MEMBER PROFILE

Josh and Kriss Eckenrode

Recently, my wife Kriss and I decided that it was time to purchase our first home. We started working with our realtor to find the right house, but were not sure how to handle the financing. She suggested that we talk to the mortgage team at Alternatives. I am so glad that she did since the rates were competitive, and the service was second to none. We worked very closely with Carol Chernikoff throughout the process; she was able to guide us in a way that was very personal and comforting. Buying a house, especially the first house, is a rather overwhelming proposition, but everyone was so kind and helpful that the process felt very smooth. We were also pleased to find out that Alternatives does not sell their mortgages, and that our money would stay in the local economy. As someone who grew up in Ithaca, this was very important to me. Kriss and I were so impressed with the service at Alternatives, that we also refinanced our car, opened a credit card, and moved all of our accounts to the credit union. The personal, local service we receive continues to delight us every time we interact with a member of the Alternatives team. We have never seen so many smiling faces in a financial institution!

AMERICORPS VISTA POSITIONS

Alternatives Federal Credit Union is recruiting applicants for three one-year AmeriCorps VISTA positions to begin this summer or fall.

Alternatives is a unique community development financial institution with a mission to build wealth and create economic opportunity for underserved people and communities. As a socially responsible community organization, Alternatives works to have a positive impact on the local community through its programs and policies. Many services are devised especially for low income members and small businesses.

There will be three AmeriCorps VISTA positions for 2009-2010  one with our community tax program, one focusing on community outreach, and the other working with our youth credit union program.  The assignment descriptions for these positions will be posted soon.

AmeriCorps VISTA members work throughout the nation with community organizations, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. VISTA members work full-time and receive a modest living stipend during their service, as well as a $4,725 education award or $1,200 cash award on completion of their assignment.

For general information about AmeriCorps VISTA and becoming a member, visit the AmeriCorps website:
http://www.americorps.org/about/programs/vista.asp.

Application:
For more information about the VISTA positions, contact Brian Zapf (tax program position), Karl Graham (community outreach position), or Joe Cummins (youth credit union position).

Alternatives is an Equal Opportunity Employer.