From our local community bank
"Bill's energy, creativity and commitment to the mission of Alternatives Federal Credit Union played a vital role in the economic development of the Ithaca community."
Greg Hartz
Tompkins Trust Company CEO
"Bill's energy, creativity and commitment to the mission of Alternatives Federal Credit Union played a vital role in the economic development of the Ithaca community."
Greg Hartz
Tompkins Trust Company CEO
What can I say other than "you are my hero" and thanks for all that you and your CU has taught me. Mike Vadalla
Best Wishes, Leanne McGuinness
It was a pleasure visiting Alternatives. We met so many wonderful people during our visit. Thank you for your hospitality and everything you have done for credit unions. Enjoy your retirmenet. Laurie Baker
Thank you Tom Hoebbel for posting photos of the Alternatives Annual Meeting / Retirement Event
You may request photos online if you like.
Each of these pieces uses a unique letter-to-pitch mapping system that Mer Boel developed so that names could be "spelled" in music Then this pitch series is used to inspire the rest of the piece. The intent is to evoke personality and characteristics, or to illuminate hidden aspects of psyche
Bill.wma Composed by Mer Boel, performed by Water Bear: Mer Boel, Ruth Roland, and Hank Roberts.
William.wma Composed by Hank Roberts, performed by Water Bear: Mer Boel, Ruth Roland, Tim Reppert, and Hank Roberts.
A Different Bill.wma A Commission by Judy Swann. Composed by Mer Boel, performed by Water Bear: Mer Boel and Hank Roberts.
Our Board and staff wish you a happy, healthy retirement. You have been a positive influence on the growth and development of our credit Union.
Congratulations,
Gates Chili FCU
I am so happy that your were here while I painted the Mural for Alternatives. It was wonderful to get to meet you. I wish you the best of Luck with your new ventures. Hope to see you around town, Ithaca Paint & Decorating, Farmer's Market. Thank-you so much for choosing me as your Muralist for Alternatives. I will never forget the experience.
Lots of Luck & Love,
MaryBeth Ihnken
Let's see. First memory is your eyes lighting up when you heard I was intending to be in Ithaca for the long term. Next would be that of a pretty very pregnant lady waltzing through behind the teller line as if she belonged there (Nancy Myers, with Tessa). Then there's you holding Tessa, who, with her fat baby cheeks, your eyes, & your direct eye contact, looked exactly like a mini-you.
Other memories -
- You trusting me to figure out loan programs (student loans, debit cards, SBA approval).
- You assigning me to multiple clumps and the formation of multiple policies.
That trust, and ability to work independently within the community focuesed support and assistance structure you created, has changed my life for the better.
Mary Ziegler
Director of Consumer Lending
It has been a pleasure working with you at Alternatives. Although I have only been at the Credit Union half as many years as you, I am glad to be a part of a successful community oriented financial institution that started with your visionary outlook and a mission to serve the low income and underserved.
I will particularly miss your professional and friendly manner in dealing with the staff. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and hope to see you around.
Miroslav Knezevic
VISA Specialist
From all the staff at Members United Corporate FCU we appreciate all the business we have done together over the years. Best wishes for the future.
Kevin
Pres, NE Operations
I feel honored to be the last person you hired at Alternatives. I feel blessed to be returning to Ithaca with a job that actually means something & represents your 28 years of vision here. I wish you all the best in the future.
Suzanne Cerquone
Director of Marketing
Bill - I've spent almost half my life with you & celebrated so many wonderful life events with you, watched our children grow into wonderful young and then not so young adults - lots of challenges & ups & downs. I've learned & grown & had so many rewarding experiences holding on to your coat tails as you've moved more than a mile a minute, more than a new idea or product or program a minute - Always at the head of the pack, never satisfied with the last success, always moving on to the next challenge. Thru the great, rewarding times & the rough times too, it's been amazing - so many opportunities for growth & seeing the impact of our work in the community - I know you will find great challenges with your new work, great successes & wish you much happiness. Carol Chernikoff, Chief Lending Officer
We wish you all the best as your start your new adventures with credit unions and community development. It has been a real pleasure to work iwth you and we hope to see you often on the road!
