FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn.– Blaze Credit Union is reporting it attracted some 3,731 members and guests for its Annual Meeting & Member Appreciation Day.
The event, which was held at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minn., was the first for Blaze Credit Union, which was formed by the merger of Hiway Credit Union and SPIRE Credit Union. The $2.16-billion Blaze CU has approximately 160,000 members.
The event follows SPIRE Credit Union’s long tradition of “large, celebratory annual meetings featuring guest speakers and entertainment, and $25 cash for each registered attendee upon exit,” the credit union said.
“In a short time, SPIRE and Hiway Credit Union have come together as Blaze and this day was our first celebration together with our members,” CEO Dan Stoltz said in a statement. “It was such an exciting time for everyone. The energy and the atmosphere of the event was fantastic, and it was a great way to give back on many levels.”
‘Blaze Expo’ Held
The credit union said the day started with the “Blaze Expo,” where members and guests were able to ask questions of Blaze associates regarding financial services such as credit cards, commercial lending, mortgage, and retirement and investment services.
Financial education seminars were also offered on fraud prevention, home selling, retirement planning, and financial wellness. Over 500 people attended one of the sessions lead by Blaze experts.
The main program included Blaze’s annual business meeting, with messages from Stoltz and President/Chief Transformation Officer Dave Boden.
Circus Performance
Blaze Credit Union said the event culminated with an exciting performance from Circus Juventas, the largest youth performing arts circus school in North America.
Circus Juventas serves over 1,500 students through year-round classes and summer camp programs, and performs before over 50,000 spectators annually. Their show has captivated hundreds of thousands of audience members in venues throughout the Twin Cities since 1994.
Food Items Collected
During the event the credit union collected 1,600 pounds of non-perishable food items that were donated to PROP in Eden Prairie to fill their shelves.
“We look forward every year to seeing many long-time members, and this year was just extra special as so many who have never experienced an annual meeting like this had the opportunity to see what Blaze is all about,” Stoltz said. “Seeing our members and our Blaze staff together is a wonderful reminder of the credit union philosophy of people helping people.”