Your Partner on the Path to

Homeownership

WINTER 2020

membermatters

Helping to Fight Hunger

DCCU Shred Days benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

Free Retirement Workshop

Learn about ways you can prepare for retirement

Member Matters is a publication of DuPont Community Credit Union.

By the NumbersNovember 30, 2018 Assets $1,189,412,833Savings $1,031,029,689Loans $912,685,068Members 99,118

November 30, 2019Assets $1,273,008,402Savings $1,114,032,532Loans $928,826,396Members 105,174

One of the things that makes DCCU unique is the way we encourage involvement from our members. As a cooperative, our members are also our owners and have a say in how our credit union is run.

Our Board of Directors is made up of members who volunteer their time to represent our entire membership. They are responsible for working with our leadership team to help set the direction of our credit union. The election for our 2020 Board of Directors is currently underway. This is your opportunity to get involved by helping to decide which Board members best represent your needs.

Members will receive their ballot by mail or email based on your statement preference. If you receive paper statements, your ballot will arrive by mail, and if you receive eStatements, your ballot will be sent by email. I encourage you to make the most of the credit union’s democratic structure and vote. Keep in mind the election period ends February 14, 2020.

Another way you can get involved is by attending our Annual Meeting. This is a great opportunity to meet and interact with our Board members, leadership, and staff while hearing various reports and presentations. This year’s meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at

the Waynesboro Best Western starting at 5:30 p.m. I hope you will make plans to attend.

Lastly, keep an eye out for surveys that we send throughout the year. For years, we have been surveying members as a way to gauge the overall sentiment of the membership and gather valuable insight on ways our products and services can be improved. Survey invitations are emailed regularly and we have a dedicated team that contacts members to discuss the feedback they provided. We care about your thoughts on the service we deliver, products we offer, and the general direction of the credit union. Your feedback is important because it helps make our cooperative better.

It’s a great time to be a DCCU member and we are looking forward to another great year! It is important for you to exercise your vote, get involved in credit union activities, and provide feedback as often as you can. It all works together to help move our credit union forward. We appreciate your continued support of our cooperative.

The Importance of Member InvolvementA message from DCCU’s President/CEO, Steve F. Elkins

Your feedback is important because it helps make our cooperative better.

Your Partner on the Path to Homeownership

“Helping members reach their goals is the best part of my job.”

Buying a home is often considered a big part of the American Dream. For some, the path to homeownership is smooth, but for others, a little more guidance and effort is required. That was the case for Sam and Sarah who partnered with DCCU Mortgage Advisor Diana Sample on their journey.

After renting for six years, the property owner notified Sam and Sarah that she was ready to sell the home. Because they loved their community and the home was a perfect fit for their family, it was hard for them to grasp the idea of moving and starting over somewhere else. Even though they were tired of renting and ready for a place to call their own, they weren’t quite sure if they were prepared to make the leap from renting to owning. They didn’t want to miss out on this opportunity, but they weren’t sure where to start.

After the property owner recommended DCCU, Sam and Sarah set up a meeting to talk with Diana. “Helping members reach their goals is the best part of my job,” said Diana. “It starts with getting to know them and listening to their needs and concerns.”

It’s hard to plan for the future until you know your current financial picture, and your credit report is the best place to start. A credit report contains information about you,

such as the status of your credit accounts and your payment history. This helps lenders determine if they will loan you money and at what interest rate. As Sam and Sarah expected, they had some cleanup work to do on their credit. “We looked at their goal of homeownership and developed a plan to help them achieve it,” said Diana. “The plan included paying off a few past due bills. Then, they needed to start building positive credit.”

Over the next 18 months, Sam and Sarah worked with Diana to get their credit turned around. Although they felt overwhelmed at times, they stuck with it. All of their hard work paid off because they closed on their home in October 2019. They are excited about their future and look forward to creating many happy memories in the years ahead.

“In a situation like theirs, few people actually follow through, but they did,” said Diana. “It was incredible to watch their excitement grow as they got closer to realizing their dream of becoming homeowners. I was glad to be a part of it.”

The journey to homeownership is not always easy, but if you make a plan and stick to it, you can achieve the goals you set for yourself. The DCCU Mortgage team is committed to helping you navigate the home buying process and support you every step of the way.

In 2019, 311 DCCU employees volunteered over 3,000 hours at 57 organizations throughout the Shenandoah Valley. We value the opportunity to give back through volunteering and look forward to another great year of serving local nonprofits. Visit our Facebook page and #dccucares to see our volunteering efforts in the community.

As a credit union, concern for community is one of our most important principles. In addition to the products and services we offer our members, volunteering is another way we give back to the entire community. Throughout the year, we proactively reach out to organizations looking for ways we can help.

DCCU’s volunteer program would not be as impactful without employee support. They have embraced the culture of giving back and continuously dedicate their time to helping nonprofits throughout the community. With a variety of volunteer opportunities to choose from, employees can select projects that they are passionate about, and when work and personal interests are combined, everyone benefits.

