Zippity Do Dog is a one-of-a-kind website developed by Nelson & District Credit Union, the first of its kind in Canada and possibly the world. As you can already see we like to blow our own horn.

We have been listening to young people in our community and have determined that you want relevant and current information on financial literacy in order to assist you in managing your money more effectively. By creating a unique on-line resource that is not 'another boring bank website' we expect to be the website of choice by student and youth.

When you visit ZDDog tell us what works for you and please share any ideas that would help us improve the site.

$1500 in Cash Awarded to Local Youth by Nelson & District Credit Union in Celebration of Co-op Week and Credit Union Day.

The Power of Cooperation - Innovation Community Commitment Success

The youth of today are finding a natural home in the values and principles of co-operatives and credit unions - the same values and principles espoused by our forefathers in building the co-operative movement. Support for youth in the co-operative movement can be found across the country.

Nelson & District Credit Union embraces these values and in celebration of Co-op week, October 17 – 23, and Credit Union Day on October 20 we gave away $1500 to Youth in our communities.

The announcement on Thursday October 20, 2005 of the second annual $1500 Youth Community Champions Challenge will see young people in the West Kootenays benefiting from our dedicated involvement to youth culture.

Congratulations to our 2005 Youth Community Champions Challenge winners.

• Michael Ball of South Slocan. A prize winner of $500 for the Nelson Minor Football Association. A true youth community champion in Nelson.
• Kelsie and Camille Anderson of Crawford Bay. Prize winners of $500 for the Springtastics Gymnastics Club. Two youth community champions from the East Shore.
• Neil Hilts of Rossland. A prize winner of $500 for the Red Mountain Racers. A true youth community champion in Rossland.

Innovation

The history of the co-operative movement has shown that often, innovation and development emerges in times of adversity and change. Credit unions reinvented the financial services industry from the perspective of the people who use their services.

Community

From coast to coast-to-coast, community spirit is alive and well in co-operatives and credit unions. Unlike investor-owned businesses that aim to maximize profit for their shareholders, co-ops and credit unions aim to meet the common needs of their members by providing a distinct values-based and community-owned and controlled alternative.

Commitment

But this is only part of the story. Co-operatives and credit unions are committed to their members and the communities they serve

Success

Co-ops and credit unions have found a way to successfully compete in the marketplace without abandoning the values and principles that set them apart from other businesses.

If you would like more info on Co-ops and Credit Unions contact Tom the Youth Guy.

Another Big Time Award…

Nelson & District Credit Union Wins the 2004 Provincial Innovation Award

Now in its third year, the Credit Union Innovation Award program is designed to showcase new concepts and solutions advanced by British Columbia’s credit unions.

On the morning of Thursday November 17, 2004, after an intensive evaluation of all entries, the panel of three illustrious judges selected Nelson & District Credit Unions Youth Initiative as the 2004 INNOVATION WINNER.

Here is what the judges had to say…

“Youth are informed and savvy and are becoming increasingly influential in the decision making process at home.

In catering to such a unique market as ‘youth’, Nelson & District Credit Union recognized the importance of initiating relationships with the various organizations, institutions and initiatives that young people were taking part in and utilizing in their communities.

The reason for this is that NDCU identified the importance of recognizing youth and understanding what their specific needs to nurture sustainable relationships. Youth are the future of our communities and the credit union movement.”

The judges were looking for success breaking into new markets, developing or using creative business methods, improving member service in a creative way and establishing creative community connections.

Nelson & District Credit Union Awarded 2004 National Credit Union Innovation Honour for Youth Initiative &

AIME – Certificate of Excellence from the Marketing Association of Credit Unions for ZDOG

The National Credit Union Innovation Award highlights the role of an individual credit union in creating breakthrough solutions that contribute to the success of credit unions locally, provincially and nationally.

Nelson & District Credit Union was recognized for our Youth Initiative that offers a member service position for youth, youth specific products, this website, a financial literacy program for local schools and youth centres, increased support for youth endeavors and an enhanced scholarship program for local secondary and post-secondary schools.

MACU's most celebrated event - The Achievement in Marketing Excellence (AIME) awards competition attracts entries from all parts of the country. The AIME's recognize the best and brightest achievements in credit union marketing.

Our youth specific web site, www.zippitydodog.com, was the recipient of a 2004 Certificate of Excellence.

Not bad for two dogs and an owl!

Z-Dog's official spokes owl.

Cashooo fell in love with the West Kootenays in May 2004 while flying around with a group of migratory owls. She found herself spending a good portion of her day hangin' on the telephone pole in the alley behind Nelson & District Credit Union.

She found herself intrigued by the daily sight of two dogs exiting the credit union backdoor with 'Tom the Youth Guy'; of course these two dogs were Z-Dog and Bingo. One day she got the courage to ask Bingo, who also spends a good portion of his day in this alley also, "Why do you spend so much time at Nelson & District Credit Union?"

His reply was that he was working on a one-of-a-kind web site and attending K-9 Financial Information Seminars in order to help him 'save his bones'. Bingo and Cashooo became good friends and she was asked if she would like to help with the site Bingo and his cousin Z-Dog were working on.

She said 'yes' and the rest is history, Cashooo is now an important part of the zippitydodog team, working hard to keep this site the Kootenays best site for 'Financial Information for Youth'.