Daniel Ching

myEECU
WINTER 2014 | ISSUE NO. 21
M E M B E R P RO FILE
Member Spotlight:
Daniel Ching
Minarets High School Principal
Daniel Ching’s calling to be an educator has led him not far from his small
hometown of North Fork to a gem of a high school just down Highway 41
that is known worldwide as a hub of technology and innovation.
Daniel is principal at Minarets High School, where nearly all
student assignments are completed online, staff and students make
presentations around the country about their school, and the campus
hosts visitors from places like Denmark and Singapore, seeking insight
into its instructional methods.
“I loved teaching and I really didn’t have plans to be an administrator,”
says Daniel, who taught history at Minarets for five years. “The innovative
and creative approach here really got me excited, and I saw that I could be
a leader at the school in a more non-traditional and forward-thinking way.”
(Cont. inside—Daniel Ching)
PR O D U C T / SERVICE P RO FILE
Holiday Wise Club
Saving for holiday shopping has never been easier. Reap the benefits of our Holiday
Wise Club with monthly deposits into your account throughout the year. A $5 deposit
is all it takes to open the club account. The club year runs from November 1 to October 31.
Members may open a Holiday Wise Club account any time during the year. Club savings
are automatically transferred on the first business day in November to your savings or
checking account. The dividend rate will generally be slightly higher than regular shares.
And your account automatically renews each year. Make deposits in person, or via ATM,
phone, online, or automatic transfer.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Call for Volunteers
The 2014 Year in Review
Manager Profile
Alternative to American Express
Travelers Cheques
Direct Deposit Your Tax Refund
Member Discount:
Tax Preparation with TurboTax
WINTER 2014
E E C U I N F ORMATION BULLETIN
Call for Volunteers
EECU is now accepting applications for our annual election
to the Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee, and
our Associate Volunteer program.
Board of Directors and
Supervisory Committee Candidates
Our annual election to the Board of Directors and
Supervisory Committee is May 2015. The deadline to
submit a candidate application is February 13, 2015. The
Nomination/Election Committee will review applications
and interview potential candidates prior to placing names
into nomination. Members who are not nominated may still
seek election by submitting a petition containing the verified
signatures of 100 credit union members. The petitions must
be submitted by March 17, 2015.
Three seats will be up for election on the Board of Directors,
and three seats will be available on the Supervisory
Committee. Members of the Board of Directors are
responsible for directing and controlling the affairs of the
credit union, exercising sound governance and leadership,
and working closely with management to develop sound
policies. The Supervisory Committee is responsible for
ensuring rules/regulations are followed and internal controls
are in place to protect the credit union. The Supervisory
Committee is also responsible for selecting the credit union’s
external audit firm and overseeing the credit union’s books
and records.
Associate Volunteer Candidates
The Board of Directors may appoint up to three Associate
Volunteer candidates.Associate Volunteers provide the
Bulletin Board
Selma Branch Lobby
Cash Dispenser
In addition to the ATM located outside our Selma
branch, we now have a cash dispenser in the branch
lobby. All transactions with the exception of deposits can
be made at this cash dispenser. We hope you enjoy the
convenience of our new lobby cash dispenser.
credit union with an ongoing resource to provide qualified
future candidates for Board and Supervisory Committee
elections. Associate Volunteers will complete educational
training, attend Board and Supervisory Committee
meetings, participate in planning sessions, and fulfill other
requirements of the position.
Applicants must be members. Appointment to the Associate
Volunteer program will be voted on by the Board of Directors.
One-year terms begin in April 2015.
Application Information and Requirements
Prior to February 13, 2015, potential candidates for an
elected or Associate Volunteer position must attend
a scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors or the
Supervisory Committee and an orientation session to review
the responsibilities of the position. The meeting dates are
listed below.
Members interested in running for an elected or Associate
Volunteer position must meet specific criteria for eligibility.
For more information, please call (559) 437-7924, or write to:
The Nomination/Election Committee
c/o Educational Employees Credit Union
P.O. Box 5242 , Fresno, CA 93755
Board of Directors Meeting Date: January 27, 2015
Supervisory Committee Meeting Date: February 10, 2015
Candidate Orientation Dates: February 10 and 11, 2015
Candidate Interview Dates: February 17, 18, and 19, 2015
Holiday Hours
In observance of the following holidays we will be closed:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, January 19
Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, January 20.
Presidents Day
Monday, February 16
Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, February 17.
M A N A G ER SP OTLIG H T
Rochelle Martin
Business Analysis Director
Rochelle Martin has had a wide range of job
experiences and responsibilities and has seen many
changes in her 27 years with EECU. One thing that
hasn’t changed during her career is the credit union’s
loyalty to its members and placing their financial
well-being first.
“There is a huge sense of pride knowing that you
work for an organization that is doing the right
thing for our members,” Rochelle says. “We try
to educate our members to help them make good
financial decisions.”
