Holiday Traditions Handed Down

When most people think of traditions, they think of holiday traditions.  Holiday traditions and the recurrent experience of it every year, is a cornerstone of most people’s lives.  These moments create positive memories for our children and create reliable events for everyone to participate year after year.  It takes away the stress and anxiety of the unknown and the unpredictable.  Traditions can anchor family members to to each other, providing a sense of unity and belonging.

There is an endless list of holiday traditions, ranging from surprising your neighbors with treats, starting an ornament collection, camping out under the tree, helping the needy,  baking cookies for santa, and seeing candy cane lane.  

Here are some examples of how families across America create traditions to be handed down.

• White Elephant Gift Exchange: Because of their sheer size,  some families chose  a “White Elephant” gift exchange.   This adds a lot of humor and eases the anxiety and pressure of gift giving.  

• Bake christmas cookies: Bring the cookies to a nursing home, homeless shelter, or a “Boys and Girls Club.”  
• The 12 Days of Christmas: Each person gets a list of mixed up names and for the 12 days prior to Christmas Eve,  puts a small wrapped gift in the stocking of the person that was on your list for that particular day. On Christmas Eve, families open the 12 small gifts.
• Autographs on a Tablecloth: Spread out a white tablecloth on the main table at Christmas dinner.  At the end of the meal, everyone who was present writes their name, the year, and sometimes a short message. This is especially enchanting with children and seeing their handwriting change from year to year.  

Holiday traditions come from the fundamental need that people have to be with each other and bond. What kind of traditions does your family have? Share your thoughts, ideas and memories!  

Fairmont Federal Credit Union's success has been built on our commitment to the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People!" Follow us on Facebook.

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Sources:

https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/12-25-14-holiday-traditions-passed-down/

https://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/blogs/multicultural-winter-holiday-celebrations

http://mommyperfect.com/2015/11/the-importance-of-holiday-traditions/

Operation CU Cares: Honoring and Celebrating our Veterans

Veteran’s Day is a time to remember and honor those who served in our military. Giving up their safety, security, and precious moments with their family, our veterans demonstrate the level of humility and bravery it takes to serve and protect our country. For Fairmont Federal Credit Union, honoring our military veterans is incredibly important to us.

This past October, FFCU participated in National Freedom Day. Recognized on October 12th, Freedom Day USA is America’s largest military thank you event. On this day each year, businesses show their thanks by providing free gifts, services, or offers to active military members, veterans and their immediate family. The idea behind National Freedom Day is “day of free, for a lifetime of freedom.”

FFCU was incredibly proud to decorate all of our offices in red, white, and blue balloons as well as offer active military members, veterans and their families special credit union items.

Additionally, FFCU employees donated items like food and toiletries to create and send care packages to one of their fellow employee’s husband's active military unit.

This November, FFCU plans to continue its commitment to honoring our military family by recognizing our own. We were honored to provide a restaurant gift card to each of them. FFCU is proud to employ and be connected to so many incredible active military members and veterans. Let us present:

Corporal Stephen Quisenberry

USMC

Feb 1, 1993 – Feb 1, 1997

Paul Cross

YN2 E-5

1983-1987 at SACLANT (Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic Fleet

1988 about USS IWO JIMA (LPH-2)

Travis Snuffer

SMSgt Michael L Vanhorn

(Senior Master Sergeant)

USAF Reserves

1988-Current

Husband Of Sandy Vanhorn

Tony Nuzum

Army/ E5 Artillery Unit

Served In Germany & Vietnam

1968-1971

Honorable Discharge in 1974

Husband of Susan Nuzum

Lashawn M Elison

E4 3rd class

USS Sacramento AOE-1

USS Shreveport LPD – 12

Seabee Base Gulfpot MS

Served 8 years

Husband Of Alisha Bogan

Alec Burkel

Nellis Airforce Base, Las Vegas 4 years

F35 Mechanic

57th Aircraft Maintenenance Squadron

Aircraft Armament Journeyman 2W151

Husband of Jessica Burkel

Ian Toothman

Son of Teresa Toothman

E3 Lance Corporal

Jamey Travelstead

Marine Corp. Infantry Division

0311 Infantry Man

Stationed at Camp Lejuene

Son of Marianne Rowe

Not Pictured:

Eric Hudson – Husband Of Katie Husband

William Dickey – Husband of Cindy Dickey

Veteran’s Day is Saturday, November 11th. In honor of this, FFCU will be closed. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank each and every service member for their dedication and sacrifice. We also want to do our part. We are here to serve your family’s financial needs. Visit us today to learn more about credit union membership.