Best Wishes
Gigi Hyland & Chris Revere
Thank you for your endless contributions to the NYS Credit Union community and for your ongoing support of the NYS Credit Union League.
Bill Mellin and the NYS Credit Union League
Maybe the only true CU in America
Frank Pollack, CEO
Pentagon FCU
What impressed me in a big way about you, Bill, was that you never acted uppity. What other CEO you know would work as a teller just so he would not lose touch? In the early days of AFCU, when there was a bit of a profit, you did not take a chunk for yourself, but said: Let's divide it equally amongst all the people who work here. What a guy! You were the big reason I kept my AFCU account, when I moved to Arizona, California, France and now North-Carolina.
Wishing you happy retirement. You deserve it!
Jenny Linde
Treat everything and everyone in your care
with respect and love
Bill, the pride I feel in your accomplishments must not just be because I'm your Mother. It is so very heart warming to know so many others share in my love for you and appreciation for your selfless accomplishments. And even more important you have been able to do this and also have a happy home life; You and Nancy can take great pleasure and pride in knowing that your children have good values and are well equipped to also make a difference for good in the world Love and Best Wishes to you and Nancy
Lou Groves, Proud Mother
Cool cover on the CU magazine. You are certainly my hero. I cannot think of anyone in the movement who deserves more praise. Hang around down here when you have some time. I have an extra bedroom and bath.
Thad Moore
Vice President
Self-Help
Having worked with you for 25 years I feel deserving of the front page. Now that the party's over, the Credit Path Seminar a distant memory, the living wage refigured and the CEO search culminated - I may have a few minutes to ponder life at Alternatives without you. But wait - bleck - you hate sentimentality.
Without you I'll love my better (?) half - Who will play bad cop? If you're the head and I'm the heart, how will the heart beat? So much of my role has been the go between - between you & staff - Letting people know when you said something nice about them (in lieu of a pat on the back). I fear my job may become obsolete.
You will be missed. But don't worry - Know those mistakes you say the new CEO should make? We'll make them! And we'll work hard to keep Alternatives the important institution it is.
Love,
Leni
Interim Chief Executive Officer
My memories of the cool house we used to be in on Albany St ... My mind got blown the day all the tellers were wearing tie dies & I realized Jerry had dies. That’s when this became my bank.
Thanks for being
Blessings on all your endeavors
Aleta Weaver
It wasn’t until today that I discovered you were also a founding member of what I always referred to as Some-Kinda-Harda Bakery. My first experience with their product - and last - was a "natural" cookie that surely was intended as a green building material. Maybe the straw bale contractors could use the recipe!!! I’m glad you changed career directions!!!!
Congratulations on your many successful years as founder and CEO of Alternatives. May you enjoy continued success in your new endeavors.
Janet Mara
Things won't be the same, hopefully OK
Greg Heist
I tell my students about you saying your goal was "to stay marginal," to always be pushing the limits & trying new community development models. Thank for your leadership and inspiration.
Mildred Warner
All the Best Joel Vuong
Nice to see a happy face every time I come in.
Live Long and Prosper
Fred Klock
Bill, from planet Keith
Keith Rosar
The mark you’ve left on the community has been overwhelmingly positive. We should all be so lucky to be able to say that. Best of luck with future projects.
Penny Carpenter
I remember DFD taking over your office for the meetings and to listen to your stereo.
Andrew Sackett
Thanks for all your work for this community
Thamora Fishel
Congratulations on your retirement. We wish you much happiness as you enjoy retirement.
Warmly, your Montana friends - Karen Dunn Smith & Jeanne Saarinen
I was just catching up on my reading and saw the article about you in the CUNA Credit Union magazine. what a phenomenal career! Your life speaks directly to what the credit union movement is all about - people helping people.
I am not sure what retirement holds in store for you, but I simply cannot imagine a person of your caliber resting on his laurels. I'm guessing I will read about you somewhere along the way, doing good things to help those in need. The credit union industry will miss you, but your legacy will carry on. I am proud to have known you and proud to consider you one of my colleagues. I wish you the very best in whatever you do.
