BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A cooperative is about people working together in a business to provide or obtain the best deals or services for its membership – and at least one eastern Indiana credit union has been taking that idea into its community during difficult times.

At this month’s Crossroads Cooperative Summit in Bloomington, one of two annual Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC) awards – this one, for community service – went to Natco Credit Union based in Richmond. Indiana Credit Union League Vice President of Communications Kay Neidlinger explained this award is usually bestowed on an individual, but it seemed fitting that all Natco employees should qualify this year.

In the past 20 years, ICDC stated several manufacturing plants have closed or left Richmond, located on Ohio’s western border. Several thousand jobs have been cut. Besides foreclosures and other big losses, this has meant everyday hardship for those trying to find work.

Neidlinger said the credit union found itself eventually reviewing member loan applications not for new cars or other “extras,” but simply to pay for food, medicine or other basics. From this, Natco employees developed the idea for a Community Empowerment Center (NCEC), available to credit union members – and anyone else – needing help.

Located at 1627 E. Main St., it offers computer workstations and expertise for those needing to spruce up résumés and job-search, or work on Internet-based education. The NCEC also hosts classes on a variety of self-help skills, such as basic money management and budgeting – and even sewing to save money. It helps those in need with emergency assistance, tax assistance, payday loan alternatives, youth outreach and much more.

NCEC is also the managing partner for Circles Whitewater Valley. Circles is a national United Way campaign “that takes an innovative and transformational approach to eliminate poverty.” Through weekly meetings, people examine the impact poverty has on them, their family and their community.

Over the next 15 weeks, they create a plan to reach their goals as they make their own choices. Individuals and families begin to enjoy the power that comes from solving problems and controlling their own lives. NCEC provides free childcare during the weekly meetings, free dinner for participants and their children and periodic incentives for class attendance.

Natco Community Outreach Coordinator Dana Sinclair explained its employees decided they wanted the credit union to be proactive in helping local people, instead of waiting for them “to fall down a hole” and need even more aid. She said the poverty rate in Wayne County, at 23 percent, is higher than Indiana’s average.

“Medical bills is the best way to end up in poverty,” she pointed out, citing the example of the NCEC helping one man get out from under $60,000 in medical bills – and he wasn’t even a credit union member.

“We love doing what we do, to help the community,” said Sinclair, who was joined by a few other employees to accept the ICDC award on Nov. 6.

Hall of Fame

Receiving ICDC’s annual Hall of Fame award was Charles Forman, executive vice president of Independent Stationers in Indianapolis. John Hauptstueck, who was hired around the same time as Forman in 2001, has since bought Rosa’s Office Plus in Richmond with his wife, Vicky.

Both men work in office supplies, products and solutions. Hauptstueck presented Forman his award, saying the latter is “a great champion for our cause as co-ops” and in their shared business, Forman is always willing to help independent dealers with business advice and plans.

“I’m a big believer that we’re stronger when we work together than when we work alone,” Forman said. He said being a national co-op office supply business is not easy in an industry dominated by Staples’ and Office Depot’s combined power of $40 billion in annual sales.

Founded in 1977, Independent Stationers has acquired 1,300 different member businesses since that time, but has only about 400 right now because of buyouts, mergers and closings, he said. Active businesses are locally owned and operated but use the cooperative power of Stationers’ broader network to find deals on merchandise.