Share newsletter helps you stay current with the latest news and information from your credit union community. Here’s what you’ll find in this edition:
- Building Communities through Food: House of Friendship
- Remembering, reconnecting, and re-imagining peacebuilding in Waterloo
- What kind of investor are you?
- Online Security Matters: Set a strong password
- Participating In Your Credit Union: Council of Members seeking volunteers
Building Communities through Food: House of Friendship
On our journey to connect values and faith with finances, we’re thankful that the Kindred Charitable Fund helps us to build relationships with our community partners, inspiring peaceful, just, and prosperous communities.
House of Friendship’s name evokes feelings of coziness, safety, and the care of friends and community, which is fitting given its mission to walk with those who need food, housing, community resources, or addiction treatment. In fact, the 80-year-old charity has operated welcoming and safe community centres in some of Kitchener and Waterloo’s most vulnerable communities for decades.
Building communities around food often happens naturally, with volunteers and neighbours alike finding new ways to connect. So, when House of Friendship created links between their food and neighbourhoods programs, it felt like a natural extension.
When the Kindred Charitable Fund approved a $4,500 grant for House of Friendship’s Community Food Program in 2018, they were very grateful for the funding. “A lot of grants don’t allow you to purchase ‘things’,” explains Clare Wagner who works in Community Service Support at House of Friendship. “Sometimes we need a large grant to operate a complete program, and sometimes it’s more simple. This funding allowed us to purchase equipment for our community centre kitchens, so we could extend our impact.”
With a focus on the community-building power of food, House of Friendship is facilitating more opportunities for neighbours to connect at their community centres and helping existing programs offer food when possible. The centres are also food bank distribution sites where local residents can pick up much-needed groceries right in their own neighbourhood. “In addition to helping us improve food quality, new refrigerators, for example, increase our capacity to accept donations, as well as store, cook, and process fresh, healthy foods for our community,” adds Clare.
From Kindred’s perspective, relying on an organization’s expertise to determine their own needs just makes sense. “Once an application passes through our committee’s review,” says Ben Janzen, Director of Values Integration at Kindred, “we trust that they will use the funding as needed to further their organization’s mission.” We support our partners, we learn from them, and through them we’re able to advance our commitment to inspire peaceful, just, and prosperous communities.
Visit www.houseoffriendship.org to learn more about the work of the House of Friendship.
Hiking the Trails
Blessed with perfect weather, the beautiful trails of Laurel Creek Conservation Area in Waterloo were buzzing with 250 hikers on September 22.
With four Kindred teams registered, ‘Hike for HoSpice’ from the Kitchener branch topped the list as our winning team thanks to their successful chili cook-off fundraising lunch at 50 Kent. Overall, this year the Kindred Credit Union Hike for Hospice raised $46,000 (net) to support existing programs, as well as the Gies Family Centre, a new hospice care centre in Waterloo slated to open in the fall of 2020.
We’re grateful we had this opportunity to enjoy nature, share time with friends and family, and support the Hike for Hospice as Presenting Sponsor for the third year running.
Learn more about Hospice Waterloo Region at www.hospicewaterloo.ca.
Remembering, reconnecting, and re-imagining peacebuilding in Waterloo
The Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement (the Centre) celebrated its fifth anniversary on September 21, welcoming old and new friends alike on the International Day of Peace.
Visitors were able to tour the Centre in the Conrad Grebel University College building, where offices and spaces buzzed with conversations and connections. Participants and partners shared details about their work and invited the community to walk alongside the peacebuilding that takes place in this special corner of the University of Waterloo campus.
“It was such an inspiring and joyful event,” remarked Paul Heidebrecht, the Centre’s Director. “To be surrounded by our community was a good reminder of the support that is behind the peacebuilding work we do here.”