#WeAreFFCU #wvcreditunionscare

Tailgating 101

Tailgating on game day has been a fun tradition for friends and families all over the nation for years, and for many, tailgating is as important as the game. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a rookie, here are a few tailgating tips to get through this year's football season.

Assign Roles

Before the tailgating begins, assign all of your friends and family a role for the day. Have someone be in charge of bringing food, bringing chairs and a tent, and someone to bring the games. This assures everyone has their own responsibility, and the pressure isn’t put on one person alone.

Pack Up the Night Before

Just like assigning roles, packing everything you need up the night before will help you stay organized and remember to bring everything to have a great day tailgating. This can also be useful to see if you’re forgetting anything, and know if you need to grab anything last minute before the game.

Over-packing is Better Than Underpacking

Packing more than you need for those just-in-case situations can be extremely helpful. For those times when someone forgets something, over-packing and being prepared can make the day run smoothly and more fun.

Get There Early

Arriving to the game early gives you more time to enjoy tailgating and not have to rush through any of your favorite tailgating activities. Getting there early ensures you have a great spot to have the best time with your friends and family.

Have Fun, But Not Too Much Fun

Tailgating should be an enjoyable time cheering on your favorite sport team and spending time with friends and family. But every now and then someone has a little too much fun, and then you run the chance of turning into that guy. Have fun while keeping it under control to ensure you and everyone around you has a great tailgating experience.

Remember the Cleanup

Stopping your tailgating fun twenty minutes before the game is a great idea if you want to make sure you pack everything up. You don’t want to run the risk of forgetting to pack something up and having someone snag it from your spot.

Fairmont Federal Credit Union is happy to cheer on the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Fairmont State Falcons, and we hope everyone has a great season. Let’s Go Mountaineers!  Go Fighting Falcons!  

Back-to-Basics for Back-to-School

It’s back-to-school time here in West Virginia. For many families it can be time of great stress adjusting to a new routine. Getting your children off to a great start comes with some pre-planning to ensure that they are ready to dive into the new adventures that the upcoming school year holds.

• Adjust bedtimes accordingly – A great school day starts with a good night’s rest. While the summer months often mean later bedtimes, the school day starts bright and early, which means you should adjust your child’s sleeping routine to accommodate an earlier start.
• Morning routine – Getting the hang of the morning routine often takes a couple of weeks. Set your expectations for the details that need to be accomplished before your child heads out the door. This might include wake-up times, morning chores, breakfast, grooming habits, and when they need to be at the bus stop.
• Pack a healthy lunch – The food you feed your child is the fuel that helps their bodies function. Take your child to the grocery store and let them help you pick out healthy choices for their afternoon meals. In order to accommodate a busy morning, consider packing lunches the night prior. Additionally, there is no reason your child can’t pack their own lunch (with your guidance). Helping them make good choices early will set them up for a lifetime of good eating habits.
• Choose healthy snacks – In addition to lunch choices, it is important to have healthy snacks ready for your children when they get home from school. Fresh fruits, veggies, cheese or other small snacks are great options to tie them over between lunch and dinner.
• Study spaces – Create a space for your child to do their homework that is conducive to learning. In addition to being comfortable, it should be well lit have plenty of flat surfaces for writing, and within view of a parent who can monitor their working habits. Get them in the habit of going to this place after their snack so that they can get work done early and while their mind is skill focused on school.
• Create a family schedule – Fall schedules are packed with activities. Create a calendar so everyone knows what is on tap for the week ahead.

At Fairmont Federal Credit Union, we are here to serve your family’s financial needs. Visit us today to learn more about credit union membership.

Fairs and Festivals in West Virginia

Summer may be winding down, but the fair and festival scene is going to be hopping in West Virginia even after the kids head back to the classroom. We’ll bet you can find something for everybody at these great local events.

