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October 27, 1999

Vice President Gore visits St. Mary's Bank CU

Vice President Al Gore addressed a gathering of credit union officials Monday in Manchester, N.H. The officials were attending the kick-off for the national campaign to restore the original site of St. Mary's Bank CU which, founded in 1909, is the first U.S. credit union.

CUNA Executive Vice President Pete Crear introduced the vice president. Ron Rioux, president/CEO of St. Mary's Bank CU, served as master of ceremonies. Also addressing the audience was NCUA Chairman Norm D'Amours.

The event begins the national campaign to raise $2 million to restore the original credit union building and to create a museum to commemorate the origin of the nation's credit unions. The SMB Charitable Foundation has been established to oversee restoration of the building and to conduct the fundraising campaign.

Any credit union organization wishing to contribute to the campaign may contact Peggy Inglee, donor relations for SMB Charitable Foundation at St. Mary's Bank CU, at 603-629-1553.

(Report filed by Donna Bevilacqua of the New Hampshire League)

Pictured with Vice President Al Gore are SMB Charitable Foundation Board members and others. Front row, from left: Armand Lemire, who donated the original credit union building to the foundation; Ron Rioux, St. Mary's Bank CU; Dolly Champey, Seacoast CU, Hampton, N.H.; Ronald Hance, Heritage Family CU, Rutland, Vt.; and Eugene Lemieux, SMB Charitable Foundation chairman. Back row, from left: Claude Pelletier, chairman of St. Mary's Bank CU; Pete Crear, executive vice president/COO of CUNA; Daniel F. Egan Jr., president, New Hampshire CU League; Adele Baker (hidden), a director for St. Mary's Bank CU; and Richard Mahoney, Telephone CU of N.H. in Manchester.