Name change a bad idea
I have belonged to KCFCU for many years and am against the name change to “Gather FCU.” This takes me back to the 70s with Taylor Camp, hippies and getting high on weed.
I have been corresponding with KCFCU about my negative view on the change and have received adept wording to try to sway my view. I feel this should have been brought to the members as we are the owners of this credit union. I would have requested a financial breakdown of the cost this change is going to cost.
I feel this is disrespectful to the founders who would have named it “Gather” if they felt it was the right representation of what they conceived. Plus, there is no brand recognition with this new name, which KCFCU definitely has.
If others are not behind the name change, please voice your concern and hopefully the name will change back to KCFCU. At least they already have signage, shirts, etc with the KCFCU letterhead.
A saddened KCFCU member.
Marilyn Seligman, Kalaheo
Lewis left a great legacy
Walter Lewis was one of my best friends and probably the finest government watchdog Kauai has ever seen and recently passed away and will be greatly missed by many.
Walter was a brilliant retired lawyer when he and his wife, Glenda, moved to Kauai 30 years ago and his semi-monthly column in TGI, “A Better Kauai” was probably the most read editorial by all those who were eager to know about Kauai’s problems and his learned solutions for solving them.
Walter along with a group of other community activists was instrumental in savings us taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars when KIUC purchased our local utility company and negotiated a sale price that was far less than the price being asked.
Mr.Lewis gave hundreds of hours of gratis legal advice trying to get Kauai to change to a county manager style of government which is being used all over our nation and hopefully one day his efforts will see reality and his work will not have gone in vain.
And, as my friend for many years, Walter would edit letters I wrote to the Forum and testimonies I gave before the council making sure my words and opinions were legally correct!
Whatever Mr Lewis did or tried to do he had only one objective in mind and that was to make this island paradise a better place for all of us to live. His presence will be greatly missed but his accomplishments will remain a legacy for all of us on Kauai.
Glenn Mickens, Kapaa
Marilyn Seligman, I agree, and wondered what the point was when Kauai Community Federal Credit Union was fine and did not need changing.
Marilyn, I agree with you. “Gather FCU” sounds ridiculous. The name change is totally frivolous and unnecessary.
I already had to order new personal checks because they added numbers to all of our accounts, now I gotta reorder because they’re doing an unnecessary name change…? Dumb.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Gather FCU definitely does not have any connection to Kauai and is an unappealing name in general. Change over to KGEFCU, just have to be related to a government worker by some means, even distant and they are much friendlier. The bank cashiers are all awesome to do business with. I changed over many years ago and have never regretted it.
Thank you Glenn for the wonderful letter about Walter! I had such respect for him after having worked with you both on the vital issues facing our Kauai. Walter was a voice of reason in a sea of confusion and will be missed by all who grew to know and love him. And thank you for all you do for Kauai! Your heart of gold and common sense along with Walter’s unmatched intelligence continues to help make Kauai a better place for all. Walter will be missed!
I agree with Marilyn 100%. The name change is an unneeded expense. And I agree that the entire membership should have a say so in the matter.
I did a quick google search and could not find any other credit union in Hawaii that didn’t have a Hawaiian name of a Hawaiian island, town or organization in its name.
I questioned an employee and was told that they had complaints from “some people” that the name, as it was, KCFCU, was “offensive”.
Really!!?? I wonder who that could have come from.
I agree with Marilyn 100%. There’s nothing offensive with saying KCFCU. The KCFCU website says members have a say…but not in this case. GATHER sounds ridiculous. It’s an insult to those who formed KCFCU, don’t you think. Instead of spending money to change the name, give their employees a raise.
KCFCU is very easy to say and everybody always knew what you were referring to. Why was this not put before the members before it was changed. What a waste of valuable time and money. It will always be KCFCU. It will never be a Gather – sounds like a flock of something. Please change it back before it is too late.