahora solo mediante una nominacion por peticion firmada por 270 miembros de la cooperativa de ahorro y credito que tengan al dia 18 aiios de edad o mas. Se puede solicitar una solicitud llamando al 1-800-773-3236, Ext 3124. Las solicitudes completadas pueden enviarse por correo a ATTN: Governance Committee P.O. Box 67 Clatskanie, OR 97016 o entregado en persona en cualquier sucursal. Las solicitudes completadas deben recibirse antes del cierre de operaciones el 4 de Febrero de 2021.

A New and Improved WaunaTalk

Do you love Wauna Credit Union’s award-winning* financial education podcast WaunaTalk. Are you tired of going to YouTube to listen to it? Have no fear, WaunaTalk is now available in audio only format. In addition, you can download WaunaTalk from your favorite podcast directory, including Apple Podcasts, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, and Google Podcasts.

In our newest episode Laura from our Operations team talks about some new approaches scammers are taking during the pandemic. After you listen to Laura’s podcast, take a trip down memory lane with all of the WaunaTalk episodes, which cover everything from buying a house to improving your credit.

*2018 recepient of the I think it’s very good what you’re doing award. Given by the author’s mom, and not representative of actual podcast awards.

Easing Children’s Anxiety During COVID-19

As Credit Union Youth Month comes to a close, we thought it prudent to take a deeper dive into not only building the financial futures of your little ones, but also the importance of their mental health, especially during these trying times.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every corner of the globe and every corner of our lives. It’s changed the way we do things, in ways many of us would have never imagined and it’s not surprising that most of us are feeling stressed and anxious. But remember, too, that our kids are feeling the effects.

Fortunately, there are things we can do to help our youth cope during this stressful time. Children take their cues from the adults who care for them, so if you are displaying outward signs of stress and anxiety, it will be hard to calm your kids and soothe their fears. Dealing with your own anxiety can be powerful in ensuring your kids feel safe and secure.

Here are a few steps you can take to ease the anxiety of COVID-19 for you and your family.

Establish a routine.
Kids need routine. As much as they like to push against it, they actually thrive when a regular schedule is in place. Whatever your new “normal” looks like, structure their day so it involves exercise, regular meals, and a healthy amount of sleep –especially for the teens in your household – as it will help regulate your family’s moods and worries.

Stay connected.
To keep children from feeling alone, use technology to help them stay connected with friends and family. Let them talk with their friends on the phone. Schedule virtual playdates with their school mates and friends. Encourage them play games or eat together.

This holds true for the adults as well. Coordinate virtual meetups and dinner parties with business groups, friends, or family regularly. Social distancing is meant to keep us healthy, but don’t let it keep you away from social support networks.

Get the facts.
Be smart about what you are reading. It’s easy to get pulled into looking at or clicking on every update as it is reported. Consider limiting the number of articles you read or for how long you read about the coronavirus each day. If consuming content about the pandemic causes you to become anxious, take a break. Staying informed is one thing but being overexposed is another.

Stay calm by focusing on mindfulness.
Remind yourself that your family is doing its part to minimize the spread of the virus by practicing social distancing, wearing a mask in public and at small gatherings, and keeping your hands and your home clean. While it’s sensible to prepare for the future, it’s even more important to make sure you’re dealing with things in the present moment.

If you find yourself getting carried away with the “what ifs,” try practicing mindfulness, which is a tool that will help your family stay grounded and calm in the present moment. Focus on the present. Be intentional and thoughtful about where you are and how you are feeling. Sounds simple, but it takes work, especially when concerns about what the future holds feel so heavy.

Some mindfulness activities you can do with your kids include:

●	Belly Breathing: Put one hand on your stomach and one hand on your chest. Slowly breathe in from your stomach (expand like a balloon) and slowly breathe out, letting your belly deflate.
●	Mindful Meal: Pay attention to the smell, taste, and look of your food. Don’t work or watch television while you eat. Focus on chewing your food and think about all of the effort it took to get that meal on your plate. Consider where food comes from vs. thinking food is an end product.
●	Squeeze Muscles: Start with your toes and pick one muscle group to squeeze. Count to five and release. Notice how your body changes. Repeat this exercise moving up your body.
●	Meditation: Sit in a relaxed, comfortable position and focus on your breath. When your mind wanders (and it will wander!), bring your attention back to your breath.
●	Blowing Bubbles: Notice their shapes, textures and colors.
●	Coloring: Find something to color and focus on the colors and designs.
●	Listening to Music: Focus on the lyrics of a song or listen specifically to the voice or an instrument.

As we continue to navigate these uncertain waters, remember that your financial well-being is one of our highest priorities. If you find yourself worrying over money, reach out to us right away for a complimentary account review. Stress can be contagious, and if we can help even a little by adding confidence in your financial situation, you’ll have added room to be there for your youth.

El orgullo de servir a los miembros que usan ITIN

The Pride in Serving ITIN Members

Uno de los valores principales del movimiento de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito es brindar servicios financieros equitativos a grupos que históricamente han sido desatendidos. Hoy en día, Wauna Credit Union está desarrollando un programa y contratando personas para que estén presente para los miembros de nuestra comunidad que otras instituciones financieras no parecen querer ayudar, personas que viven y trabajan en nuestras comunidades con un número ITIN, y sin un número de seguro social. A menudo, las personas que no son hablantes nativos de inglés entran en esta categoría. Debido a que muchas instituciones financieras carecen de personal multilingüe, o a menudo consideran a las personas sin un número de seguro social de alguna manera más riesgosas, las comunidades Latinas se encuentran en desventaja y, a menudo, son el objetivo de prestamistas abusivos.