Michelle Jackett, the Centre’s inaugural Coordinator, reflected on Kindred Credit Union’s role as an inspiration partner and shared reflections from the past five years. She marveled at what the Centre has been able to accomplish alongside partners in the social innovation ecosystem, noting that, “the vivaciousness, boldness, and fearlessness of social innovators has been absorbed and integrated into the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement’s DNA.”
Jessie Reesor Rempel of Pastors in Exile (PiE) shared her experiences as a past Epp Peace Incubator participant and a current member of the Mentorship Circle.
Finally, Kindred’s Director, Values Integration, Ben Janzen, recalled the decision to provide a transformative gift to launch the Centre and reflected on key moments in our relationship as an inspiration partner. Ben appealed for guests to work together for peacebuilding, encouraging attendees to “be active in the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement, so that we can build the kind of world that we need.”
Learn more about the Centre’s work at uwaterloo.ca .
Article adapted from the Centre’s September 2019 newsletter.
Photos courtesy of the Centre.
What kind of investor are you?
Whether you’re investing for retirement or for other financial goals, it’s important to know what kind of investor you are. Answering the three questions below will help you to determine this.
What is my risk tolerance?
As an investor, you need to accept that some level of risk is inherent in all investments, and there will be ups and downs along the way. Your tolerance for risk—whether aggressive, conservative, or somewhere in between—determines how much growth potential you pursue with your investment portfolio. The fundamental question is: how much fluctuation in the value of your investments are you willing to accept, in exchange for the prospect of higher long-term returns?
What is my timeline?
It’s important to think about your timeline when considering your investment options. That’s because the potential impact of market volatility is greater in the short-term than it is over the long-term, and you need to know when you might want to access your funds.
For example, if you plan to borrow money from your RRSP to buy a home within the next year, then you have a short-term time horizon, and safety of principal is paramount.
If you’re building your RRSP for retirement in 20 years, then you have a long-term time horizon. You can afford to be less concerned about short-term market volatility and choose a growth-oriented portfolio.
Even if you’re approaching retirement, your time horizon could still be quite long. Speak to a member of our Investment Team to learn more about your investing timeline.
How involved do I want to be in my investment decisions?
If you enjoy following the markets, researching companies, and learning how to evaluate the quality of individual securities, and you’re able to spend the time required to monitor your holdings, then you may prefer to use a self-directed investment platform, such as Qtrade Investor, to build your own retirement savings portfolio.
Did You Know…
If you start saving just $25 weekly when you’re 18, you could have over $130,000 by the time you’re 60! We can help you reach your goals. Call or visit your local branch to speak with a member of our Investment Team.
→ GIC Rate Special coming January 1!
If you prefer to spend less time evaluating and tracking investments, and you want a simple online investing service that gives you more support, an automated investment platform such as VirtualWealth® could be the solution for you.
Kindred, in partnership with Qtrade, is pleased to offer full-service financial planning services to all our members, if you prefer personalized, in-person service. Our breadth of products and services offers you the convenience of building your plan all in one place and our professional team provides the advice you need to have confidence for your future. Speak with a member of our Investment Team to decide which approach is best for you.
Are mutual funds right for you?
There are a few key reasons why people invest in mutual funds. First, mutual funds offer an easy way to match your risk tolerance. You also benefit from built-in diversification: when you buy a mutual fund, your money is combined with money from other investors, so you’re buying part of a pool of investments. Then, there’s the benefit of professionals managing the contents of your investment. Finally, there’s a lot of choice in the world of mutual funds, including socially responsible investments that help you connect your values and faith with your finances.
Mutual funds are offered through Qtrade Asset Management Inc. Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Qtrade Advisor, a division of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. VirtualWealth is a registered trade name of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. Online brokerage services are offered through Qtrade Investor, a division of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc.
Online Security Matters: Set a strong password
There’s a lot you can do to protect your online accounts from fraud. Ensuring you’ve set a strong password (also known as your Personal Access Code or ‘PAC’) can make a difference. A strong PAC includes a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols. If you haven’t changed your PAC recently, log in now and click on ‘Profile and Preferences’ to do so! App users should log in and click on the ‘Settings’ icon.
