Mountain Credit Union Provides Financial Literacy Resources to Local Students and Community

PRESS RELEASE
MOUNTAIN CREDIT UNION

May 2024 -- Mountain Credit Union is bringing financial literacy education to over 3,140 students and residents in several North Carolina counties. Students at 20 schools and the surrounding community have free access to Banzai, an award-winning online program and content library that allows users to practice real-world finance from the safety of their home or classroom using any internet-enabled device. At a time when a solid foundation of practical financial knowledge is critical, these resources will make a huge impact on users.

Through the Banzai online courses, students try out managing a budget, saving for a goal, and dealing with unexpected financial pitfalls. Teachers are able to easily monitor and grade student progress remotely. Other resources, which include articles, calculators, and personalizable Coach sessions, explain everything from the basics of filing your taxes to how health insurance works. These resources are available at mountaincu.teachbanzai.com/wellness.

“Thanks to Mountain Credit Union, area students will now have access to a wide array of courses and resources designed to help prepare them for our increasingly complex world,” says Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai. “We wouldn't be able to provide these tools without their support.”

Mountain Credit Union is working with Banzai to build financial literacy in the community by investing time, money, industry experience, and a variety of credit union resources. Now, they’re taking their commitment to education a step further. Through their help, students have access to Banzai learning tools, virtual or in-classroom presentations from a Mountain Credit Union expert, and even class visits to a branch to see it all in person.

Banzai resources are used by over 120,000 teachers across the U.S. These educational tools align with North Carolina’s state curriculum requirements, making the program a fun way for students to gain vital skills and an ideal way for anyone in the community to increase their financial literacy. After finishing the Banzai courses, users will know how to track where their money is and what it’s for, recognize financial trade-offs, and plan for a financially sound future.

Teachers interested in using Banzai can visit mountaincu.teachbanzai.com or call 888-8-BANZAI.

For more information about Banzai visit banzai.org For more information about Mountain Credit Union visit mountaincu.org

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DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Franklin Office Supply. Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website.

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Macon County Board of Education Agenda for 06-30-2016 Meeting

The Macon County Board of Education will be meeting tonight (June 30, 2016) at 6:00 pm in the central Offices at 1202 Old Murphy Road.

Macon Media will be there to record the meeting, but there will be no live streaming because I have exhausted my data plan for the month. There will be no nearly live play by play either. A video of the meeting will be uploaded and embedded in this article as soon as possible (probably Friday or Saturday).

Meanwhile, a "Mini-Agenda" of the meeting has been released by the school board and, in the interest of transparency, it is posted below.

MiniAgenda 06-30-2016 School Board

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Regular September 2015 Meeting Macon County Commissioners Part 1 - Public Education Supporters Rally

Last night's meeting of the county commissioners began at 6 pm and commissioners went into closed session to discuss acquiring property at around 10 pm, so the video of the meeting will be broken up into segments to make for easier viewing.

The agenda packet that the county shares with members of the press (and others by request under sunshine laws) is posted at the end of this article. Currently, Macon Media is the only member of the local press that shares this public document with the citizens of Macon County.

MEDIA ROLL CALL (media organizations with reporters at the meeting)

Macon Media (me)
Macon County News and Shopping Guide
WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM
The Franklin Press The Smoky Mountain News
WLOS-TV  [See their coverage]

I will update this section over the next week as the other news outlets post their coverage about this segment of the meeting.

The first segment is the beginning of the meeting and a mini-rally in support of public education and a presentation by John DeVille. He is a local teacher at Franklin High School and member of the North Carolina Association of Educators. The presentation was billed as an update on state budget/education issues. Video, supporting documents and photos are below.






You can see the slideshow John DeVille presented either at his website or via the embed below.

Preserving Our Public Education Heritage

Here is a slideshow of photos taken at the pre-rally meeting at Ratheskeller's and then at the county commissioner meeting:

Press Packet for Sept 2015 Macon Commissioners by Thunder Pig

CROWD FUNDING

If you're of a mind, and can afford it, a dollar a month (or more) from enough people will make a huge difference in improving the quality of these reports and will allow remote weather stations and weather cams to be deployed throughout the county that you will be able to access online.

So far, 13 people have pledged $75 a month, and 9 of them have followed through with $55 for the month of August. This is a tremendous help.

Thank you to the two people who sent checks during August.

Please visit www.patreon.com/MaconMedia for more information on how to contribute.

Businesses can underwrite this coverage by day sponsorships, surplus equipment donations, etc. Inquire at editor@maconmedia.com for more information.

If I can do this on less than $100 a month, imagine what I can do if a thousand (or more) of you were willing to send a dollar a month. 

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Macon County Board of Education Regular April 2015 Meeting

The Macon County Board of Education met on Monday, April 27, 2015 in Franklin for their regular April 2015 meeting.

The full video is posted below and excerpts will be posted separately with supporting documentation in the next few days.

MEDIA ROLL CALL

Macon Media (me)

Macon County News and Shopping Guide

WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM

The Franklin Press

Here is the press packet that the Board of Education shares with all media outlets.

April 2015 Macon Co Board of Education by Thunder Pig

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Board of Education Swears In Fred Goldsmith and Tommy Cabe Re-elects Leadership Recognizes Service of Gary Shields

The Macon County Board of Education met this morning at 9 am.

The first order of business was to swear in Tommy Cabe and Fred Goldsmith to the board. The board then proceeded to re-elect Jim Breedlove as Chairman and Tommy Cabe as Vice Chairman.

The board then presented former board member Gary Shields with a plaque recognizing his service on the school board. Gary Shields did not run for re-election to the board of education and mounted a successful election campaign to join the Macon County Commissioners. He will be sworn into that office at 5:45 pm tonight at the Macon County Courthouse.



Here are a few photos from this morning's meeting:
(You may click the photos to embiggen)

Chairman Jim Breedlove directs meeting via phone

Board member Tommy Cabe sworn in for fourth term

Fred Goldsmith sworn for first term

Departing member Gary Shields recognized for service

Board member Melissa Evans participates in meeting via phone

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