Beyond the actual volunteer work that ranges from cleaning and organizing to painting and serving meals, DCCU employees also have the opportunity to learn what the organization does and how their services are making a difference in our community. This helps to deepen the connection to these organizations and creates a greater sense of purpose. Many organizations rely on volunteers and we are glad to offer support. Volunteer service allows the nonprofits to focus more time and effort on their meaningful missions.

In 2019, 311 DCCU employees volunteered over 3,000 hours at 57 organizations througout the Shenandoah Valley.

Making a Difference Through Volunteering

DCCU Shred Days Help Fight HungerShredding documents is one of the best ways to prevent personal information from falling into the wrong hands. To support this effort, DCCU hosts Shred Days twice a year at many of our branch locations.

DCCU Shred Days are an open invitation for members and the entire community to bring personal documents to be shredded for free. In 2019, we shredded over 98,000 pounds of sensitive documents. While shred events are becoming more common, DCCU differentiates itself by asking participants to bring a food or monetary donation for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

In 2019 our food and monetary donation totals surpassed previous years. We appreciate the community’s generosity and continued support of our Shred Day program. We look forward to hosting shred events again this Spring and Fall.

$5,205Monetary Donations

26,918Meals Provided

(from food & donations)

7,314Pounds of Food

Preparing for Retirement

DCCU is committed to helping students achieve their higher education goals and will offer thirty-two $1,000 scholarships in a variety of categories. Applicants will write a 750 to 1,000 word essay based on the following questions:

1. What is Corporate Social Responsibility and why do you think it’s important?

2. How can DCCU become more socially responsible?

Visit mydccu.com/learn/scholarships to learn more.

The deadline to apply is March 9, 2020.

2020 Scholarship Deadline is Fast Approaching

January 21 | 6 – 7 p.m.Community Way Office, StauntonRiverside Office, Waynesboro

January 22 | 12 – 1 p.m.Lucy Lane Office, WaynesboroDowntown Staunton Office

January 22 | 6 – 7 p.m.Kaylor Office, Harrisonburg

January 23 | 12 – 1 p.m.Woodstock Office

January 23 | 6 – 7 p.m.Stuarts Draft OfficeLucy Lane Office, Waynesboro

To learn more or register, visit mydccu.com, email MISdccu@lpl.com, or call 540.946.3200.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker/dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. DuPont Community Credit Union (DCCU) and Member Investment Services (MIS) are not registered as a broker/dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using MIS, and may also be employees of DCCU. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, DCCU or MIS. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

A free workshop given by Member Investment Services on ways you can prepare for retirement.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — Saturday, 1/18 & Monday, 1/20 Washington’s Birthday — Saturday, 2/15 & Monday, 2/17

P.O. Box 1365Waynesboro, VA 22980

Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/mydccu

Presorted Standard

U.S. POSTAGE & FEES PAID

DuPont Community Credit Union

Holiday Closings

Board of DirectorsEverett J. Campbell, Jr., ChairmanQ. Maurice Gresham, Vice ChairmanLeslie E. Ramsey, TreasurerAngela M. Simonetti, SecretaryTimothy M. Simmons, DirectorMichael P. Blinn, DirectorDrew Ellen Gogian, DirectorMarvin G. Copeland, Jr., Associate DirectorJanet P. Mangun, Associate DirectorSteve F. Elkins, President/CEO

Supervisory CommitteeBruce F. Hamrick, ChairmanEugene F. Walker, SecretaryWesley B. Wampler, MemberJeff Miracle, Associate MemberRobin Ruleman, Associate Member

Governance CommitteeAngela M. SimonettiDrew Ellen GogianMarvin G. Copeland, Jr.Mary Louise Leake

Insured by NCUA. Membership required.

Contact UsP.O. Box 1365Waynesboro, VA 22980

540.946.3200 | 800.245.8085

dccu@mydccu.commydccu.com

ART – Audio Response Teller540.946.3200 x1 | 800.245.8085 x1

Lost or Stolen Debit/Credit CardsDebit 844.231.2220Credit 844.231.2221

HoursMonday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m. – Noon (drive up only)

Call CenterMonday – Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m. – Noon

October 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019

Employee Spotlight

Years of Service

20 Years - Contina Hill

15 Years - Steve Pittman

15 Years - Bridget Wood

5 Years - Stephanie Coiner

5 Years - Stephanie Crespo

5 Years - Jennifer Dull

5 Years - Hani Harlow

5 Years - Whit Sours

Promotions

Courtney Bean

Credit Underwriter

Brittany Davis

Assistant Service Center Manager

2019 Retirements

34 Years - Donna Sandridge

33 Years - Shane Showker

22 Years - Linda Parr

21 Years - Linda Pittman

15 Years - Martha Alexander

15 Years - Debbie Beverage

The Supervisory Committee is your member advocate.

Contact the Committee at P.O. Box 712, Waynesboro, VA 22980