Una de nuestras primeras contrataciones en nuestra sucursal en Forest Grove fue contratar a Frank Elizondo-Alcalá, quien comenzó a trabajar compartiendo el estilo de Wauna Credit Union “Hay bancos que no ofrecen este tipo de préstamo, lo creen que es un riesgo muy grande para ellos y nosotros lo vemos de manera diferente, nosotros no vemos a la comunidad que usa ITIN o a la comunidad hispana como un riesgo”.

Univisión presentó recientemente el programa ITIN de WCU y destacó un gran ejemplo de cómo la Cooperativa de Crédito está marcando la diferencia.

“Me ha facilitado la vida porque antes uno no podía obtener un carro nuevo, tenía que andar comprando carros más económicos que no tienes que tener un crédito para comprar un carro nuevo, entonces a cada rato te fallaba, se descomponía, ya no servía y tenías que gastar en otro carrito”.

Además, nuestra Sucursal Virtual, el chat en línea y las unidades de Cajeros de Video cuentan con personal que puede ayudar a nuestros miembros de habla hispana. También estamos traduciendo y localizando nuestros documentos y materiales digitales e impresos para garantizar que no solo estamos abriendo una cuenta o otorgando un préstamo, sino también comunicando nos con nuestras comunidades en su idioma preferido y obteniendo su membresía de por vida.

The Pride in Serving ITIN Members

El orgullo de servir a los miembros que usan ITIN

A leading ethos of the credit union movement is to provide equitable financial services to groups that are historically underserved. Today, Wauna Credit Union is developing program and hiring people to be there for our community members that other places don’t seem to want to help, people who live and work in our communities with an Individual Tax ID number (ITIN), but without a social security number. Often times, people who aren’t native English speakers fall into this category. Because many financial institutions lack multi-lingual staff, or often consider people without a social security number somehow riskier, Latinx communities find themselves at a disadvantage, and often the target of predatory lenders.

One of our first hires at our newest branch in Forest Grove is Frank Elizondo-Alcalá, who went to work sharing the Wauna Credit Union way. “People were so excited to see somebody come in the door who not only speaks fluent Spanish, but more importantly understands the issues they are facing,” he said.

Univision recently featured WCU’s ITIN program, and highlighted a great example of how the Credit Union is making a difference.

“It has made my life easier because before you couldn’t get a new car, you had to go around buying cheaper cars that you don’t have to have a loan to buy a new car, so every so often it failed you, it broke down, it no longer worked and you had to spend on another cart.”

In addition, our Virtual Branch, online chat, and Video Teller Units are staffed by people who can help our Spanish-speaking members. We’re also translating and localizing our digital and printed documents and materials to help ensure we’re not just opening an account, or giving a loan, but earning your membership for life.

Inserto de declaración de Septiembre

Convocatoria de nominaciones de nuestra Junta Directiva
y aviso de nuestra 54a reunión anual
¿Le gusta ayudar a en nuestra comunidad? ¿Le encanta Wauna Credit Union? Entonces usted es quien estamos buscando. Las solicitudes de candidatos ahora están disponibles para nuestra Junta Directiva de Voluntarios. Obtenga más información y presente su solicitud hoy mismo encontrando una solicitud en su sucursal local, por correo, o visitando https://waunafcu.org/about/annual-elections.shtml. Si desea ser considerado por el Comité de Nominaciones de nuestra Junta Directiva, envíe su solicitud completada antes de el cierre de operaciones el viernes 6 de noviembre. Le invitamos a entregar solicitudes en persona a cualquier sucursal por correo. Governance Comitee PO Box 67 Clatskanie, Oregon 97016.
Cuando: Nuestra 54a reunión anual (esta envitado!) se llevará a cabo el 16 de marzo a las 6 p.m.
Donde: Erlene Darby Learning Center 49249 Highway 30 Westport Oregon
Si tiene preguntas, comuníquese con el Comité de la Junta de Gobierno gcomm@waunafcu.org.
Esperamos contar con su presencia!

Nosotros y usted
Financiando su futuro. Ayuda en su presente.
Somos Bienvenidos
waunafcu.org, 800-773-3236, Ayuda 24/7
Asegurado por la NCUA

Aseguranza
Protege lo que amas
cascadecrestinsurance.com, 503-728-4391

September Statement Insert – Call for Board Nominations

**Call for Board Nominations & Notice of our 54th Annual Meeting**
Do you enjoy being involved in your community? Do you love Wauna Credit Union? Then you are just who we’re looking for! Candidate applications are now available for our volunteer Board of Directors. Learn more and apply today by finding an application at your local branch, by mail, or by visiting https://waunafcu.org/about/annual-elections.shtml. If you would like to be considered by the board’s Nominating Committee, submit your completed application by close of business on Friday, November 6th. You are welcome to deliver applications in person to any branch or by mail: Governance committee, PO Box 67, Clatskanie, OR 97016.
When: Our 54th Annual Meeting (you’re invited!) will be held on March 16th at 6pm.
Where: Erlene Darby Learning Center 49249 Hwy 30 Westport, OR
Questions? Contact the Board Governance Committee at gcomm@waunafcu.org.
We look forward to meeting you!

**We Say Yes to Your Mortgage**
Purchase, Refinance, Build
800-773-3236, waunafcu.org, 24/7 Lending
Federally insured by the NCUA
Equal Housing Opportunity

Insurance
Protecting What You Love
Individual Needs Welcome
cascadecrestinsurance.com, 503-728-4391