EECU is a not-for-profit solely owned by our
members. That distinction drives the credit union’s
commitment to serving our members and the
community. “The way we treat our members is
not driven based on profits but rather because of
a sense of responsibility to them,” she says. She
also is proud of EECU’s sponsorships and support
of many programs and events, giving back to the
communities that make the credit union successful.
Rochelle is the business analysis director for EECU’s
Information Systems Department. She manages
a team of eight people – a systems application
director, five business analysts and two project
specialists. Among her team’s responsibilities are
implementing software upgrades and new products
and services, improving efficiency, and planning and
coordinating various functions and projects that
support the credit union’s daily operations.
“We are the bridge between the business side
and technology side of the credit union,” she says.
“Ultimately, it’s awesome to see a project that you’ve
been working on become a reality and help our
members and make their lives easier.”
EECU has benefited from Rochelle’s vast experience
within the credit union, including her roles as a loan
counselor and an assistant branch manager. She
also served as branch manager at Barstow, Old Town
Clovis and Valentine before joining the Information
Services Department.
Her time away from work is spent traveling and
reading, and enjoying her family. She and her
husband, Cleo, have four adult children – Ashley,
Cleo, Ryan and Brandon. Her husband is selfemployed and a part owner of a Fresno-based karate
school, and has a fifth degree black belt in karate.
Rochelle, who worked in the savings and loan
industry for eight years before joining EECU, says
she is grateful for her opportunities at the credit
union during her career. “I love my job and I love
working for EECU. It’s fast-paced, it’s ever-changing
and it’s challenging.”
The 2014 Year in Review Serving our communities together
Welcome to 2015! The new year is a time to focus on the future, but it’s also a time to reflect on the past year and all that we
accomplished together.
Last April we celebrated our 80th year in business. A lot has changed since we opened our doors 80 years ago, but the one thing that
hasn’t is our commitment to helping our members and the community. Credit unions were founded on the principle of “people helping
people.” It’s a philosophy that guides us in every decision we make. Today, we are proud to be the largest credit union based in the
central San Joaquin Valley, serving more than 230,000 members with over $2.2 billion in assets.
As part of our 80th birthday celebration, we gave away $16,000 to local nonprofit organizations last June. The public voted from among
12 nonprofits for the final pool of eight organizations in the running for a $5,000 donation. An apple-bobbing contest was held at our
Annual Meeting and the Valley Animal Center’s apple emerged as the winner. The other 11 nonprofits each received $1,000. These
organizations do great work in our community and we hope our donation has helped them continue to fulfill their missions.
Our Facebook fans also took part in our 80th birthday celebration with our “Win $80 a Day” Fan Appreciation Contest. During the
promotion we gave away $80 Visa Gift Cards to 54 fans, and gained some new fans, too! We love interacting with our members on
Facebook and Twitter, and we hope you’ll “like” and “follow” us to stay connected with the latest news and happenings at EECU.
We were honored to receive several awards last year. For the eighth year in a row, EECU was voted Best Credit Union in The Fresno
Bee’s People’s Choice Awards. We were also honored to be selected a recipient of the Child-Friendly Business Award by First 5 Fresno
County. The award is presented to businesses that go above and beyond in supporting their employees to achieve a healthy work-home
balance. Our President/CEO Beth Dooley was one of three women honored with the Women Inspiring Girls Award from the Girl Scouts
of Central California South. The award recognizes trailblazing women who are making a difference in their community and are
role models for girls today. The Marjaree Mason Center selected EECU board member Barbara Thomas as a recipient of its Top Ten
Professional Women award. Barbara, a retired educator, has served on the EECU board of directors since 1995. We were very honored
to receive these awards, and the recognition deepens our commitment to provide the very best service to you.
Your membership with EECU allows us to do some pretty amazing things in our community. EECU continued its support of Central
Valley Honor Flight by pledging to donate $50 for every auto loan financed last March. Thanks to our members, we were able to donate
$18,750 to help send World War II veterans to see their memorial in Washington, D.C.
We also donated backpacks and supplies to local schools to help kids start off the new school year right. Our employees raised more
than $4,800 for the American Heart Association Heart & Stroke Walk, and the credit union added another $2,500 for a total of over
$7,300. We also provided a $1,000 donation and held a book drive to benefit a school library in Madera. We continue to support
Excellence in Education events in five counties that annually recognize outstanding educators, and to date, we have awarded $875,000
in grants through our Student Grant Program. At EECU, we’re not about profits…we’re about people. It just makes sense to take care
of the people who contribute to our success and help to enrich the communities we call home.
Making banking more convenient is a priority at EECU. Last year we opened a new ATM in Fowler and we invited our members to help
us celebrate. What a fun time it was! We enjoyed treating our members to delicious taco truck food, prizes, and good music. This year
we plan to open a new branch and ATM in Tulare.
