Stronger Than Steel

Yin and Yang. Good and Evil. Positive and Negative. There are two sides in every situation. Sometimes you have to look very hard to see these opposite forces at play and sometimes, especially in times of difficulty, they are as clear as day. People say one cannot exist without the other; that you cannot know good unless you know bad, that you can’t experience joy without knowing sadness. There is a balance to nature and there will always be those dichotomies. Yet, I am ever hopeful that the balance will always weigh more heavily on the positive and we will see more similarities and good amongst ourselves than differences even though it is the differences that seem to be made more visible and given to louder, crueler voices. Such is life these days, I guess. However, in times of adversity, such as these recent days at Freedom, my hope has been renewed.

I have seen employees put everything aside, go above and beyond, to help those in need, quell fears, and answer questions. I have met members who have remained supportive, showed great understanding and patience because of the reputation we built and the trust we earned over the years. We have had numerous messages showing appreciation for our efforts, but I know that does not mean this situation wasn’t difficult or that it didn’t cause frustration. Every member of my family, myself included, experienced the same. However, one detour on the road does not stop the journey or end the mission. It simply emboldens us to carry on and strive harder. Even in the face of adversity and when others outside of Freedom or our membership use this as an opportunity to build up their own image by tearing us down, when they convey false information despite being told the facts; we persevere, we remain steadfast, professional and committed to our members and our community.

They say the strongest steel is forged by the hottest fires. It is pounded and struck repeatedly before it’s plunged back into the molten fire. The fire gives it power and flexibility, and the blows give it strength. Freedom is that steel. We are not defined by the trials we face but by how we come through them.

We greatly appreciate the support we have received. We appreciate the recognition that in 70 years nothing has tested us like this. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve and to earn your patronage and trust every day. We are a community institution, a not-for-profit cooperative committed to, and reliant upon, our members, our employees and our community. That will never change. So, as you stay the course with us, as you turn from negative emotions, as you ignore those opportunistic voices that would try to convince you otherwise, you will see that we are who we have always been; we are your partner, we are your advocate, we are your Credit Union.

We are Freedom.

It’s Your Choice

I was on social media the other day. Yes, I know what it is and even how to use it. I came across several postings about what Freedom is doing in the community and the partnerships we are forging. It reinforced for me that the direction we set for Freedom, the priority we place on people helping people, is the right path.

At Freedom, we do not aspire to be a multi-billion-dollar organization, put our name on a stadium or be on every street. We aspire to be in our community, serving, educating, volunteering; doing good because it’s the right thing to do. Of course, as a business, we want to grow and need to be financially successful, but those are a means to an end. Real success is our ability to give back and put people first. That’s the choice we made to answer the question, “who are we?”

In the end, it’s all about choices; those we make, and those you and our community partners make. I don’t think people realize that something as simple as their choice of where to bank, and who they deal with, matters. How just normal banking and other interactions with Freedom benefit them and their community.

The cooperative spirit on which we were founded is alive and well here. It can be seen in our people, our volunteerism, our philanthropy, even our investments in Freedom itself. Therefore, it’s up to each of us to let you know. Not by just saying it, but by showing it. After all, actions speak louder than words; louder than ads and clever slogans. We should encourage you to choose to be part of Freedom; to be part of something bigger, not just something big, because the benefit of doing so is more than meets the eye and goes farther than you may realize.

#FreedomToHelpChallenge 2022

Win $1,000 for your favorite local charity!

Freedom Federal Credit Union believes in people helping people and we are challenging Harford and Baltimore County volunteers, companies, and non-profits to participate in the award-winning 5th annual #FreedomToHelpChallenge photo contest this holiday season. Showcase volunteerism in Harford or Baltimore County for the chance to win a $1,000 charitable donation for your local non-profit of choice and other weekly prizes.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Like or Follow Freedom Federal Credit Union on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

2. Post public photos showcasing volunteerism in Harford or Baltimore County from November 4^th through December 8^th, 2022

3. Include a description of the volunteer effort along with the searchable hashtag, #FreedomToHelpChallenge on every post (Remember to make entries public)

4. Visit us on Facebook every Friday to participate in public voting to increase your chances to win! (Every like equals a vote!)