The Spirit of Giving
We’re excited to launch #12days4good on December 9. This social media campaign will run until December 20 and will feature a variety of organizations that have signed on to promote the spirit of giving this Christmas season.
One local DoGooder partner will take the lead each day of the campaign, spreading the giving spirit via social media. DoGooders include: Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement; Region of Waterloo; The Accelerator Centre; Sustainability in Business Laurier; MEDA; House of Friendship; Canadian Foodgrains Bank; Tamarack Institute; MennoHomes; Waterloo Global Science Initiative; The Bridge; and, of course, Kindred Credit Union.
Check out the #12days4good daily activity on 12days4good.ca and on our DoGooders’ social networks starting December 9. And, don’t forget to join the conversation on Kindred’s social channels.
Facebook: @KindredCU Twitter: @KindredCU
Moving back home in Leamington
We’re looking forward to welcoming Leamington members to a new and improved branch where they can continue to experience Banking with Purpose! Same location, better experience!
We anticipate moving back home to 243 Erie Street South before the end of December. Watch kindredcu.com for our grand re-opening event in the spring. In the meantime, we continue to welcome members at our temporary location, just down the road at 3 Russell Street.
Climate Action: LEDs for the win!
To do our part to address climate action, we’re working on reducing Kindred’s electricity use by converting to LED lighting. Our head office and six branches are now lit by energy-efficient LED bulbs. LED conversions are planned for Mount Forest and Aylmer in 2020.
Does it make a difference? It sure does! We’re predicting a 13% reduction in electricity use at the branches, and a 22% reduction at head office this year.
2020 Calendar Contest Winners!
Our 2020 calendar theme, Inspiring Communities, profiles Kindred members volunteering, supporting, or working in their communities to make a positive impact on food security, the environment or creation care, and affordable housing.
Thanks to all who submitted an entry and congratulations to our winners!
Affordable Housing:
Lisa Klassen
Karen Kurt
Ella Strathdee
Cathy Grondin
Environment:
Maria Antonia
Emelyne Bearinger
Alana Cober
Ken Ogasawara
Chris Steingart
Food Security:
Julia Marques
Dave Klassen
Shaylyn McMahon
Participating In Your Credit Union: Council of Members seeking volunteers
Kindred’s Council of Members is a committee of member volunteers with representation from all eight Kindred branches, which meets once or twice each year.
The Council’s primary responsibility is seeking volunteers for governance roles on the Board of Directors. This approach to discerning qualified candidates has resulted in diverse and competent boards for Kindred that have served the membership well and been excellent guardians of our values.
We currently have Council vacancies in four of our branch locations:
Leamington, Mount Forest, New Hamburg, and Waterloo. If you’re interested in serving on the Council of Members, please speak with your Branch Manager or one of your local branch Council Representatives.
Mark your Calendars
39th Annual Ontario Mennonite Relief Heifer Sale: February 21, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at David Carson Farms & Auction Services Ltd.
RRSP Deadline: The 2019 RRSP contribution deadline is March 2, 2020. Watch for our Investment Rate Special available January 1!
56th Annual General Meeting: Join us on April 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. More details will follow at your local branch, online at www.kindredcu.com, and through Kindred social media.
Securities and securities related financial planning services are offered through Qtrade Advisor, a division of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc., Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Mutual funds and securities related financial planning services are offered through Qtrade Asset Management Inc., Member MFDA.
Do you have a suggestion for something you would like to see in Share? Would you like to Share your Kindred story? Email us at info@kindredcu.com or speak with any member of the Kindred team – we’d love to hear from you!
Share newsletter is mailed to all member households with their account statements in March, June, September, and December. If you don’t receive paper statements yet would like to receive Share by mail, email us at info@kindredcu.com or call toll-free 1.888.672.6728.
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