News & Views from the best way to bank.
We celebrated two big events on Wednesday: both our Chelsea Branch’s grand opening, and the first Chelsea Supermarket Sweep at Country Market.
Above, our president/CEO Dave Puckett (far left) and Sharon Hayes, Chelsea’s branch manager, clip the ribbon thanks to the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce.
Here are a few more photos from the day.
Just wanted to give everyone a peek at our custom-made float for Sunday’s Rose Parade.
Our idea was to make the entire thing out of giant lego blocks, as a way to reinforce our belief in “building the community.” From what the Parade Company has shown us, it’s going to be a sweet design. According to them:
The Parade Company used over 100 Lego-like blocks to create the building in the float. These blocks are so large that it would take over 140,000 actual-size bricks to make the same building. Additionally, if the flag was actual size, it would measure over 20 feet wide and 32 feet long.
The whole Rose Festival weekend kicks off tonight with the Dance Party in the Parking Lot over at Art 364. Then it’s the Rose Festival Strongman competition on Saturday at Ella Sharp Park. On Sunday, the parade starts at 1 p.m. and the Party in the Park takes place right after the parade gets done.
Head to the Rose Festival’s web site for a full schedule and all the details. Also, Brad Flory wrote a funny piece in the CitPat giving some of the Rose Parade’s background.
Stop by our welcome tent at Ella Sharp on Sunday, grab a chicken barbeque dinner, and enjoy all the fun happening this weekend. We’re awfully proud to be the presenting sponsor for the Rose Parade and Party in the Park. It’s an event that screams “Jackson,” and we’re glad to be a part of it.
Feeling the pinch at the pump? Who isn’t? I just noticed prices went down today to about $4.00 a gallon from $4.15 or so.
SmartMoney lists nine ways to help save on fuel costs, including the no-brainers like slowing down and checking your tire pressure.
But here’s something interesting: some of the old-school gas pumps can’t charge more than $3.99/gallon because of the way they’re designed. Some stations have to charge so much for a half gallon. Weird. Check out the story at the New York Times. The government gives stores the go-ahead to charge by half gallons, “provided they can prove that they have ordered new pump computers that can handle prices up to $9.99 a gallon.”
Ten bucks a gallon?
Good news: We’re keeping our Felpausch Branch open as long as possible. Feel free to drop in from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday until further notice.
The branch-side entrance will remain open, so feel free to do your banking as usual until we shut the lights off.
Our parents and grandparents knew the wisdom of having a little bit of cash stored away for a “rainy day.” A decent-sized emergency fund, which can range up to three months of expenses to something simple like $1,000, is a good way to be ready for life’s little uncertainties.
The Consumerism Commentary blog lists 50 tips for you to get your “rainy-day fund” started, including typical items like bringing your own lunch to work instead of dining out, keeping your pocket change in a jar, and cancelling any magazine subscriptions you don’t need. Every little bit can help, and a few dollars each week can add up to a workable emergency fund.
Some of the tips, like drinking (free) water instead of soda, can also help your health.
We can help by setting up a member’s choice account for you, and you can name it your “Emergency Account” or “Pocket Change Account,” or something else that lets you know to keep your hands out of it. Because that’s the key to a good emergency fund: not dipping into it for non-emergencies.
Americans paid more than $4 billion in ATM fees last year. And big banks like Bank of America have raised their charges to $3 a pop.
American 1 offers no-surcharge ATMs at each of our more-than-40 locations. If you did get charged for using one of our ATMs, it’s your bank that charged you, not us.
Maybe they’re trying to send you a message…
We’ve had a lot going on lately, but one of the projects we’re most proud of is the Rose Parade and Party in the Park, happening the weekend of May 30 – June 1.
This is the 50th anniversary of the Rose Festival, and we’re making a big deal out of getting people to the parade (with a new route) and to Ella Sharp Park for the party afterward.
The Rose Festival’s web site has all the details, but here’s a sneak peak of what’s going on:
…plus tons more. It’s going to to be a big celebration of everything Jackson, and we’re so honored to be a part of it. Stay tuned for more details!
As if we didn’t learn our lesson before, we’re hosting another Supermarket Sweep – this time at Chelsea’s Country Market.
Get ready for fast-car flying action on Wednesday, May 28 starting at 11 a.m. Our American 1 team is assembled; now we’re getting other teams from businesses in the area to compete.
What’s at stake? Faith In Action’s food bank. All the food collected and donated by Country Market will benefit the assistance organization. Faith In Action is “a community funded, faith based assistance and resource center for those who need a helping hand” that serves the Chelsea and Dexter areas.
We’re doing our part, too, by holding a canned-food drive at our Chelsea Branch. Drop off your non-perishables at our branch or at Country Market starting Monday, May 19.
Otherwise, stop by the Supermarket Sweep when it happens May 28. If it’s anything like the Felpausch version, it’ll be quite the show. Teams of three will hold onto shopping carts as they run through the grocery store, grabbing as many specific food items as they can in five minutes. Then all the food collected is donated to Faith In Action.
The event will also serve as a Grand Opening for our Chelsea Branch.
If your business is interested in forming a team, contact Liz or Marla at 888-213-2848.
Ladies, grab a gal pal and leave the kids at home for a fun, relaxing evening just for the girls! We’re teaming up with the Michigan Theatre to bring a new movie series called “Ladies Night Out.”
Ladies Night Out will feature “chick flicks” in the beautiful, historic Michigan Theatre. Along with the usual movie staples like popcorn, soda, and candy, gourmet treats may also be available. Tickets will be $6.
All shows begin at 7 p.m. and all proceeds of the event go to the Michigan Theatre for upkeep and restoration.
Here’s are the movies scheduled for each date:
Stay tuned for any date or movie changes, and don’t forget about our Movie in the Park series happening after Cruise Nights on Fridays in downtown Jackson this summer.
If you’ve never been to downtown Jackson’s Michigan Theatre, it’s quite the experience. The Michigan Theatre is the last of many downtown theatres, and renovations have been under way for years now.
Keegan C., an American 1 member since 2003, is our April membership “Bronze” winner. Keegan wins $25 cash for referring his son, Logan.
Keegan referred two other people, and now has three chances to win our $1,000 cash prize in July. How did Keegan feel about that?
“Hey, free money,” he said.
Congratulations Keegan!