On Instagram? Tag Freedom @FreedomFedCU or DM us to follow you if your account is private.

IN 2021, The #FreedomToHelpChallenge was recognized by THE MARKETING ASSOCIATION OF CREDIT UNIONS WITH THEIR TOP CAMPAIGN AWARD AND RECEIVED A TRAILBLAZER AWARD IN SOCIAL MEDIA BY THE MD|DC CREDIT UNION ASSOCIATION. THE CHALLENGE IS ALSO A PAST RECIPIENT OF The Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award by THE CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Read Full Contest Rules and Details Here.

Grand Prize Info: The Final Showdown

Public Voting for finalists will be available on Freedom’s Facebook page on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 10:00 am for 24 hours from the start of the voting period. Every like equals a vote. Share with your friends to increase your votes. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced via Freedom’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram page on December 14^th, 2022. The Grand Prize is a $1,000 charitable donation.*

*Selected charity must be a registered 501(C)3 with a proven focus in Harford or Baltimore County.

Applause For A Cause

Are you a Freedom fan? Have you had a recent experience that left you feeling glad to be part of our Credit Union? It’s Member Service Week, and we want to hear from YOU!

This year, Freedom was recognized as one of the best Credit Unions in both Harford and Baltimore County. We are excited to see that our focus on Members over profits is paying off, and want to know what we do that you appreciate.

When you share the love, we pass it on. This week only, if you leave us a compliment for our employees on our Applause for a Cause Social Media Post, we’ll donate a pair of winter gloves to someone in need at the Harford Family House and Welcome One Emergency Shelter*. Your applause will be shared with our team members, and we’ll donate gloves as our thank you just for helping us celebrate our amazing staff.

Click the link below to share your Freedom love with our team!

SHARE THE LOVE!

No Social Media? No Problem. Email your compliment to our team!

*Submit your comment by Friday, October 7th at Noon to earn a donated pair of gloves. 1 pair of gloves can be earned by each individual who comments.

8 Ways to Spot a Survey Scam

Survey scams are almost as old as the internet. Spend an hour online and there’s a chance you’ll run into an ad for a “quick” survey promising big money or prizes for a few minutes of your time. What really happens is that the scammer walks away with a free survey, or worse, your information or money. The wary consumer can spot a survey scam, but unfortunately, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated at luring victims into their schemes. Don’t fall for it!

Here are seven ways to spot a survey scam:

1. You’re asked to pay to participate in a survey – There’s no reason to pay to take a survey. If you’re targeted by an ad asking you to take a survey and pay for the privilege of doing so, it’s not worth it – and probably designed to scam you.

2. You’re asked to share sensitive info before you can take the survey – The survey host wants you to think it’s no big deal for you to share your Social Security number with a company you’ve never heard of before. But guess what – you’re looking at potential identity theft. That IS a big deal!

3. They advertise on Craigslist and similar sites asking for your email address – “Survey companies” that advertise on sites like Craigslist asking you to share your email address are usually fronts for scam rings. Once they have this information, they’ll spam you with scammy emails, phishing schemes, malware or worse.

4. They offer too much money – If a survey is offering you $100 for a 20-question survey that shouldn’t take you more than five minutes to complete, you can be sure you’re looking at a scam. The pay for authentic survey-taking is generally on a much more modest scale.

5. You’re directed to download attachments – Any time an unknown contact asks you to download attachments to your device, be super-suspicious. More often than not, these are scams and the attachments are loaded with malware.

6. They advertise aggressively – If the same solicitation for survey participation keeps popping up across your screen, you may be looking at a scam.

7. They require an outrageous minimum before payment – Scammers sometimes require their targets to take an outrageous number of surveys before they receive their first paycheck. Often, the victim will just quit before they qualify for a payment.

Survey-taking can be a great way to earn some pocket money, but survey scams are rampant. Follow these tips to stay safe!

Should I Buy an Electric Car?

