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.
Mid Oregon’s Day of Community Service
Columbus Day Holiday Provides Opportunity to Support Local Nonprofits.
Traditionally, Columbus Day falls within the list of “banking holidays” observed by financial institutions—it represents a day off for employees, but not much more. For our 125-plus employees at Mid Oregon Credit Union, however, Columbus Day 2019 was a rare opportunity to serve our communities in more ways than funding loans and processing deposits: A day of community service.
While our seven branches were closed on Monday, October 14, the Mid Oregon team still reported to work—trading business attire for t-shirts and work boots as we deployed throughout the region to serve our community in projects ranging from clearing invasive species for a local veteran’s ranch to purchasing needed supplies for homeless expectant mothers.
The Drive to Give Back
“One thing that sets credit unions apart is our commitment to the communities we serve, and we tend to attract employees who have the same drive to give back,” says Kevin Cole, Mid Oregon Executive VP. “Our employees have been asking us for an opportunity to do more to connect with their local communities, and this was the perfect time for us to make this happen.”
A total of 10 branch and department teams chose a local organization to work with on a service project or supply-gathering effort, and the credit union supplied each team with a budget to purchase needed supplies or equipment to complete the project. After a morning of team-building and training for the entire staff, each team assembled in the afternoon to work on their local community projects.
Serving Around Central Oregon
As Mid Oregon is headquartered in and serves only Central Oregonians, our entire staff was focused on Central Oregon organizations. Our branch locations in Bend, Redmond, Madras, Prineville, La Pine and Sisters provided the starting point for our day of community service.
Team Community Organizations and Activities:
TEAM 1 Bend: Grandma’s House– Installing storage shelving and tubs, reorganizing a storage shed, assisting with garden cleanup.
TEAM 2 Bend: MountainStar Family Relief Nursery– Deep cleaning and organizing classrooms, purchasing and delivering needed supplies.
TEAM 3 Bend: Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend– Leading an activity on financial literacy, providing donations for prizes and operating expenses.
TEAM 4 Madras: Jefferson County Meals on Wheels/Jefferson County Senior Center: Gift bags for all Meals on Wheels recipients with warming items, toiletries, small gifts and activities (puzzle books, games).
TEAM 5 La Pine: La Pine Senior Activity Center– Repainting bathrooms.
TEAM 6 Prineville: Family Access Network (FAN)– “Food for Kids” program- Collecting additional groceries and donations at Ray’s Food Place, purchasing food for weekend backpack meals for local kids.
TEAM 7 Bend: Saving Grace (assistance for survivors of sexual assault)– Fundraising, donating to support the services offered through Saving Grace.
TEAM 8 Bend: Bend Park and Recreation– Park Cleanup (raking, mulching, picking up litter and dog waste).
TEAM 9 Redmond: Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO) and Central Oregon Veterans Ranch– Making donation to COVO of funds and supplies collected in the branch, spending the day removing invasive weeds from future livestock/pasture at the ranch.
TEAM 10 Sisters: Family Access Network (FAN)/ Sisters School District Admin Offices– Donating funds for emergency fund gift cards, winter gloves and hats, and helping to organize two storage rooms containing emergency supplies for homeless families.
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- FAN/Backpacks for Kids- Prineville Branch
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- FAN/Sisters School District- Sisters Branch
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- Mountain Star Family Relief Nursery- East Bend Branch
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- Grandma’s House- Administrative Staff
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- COVO/Central Oregon Veterans Ranch- Redmond Branch
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- Saving Grace- Underwriting Team
Back-to-School Study Tips
Back-to-school season is in full swing, and that means it’s time to establish a study routine.
Now that the school year is well underway, it’s also time to make sure your family has a study plan to tackle lessons and learning from the get-go. Parents can help kids with a few simple back-to-school study tips for getting into the groove of back-to-the-books studying and homework.
Set Your Kids up for Success
Set up a quiet study space: Whether it’s a desk in the corner of the bedroom or a study nook in the family room, students need a dedicated space to really hit the books. Is it quiet? Is it away from multimedia distractions? Find the right spot in your home to create the best atmosphere so they can buckle down for success.
Set goals: Regardless of your child’s age, it’s beneficial to help walk and talk them through what they want to accomplish this year. Does one child want to ace the algebra exams this year? Does another want to make the school play, or earn a spot on the soccer team? Talk to your kids about their passions and what they want to achieve—then help them create a plan to meet those goals.