West Virginia Blackberry Festival (August 3, 4, 5) - Nutter Fort

2017 marks the 21st year for the West Virginia Blackberry Festival, and this year promises to be a great event. Festivities start Thursday, August 3 at 11am when the Cartoon HQ opens, amusements open at 7pm, then finish the night with entertainment by Cody Wickline and Rick K and the Allnighters.

Friday entertainment includes a show by In Step Dance & Fitness, our famous Pet Parade (please register at the Festival HQ), and music from the Ed Davisson Band and Shades of Blue.

Join in the 5K Fun Run Saturday morning, then stay for the talent show, baking contest, and much more. Saturday entertainment will be provided by Dominique Demus, Blue Steel, Josh Oldaker, Ryan Cain and the Ables and Motown Sound of Touch, then be sure to stay for the closing fireworks at 10:30pm Saturday night.

Mannington District Fair (August 7 - 12) - Mannington

Dating back to 1932, the Mannington District Fair has long been recognized as a “super kind of homecoming,” where old friends meet and new ones are made. Chock full of activities, including horse shows, a circus, demolition derby, livestock judging, rides, chain saw carving, and even an escape artist, the fair truly offers something for everyone. Live music includes:

Wednesday,  August 10 - Shania Twain and Tim McGraw Tributes

Thursday, August 10 - Davisson Brothers Band

Friday, August 11 - Eliminator KC -  ZZ Top Tribute

Saturday, August 12 - Tane Lynne & The Total Package

West Virginia State Fair (August 10-19) - Lewisburg

The West Virginia State Fair offers a fascinating world of horse shows, livestock animals, competitive exhibits, entertainment, concerts, and carnival rides. Highlights include the daily Bengal Tiger Encounter, Extreme Raptors Show, Rowdy Rooster, Harness Racing and the Draft Horse Pull. Check out the full schedule of events online, and don’t miss the live concerts, including Martina McBride and Josh Turner and Brantley Gilbert with special guest Dylan Scott.

West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival (September 1 - 3) - Clarksburg

Celebrating its 39th year in 2017, the WV Italian Heritage Festival is not to be missed. Rated one of the “Top Four Italian Festivals in the Nation” by the National Sons of Italy, the festival offers a wide array of authentic Italian street food, including pastries, and tons of great entertainment. This year’s live entertainment includes The Diamonds, Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti, Moreno Fruzetti, and Dennis Tufano, The Original Voice of the Buckinghams.

West Virginia Black Heritage Festival (September 8 - 10) - Clarksburg

Downtown Clarksburg invites you to celebrate the 27th annual WV Black Heritage Festival. This is a fun-filled weekend of delicious food, family activities, crafts and live entertainment. The festival’s mission is “to promote the African-American experience while addressing the many milestones that our forefathers have made since the Emancipation Proclamation”.  There will be live entertainment Saturday starting at 2pm, and the festivities finish Sunday at 6pm with the Closing Ceremonies.

Wishing You a Happy Independence Day from Fairmont Federal Credit Union

The 4th of July is right around the corner, and you know what that means! The ultimate feast of burgers, brats, dogs, and all the pasta salad you could ever want is finally at your fingertips.  It’s the perfect time for family gatherings and bonding with friends! Eating on any given holiday is always one of the main events. It’s the most delicious event and brings a little tradition to the table. Before the fireworks begin, what will be on your menu?

Appetizers

While your guests wait for the grill to heat up, colorful appetizers can keep them busy. With avocado booming  in popularity, a nice and easy dip to add to the table is guacamole with some chips. It’s a good place to start. Colorful, thick, guac is always a crowd pleaser. Taco dip, pico de gallo, mango salsa, any kind of dip will give your table a delicious, color treat to any party guest. What’s more? If you have leftover avocado, deviled eggs with sliced avocado, bacon, and a little hot sauce is an amazing tweak to the classic summer appetizer.

Main Dish

What’s the 4th of July without hamburgers and hotdogs? Pulled pork sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, Italian beef, brats, you name it! Heat the grill up and have a little variety for the whole family. And of course, don’t forget the  lettuce, cheese, tomato, ketchup, mustard.. Make a swiss burger and add some mushrooms! Bring some buns to the table, but give it a twist by adding tortillas and flat breads. Different buns adds a whole new level of creativity for your guests to add to their meal.