With warm personal regards,
Joseph P Herbst
Chief Executive Officer
Members United Corporate Federal Credit Union
Bill - June 14-2007
You started something very special 28 years ago when you had a vision for Alternatives. I feel blessed to have found your vision and have been able to call it my home for the past 3+ plus years. Many lives have been altered through your vision and ideas for Alternatives. My life has been forever changed and I thank you for the opportunity. Thanks for creating a work place that is like no other and "fathering" a CU that is a model for so many others. Best of luck in all that you do and put your heart in.
Peace and much Love,
Brendan Wilbur
IDA Coordinator
I hardly knew thee. Well, I guess I'd say I've been here long enough (ten months? no nine months now) to see the kind of guy your are. The kind of guy whose office is incredibly neat.
Also, generous, warm hearted, good humored, and apparently blessed with the rare combination of vision and drive that allows for the creation of a place as amazing as Alternatives. I am glad Jenn and I had a chance to sit with you at the holiday party. I will also long remember the introduction to the Credit Path seminar which you gave, preceeding my section on the member service department. Hearing you present on that subject was so educational. I actually made some key changes to my presentation after hearing some really inspirational insights from you. Thanks for that! Thanks also for this wonderful institution. As a member and as a staff person, I am so grateful that AFCU is part of this town, part of this world! I know your next adventure will be just as great. Good luck with it!
Best wishes
Casey Martinson
Member Service Representative
My memories of you and AFCU are of course only brief. In the few months that I have been here, I can say honesly that my only regret was that I did not work here sooner. You are a true leader, and I am honored to be part of your staff, if only for a little while.
I hope our paths cross again in the future, and I wich you good luck and great success in all you do!
Bob Anderson
Business Loan Officer
This doesn't seem real. I don't suppose it will sink in until I view your vacant office. Maybe not then even.
Thank you so much for the trust and respect you're placed in me. I think I'm finally learning to trust myself too.
You and Alternatives have meant so much much to me. Coming to work here was life-changing. I know I'm never one to volunteer to speak, but I could speak volumes about how this work place has been one in which I could learn, grown, stumble, learn, grow, stumble, learn ... and how becoming a part of Alternatives has enriched my life beyond my imagining. Thank you.
Melissa
Director of Member Services
Hired by Bill and Carol in February 1985. Watching Anna, Blake, Tessa, and Ben grow into adulthood.
Working with Cate, Lynda, Ginny. Meeting Lou, Tom, Krys, Vince and Nancy.
Seeing Bill's vision grow into this national model for community development.
Alternatives has been a great place to work.
Thank you Bill!
Karl Graham
Senior Accountant
What can Lou & I say?
Best- Joe Cassaniti
I appreciate your vision & commitment to "making a difference" Good luck in future endeavors.
Brian Henehan
Your smiles and friendly demeanor will be missed. Enjoy retirement.
Leeanne White & Boys
Thanks for creating a great place to work! I've reconnected with many old friends since working here. Alternatives is really the heart of True Ithaca. Good luck in the future and for Pete's Sake RELAX a little.
Anita Ocasio-Peebles
Thanks for everything. All the best as a frequent flier. Happy trails ... Dick Furnas
Thanks Bill - from Nancy Burston, Kathy Schlather, Ed Swayze and the rest of the Human Services Coalition staff and Board!
My chief memory of Bill is that he always nods and smiles when he sees me. Even for a long-time member, such acknowledgement is a big pleasure.
Ellen Hobbie
Thanks for all you have done for the Credit Union: the community.
Howard Hartnett
When I first came to Ithaca I did 2 things: 1) get a library card 2) get an account at Alternaties. I also decided at that time I wanted to work at Alternatives, and I did!
Carolyn Gomez
We could use you on our board, TEFCU
B Emery
J McMullen
Thanks, I have been a member for at least 12 years and would not go anywhere else.
Good luck
Steve Mendelsohn
Best Wishes.
Denn Kolva
