The Bottom Line
Small business is important to Central Oregon, and to Mid Oregon. Find tips and resources for business, and information about Mid Oregon’s commercial services and business members.
Campaign for Common-Sense Regulation
A letter to Mid Oregon Credit Union members, from: Bill Anderson, CEO
Out-of-control regulations hurting credit union members
Dear Mid Oregon Credit Union member,
I’m writing to you about an urgent problem in Washington that directly affects Mid Oregon Credit Union members, and I’m asking you to make your voice heard in Congress to fix it.
Big Brother regulations that favor the Wall Street banks are hurting millions of middle-class credit union members like you, by:
• Costing members an average of $71 per year due to excessive regulations sucking up more credit union resources. (Total cost for all members $1,846,000. based on Mid Oregon membership.)
• Leading to longer wait times and costs for mortgages and loans.
• Limiting your options and making it harder for credit unions to provide the services and products our members need.
You can learn more about the problem by visiting the Campaign for Common-Sense Regulation website.
If you agree that it’s time for Congress to overhaul Washington’s excessive regulation of credit unions, please make your voice heard now. Tell Congress we need common-sense regulations that allow local institutions like Mid Oregon Credit Union to decide what’s best for its members and communities, as we always have.
Let your U.S. Senators and Representatives know today that you want them to make fixing costly regulations on credit unions a top priority.
Thank you for your consideration,
Bill Anderson, CEO
P.S. You can post on your Facebook page or send your Representatives or Senators a tweet on fixing regulations by clicking here.
How to Strike a Deal on a Used Car
You’ve found the car of your dreams, and it’s time to strike the deal. Dealers and some private sellers have a lot of experience negotiating, but you may not. Prepare yourself, and learn how to strike a deal on a used car!
Before you negotiate:
1. Determine what a fair price for the vehicle might be: Look at used-car pricing guides such as CUDL Autosmart, Edmunds.com, Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com), and NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) Appraisal Guides (nadaguides.com).
2. Have sufficient cash or make financing arrangements with your credit union ahead of time.
3. Calculate how much you can afford based on your budget. Decide to walk out if the seller exceeds your limit.
4. Have an expert check out the car, even if you have to pay for an inspection. Organize your notes from:
* The expert
* Your test-drive
* The car’s history and maintenance.
5. Ask an experienced car owner to go with you. Agree that if this person says you should leave, you leave.
What else?
* Only agree to negotiate with a person with whom you feel comfortable;
* Look at it as a business transaction;
* Be prepared to spend at least an hour negotiating.
Don’t meet with the seller if you’re tired or hungry; that will only make it easier for the seller to get more money from you. Your endurance and a willingness to walk away from the deal are essential to getting the best price.
Are you ready? Let the negotiations begin!
Two New Exhibits At February Free Family Saturday!
Two new exhibits will be available at the next, and last, Mid Oregon Credit Union sponsored February Free Family Saturday at the High Desert Museum. Taking place Saturday, February 25, the museum will be open to the public for FREE, from 10 am to 4 pm. Transportation from offsite to and from the museum will be available to help alleviate possible crowded parking situations.
Read more about the details of February Free Family Saturday at the High Desert Museum.
New Exhibit: WWII: The High Desert Home Front
World War II: The High Desert Home Front reveals the wartime activities that took place in the High Desert, including some of the most celebrated and tragic chapters in our country’s history. Explore the significant role the High Desert region played during the war and its enduring impact on the region as the museum commemorates the 75th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War II. Learn about what took place here at home, including military training, nuclear testing, Japanese internment, balloon bombs and the Bracero Program.
Legendary Landscapes
View breathtaking images of High Desert landscapes and learn about the fascinating stories behind how these places got their names in this community-curated exhibition. Legendary Landscapes opens February 18, 2017, and the museum hopes that Legendary Landscapes will inspire visitors to explore more of the region and delve deeper into its natural and cultural history.
Join us at the February Free Family Saturday at the High Desert Museum on February 25th, and invite your friends, co-workers and neighbors.