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10.14.11 i[give] Contest
Posted under: Community Involvement, Contests Posted by:

Hey friends! Hope you all have been enjoying this great Fall weather so far! It truly is an awesome time to be living in Georgia with football and fall festivals every weekend.

Now on to business…

We are looking for our next i[give] partner for the start of the new year and we want your help! If you aren’t familiar with i[give], it is an initiative we started to help out and give back to the Atlanta community. Each quarter we feature a cause or non-profit from the area and find ways to get involved with that organization. For 2012, we want YOU to be more involved so we want to know which cause you think we should support. Nominate your cause, non-profit, or organization by emailing will@doyouix.com with the name and a brief description. Once we collect all submissions, we will allow everyone to vote on who will be our next i[give] partner. So spread the word and send in your nominations and let’s do something good for Georgia!

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10.05.11 FREE CHECK CARDS with GOCU All Access Checking
Posted under: Uncategorized Posted by:

Hey guys and gals! So I’m sure you’ve read or heard recently about monthly fees on checking accounts…well there is good news for you here at Georgia’s Own! Georgia’s Own is proud to continue offering FREE All Access Checking* accounts! All Access a checking is one of the most convenient and competitive checking accounts on the market. In addition to a myriad of perks such as online banking and bill pay, access to over 71,000 surcharge-free ATMs, and dividends paid on every dollar, we also offer free check cards on every account and ScoreCard Rewards that accumulate with every purchase…not to mention every time you use your Visa card from now until December 27th, you will be entered to win a trip for you and 10 friends to Super Bowl XLVI.**

*For more info about the benefits of checking with Georgia’s Own and to get started today, click here.
**For details on a chance to go to Super Bowl XLVI, click here.

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09.14.11 Georgia Colleges and Universities on Twitter
Posted under: Lifestyle, School Posted by:

Hey everyone!  Since school is in full swing, I thought I’d drop you all a handy resource.  So I compiled a list of colleges and universities in the state of Georgia who are on Twitter.  Twitter is a great way for you to connect with the schools and get updates about what’s going on… Plus, lots of these schools are always giving away free stuff!  If you have any to add to the list or your school is missing, please let me know!  I hope you all can take advantage of the great tool that is Twitter!  

Agnes Scott – @agnesscott
Albany State – @ASUFollowers
Andrew College – @AndrewCollege
Augusta State – @AugustaState
Brenau University – @BrenauU
Clayton State – @ClaytonStNews
Emory – @EmoryUniversity
Georgia College – @GeorgiaCollege
Georgia Tech -@georgiatech
Georgia Perimeter – @gpctweets
Georgia State – @GeorgiaStateU
Georgia Southern – @GeorgiaSouthern
Kennesaw State – @kennesawstate
Macon State – @maconstate
LaGrange – @LaGrangeCollege
Mercer – @MercerYou
Morehouse – @Morehouse
Savannah State -@savannahstate
SCAD – @SCADdotedu
Shorter – @shorteruniv
Spelman – @SpelmanCollege
UGA – @UGANews
Valdosta State – @valdostastate
 
Until next time…
 
Will.i.x

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08.26.11 Youth Advisory Board
Posted under: Community Involvement, Contests Posted by:

Do you:
•    Have an OPINION about how to reach today’s youth?
•    Need experience in an Out of the ordinary volunteer position?
•    Have the Commitment necessary to make a difference?
If you answered “Yes!” to all of these questions, please apply to join the Youth Advisory Board at Georgia’s Own Credit Union.

What is Georgia’s Own Credit Union’s Youth Advisory Board?
The Youth Advisory Board meets twice a quarter with our Youth Marketing Coordinator to plan events, youth communication and other projects at Georgia’s Own Credit Union. They will be responsible for the creation and implementation of these tasks at the credit union.

What are the benefits of participating in the Youth Advisory Board?
Board members gain valuable experience as part of a team in business, public relations and personal finance. Future employers, colleges and scholarship committees value this type of experience, and members will be eligible for a unique scholarship at the end of their term of service.

What is the time commitment?
Board members will meet at Georgia’s Own Credit Union (1155 Peachtree St.) twice each quarter, beginning January 2012 through June 2012.

What are the requirements?
- Must be or become a member of Georgia’s Own Credit Union.
- Between the ages of 14-25
- Be organized, dependable, professional and have solid communication skills.

Click Here to Apply

Or, download the application and mail it to:
Will Miller
Georgia’s Own Credit Union
1155 Peachtree St.
Atlanta, GA 30309
wjmiller@georgiasown.org

Applications must be received by December 31, 2011

If you have any questions or need additional applications, please call 404-874-1166 ext. 7031 or e-mail wjmiller@georgiasown.org.

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08.18.11 The Social Media Takeover
Posted under: Job, Lifestyle Posted by:

Since you’re looking at this blog, I already caught you indulging yourself in the virtual world. How can you not? The internet has so much to offer: every sort of deal, videos galore and just pure entertainment, but when does this entertainment become too much? Well when I started to get on Facebook and Twitter before I finished my homework or a job application, I knew I was at the beginning of a major problem.