Dessert

When you’re making a 4th of July dessert, try to really keep the red, white, and blue theme alive. A flag cake is one of the most popular festive cakes! There are so many alternatives to this dish. The colors from the fruit on top add some pop to your table. Another 4th of July favorite is strawberry shortcake. You can do one big cake or make it a layered trifle strawberry shortcake. When making a trifle shortcake, you will need to cut up the cake beforehand, creating multiple layers. A tall bowl will be helpful if you are expecting a lot of people!

Curious where and when you can catch a fireworks show in your area? Check out local times here

Fairmont Federal Credit Union wants to wish you and your family a happy 4th! Fairmont FCU is a not-for-profit financial organization, democratically controlled, owned and operated by our members for the benefit of all who belong. For more information you can visit our website at https://www.fairmontfcu.com.

How to Have a Worry Free Vacation

As summer begins, thoughts turn to the kids being out of school, warm weather and getting away for a vacation.. Preparing for a fun getaway adventure requires careful planning and preparation to ensure you enjoy happy memories for years to come.

Before you leave home

• Cover your bases – Make copies of all credit cards, travelers checks, identification and medical information that you will be bringing with you on your travels. Keep one copy with you and leave the other at home.
• Bring limited cash – Contact credit/debit card companies- So they are aware of your travel dates and possible purchases outside of your normal routine. You may even want to stash some extra cash in case of inconveniences or you lose your wallet.
• Give limited info on luggage – Don’t put your address on your luggage tags. Instead write your phone number as a method of contact.
• Check your home before you leave – Secure all windows and doors and arm your alarm system before you head out of town. Set automatic timers for your lights and turn on a radio to create the illusion that someone is home. Additionally, consider adjusting your thermostat and water heater for vacation settings.
• Don’t post on Social Media -  Post your vacation pictures when you return home. Announcing your plans on social networks can alert unwanted visitors to your home.
  

On your trip

• Use room safe – Only take the cash and credit cards you need for the day. Put your other spending money in your room safe. Additionally, do not leave any valuables such as computers, wallets or jewelry out in the open.
• Know where you are going – Before you venture out, ask the hotel staff if there are any areas you should avoid.
• Keep valuables hidden in car – Never leave souvenirs, wallets or other items that might catch the eye out in the open in your automobile. Lock them in the trunk or put them in the glove box.
• Use small denominations – Don’t display large amounts of money when making a purchase and keep the dominations to $50 or less.
  

At Fairmont Federal Credit Union, we offer our members a variety of credit and debit card options, many which offer rewards benefits. Contact us to find the right option for your needs. 

Giving Graduates the Financial Tools for Their Future

With graduation comes the promise of new beginnings, big and small. Students are planning summer trips, planning graduation parties and getting ready to go off to college. Funding this new road often requires graduates and their families to become creative with their finances. While scholarships, grants and funds from a summer job might help to ease some of the burden, often graduates need to apply for student loans to cover the remaining balance.

 

Types of Loans

While financial aid is generally lumped into the all-inclusive description “student loans,” there are actually several different options. For the most part they are divided into federal and private loans. Federal loans typically have lower interest rates and offer several repayment options; however, there is a limit to the amount of money that can be borrowed depending upon the grade level the student is in school. 

 

Many times after scholarships, grants and federal loans, students still have a deficit which requires them to apply for private loans to cover the balance. Private loans come from individual lenders and require a credit check for approval. These loans have a variety of different interest rates and limited repayment options.

 

Payment Process 

Once college graduation occurs, loan providers typically provide a six-month grace period before repayment starts. It is important to get organized during this period to ensure you are prepared to start payments. If you have several different loans, talk to your loan service providers about specific repayment options and determine the best plan for your financial picture. Additionally, consider setting-up auto payments so that you don’t have to keep track of multiple payments. Some private lenders might also lower your interest rate if you choose this option.

 

Loan Forgiveness

Depending upon your career choice, you might have a federal loan forgiveness built into your employment. This means that all or some of your loan might be canceled if you stay with the employer for a certain period of time. Volunteering for organizations such as the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, working as a non-profit attorney, or starting a career as a teacher or medical professional are some examples of post-college paths that might offer this benefit.

 

If you are a recent graduate, contact the professionals at Fairmont Federal Credit Union to discuss your student loan options.