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.
Free Shred Day Is Happening!
Each of the last many, many years, Mid Oregon has teamed up with Republic Services to provide free personal shredding for our members and the community. The first Saturday after taxes were due around April 15 was a popular and practical time for the event. This year, COVID-19, and the subsequent change in the tax due date, caused us to cancel the event in April. However, based on state guidelines and timing, we have rescheduled the event for July 18: Free Shred Day is happening!
Supporting Healthy Beginnings!
Although the shredding services are provided at no cost, Mid Oregon will still be accepting donations to benefit Healthy Beginnings. Healthy Beginnings offers no-cost health and developmental screenings for preschoolers to ensure local children enter kindergarten ready to learn. Learn more about Healthy Beginnings at www.myhb.org.
Safely Dispose of Sensitive Documents
Shredding personal documents helps Central Oregonians stay protected from fraud and identity theft. This free event is intended for private residential document shredding only—no commercial or business shredding provided. Shredding is limited to 3 boxes or bags per vehicle. Personal documents with staples and paper clips are accepted. On Saturday July 18, you can participate at four Mid Oregon Credit Union locations:
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Bend Olney Branch – 202 NE Olney Avenue (near Black Bear Diner)
- Madras Branch – 395 SE Fifth Street (at Fifth and “F” Streets)
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Redmond Branch – 2625 SW 17th Place (next to Bi-Mart)
- Prineville Branch – 305 NE Hickey Farms Road (in front of Bi-Mart)
Additional Important Information
Ensuring the safety of our volunteers and shred participants, and complying with social distancing requirements, enables us to be sure Free Shred Day is happening. We are putting the following steps in place:
- Staff and Volunteers will wear masks and gloves
- Vehicles will move to the designated location at the branch
- People bringing shredding will place their own materials into the bins provided on site
- Mid Oregon staff and the shred operator will take the bin to complete the shredding
- To support Healthy Beginnings donations, a jar will be on a table, with a HB representative stationed nearby. They will answer questions about their no cost health and developmental screenings for local preschool children.
- Participants can drop cash or check donations in the jar- all are appreciated! Online donations can also be made.
The Duck Race Goes On!
COVID-19 and State of Oregon distancing rules have limited or postponed many worthy fundraisers this year. With limits to large crowds, it may have meant there would be no Great Drake Park Duck Race this year. But thanks to the perseverance and ingenuity of local Rotary race leadership, the Duck Race Goes On!
Mid Oregon, along with fellow credit unions Community First, SELCO, and OnPoint, have joined to again be the Duck Race Title Sponsors under the umbrella of “Credit Unions Working Together“, a collaborative effort.
The 2020 Duck Race Will Be A Raffle
To Purchase Tickets, Click Above
There will not be a duck race this year in Drake Park due to uncertainty about large gatherings. Rotary will be holding a Raffle drawing from the tickets purchased from www.theduckrace.com. The 2020 Great Drake Park Rotary Duck Race Raffle will be held and the winners announced on Sunday, September 13th.
Non-Profit Beneficiaries Impact All of Central Oregon
This is the 31st year of the Duck Race, and to date have raised nearly $2 million for local non-profits. Through the efforts of the 4 Bend Rotary Clubs, plus “Credit Unions Working Together” and other sponsors, this collaboration makes a significant difference locally. The past 4 years ticket sales have been near or over $100,000 each year.
This year the proceeds of the Raffle will benefit the following local non-profits: Volunteers in Medicine, Mountain Star Family Relief Nursery, Boys and Girls Club of Bend, Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, J Bar J, The Gift of Literacy and the Family Access Network.
Don’t Forget- Prizes To Be Awarded!
Supporting the seven non-profits above with donations is worthwhile in itself. But remember, 10 lucky winners will receive prizes valued at over $10,000!
The Grand Prize this year will be $5000 cash! In addition, there will be weekly drawings for $100 gift cards to local restaurants for people who have purchased tickets. Restaurant gift cards awarded will include those from Drake, Ariana, Zydeco, Trattoria Sbandati, Pine Tavern and more. In addition to the $5,000 cash Grand Prize, other prizes awarded will be:
- Saxons 1/2 Carat Signature Diamond Earrings- Value $1,250
- Traeger Pro Series- Value $1,100
- Big Mountain Helicopter Tour- Value $800
- 12 Month Membership at BodyBright- Value $719.40
- Old Mill Bucks- Value $500
- 2 Nights Camp Sherman Cabin- Value $500
- DD Ranch Gift Certificate- Value $500
- Amazon Gift Card- Value $400
- Red Carpet Car Wash One Year Pass- Value $395
How to Get Raffle Tickets
Help us to help the non-profits by purchasing Duck Race tickets, online. Unable to sell tickets in person, it is easy to go online to purchase single tickets for $5, or increase your chances to win with a 5 pack for $25, 10 pack for $50 or 20 pack for $100.
Purchasers must be 18 years of age or older, and must be physically in the State of Oregon at the time of ticket purchase.
Look for the Mid Oregon Credit Union van around town this summer, all “ducked out”. Help our non-profits by investing in a Duck…or five. Thank you for your support!
Personal Finance Hacks for Students
Personal Finance Hacks for Students
College years are the time when many people establish financial habits that will carry them for the rest of their lives. Some of these habits can be started by using what you might call personal finance hacks.
Pay attention to these items to get off on the right financial foot:
• Spending plan: Know how much money you have available for college expenses. Create a workable monthly spending plan that balances income, loans, and gifts with anticipated expenses.
• Records: Use an app to track expenses or monitor expenses online. Tracking expenses will help you see where your money is going and adjust your spending as needed. Also, remember to review your financial statements every month.
• Credit cards: Commit to paying credit card bills in full and on time each month. Using credit wisely teaches you how to live within your means while creating a positive credit record that could help when buying a car, renting an apartment, obtaining insurance, and even landing a job.
• Organization: Keep all financial records, bills, and account statements in one location. This will help you pay bills on time, avoid late fees, and keep an unblemished credit score.
• Personal information: Learn about the different forms of identity theft, the kinds of personal information you need to protect, and how to protect information—even, and especially, from friends and roommates. Learn the pitfalls of careless use of social media.
Apps make personal finance easy
There are many apps to help you manage your money. Your credit union might have its own money-management app. *Mid Oregon hint: We do! Our app has some robust tools to help you manage your credit score, savings goals and more. Included are some excellent articles about personal finance topics.
Here is an example of the type of information you will find inside our online banking, in the “Credit Savvy” tool:
3 Ways To Save Money As A College Student
Or, there are others that might help as well:
• Mint
• Dollarbird
• YNAB (You Need a Budget)
• Toshl Finance