The internet has become the gateway to practically anything and everything. No longer do we have to call someone to reschedule a doctor’s appointment or drive to a clothing store for that little black dress. Verbal communication is out the door and email, chat and messaging is in. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr have created introverts in all of us. Why confront the new kid at school in person, when you can glimpse at their Facebook profile and see their interests, photos with friends and relationship status right at the safety of your computer? This new way of life not only takes us away from those classic awkward introductions, but allows for further pre-judgment. Honestly, if I see that you have more than 3,000 friends on Facebook, I am going to question your value of friendship. If your Tumblr page only features pictures of famous people, I am probably going to question your grasp of reality. While these may seem like minor prejudices, a fellow classmate is not the only person who has access to your social media sites (even if you have adjusted it to privacy settings).

Your parents, coaches, employers and college admission counselors use these sites too! In fact, they judge your social media pages more than me! They have an agenda- to see how you carry yourself on the World-Wide Web. If your friends post profanity on your Facebook, they will take that into consideration as a reflection of you. Employers want someone that will represent the company justly, which means no crazy party pictures or notes/blog entries about a person you despise.

When it comes down to it, social media is a great tool for companies especially from the hiring stand-point, but you cannot deny the threat it has on us teenagers. We spend countless hours on the internet instead of doing homework and forming real-life relationships. Then we undermine other’s perception of our personal social media sites and say whatever we want, whenever we want. Now that school is starting up, the effects of being on the computer 24/7 are the most harmful. You don’t want to get grounded from the Homecoming dance or cut-off from allowances because of a failing grade or inappropriate comment. Limit your time online and spend more time studying and forming real-life relationships with people. After all, these are the years that truly count!

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08.10.11 Back to School
Posted under: i[give], School Posted by:

It’s a bitter sweet moment for most of us… actually, it’s mostly bitter; but the summer is coming to an end which means “Back 2 School”! Whether your going back to the same routine of high school, or starting fresh in college like me, it’s a sensation of excitement, sadness and other mixed feelings. Now that school is starting again, it would be a good time to start thinking of ways to get involved in your community. With all the extra-curricular and service clubs centered around community involvement it should be easy to find something that interests you! Once you find the activity that is right for you staying involved is a piece of cake! And don’t forget that when trying to get into college or even grad school community service on your application speaks loudly!

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07.28.11 Scholarship Winners Announced
Posted under: School Posted by:

We are very excited to announce that the 2011 Georgia’s Own scholarship winners have been selected.  A total of $15,000 was awarded this year.
 
1st Place ($5,000) – Alexander Carruth, Powder Springs – University of Georgia
2nd Place ($3,000) – Jessica Viller, Duluth – University of Georgia
3rd Place ($2,000) – Jennifer Dininger, Lawrenceville – Virginia Intermont College
 
Runners Up in alphabetical order ($1,000)  –       
Margaret Harris, Roswell – North Georgia College and State University
Taylor Heffner, Lawrenceville – Andrew College
Katelyn Niemann, Sugar Hill – Georgia Southern University
Danielle Smalls-Pressley, Decatur – Kennesaw State University
Shelly Tait, Sugar Hill – University of Georgia
 
The recipients were selected by a panel of community leaders and Georgia’s Own partners including David Dickey with Dickey Media, Jeff Dauler with All the Hits Q100, Jason Gorman with 680 The Fan, Johanna Styne with the Atlanta Hawks, Joe Chandler with AT&T, and Charmaine Ward with Georgia Pacific.
 
Congratulations to all of our winners for their hard work and thank you to everyone who submitted an application!

 

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07.27.11 Forever Girl – Designed for Success
Posted under: Feature Post 3 Posted by:

Forever Girl – Designed for Success

Morgan, Megan and Madison McCall are not your typical teenagers. The three sisters started their company, Forever Girl, in 2006 and recently won the 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year award from Junior Achievement of Georgia. The products and clothing produced by Forever Girl are designed to be exciting and stylish, yet appropriate for young pre-teens and teens.

Morgan, Megan and Madison (MM3) draw their inspiration from young girls worldwide and each of the sisters bring their own style and uniqueness to the design room. The result of this collaboration is Forever Girl. i[x] had the chance to sit down and talk with the sisters about Forever Girl, what drives them and their plans for the future.

i[x] – Who/What inspired you to start your own business?

MM3 – We were inspired to start our own business because of our love of design and because we were frustrated when we would go shopping and we’d be interested in an article of clothing and our mom would say that’s inappropriate for your age. The market was full of companies selling adult clothing for young girls but we wanted to create an alternative for moms and girls. Thus our inspiration was that we saw a need in the market for a company like Forever Girl: A company geared toward providing quality, affordable, stylish, and appropriate clothing for young tween and teen girls. So we distinguished our creative and unique style and this led us to consider, and eventually begin, our own clothing line.

i[x] – How much money did it take to get started?

