MECHANICSBURG, Pa.-Members 1st Federal Credit Union continues to break political fund-raising records for NAFCU with its continued streak of White Hat Award wins. The credit union's efforts, led by CEO Bob Marquette, have led Members 1st to shatter its own previous record of raising approximately $44,000 in 2004 with nearly $80,000 raised in 2005. The White Hat goes to the NAFCU-member credit union that has raised the most funds for the trade association's political action committee (NAFCU/PAC) throughout the year. This is the credit union's third consecutive win. "I set out many years ago to win the White Hat Award," Members 1st President and CEO Bob Marquette recalled. "The guy's place I took on the NAFCU Board, Frank DeMita, had won the White Hat Award two years in a row." That was a string to break and exceed; Members 1st won its first White Hat that year and Marquette announced that the credit union intended to keep winning. Just as Marquette felt the competitive spirit, he hoped to spark other credit unions to outdo Members 1st in support of credit unions' political efforts. "The purpose of the announcement at that time was really to try to stimulate other credit unions politically.and to show people that it is easy to raise money," according to Marquette. NAFCU's PAC Pals teddy bears have been the major contributing factor in Members 1st's successful fund-raising. The credit union even combined it with its Toys for Tots charity work, asking members for $20 donations to send four bears to needy children. "If every credit union sold bears, they could raise a heck of a lot of money," Marquette stated. Members 1st also hosts an annual charity golf tournament with one-third of the funds going to NAFCU/PAC. With 92 bank PACs raising $4.1 million in the first three quarters of 2005 to credit unions' $1.6 million, the CEO pointed out, "credit unions have to step up to the plate." "We are very excited that Members 1st participated in the way they did," NAFCU Director of Political Affairs Murray Chanow said. He added that the credit union was by far the winner. NAFCU/PAC had another record year for fund-raising too. Last year, NAFCU/PAC raised $206,482, just barely nudging out the $206,112 the PAC raised in 2003 for the record. -

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