Hi there, credit union friends!
I have a little (or I guess not-so-little-anymore 🤰🏻) surprise to share. The Money Mammals menagerie will be expanding soon, as my husband and I are expecting our second child any day now. And as you can tell from the snapshot below, our daughter, Lilly Ruth, is more than ready to welcome her little sister, Poppy Adele.
I may be the one having the baby, but you lucky lot are being showered with all the gifts! So read on for some inspiration to help you spread the money-smart message in the community and in the classroom this back-to-school season.
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We’ve Got {Cooperative} Spirit: There’s no better way to kick off a new school year than with a pep rally! 📣 And that’s exactly what you’ll get if you tune in to the latest episode of The Art of Allowance Podcast featuring self-proclaimed “financial cheerleader” Veronica Dangerfield.
In addition to being an international speaker, a published poet, and a professional comedienne, Veronica is an award-winning Financial Educator for the Bay Area’s Patelco Credit Union. Most notably, she was honored with the 2017 Credit Union Rock Star Award and twice received the national Desjardins Award for her contributions to financial literacy. Veronica has also taught financial education for 18 years at the college level as well as at dozens of high schools and nonprofit organizations throughout California.
During her podcast appearance, Veronica chats with Chief Mammal John Lanza about overcoming emotional ties to money to learn to use it as a tool. The following are a few key points from their conversation:
👉 The reality that humans approach money more emotionally than rationally
👉 The one thing most parents don’t know about kids and money that they should
👉 The importance of foundational financial habits
Click here to stream the full episode. And be sure to listen in at 15:51 for Veronica’s interpretation of “the cooperative spirit,” as she and John discuss how credit unions like yours can impact their members’ financial lives for the better.
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No Classrooms? No Problem! Now that you’re thoroughly energized thanks to what we at Snigglezoo like to call “The Veronica Dangerfield Experience,” it’s time to tackle connecting with your young members and their families during the back-to-school season. Even if you’re unable to visit preschool or elementary classrooms, many opportunities exist to engage with this rapidly growing (literally and figuratively 😉) segment.
For example, Portsmouth-based Service Credit Union recently partnered with the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire to host two live events. During these fun financial functions, children and their families were treated to a reading of the picture book Joe the Monkey Saves for a Goal and an appearance by Money Mammal Clara J. Camel.
Regarding the success of these events, Service’s Community Relations Manager, Jaime Yates, states:
“Clara J. Camel had a great time recently meeting new friends at a local museum. Kids and parents alike were engaged with the book, and enjoyed Clara’s visit! The Money Mammals are a great way to teach children about sharing, saving, and spending smart, and we look forward to more Clara events in the future!”
As Jaime’s comments demonstrate, reaching out to alternative local institutions like community centers, libraries, and museums can prove advantageous if visiting physical preschool or elementary classrooms proves challenging. For it’s never too early to share the money-smart message by engaging kids and empowering parents!
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A Financial Wellness Crash Course: If you’re after some extra credit by visiting schools AND connecting with tweens and teens this academic year, then look no further than central New York’s SECNY Federal Credit Union for inspiration.
SECNY currently has a network of four student branches strategically placed in senior high schools around the Syracuse area. Interested students apply for management, marketing, and member service positions to operate these locations. What’s more, SECNY staff members, typically associate or assistant managers, lead the students as they receive a hands-on approach to financial wellness.
Although participating students are considered volunteers, they do have the opportunity to earn academic credit if their schools allow. And what’s more, they are eligible to receive SECNY-sponsored scholarships. 🎓
Notes Jillian Kerekes, SECNY’s Director of Education Marketing, in regards to the program:
“[Students] are given the opportunity to learn financial literacy and receive real world job experiences, plus we go into the classrooms and provide educational support, which deepens our relationships with the school and community at large. The [SECNY] staff running the branches are able to develop additional leadership skills through this opportunity as well. This combination has led to a greater relationship and sense of trust within these communities, and growth in our youth products that serve ages 13-26 — strengthening our brand, our loyalty, and our commitment to the areas we serve.”
What a fantastic way to experience the credit union movement in action!
Well, friends, I hope you’ve enjoyed being “schooled” on strategies to engage with kids of all ages in preparation for the new academic year. And if you have tips of your own to connect with preschoolers, elementary-aged children, or tweens and teens, then feel free to send them my way. I’ll be happy to highlight these tactics in future editions of this newsletter after taking some time off for my little one’s arrival.
As always, here’s to putting our best fin lit flippers forward!
Erin Prim
Marketing Manatee
Featured image by MidJourney