MM3 – The start-up cost for Forever Girl was approximately $1200 to get our first items made and this was a gift from our parents and grandparents.

i[x] – What did you do with the first paycheck you received?

MM3 – As a relatively new company, we decided that instead of giving ourselves a paycheck, we would invest any revenue received back into the company for the first 7-10 years depending on how the business was progressing. So by this rule, the earliest we would get a paycheck would be 2013. This was the best time to be able to do this because we’re minors and all of our needs are taken care of by our parents so we don’t have need of a salary at this point in our lives.

i[x] – What is the most challenging aspect of running your business?

MM3 – The most challenging aspect of running our business currently is being able to balance school and our company. We all enjoy learning new things and challenge ourselves by taking rigorous courses. Though these courses are very beneficial for our learning, they are also very time-consuming. Finding a balance between school, extracurricular activities, our volunteer work and our company is a struggle but we would call it a welcome struggle. The blessing is having each other. If one sister is extremely busy with something else, we pitch in and make up the slack when it comes to FG.

i[x] – What part of Georgia are you from?

MM3 – Metro Atlanta

i[x - What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

MM3 - In our spare time we all love reading, writing, singing and acting. We enjoy other after school activities such as Junior Achievement, Robotics, Honor Society, and FBLA.

i[x] – What do you have planned for the summer?

MM3 – This summer we are attending a Business camp at Duke University.

i[x] – Can you briefly explain the process you went through to win JA Youth Entrepreneur of the Year?

MM3 – We created a portfolio for Forever Girl showing the strengths of the company. This included a business plan, our company’s budget, a product sample and a timeline of our past and future plans. We also had to respond to the applications’ interview questions. We were not privy to specifics on our competition or how many rounds the judges went through to make a final selection.

i[x] – What was the feeling when your name was announced as Entrepreneur of the Year?

MM3 – We were shocked when we got the call but very excited and thrilled. We were very happy they recognized the value and hard work we’d put into Forever Girl.

i[x] – What advice do you have for anyone who wants to start their own business?

MM3 – First and foremost be willing to work hard. And then to work even harder than you just worked. Surround yourself with positive people and develop a support team of family, friends or mentors. And finally don’t let anyone apply limitations to your life. You really can do anything you put your mind too if you’re willing to work hard.

i[x] – How were you able to balance the pressures of running a business and being in school at the same time?

MM3 – It has always been pretty simple. Our parents told us early on that school was our number one priority and so we’ve always felt the importance of education. We’re very fortunate, we all do very well in school and we love school. That makes it easier. But if we have to make a choice between studying for a test and doing something for Forever Girl, we go with studying. Also having a calendar is critical. This helps with time management and staying on track of scheduling.

i[x] – Where do you see your company in the future?

MM3 – We hope to be in stores in the US, Europe and Asia.

i[x] – What does life after high school look like for you?

MM3 – It looks like three sisters in college and running a fashion line. Funstuff!

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Need a Student Loan?
Posted under: Feature Post 1 Posted by:

Need a Student Loan? You Have Options!

Georgia’s Own Credit Union has partnered with CU Student Choice to offer our members access to private lines of credit for their education.

THESE LOANS FEATURE:
• Zero origination fees
• Extremely competitive interest rates
• Flexible repayment options

A private education line of credit from Georgia’s Own is the perfect option to fill educational funding gaps that can be left behind after other sources of aid have been exhausted. Contact us to see how we can help you get the money you need for college.

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07.20.11 Last Days of Summer Planning
Posted under: Money Management, School Posted by:

I hate to say it, but summer is almost over!  For my fellow high school students school starts in less than a month and for you college students you have a little extra time (lucky!).  This last month of “freedom” is crucial and how you spend those last sweet summer days mean everything.  Whether that involves finally seeing your aunt or an old friend, use your time and money wisely.

            A great way to utilize those last few weeks before school starts is to go on vacation! I am personally taking a short trip to Panama City, Florida.  How did I convince my parents to take me you ask?  I am also taking a college tour of Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL- just 45 minutes from the beach.  The beach and education combined in one trip is sure to please any parent.

Another way to get on your parents good side is to not spend all their money on back-to-school shopping.  The few weeks before school starts invites several excuses to spend money.  Even if it is your parents’ money, be thoughtful in your back-to-school shopping.  Do you really need a new backpack, pair of shorts or even book covers?  Think ahead.  Start by setting a priority list, which means the necessary school items suggested by your teachers.  Don’t forget, right before school begins is not the “only time” to shop.  You can wear two new outfits the first week of school and a month later purchase another outfit.

            Your last days of summer don’t have to be filled with shopping like no-other or wishing you were at the beach.  Instead, space out your back-to-school shopping and focus on the necessities and a few new articles of clothing.  Also, a great way to get that much-needed vacation is to position a weekend trip to a potential college with a great attraction, like the beach or a theme park, close by. Hope you enjoy those last days of summer!

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