Q: With gas prices soaring and expected to continue climbing into the foreseeable future, I’m wondering if this is a good time to consider purchasing an electric car. Should I buy an electric vehicle now?

A: Thousands of drivers are grappling with this question as gas prices peak. While an electric vehicle (EV) might be the right choice for many, there are lots of variables to consider before making this decision. Here’s what to know about electric cars before going this route:

What are some pros of owning an electric car?

The most obvious and prominent advantage of owning an electric vehicle is saving on fuel costs. Driving a car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline means saving money on a large expense category of your budget, month after month. Of course, the higher the cost of gas, the more you save. Right now, with most drivers experiencing pain at the pump, going electric is more popular than ever. Another budgeting bonus to consider is the fact that electricity costs tend to be far more stable than gasoline prices.

Another well-known advantage of driving an electric-powered car is the environmental benefits. Lower fuel emissions means a smaller carbon footprint on the environment, which is always a good thing.

Yet another advantage to EVs is their superior efficiency. EVs can convert more than 77% of their electric energy to power their wheels. In contrast, gas-powered cars can only convert 12-30% of the fuel stored in their gas tanks into driving power.

What are some disadvantages of owning an electric vehicle?

There are several disadvantages to owning an EV to be aware of before making a purchase.

First, it’s important to note that the battery of every EV may need replacement sometime down the line. Federal regulations require automakers to cover the battery of their vehicles for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Some automakers also cover battery degradation, which is when a full charge powers fewer miles than it should. However, if the battery dies after the warranty expires, the cost of replacing it, which can run from $5,000 and $16,000, will need to be covered by the owner. The good news is that, as EVs become increasingly more popular, they are also becoming less expensive to manufacture and the prices of their parts are decreasing as well. In addition, automakers are working to manufacture EVs with batteries that last longer than most drivers will own the vehicle.

Another disadvantage to owning an EV is being limited in the number of miles you can drive before you will need to recharge your vehicle. The number of miles you can drive on a full charge, also known as the vehicle’s range, will vary with each car. Most EVs will average 250 miles of range. While this will cover most people’s daily commute, road-tripping in an EV will take some planning. Luckily, as electric cars become more commonplace, finding a charging station on a major highway is becoming a non-issue. However, if you plan to take many road trips with your EV, you may want to purchase a car that is capable of fast charging so you don’t have to spend hours at a charging station every few hundred miles on your trips.

Can I charge my electric vehicle at home?

Yes, you can charge your EV at home. Plug it in at night, and it’ll be ready to go in the morning. How’s that for convenience?

However, before ordering a Tesla, it’s good to be aware that the standard 110-volt wall outlet (Level 1 charging) is relatively slow, adding approximately four miles of range per hour. If you depleted a full 250 miles of range, it can take several days to fully recharge your vehicle. If you’ll be charging your car outside, be sure to verify your charging cord is designed for outdoor use.

Most EV owners hire an electrician to install a 240-volt outlet in their garage. This allows for Level 2 charging, which can add 25 miles of range per charging hour. Be sure to get a reliable quote to know the cost of such work.

How much does electricity cost?

Electricity, though much cheaper than gas, typically isn’t free. The exact price will vary by state, so check how much electricity will cost in your own home state before purchasing an EV.

To save more on charging your EV, consider these points: Charging an EV at home is typically less expensive than charging it at a public charging station – unless, of course, you find one of those rare cost-free public charging stations. In addition, charging your EV overnight, or on the weekend will cost less than charging it at peak times, such as weekday afternoons and evenings. You may want to reach out to your utility company to learn exactly what it’ll cost you to charge your vehicle. Some companies offer special plans for EV owners, so be sure to inquire about that as well.

What kind of maintenance will my electric vehicle need?

A big bonus of owning an EV is having lower maintenance costs. Electric motors have fewer moving parts than gasoline engines. This makes EVs far easier to maintain than their gas-powered counterparts. In addition, many car parts, which generally need replacing after a while – like spark plugs, filters and oil – are irrelevant to EVs. This means fewer trips to the mechanic and significantly lower maintenance costs.

