Author Archive

Northwest Georgia Credit Union Announces Scholarship Winners

May 16, 2012

Northwest Georgia Credit Union is proud to honor two outstanding high school seniors. Kristen Shiflett of Armuchee High School was chosen as the recipient of the Tom Nunn Memorial Scholarship and Jacey Boyd of Pepperell High School was chosen as the recipient of the Progressive Leader Scholarship.

Michelle Stricklin, President/CEO presents Tom Nunn Memorial Scholarship to Kristen Shiflett.

Kristen is the daughter of Richard and Lisa Shiflett. She involves herself in the community by offering her time to youth summer camps. She also participated in the Atlanta Half Marathon and served as the team leader for the National Honor Society’s October fundraising project. Shiflett is also involved in her school’s varsity tennis and cross country teams. Shiflett will apply her scholarship toward her education at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she plans to study industrial engineering. The Tom Nunn Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of Mr. Tom Nunn, a late Director of Northwest Georgia Credit Union. This scholarship honors a commitment to excellence in academics, service, and community involvement.

Michelle Stricklin, President/CEO presents Progressive Leader scholarship to Jacey Boyd.

Jacey Boyd, the recipient of the Progressive Leader Scholarship, is the daughter of John and Amy Boyd. She attends Pepperell High School and plans to attend the University of West Georgia in the fall to study human resource management and business administration. The Progressive Leadership Scholarship honors a student with leadership skills, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for a cause of their own with the skills to make it happen. Boyd’s cause is organ donation and she is using her skills to meet needs in our community. As an active proponent of organ donation, Boyd worked to bring the non-profit organization, Donate to Life, to Rome. She and the group conducted an awareness campaign at her church and school.

Congratulations and best wishes to both of these exceptional students!

Tags:
Posted in Contests, Education, In the Community, Life at the Credit Union | Leave a Comment »

Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft

April 23, 2012

No one wants to deal with the repercussions of having their identity stolen.  At best, it can cost time and hassle.  At worst, it can cost big bucks.  And, as Benjamin Franklin said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.  So what are the best ways to avoid identity theft in the first place?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, awareness is an effective weapon against many forms of identity theft. Be aware of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect yours, monitor your personal information to uncover any problems quickly, and know what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.

Being aware of how thieves steal information is the first step in protecting your identity.  Thieves can find account numbers and other information in a variety of ways. It could be as simple as stealing your wallet or going through your trash.  Make sure you shred all sensitive information, such as account statements and papers containing your social security number, and report any theft of your wallet or personal information immediately.

Skilled identity thieves might call you or send you an email pretending to be a representative from your financial institution or a company you do business with in an attempt to get you to willingly give them your personal information.  Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact and are sure you know who you’re dealing with.

Monitoring your personal information is a crucial step in protecting yourself.  Check bank accounts often and access your credit report at least once a year.  You can do this for free at www.annualcreditreport.com. Keeping an eye on things will give you a head start if you do discover something out of the ordinary, minimizing the damage a thief can do with your stolen information.

Finally, know what to do if you suspect your identity is stolen.  There are four specific steps you should take if you discover that your information has been stolen.  First, place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.  Second, close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Third, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Finally, file a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

For more information about identity theft and how to protect yourself, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website at: http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

Photo credit: www.thedigeratilife.com

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Education | Leave a Comment »

Floyd’s Mobile Mammography Coach coming to NWGACU!

April 16, 2012

The Mobile Mammography Coach will be on site at Northwest Georgia Credit Union’s Redmond Road location on April 20th from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.!  It will only take 15 minutes of your time to get your mammogram and Floyd Medical Center will file your health insurance for you.  If you are due your annual mammogram, please take advantage of this very important health screening.  If you do not have health insurance, you may qualify for a free screening. Call Floyd’s Financial Counselor at 706-509-6943 to discuss this.  Appointments are preferred.  Please sign up by calling us at 706-291-9290 to reserve your appointment time. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take charge of your health!

Tags:, ,
Posted in Events, In the Community | Leave a Comment »

Cash in on Spring Cleaning

February 27, 2012

I noticed tulips coming up in my front yard the other day, and I immediately thought of spring with much anticipation.  For me, the arrival of spring means the warmth of sunshine, new flowers and budding trees to enjoy, and a general sense of things beginning anew.  That’s why I chose to be married in the spring.  There is nothing quite like the sense of hope that the season brings.  It’s my favorite time of year! I love everything about it – the colors, the flowers, the sunshine, the organizing! Wait – what? The ORGANIZING?  Yep, for me, spring also stirs the desire to organize everything – from kitchen drawers to bedroom closets. I think it’s a part of that feeling of new beginnings.

So this year, instead of packing up all those clothes that no longer fit (sigh… losing that last ten pounds of baby weight is a blog post for another day), I put them all on hangers and took them to a local consignment shop.  What a great way to cash in on spring cleaning!  Before you begin the task of sorting and hanging, here are a few quick tips to getting the most cash from your closets.

1.) Before loading up your old treasures, take time to call your consignment store of choice and ask which seasons they are currently accepting. Most shops will be accepting spring and summer clothes now.  This will save you considerable time and energy.

2.) Find out the shop’s pricing guidelines and consignment policies.  Many shops will price items themselves, and split the proceeds with you.  Know the policies in advance to avoid any question later.

4.) Find out if you need to schedule an appointment with a consignor. For stores that don’t require an appointment, it’s best to go on a weekday when there are less people around.

5.) Be present when the consignors are evaluating your merchandise. This will give you the opportunity to point out an item’s value on the spot, and possibly earn a better price.

6.) Most importantly, only bring in items in good, clean condition. Most consignment shops will only accept “gently worn” items. Make sure all items are laundered and wrinkle-free when brought in, otherwise most likely they won’t accepted. Many shops also require the items to be on hangers.

So, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, my closets are organized AND I have extra cash in my pocket.  Sounds like the perfect beginning of spring to me! What are your spring cleaning tips?

Photo credit: White Flower Farm

Tags:,
Posted in Making Cents | Leave a Comment »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.