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Help USAgencies Credit Union Reach Their Goal!

by Jon Elias

website---carsalesmartUSAgencies has been raising money for the month of April and March for SMART, a great program dedicated to getting books to kids. Take a look at how USAgencies is doing so far, and how you can help them reach their goal of $1000 by April 30th!

Since March 1st, we’ve been spreading the word about SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) as a part of our Drive Into Reading Spring Car Sale with Enterprise Car Sales. To date, we’ve raised $100 for SMART – that’s 10% of our goal of $1,000.

What will this $100 do? It will provide about 33 books for SMART students.

Why SMART?

Some of you may be wondering why SMART? Why is the credit union partnering with this organization?

USAgencies is committed to investing in our community, not just in financially specific education programs, like BALANCE that we provide free to our members, or like our Feast&Forum sessions hosted throughout the year – we’ve committed to improving the financial lives of our community at the core, on a basic level, and one of those basics is reading.

According to this infographic from SMART, approximately 50 percent of the nation’s unemployed youth (ages 16 – 21) are functionally illiterate, with virtually no prospects for obtaining jobs. By investing in programming like SMART, who’s mission is to”engage community volunteers to read one-on-one with PreK through 3rd grade children who need reading support” we can impact the early literacy years of Oregon kids, one reader at a time, one story at a time.

Help us reach our goal:
By April 30th, we want to have our Facebook campaign page read “GOAL REACHED! $1,000 for SMART!” And, USAgencies is going to match that effort, $1 for $1 (up to $1,000). We encourage our members to support SMART with us.

Invest in SMART:

  • Visit the campaign on Facebook and give online.
  • Call (888) 452-0915 and give over the phone or visit our branch (95 SW Taylor Street | Portland, OR) in person.
  • Become a SMART volunteer.

Thank you for helping your credit union by #GivingBack – #ReadingMatters!

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Be Seen This Halloween!

by Jon Elias

Summer is over, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun this fall! Halloween is coming up this month, and you know what that means! Candy, costumes, parties, and trying to forget the Christmas commercials you’re going to endure for the next two months.

You might be staying out on the road a little later than usual these coming weeks, what with Halloween parties or finding the best neighborhood to do your trick-or-treating (you’re never too old to like candy). Portland Pedal Power wants to remind you that even though you may think your Zombie-Batman costume stands out among the crowd, People on the road might not be looking for the undead Dark Knight… in the dark night.

One of the most important things we can do when we’re on the road is make sure we are seen. Here’s a couple of ideas you might want to implement if you’re out celebrating All Hallows Eve a little late:

Illuminate: Flashlights, flashlights, flashlights! Make sure you’ve got some source of light while you’re on the road. You probably know your regular routes by heart, but that doesn’t mean everyone else on the road knows you’re there. If you’re looking for some new additions, take a look at these great lights from Knog. Knog has some great products that are easy to clip on your bike, and as we said in prior blogs, the lights are all rechargeable through USB. (more…)

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It’s Dangerous to go Alone! Take This!

by Jon Elias

worst_day_ridersHappy Fall everyone! As of the 23rd of this month, we are officially packing up the good weather. The sun begins to hibernate, we put away the shorts, and we break out the Gortex jacket and rubber booties to endure our 9 months of showers.

I for one welcome our moisture-ridden months, but its also a time to be extra cautious on the road. People tend to forget that it’s been 3 months without water on the roads, and with that comes oil slicks and bad attitudes.

Whenever it starts to rain when we’re on the road, we always need to take a few extra precautions to make sure both our precious cargo and riders get to their location on time. Here’s a few tips to help keep you safe on the road:

Dress to Stay Dry – Ok, so this might be a “Duh” moment for some people, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. After all, moisture seems to come at you from all directions on busy roads. Be sure to grab the rain jacket, Walz Cap, If you need some new equipment, ask our riders where they get their gear, or check out North St. Bags to see how the locals do it.

Stay Away from the Rainbows – Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing rainbows after a good rainstorm. It makes a good picture for Instagram! But if you see one on the road, steer clear. That’s oil showing true colors. Oil buildup from the summer is still clinging to the asphalt, and provides a wonderfully slick surface the help your face become fast friends with the ground. (Not a friend worth having)

Yellow Lenses – Eye protection like your regular sunglasses are always a good idea, but when it’s overcast and a little darker outside, it might be harder to see where you’re going. Yellow lenses don’t darken your view, but still offer you protection from the water aiming directly for your corneas. It’s science! (more…)

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Come Meet the Best Local Credit Union at Sunday Parkways!

by Jon Elias

Bridge Pedal FitzLiving in Portland, we are very lucky to live in a cycling friendly environment. That’s one of the reasons we are very excited when Portland Sunday Parkways comes around!

Portland Pedal Power will be there representing Point West Credit Union with our Point West Bike, so be sure to swing by and say hello! Point West is proud to support Portland’s favorite means of alternative transportation as it recognizes our city’s growing bicycle community. In support, Point West offers bicycle loans with rates as low as 4.49% so you can finance that amazing piece of pedal powered machinery that you’ve been drooling over.

Be sure and take this chance to enter the Pedal Power Photo Contest with our Point West Bike! Come in costume, with props, family members, anything you think will help you stand out from the crowd. We will be happy to strike a pose along with you, getting you maximum votes on the Point West Facebook Page!

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Point West Credit Union Wants to See Your Photographic Skill!

by Jon Elias

You are the next Dorthea Lange set on documenting the trials of the modern era. Or maybe you are the next Steve McCurry, planning on capturing the next cover of National Geographic.

Or maybe you’re just another Portlander with a smartphone and a very handy knowledge of what button to press when you want to get a picture.