How much will an electric vehicle cost?

All the convenience and long-term savings of an EV comes at a high price, and most of them have a higher starting cost than gas-powered cars. Of course, there’s a large range, starting with the Nissan Leaf at just $27,400 and going all the way up to the Tesla Model 3 at $58,990.

Fortunately, there are many government-sponsored incentives for purchasing an electric car. These incentives are offered on the federal, state and local government levels, so be sure to see what’s available before completing your purchase. It’s important to note, though, that many of these incentives are not open to every buyer and every kind of EV. For example, the most well-known incentive, the Federal Qualified PEV Tax Credit, which offers up to $7,500 off the MSRP of qualified EVs, is only available for the first 100,000 EVs an automaker manufacturers and is no longer available for the purchase of any Teslas.

If you’re looking to finance an auto loan for your new electric car, look no further than Freedom FCU! Our auto loans offer low interest rates, easy payback terms and a quick approval process. Call, click, or stop by to discuss available options!

Your Turn: Have you recently purchased an electric car, or made the decision to hold onto your gasoline-powered vehicle? Tell us what drove your decision on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! @FreedomFedCU

I know I don’t know

Long ago I reconciled with myself the fact that I don’t know everything. When we’re younger a lot of us believe we do, but at some point reality comes crashing in and the light of truth shines right in your face.

That’s ok.

Conversely, there is a lot I do know and what I know, I know well. And that’s ok. I know you know a lot and you know some things that I don’t know. And that’s ok too. Then there are times when nobody knows anything and we’re all looking around at each other trying to figure things out. And ya know what? That’s ok too, because we all know stuff, we’ve all had different experiences that created that knowledge, and that means we can all help one another at some point.

We can all be patient with one another as we learn, exchange ideas, think things through and work together on a common goal or purpose. They say knowledge is power and while that may be true, I think the sharing of whatever knowledge we have or can gain is the real power.

That’s why I talk about teamwork so much. That’s why I talk about collaboration and ideas coming from everywhere and anyone. The free flow of ideas, the exchange of varying opinions, the sharing of experiences all create a stronger bond and greater success. Finally, I also know that knowing doesn’t mean being right. We may know something and learn what we know wasn’t correct or that our idea isn’t the best one at a given moment. That does not mean the input was unimportant. Even in those instances, there is knowledge to be gained and cultivated.

7 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day at Home

Plant a garden. Earth Day, April 22, is the perfect time to plant that garden you’ve always wanted. Garden centers and home improvement stores are still open around the country, with many offering curbside pickup. Add a burst of color to your property with a row of flowers, try your hand at planting a vegetable garden, or plant a tree!
Learn about recycling. Celebrate Earth Day by learning about local recycling rules and refreshing your knowledge about what happens to the things we recycle. Share this information with your children as they are learning from home.
Use the My Disney Experience app to explore the world of nature from home. Check out the “Wilderness Explorers at Home” feature on the app for a virtual tour of nature’s wonders.
Learn about the plants in your neighborhood. Bring your daily walk around the neighborhood up a notch on Earth Day by looking out for plants in your area. You can use the Native Plant Finder website to find out which plants are native to your zip code. See how many of these plants you can find on your walk!
Watch a documentary about our planet. Celebrate Earth Day by watching a fascinating documentary about the Earth. Netflix is now running “Our Planet,” an incredible docuseries hosted by David Attenborough that features beautiful footage from around the world. You can also check out Disney+ for DisneyNature’s “Elephant” and “Dolphin Reef,” which conveniently offer downloadable activity packets for kids.
Watch the NASA Science Live webcast. The space agency website will host a special online events on Earth Day, April 22. To participate: https://go.nasa.gov/EarthDayEvent2022
Join the Earthfest. The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City is airing an all-day “Earthfest” on Friday. The live-streamed event will feature a full day of activities and education, check out the day’s activities at https://www.amnh.org/calendar/earthfest.

Your Turn: Tell us how you’re celebrating Earth Day on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! @FreedomFedCU