WESTBROOK – More than 700 representatives from Maine’s credit unions, one of the highest turnouts in several years, attended the Maine Credit Union League’s 66th Annual Meeting & Convention on May 21 and 22 at the Augusta Civic Center.

Congressman Mike Michaud, the nation’s only credit union board member elected to Congress in 2002, joined Congressman Tom Allen and Maine’s first lady, Karen Baldacci, in addressing attendees.

Baldacci thanked credit unions for “representing the spirit of Maine and for their commitment to providing opportunities throughout Maine.”

Michaud said Maine’s credit unions not only provide financial services to hundreds of thousands of Maine people, but also provide “hope to members who otherwise would not be served.”

The theme of this year’s convention was “Credit Unions – The Maine Connection” and highlighted the strength of the Maine credit union movement. Maine was the fifth strongest credit union state in 2003. The theme included the deep roots and high degree of satisfaction that credit unions have with the people and communities they serve across Maine.

David Landis, a state senator from Nebraska, was the keynote speaker, giving his award-winning presentation as Sen. George Norris, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska who was instrumental in passing the Federal Credit Union Act in 1935.

John Murphy, league president, told delegates, “In the past year, Maine’s credit unions increased assets by 8.28 percent, loans grew 9.64 percent and shares increased 7.78 percent.”