Recognition Awards were presented to New York credit unions during the New York Credit Union Association’s Annual Meeting & Convention at the Sagamore Resort on Lake George June 15–18. The awards were presented during the general session on Friday, June 16.

The Outstanding Volunteer Award recognizes volunteers who exemplify commitment to their credit unions and consistently embody the “people helping people” philosophy. The Association is proud to recognize John Stevenson, who is passionate about the credit union movement, community and his family.

Stevenson, board of directors chair for AmeriCU Credit Union, retired from Anoplate Corporation in Syracuse, and in addition to being actively involved with the credit union, he has volunteered 20+ years with the Syracuse Rescue Mission and Boy Scouts of America.  He also volunteers and holds leadership positions on several boards, including Hamilton Associations, Inc., AmeriCU Services LLC, AmeriCU Capital Management LLC, Jordan Elbridge High School Dollars for Scholars and Town of Elbridge Planning Board. He was the former National Director for the American Electroplaters and Surface Finishing Society, and has committed thousands of dollars and hours to these organizations.

“I have been a volunteer at AmeriCU for 23 wonderful years,” Stevenson said. “When I began my time in 2000, we were known as Upstate Federal Credit Union. We operated six financial centers and had 66,500 members. Since then, I am proud to say that I was on the journey that helped grow the credit union to who we are today — AmeriCU Credit Union with 157,000 members and 20 financial centers. I am grateful to be part of an organization whose mission positively impacts the lives of so many people.”