OCUS publications win AACUL Pro & Blockbuster Awards

Ohio Credit Union League wins five national awards
Brand Blitz, publications earn CUNA Pro & Blockbuster honors

The Ohio Credit Union League won five First Place awards and three Honorable Mentions in the 2002 CUNA Pro & Blockbuster Awards. First Place Awards went to the League Cooperative Advertising Committee's Brand Blitz, Interest Magazine, the 2000 Annual Report, and the League's Affiliation Folder. Honorable Mentions were awarded for the eLeaguer newsletter, Web site, and the OCUS Quote-A-Day Calendar.

OHIO CU 'BRAND BLITZ' WINS TOP BLOCKBUSTER AWARD
The Ohio Credit Union League Cooperative Advertising Committee’s 2001 Brand Blitz promotion has won First Place in the 25th Annual Pro & Blockbuster Awards competition sponsored by CUNA & Affiliates.

The awards -- which recognize leagues and their affiliated organizations for excellence in marketing and public relations -- were presented June 24 in Washington, D.C., during a conference of league communications professionals. The 2001 Brand Blitz claimed the top award for “Best Use of the National Credit Union Brand Signature and Slogan.”

The Brand Blitz was a three-month cooperative promotion engineered by the League's Chapter Cooperative Advertising Committee and produced and administered by League Communications Director Becky Hart. It branded credit unions as places "Where people are worth more than money" using the star-and-hands "America's Credit Unions" logo developed by CUNA. Hundreds of Ohio credit unions participated in the 2001 Brand Blitz by featuring the brand logo on newsletters, web sites, member give-aways, and signage. Chapter advertising committees promoted the credit union brand through the use of billboards, television and radio commercials. The League also created a permanent online brand merchandise store for the Brand Blitz.

“The Brand Blitz is an excellent example of how effective Ohio credit unions can be when we work cooperatively,” said Hart, who accepted the award on behalf of the Cooperative Advertising Committee.

MAGAZINE, ANNUAL REPORT, AFFILIATION PACK WIN TOP AWARDS
The Ohio Credit Union League captured a total of five First Place awards in the 25th Annual Pro & Blockbuster Awards competition. In addition to the Brand Blitz (see article above), the Ohio League’s Interest Magazine was named Best League Publication in its budget category, and also claimed the award for Most Improved Publication. Interest Magazine debuted in January 2001, replacing and incorporating the League's High Spots newsletter. This is the first year it was eligible to be entered in the Pro & Blockbuster Awards.

The League’s 2000 Annual Report was named Best League Annual Report in its category. Ohio also claimed First Place awards for the 2001/2002 League Affiliation Packet, which was included in credit unions’ dues mailing last year.

Publications manager Scott Biggs produces Interest Magazine in-house with contributions by OCUS staff and Ohio credit unions. Biggs also created the 2000 Annual Report, which featured vintage Ohio postcards from the collection of OCUS consultant Stu Koblentz. Communications Director Becky Hart produced the Affiliation Packet with contributions from League staff.

CUNA reported receiving a record number of entries from Leagues for this year’s Pro & Blockbuster Awards competition. Judges included advertising and communications consultants and professionals from across the country.

WEB SITE, eLEAGUER, QUOTE CALENDAR WIN HONORABLE MENTIONS
The Ohio League also won three Honorable Mention (second place) awards in the Pro & Blockbuster competition.

The Honorable Mention Awards recognized the Ohio League’s Web site at www.OhioCreditUnions.org (League Web site category), the OCUS eLeaguer e-mail newsletter (Online Publication category), and the League’s Quote-a-Day calendar (self-promotion category), which was mailed to CEOs during the 2001 holiday season. This is the second year in a row that the eLeaguer has won an Honorable Mention in the Pro & Blockbuster Awards. The League Affiliation Folder and the Quote-a-Day cCalendar took both a first place and an honorable mention in the self-promotion category.

Publication Manager Scott Biggs produces the eLeaguer and administers and designs the web page with assistance from Jaime Ingalls, Events/Marketing Coordinator for OCUL Services Corp. Communications Director Becky Hart produced the Quote-A-Day Calendar for credit unions.

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