Make ground rules: Maybe it’s setting a routine time for studying after school, before bed, or a ‘no TV or cell phone’ rule during study hours. Agreed upon ground rules keep the family on the same page and frustrations at bay. Understand the family’s routine and plan around that.
Keep a planner: It’s important for busy families and students to track far more than just homework. Even younger students can learn to keep track of all activities and chart a course for the week. Help the kids track study times, test dates, extracurricular commitments like dance class, band practice, or sports practices. Even helping the kids keep track of holidays, conference days, and family activities will help reduce stress and let everybody see the big picture.
Get organized: Everybody has a different way to organize work, projects, and activities. Help your child find out the best way to organize their work: do they prefer a different folder for each class? Or is a large binder with color-coded tabs best? Keep it simple to make it easier to stay the course with homework.
Get into a routine: Studying a little every day is a far better approach than cramming for a test or a term paper at the last minute. Pick the best time of day to work a little on projects or reading—researching a little everyday for that term paper makes it easier to thread notes and thoughts into a successful and stress-free draft.
Save the easiest assignment for last: Just get ‘er done! Tackling the most challenging assignment first alleviates worry and fret. Stay focused on the bigger project and then dive into the more bite-sized lessons.
Grab a study buddy: You know the old adage ‘Two heads are better than one?’ Sometimes it’s just more fun to stir it up and study with someone—let alone more productive to share ideas and solutions. While a desk at home is a good fallback spot to focus, the local library or coffee shop could offer options for students who want to study together.
Ask for help: Make sure your student knows that an open door of communication with both teachers and parents is OK! If you just don’t understand the assignment or how another peer got to that math equation, ask. That’s what teachers and staff are there for.
Stay healthy: Remember that plenty of rest, daily exercise, and a healthy diet make studying and focus all that much easier—at any age! While we all get busy with activities and plans during the school year, it pays in dividends to keep to a routine bedtime, stock the fridge with plenty of healthy snacks and foods, and make sure the kids have time for outdoor play and activity.
Now, let’s hit the books! It’s going to be a great year.
Seven Ways College Students Waste Money
Managing Money is Challenging, Don’t Waste it!
Seven Ways College Students Waste Money
Going to college is expensive, no doubt about it. Between textbooks, tuition, housing, utilities, and maintaining a social life, managing your money can be challenging. So, here are a few habits to avoid if you want to save more: Seven ways college students waste money …
1. Buy new textbooks
College textbook prices have increased faster than tuition, healthcare costs, housing prices, and inflation. You can cut this expense by buying used books online through Amazon or Half Price Books, or renting through sites like Chegg, Campus Book Rentals, or Campus Books.
2. Carry a credit card balance
If you use a credit card, only charge what you’re able to pay off in full each month. If you’re already carrying a balance, consider transferring the balance to a credit card with a lower interest rate and no or low annual fees. Mid Oregon offers a credit card with low rates, no cash advance or balance transfer fees.
3. Go out to eat
If you spend on average $6 for breakfast daily and $12 on lunch or dinner, you will fork out $90 for 5 days of food. Instead, buy $90 worth of groceries and you’ll eat for a month.
4. Go to bars for fun
Drinking can be a very expensive habit. On average, college students spend $900 a year on alcohol. The cost goes up if you get hit with a ticket for drinking underage or driving while intoxicated. Instead of going to bars, have fun inexpensively by going to student union events, bowling, or cooking dinner with friends. – COCC Events – OSU Cascades
5. Own a vehicle
If you live on or near campus, having a car is a needless expense. By avoiding monthly car and insurance payments, parking fees, as well as gas and maintenance expenses, you’ll save over $20,000 during your 4 years at college. Consider using public transportation, getting a bicycle, or walking. And if a car is a necessity, consider a safe, late-model, used car financed with a Mid Oregon Credit Union car loan.
6. Buy a daily latte
A latte at $4 a day adds an extra $120 to your monthly expenses. Instead, buy a coffeemaker, a pound of coffee, and a travel mug and you’ll be able to brew a month’s worth of coffee for a fraction of that cost.
7. Live alone
Save on housing and utility costs by sharing an apartment with a couple of friends. With rental prices in Central Oregon, living alone is very expensive. If you are in Bend or Central Oregon, check out the COCC Off-Campus Housing page.