I have never been treated so well by a company in my life.  I have never even heard of a company that treats their employees this well.  The Credit Union has gone above and beyond in making sure that their employees are taken care of.  This being a time of hardship for many, it is really enjoyable coming to work and putting some of our worries away for 8 hours. 

Thanks for the food and drinks that the CU is supplying.  It has been so good and plentiful-I’m sure I weigh just a little more now.  I am not in need of a place to sleep, but I also want to thank the CU for making accommodations for those in need.  And the Skip a Pay has helped all of us out during a time that we had unexpected expenses.  I could go on, but I have to start working now.

I am proud to be a TDECU team member!! Thanks, Kim Shelton - Member Account Services, Supervisor

We committed to help Employees and families with these office visits and prescription payments regardless if they have coverage or not.  To quote Ed directly: "This is no time to allow an illness to go untreated."

Employees, more details went out in the email from Ed.

We have electrical power at the Brazoria branch. We are getting set up to switch it off the generator. This will take about 15 minutes and is being coordinated with Stacy.We are also making arrangements to bring it over to power up Mortgage!

We are moving forward.

Again let me say a BIG “THANK YOU!!!!”

What a privilege to work with all of you!

FEMA activates transitional housing office

FEMA activated a transitional housing office Tuesday.  The agency will pay hotel expenses for residents whose homes are considered unlivable.  A home without power is not considered unlivable.

To find out if a hotel is participating with FEMA, check fema.gov or 1-800-621-FEMA.  If you are staying at a nonparticipating hotel, save your receipts.

This program will last for 30 days.

To learn more about applying for FEMA aid, click here.

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center continues asking individuals to give blood as more Neighborhood Donor Centers and mobile blood drives resume collections. Special extended hours will be observed at eight Neighborhood Donor Centers. A small number of mobile blood drives also will be open to the public on Wednesday.

Collections resumed Tuesday after a four-day hiatus due to Hurricane Ike, so donations are especially needed now to replenish the blood supply and ensure that blood is available for patients in need. Patients in the Texas Gulf Coast region need more than 900 blood donations every day; that is why it is important for blood donors to Commit for Life by donating at least once every quarter.

Additionally, all Commit for Life donors who give blood now through Sept. 23 will receive 300 bonus points for the Commit for Life store, which can be viewed at our Web site, www.giveblood.org.

WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, Sept. 17

The following Neighborhood Donor Centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

• Bill T. Teague (Headquarters) - 1400 La Concha Lane (Reliant Stadium area)
• Champions - 6935 FM 1960 West, Suite A (at Cutten Road)
• Cy-Fair - 11811 FM 1960 West, Suite 120
• Gulfgate - 546 Gulfgate Center (behind Chuck E. Cheese)
• Humble/Kingwood - 9616 FM 1960 Bypass (Commons at Deerbrook, behind Olive Garden)
• Katy - 1575 S. Grand Parkway, Suite 600 (at Highland Knolls)
• Sugar Land - 4949 Sweetwater Blvd. (next to Kroger)
• Westchase - 10001 Westheimer, Suite 2117 (Carillon Shopping Center, behind la Madeleine)

The following mobile blood drives will be open to the public:

• St Joseph Medical Center (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) - 1919 La Branch
• Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) - 10205 Westheimer, Suite 300
• VA Medical Center (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) - 2002 Holcombe
• San Jacinto Methodist Hospital (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) - 4401 Garth Road, Baytown
• Wharton County Jr. College (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) - 911 Boling Highway, Wharton

The Buc-ee’s located on Oyster Creek and Old Angleton Road (in Lake Jackson) is open and has gasoline in the tanks.

I would like to share a story with you that happened last night with one of our members.  It shows a true spirit of ‘people helping people.’  

I left here yesterday and went to pick up my young baby and then proceeded to go to the grocery store to try and buy her some juice and dinner.  All the grocery stores closed at 7 due to the curfew and I did not make it.  

I started to drive around to all the convenience stores with a crying baby in the back seat.  I finally found a convenience store in Angleton close to the high school and I was unloading my baby when a lady was getting into a car next to me and noticed my uniform.  She said, “Oh, you work for the credit union?”  

I informed her that I did and asked if there was something that I could help her with.  We chit-chatted a few minutes and I told her that I was there to buy my daughter some apple juice and dinner and she informed me that she just bought the last apple juice.  I told her that was okay that we would just get something else.  

She said that was nonsense and that because we had been open, she insisted that I take the juice for my crying child.  The swell of pride was overwhelming and I kept asking her if there was something that I could do to repay her and she insisted that there was nothing.  

I have no doubt that she has received incredible service and for that, I thank my fellow co-workers to help make this community a true ‘people helping people’ place!

Brazosport ISD is closed this week:

From BISD.  Due to significant power outages, BISD will be closed for the remainder of this week.  We will pass along more information as it becomes available to us.  Our intent is to welcome our students and staff back to their regular schedules starting Monday September 22.  Staff members may contact their principals for specific information. 

Call the BISD hotline at 979-388-0218 for the most up to date information.   Our web site is currently down and we are doing everything we can to make it available for you.

"Urgent info 4 those in Ike area.  Don't use generators indoors, near open windows or in garage.  Drink bottled water only."

It is about 1:15 AM on Monday morning.  The hurricane has passed our area leaving damage yet to be assessed.

It is my honor to report that TDECU stands strong.

Throughout the storm our data centers functioned fully, our call centers operated efficiently, wait times were minimal.

Members using our eCommerce delivery channels would not even know that a hurricane hit us almost head on.  ATMs functioned wherever there was power.

In terms of physical branches, our West Market branches not only opened when permitted, they all extended hours.

A fully-staffed Hallettsville called center worked extended hours to help members.  

While the West Market kept TDECU functioning for any member needing help, our friends and colleagues were literally fighting their way back to Southern Brazoria County to insure that all of our branches would be open and functioning BEFORE our members returned.  And we did just that.

By 2:00 PM this afternoon we were providing transaction services in both Angleton and Lake Jackson.   During the past 10 hours I was able to watch a multi-divisional team lead by our COO, Ron, bring EVERY major branch back to life. 

Even though there is no electrical power in these areas, using large generators we have now opened Lake Jackson, Brazoria, and even Freeport!  I was privileged to be present as the lights came on at each branch – and when I say lights I mean every branch function.

It is late and I will leave to tomorrow the incredible stories I am hearing from members.  

Because we are open and fully functioning, albeit on huge generators,  we have removed a major worry from people who have many worries.  Of all the things they now have to handle, access to trusted financial services, access to money and loans, is now not a problem at all.

What service could be provided that is more important than this?

My congratulations to – and appreciation  - to all who sacrificed this incredible effort.

Well done.  Well done, indeed.