Hi everyone
I am a
Board member of the PCU from Southern California. I am posting the Credit
Union Pamphlet Question and Answer Pamphlet to help explain the workings
of the Credit Union for the Permaculture Community. We are second year of
Operations and have done the work to set up Loan Policies that reward
ecological loans that reflect our Permaculture Ethics. I will explain
more of the workings in Future Postings. As 3/31/02 we have 286 members,
approximately, $1,400,000.00 shares/certificates and approximately.
$1,449,000.00 in total assets. We need more members to help the
Permaculture Credit Union grow to a size where it can offer more services
to members outside New Mexico. We also need donations to help pay for the
office and staff till income from loans cover theses costs.
I am
sending out a call for all Permaculture Organizers and Teachers in the US
, Canada Teachers to contact me so I can send them a packet of materials
to include in their Permaculture Design Courses and Workshops to hand out
and introduce the Permaculture Credit Unoin. The idea is to encourage all
the new and long time folks of the Permaculture Movement to get involved
with the Credit Union and support the healthy grow of yes money that
supports our community.
Please
forward this email to all Permaculture Groups and other interested
groups
thanks
wes roe
Permaculture Credit Union Mission Statement
We pool the financial resources of the people who believe in the
ethics of Permaculture and strive to redirect those resources to
Earth-friendly and socially responsible loans and investments.
The credit union promotes thrift among its members and provides credit at
reasonable rates. It creates the opportunity for members to control
the use of their money and contribute to the revitalization of their
community and the planet.
Q. What is a Credit Union?
A. After successive years of bad weather during the
mid-19th century, European farmers needed
a way to save their farms from foreclosure by urban banks. To do
this they formed groups to pool their savings and lend to each
other. The first credit union in the US was organized in 1909.
However, it took a severe drought, the Great Depression, and the courage
of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to stand up to the banks and create
the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934.
Credit Unions continue to be a cooperative of individuals
with a common bond who save their money and make loans. Credit
Unions are member-owned, not-for-profit institutions. Banks are
corporations operated for profit. Credit Unions are regulated by
the chartering state and the Federal government and, as with banks, all
deposits are Federally insured for up to $100,000.
Q. How is the Permaculture Credit Union (PCU) different from
other Credit Unions?
A. The PCU is a credit union dedicated to the ethics of
permaculture:
· Care
of the Earth
· Care
of People
· Reinvestment
of surplus to benefit the Earth and its inhabitants
Q. Why should I invest my money in the PCU?
A. Permaculture Credit Union is composed of members who have
made the decision to invest their money in a financial institution that
follows a code of ethics rather than the common investment practice of
only considering the bottom line. We place our funds in the local
community. We choose not to invest in destructive technologies,
exploitative industries, or insensitive social practices.
Q. How does the loan policy of the PCU reflect Permaculture
Ethics?
A. We are currently offering loan discounts for fuel-efficient
automobiles. We support energy conservation through second mortgage
loans that encourage solar heating, photovoltaic energy systems, building
weatherization, rainwater collection, conservation, organic farming and
gardening, and much more.
Q. Can anyone become a member of the PCU?
A. Yes as long as you belong to our “field of membership” which includes
those persons who subscribe to the ethics of permaculture. If you have
completed a recognized permaculture design course or are a member of an
affiliated Permaculture Institute, you are pre-qualified.
Q. How do I become a member?
A. You can join by paying a membership fee of $5.00 and opening
a share account with a minimum deposit of $50.00. Accounts earn interest
when the amount on deposit is over $300.
Q. Does the PCU pay higher interest rates on accounts than
banks?
A. Currently we base our rates on the national averages for
banks, which means we match bank rates. Once we are fully
established we expect to have much more favorable rates than banks.
Please call us for our current rates.
Q. Where does the money to operate the PCU come from?
A. We operate as a not-for-profit corporation. All money for the
operation for the Permaculture Credit Union comes from interest on
loans, investment, and our start-up donations. We charge fees for
some services. We also pay out interest on share savings and
Certificates of Deposit. The difference between what we charge and
what we pay out as interest on deposits, along with donations from
individuals and grants from foundations, is what we use to operate.
Surplus is distributed to members in the form of dividends or adjusted
rates.
Q. What services are available from the PCU?
A. The Permaculture Credit Union is currently offering
share (savings) accounts, certificates of deposit, and several types of
loans. As our membership and loan programs grow, we will add those
services that our membership requests as funding allows.
Q. Who runs the Permaculture Credit Union?
A. The Permaculture Credit Union is run by a volunteer board
of directors who are elected by the membership. We have a paid CEO/
General Manager and part-time office manager; member volunteers do the
remaining work.
Q. How can I get more information on the Permaculture Credit
Union?
A. Please call us at 505 954 3479 or FAX 505 424
1624. Visit us online at
www.pcuonline.org,
email
perma@pcuonline.org,
or write to us.
Permaculture Credit Union
4250 Cerrillos Road
PO Box 29300
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87592-9300