Either way, you have a photographic opportunity ahead of you! Portland Pedal Power and Point West Credit Union are hosting a photo contest to benefit the Community Cycling Center throughout July and August 2014. Both Point West and Portland Pedal Power are proud to support the CCC and their “Create a Commuter” program, which provides safety education and commuter bicycles to low-income adults striving to connect to workforce development. Learn more at communitycyclingcenter.org.

Entering the contest gets you the chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card! To enter, all you have to do is follow four easy steps:

1. Like Point West Credit Union on Facebook. Look, we even linked to the Facebook page, saving you half the trouble! For every “Like” received, Point West will donate $1 to the Community Cycling Center (Up to $1,000).

2. Take a Bicycle Photo. Grab a selfie with your bike. Take a photo with the PPP Point West Credit Bike. Take a photo of you and your bike AND the Point West Credit Bike. Show a play-by-play montage of you finding us at a summer event, saying hello, and then leaning in for a selfie. Take a photo of… well, you get the idea.

3. Submit your Photo. Take that hard earned photo that you just took in the above step and show everyone your hard work on the Point West Facebook page! For every photo taken and posted, Point West will donate an additional dollar to the Community Cycling Center.

4. Vote! Get your friends to vote! Get your family to vote! Get your high school acquaintances to vote! Get that dude-you-met-at-a-party-and-sort-of-connected-with-but-later-discovered-you-just-weren’t-that-into-him to vote! The person with the most votes by August 31, 2014 will receive a $250 VISA gift card!

Yes, it’s that simple. No, I don’t know why you haven’t started yet. Yes, you should definitely wear that snorkel mask when you take your photo. What are you waiting for? Get out there and strike a pose!

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Mmmm… Donuts!

by Jon Elias

I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for another excuse to enjoy a donut. Now we have a reason, because this coming Friday is National Donut Day!

In case you aren’t familiar with the national holiday celebrating these tasty toroids, Donut Day was started by the Salvation Army in 1938, to honor the men and women who served donuts to soldiers during the First World War. In an effort to provide freshly baked goods for servicemen, the Salvation Army opened up huts across France, offering pie, coffee, and most importantly, donuts. Since then, Donut Day is celebrated on the first Friday of June.

So make sure you do your civic duty and enjoy a donut this Friday! To help us with our patriotic task, Delicious Donuts is planning on baking raised glazed donuts measuring twelve inches(!!!), with National Donut Day displayed across the top like their breakfast donuts, pictured here.

For the event, we have two sizes you can choose from: the manageable 6″ for $5, of the massive 12″ for $8. Mix it up a little with frostings like Chocolate, Maple, Vanilla, or keep it simple with Glaze. Toppings include Sprinkles, Coconut, Peanuts, or Crumbs. Mix and match to make your ideal donut!

You can also enjoy some of the other treats available through Delicious Donuts, like their Breakfast Sandwich, Burrito, or Bagels. Order a mixed dozen and get a little variety in your life. If you’re feeling like really treating yourself, try their mixed Bad Boy, with Apple Fritters, Bear Claws, and Cinnamon Rolls. Visit our order page to see what sparks your interest!

In celebration of this joyous occasion, we want to see how you enjoy your donuts! Whether it’s a quick breakfast on the go, a break at work, an early morning delight, or a slice of baked heaven whenever you have the time, show us how you enjoy the famous confection. Post your picture or video to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, tagging both Portland Pedal Power and Delicious Donuts,, and you could win a free 12″ donut! Submit your pictures and videos with the hashtag #DonutDay and we will declare a winner on Thursday, June 5th!

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We May Lose The Sign, but Can We Keep The Title?

by Jon Elias

If you bike in the PDX area, then you’re likely familiar with the giant green mural painted in the downtown Portland area, proclaiming our city as “America’s Bicycle Capital.” It’s pretty hard to miss, considering it wasn’t exactly painted for subtlety. You may recall seeing the mural in the background of a few of our own photos, including when we introduced the spunky ENOkio.

Unfortunately, it looks like the two year old proclamation is going to be removed.  Since the building is considered an historic landmark, murals of any kind are not allowed, especially work that was not sanctioned by the city to begin with.

The man behind the mural, Todd Roll, admits the work is significantly larger than the standard 22-by-22 feet, but thought the work was a matter of Civic Pride and the city would give its blessing. After all, you have to admit we’re pretty lucky to have the bike presence we have, right? After a bit of legal back-and-forth, Roll and Pedal Bike Tours were finally told the mural had to come down.

Surprisingly, advertising space isn’t barred from historic landmarks. While we may lose our self-proclamation of leading the country on two wheels, Pedal Bike Tours was cleared to use the space for a 484-square-foot advertisement. We may lose the words, but Roll explained the international sign for bicycle (the big green circle with the bike in the center, in case you didn’t know) gets to stay, helping advertise for his business.

So get out there and grab a photo while you still can, Portland! Unless things change, you have until 8AM Friday morning to see the mural. Show us your memorabilia by posting to our Facebook page and Twitter!

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Sugar Mamas’ Café

by Brook

Sugar Mamas' CaféThis is a guest blog written by Michelle and Zelda of Sugar Mamas’ Café. We delivered amazing food from their old location, and we’re looking forward to working with them again soon!

For the past year, we were searching for a new location for Sugar Mamas’ Café. The search is over, and we’re working hard to open a wonderful new place right in downtown. We are moving up from from 750 square feet to 1800 square feet and we’ll have a full commercial kitchen, seating for fifty inside, as well as outdoor seating for twenty when the weather warms up. We’ll also have room for an express area for you to run in to grab your morning coffee, latte, and a pastry or muffin, and run out again! (So cool!) And in a few months we’ll be opening our new small bar also. Things are really looking up for Sugar Mamas’!

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