[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATIONS TO KEKAHA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the 
Kekaha Federal Credit Union on winning the 2005 Dora Maxwell Social 
Responsibility Award.
  Chartered in 1938 to serve the employees of the Kekaha Sugar Company, 
the Kekaha Federal Credit Union has expanded its membership to include 
all businesses and individuals throughout the island of Kauai. It also 
acts as a Community Development Credit Union, catering to the financial 
needs of low-income individuals. The Kekaha Federal Credit Union has 
over 1,500 members.
  In January 2004, the Kekaha Federal Credit Union initiated a 
partnership with the Kekaha Elementary School to support and encourage 
student achievement and raise school-wide standardized rest scores. 
Kekaha Elementary School serves a community of 3,700 residents, 
dominated by low-income, native Hawaiian and immigrant families. At the 
school, 11 percent of the student body speak English as a second 
language, 49 percent are Native Hawaiian (a historically disadvantaged 
group), and 62 percent qualify for free or reduced lunches due to low-
income status. Many students live in single-parent homes or face 
situations that are not conducive to learning.
  As part of their partnership, the credit union and the school 
established the Maximum Communication Journal program, also known as 
the MAX Program. The MAX Program has become the cornerstone to learning 
at the school, as students must keep a journal of class activities and 
homework, including notes and notices from teachers and the school. 
Each student is then required to have his/her parents or guardians read 
and sign the MAX notebook each week. This ensures communication between 
the students, parents, teachers, and the school.
  With the incentive of prizes that include boogie boards, movie passes 
and bicycles, students are instructed to write in their MAX journals 
and have their parents read and sign it every week. In order to earn a 
chance to win a prize, students have to write in their MAX journals and 
have their parents read and sign it every week. Prizes were also given 
to the class with the highest percentage of completed and signed 
journals. Prizes are given at the school's monthly assembly. Often, 
parents and guardians attend these assemblies.

  By all measures, this program has been a great success. The program's 
goal of 80 percent student participation has been achieved for the past 
four semesters and, more importantly, Kekaha Elementary School has 
achieved passing levels in the State of Hawaii standardized tests each 
of the last two times the tests have been administered.
  Students and parents alike are excited and have a sense of 
accomplishment. Billy Smith, the principal of Kekaha Elementary School, 
explained: ``The celebration assemblies are fun and crazy. Parents are 
invited to attend and the kids are happy and excited.'' Students have 
become more responsible as they see tangible results for their MAX 
participation.
  Dora Maxwell is recognized as one of the original pioneers of the 
credit union movement. This award was created to promote social 
responsibility among credit unions by formally recognizing and 
celebrating their social achievements. The Dora Maxwell Social 
Responsibility Recognition Award is awarded to credit unions, based on 
seven asset-size categories, and to specific chapters for outstanding 
social responsibility projects in the community in which they are 
located.
  I want to recognize and commend Kekaha Federal Credit Union not only 
for sponsoring this important and innovative program, but for receiving 
this national recognition by the Credit Union National Association. 
This award is just another example of the great work and strong 
personal relationships that our credit unions provide their respective 
communities, and represents a perfect union of the very best of credit 
unions and community service.