As we reflect on the past 80 years, we are reminded of our humble beginnings, the milestones we have reached along the way, and
the members who have traveled with us on this incredible journey. You are the reason for our success, and we are grateful for your
loyalty and support. As a member of EECU, you help to make our community better.
Sincerely,
Derek F. Scharton, Chair, EECU Board of Directors
ME MBE R PR O F IL E
Daniel Ching (Cont. from Cover)
Minarets, about 25 miles north of Fresno, is a
charter and international high school. Each
teacher and student has a laptop or iPad.
Assignments and projects are completed
online and sent to teacher websites.
Teachers and students exchange cell phone
numbers and are Facebook friends, practices
that many schools might frown upon.
to review their books. She then donated
the books to the school library. She is now
attending a college in New York working
toward a future in publishing.
“By the time our students leave our campus,
they’re confident to go into the workplace
setting,” he says. “Both our students and our
teachers live by the philosophy, ‘Go big, go
pro and go now.’ ”
“With technology, you can start working on
things like that before you go to college and The ever-changing, technology-driven world
maybe it will launch a career,” Daniel says. largely steers the Minarets approach to
teaching, says Daniel, who was the director
Daniel and his staff believe access to teachers Student opinions are fostered and of the school’s charter last year before
outside regular school hours allows students supported at Minarets High (minarets.us). becoming principal. “We have to teach these
to ask questions and receive instant feedback The students offer their ideas and work on kids the core academics but we also have to
on assignments and projects. It also treats projects seeking solutions to Valley issues, teach them to be flexible and adaptable. We
the students as “young professionals” and like water shortages and air quality. “It always say that we’re preparing them for jobs
prepares them for the working world.
teaches them to be critical thinkers and to that don’t even exist yet.”
be good community members,” Daniel says.
“Our approach is that if we don’t teach
students to use social media in a positive and Minarets High also is an Apple
professional manner, then nobody will,” he says. Distinguished School, and Daniel and
Patrick Wilson, director of the school’s
Minarets High’s curriculum stresses projectbased, hands-on learning. Community projects charter, are Apple Distinguished Educators.
also are emphasized. One student is writing an Daniel and Patrick use Apple products to
interactive digital book on the preservation of transform teaching and learning, and they
share their expertise with other educators.
the Mono Native American language.
Students also start businesses, are exposed
to real-world opportunities, and connect
online with people in careers they want
to pursue, he says. While at Minarets, a
former student wrote a blog reviewing
books. Publishers sought her out, asking her
Daniel, who is 30 and starting a doctorate
program, was Chawanakee Unified School
District’s nominee for Madera County
Teacher of the Year in 2013. He and his wife,
Ceaenna, enjoy traveling and have visited
about 15 countries, taking students on some
of their trips. In June, Daniel will accompany
about 20 students to England and Ireland.
Ceaenna won’t be making this trip because
the couple are expecting their first child –a
The Minarets staff and students travel
girl – this January.
around the country sharing the school’s
mission, goals and use of technology. When Daniel says that helping students at Minarets
students graduate, they are comfortable High to be successful in the workplace and
with making presentations to large in life is especially personal. “I want to be an
audiences, a skill that is invaluable.
example for the kids who grew up here.”
Alternative to American Express
Travelers Cheques
EECU sales of American Express Travelers Cheques are now only available at our Barstow branch in Fresno.
Remember that the Visa prepaid reloadable card is a safe and convenient alternative to Travelers Cheques.
Our reloadable prepaid card offers you the flexibility of cash and the security of a debit card. An EECU Visa
reloadable prepaid card can be used almost anywhere Visa is accepted – even online. It’s perfect for travelers
who want to carry something safer than cash. Stop by any EECU branch and order a Visa reloadable card today.
Direct Deposit Your Tax Refund
Tax season is right around the corner. If you’re expecting a refund, direct deposit
is the fastest, safest way to receive your refund. Simply check the appropriate
boxes on your tax form and consult your tax adviser if you have any questions.
You’ll need the following information about your EECU account to set up direct
deposit of your refund to your checking or savings account:
1. EECU routing and transit number: 321172594.
2. Your checking or savings account number.
•Your checking account number is printed at the bottom of your checks. The
number is located to the right of the routing and transit number and is 14 digits
(be sure to include the leading zeros).
• Your savings account number is your member account number.
As a reminder, you must be on the account that you designate for direct
deposit. If you are not on the account, the deposit may be declined and
returned to the originator.
M EM B ER DI S C OU NT
Published quarterly by:
EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYEES
CREDIT UNION
P.O. Box 5242
Fresno, CA 93755
EQUAL HOUSING
LENDER
Federally Insured by NCUA
Member Service Center
1-800-538-3328
Website
myEECU.org
Tax Preparation
with TurboTax
EECU and TurboTax are making your tax
preparation as easy as banking online! TurboTax
is now available through EECU online banking.
Not only can you save time with secure, automatic
upload of account data, but you can also receive a
discount on TurboTax Federal (Deluxe, Premier,
and Home and Business Edition).