CU-difference movie opens at film festival

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. (11/11/04)--A short film about Washington's newest credit union made its debut at the Olympia Film Festival this week.

"The Story of TULIP" documents the chartering of the Thurston Low Income People Cooperative CU, Olympia. Television producer Anita Beninger and Jamie Chase, director of public relations for the Washington Credit Union League, teamed up to make the film about the credit union difference.

Producer Anita Beninger, left, and Jamie Chase, director of public relations for the Washington Credit Union League, attend the Olympia Film Festival premiere of "The Story of TULIP," which documents the chartering of the Thurston Low Income People Cooperative CU. (Photos provided by Washington Credit Union League)

The film follows the volunteers who gained support from 16 credit unions nationwide to start the credit union. The $2 million in contributions, the cooperation of the credit unions and the individual stories of "people before profit" demonstrate the credit union difference.

"We produced a short film that uses one credit union as an example to make the difference of all credit unions more tangible," Chase said. "We tend to lose the public with lengthy definitions instead of examples.

"The banks have their duck. What is our duck? This example brings the credit union difference to life. It is memorable and easy to understand."

The film includes the credit union's first loan to a homeless single mother and testimonials from an ex-banker of 25 years.

"The Story of TULIP" also features Linda Jekel, director of the division of credit unions, Washington Department of Financial Institutions; Kevin Foster-Keddie, president/CEO, Washington State Employees CU; John Annaloro, president/CEO, Washington Credit Union League; and credit union founders, board members, employees and members.

At the premiere of "The Story of TULIP" at the Olympia Film Festival are, from left, Doty Catlin, loan officer and member service representative; board member Robert Marino; and Anita Beninger, film producer and principle of Anita Media.

"With our legislators returning to session in January, it's a great time to hear the credit union difference being talked about in our state Capitol," said Stacy Augustine, league senior vice president of policy and public advocacy.

The film may have a future as a special on PBS television or as a video press release.