Brian O'Driscoll announced as new face of Credit Unions
IRISH LEAGUE OF CREDIT UNIONS ANNOUNCES
ASSOCIATION WITH BRIAN O'DRISCOLL AS
THE NEW FACE OF CREDIT UNIONS
& LAUNCH THE CU POSTER COMPETITION 2009/2010
The Irish League of Credit Unions are delighted to announce a new association with Irish international rugby player Brian O'Driscoll.
Over the coming year Brian will be working with the ILCU to promote both Credit Unions and Credit Union initiatives across Ireland. This association will seek to highlight the very significant contribution that credit unions make in local communities at every level. In particular, the campaign will highlight the ongoing youth initiatives which are run by credit unions nationwide, including school credit unions, scholarships and bursaries. In addition Brian will be attending a number of credit union events around the country and will feature as part of the next phase of ‘CU at Your Place' advertising campaign.
Commenting today on the announcement Brian O Driscoll said "I am delighted to have become involved with the credit union movement at this time. I believe it is an important time for our communities and I have always greatly admired the valuable role that credit unions have played in fostering a sense of belonging and team work".
Speaking the the launch of a photocall to announce the association and to launch the national poster competition Mark Bailey President of the Irish League of Credit Unions said "We are very pleased that Brian has joined our movement. Brian epitomises dedication and commitment and we hope that through this association we will bring our message to a wider audience and foster a greater understanding of the credit union movement ethos. In particular we will encourage children to become more aware of and more involved with their own communities.
NOTE:
The Irish League of Credit Unions is the representative body for 508 Credit Unions on the island of Ireland. It is Ireland's successful, not-for-profit, financial co-operative run by - and for - it's almost 3 million members. It accounts for €13.4bn of savings; €15.1bn in assets and (at €750m) is Ireland's leading provider of social finance.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Over 300 Credit Unions will take part in this year's poster competition. The competition will be run over three stages, Credit Union Level, Chapter (Regional) Level and the National Final. This year's theme is "My Credit Union, My Choice". The competition will begin in September with approximately 30,000 entrants at Credit Union Level. The winners at this level will be adjudicated in November, and forwarded on to the Chapter (Regional) Level. The final will take place in December when the final entries will be judged by a panel of professional artists. The overall winners and runners up will be awarded with prizes and certificates in the Gresham Hotel on the 7th February 2010. This is the 26th year of the competition.
HOW THE CREDIT UNION POSTER COMPETITION WORKS
Young people can draw or paint posters on the theme "My Credit Union, My Choice" using pencil, charcoal, pen or ink, felt-tip markers, crayon, pastel, water colours, gouache, acrylics, oils, poster colour or collage.
There are two categories - General and Special - with the following age groups in each:
7 years and under, 8-10 years, 11-13 years, 14-17 years, 18 years and over.
The Special Category encourages participants with a physical or intellectual disability to submit entries in free expression without the restriction of the competition's official theme (if they wish to do so).
Entry Forms are available from participating credit unions.
All entries must be submitted to your local Credit Union together with a fully completed Entry Form. Latest date for entries is Friday 6th November 2009 - but please check with your local Credit Union for possible earlier closing dates.
Local winners in each category go forward to Regional Finals run by the regional Credit Union Chapter and those winners go on to the National Final in Dublin.
Prizes will be awarded at each stage and a National Awards Ceremony will be held in Dublin in February 2010.
Cash Awards will be made to National winners...and their winning posters will be given national exposure as the central theme of the ILCU 2011 calendar circulated to every credit union in Ireland.
