WESTBROOK – The Maine Credit Union League has announced that the Norm Nolette Chapter of Credit Unions, comprised of credit unions in the Androscoggin and Oxford County region, was recently presented a first-place Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award by the Credit Union National Association. It was the only chapter award presented in the country.

The focus of the chapter’s winning entry was its successful creation and coordination, in conjunction with the Maine Credit Union League, of the first youth financial fitness fair in Maine last April at Central Maine Community College in Auburn.

The fair was presented on April 7, 2004, and brought nearly 150 juniors from area high schools in for a morning that has been compared to “an interactive game of life.”

Feedback from last year’s fair was positive from students and educators and the Norm Nolette Chapter was praised for “being a visionary in the effort to help promote youth financial education and helping children develop a better understanding of money management.”

As a result of last year’s success, the chapter presented another fair on April 6 at Central Maine Community College in Auburn. The event provided participants with an opportunity to complete a monthly budget based on a spending plan developed through various booths, such as housing, transportation, food.

The Desjardins Award is named in honor of Alphonse Desjardins, the founder of the North American credit union movement.

The Nolette Chapter consists of Community CU in Lewiston, Great Falls Regional FCU in Lewiston, Lewiston Municipal FCU in Lewiston, Maine Family FCU in Lewiston, Monmouth FCU in Monmouth, Otis FCU in Jay, Oxford FCU in Mexico, RCH FCU in Rumford, Rainbow FCU in Lewiston, Sabattus Regional CU in Sabattus and Ste. Croix Regional FCU in Lewiston.