Maine’s credit unions were proud to be a Silver sponsor for the Congrès Mondial Acadien/World Acadian Congress, a two-week festival hosted by Acadia of the Lands and Forests in August. The event, which has been held every five years since 1994, is a major celebration of Acadian history and culture, and draws on the community’s commitment and promotes the Acadian culture, heritage, and amenities.

The celebration brings together Acadians from around the world through a series of reunions, conferences, and events. The two-week event was held Aug. 8-24, with events taking place in the St. John Valley in northern Maine, as well as in northwestern New Brunswick and southeastern Quebec. The Congrès Mondial Acadien 2014 had a significant economic impact to the areas where the celebrations took place, bringing in nearly $50 million in revenue.

“The history of the Acadian Culture, and that of Maine’s Credit Unions are strongly connected,” John Murphy, president/CEO of Maine Credit Union League, explained. “We were honored to celebrate the common bond of this shared heritage, as well as the shared philosophy of ‘people helping people’ with this historic occasion.”

This shared philosophy can be seen through the sale of commemorative World Acadian Congress 2014 license plates by Maine’s credit unions. By special legislation passed by the Maine Legislature, these plates can be placed on the front of a vehicle, over the existing plate, through Dec. 31, 2015. That means even though the World Acadian Congress event is over, there is still time to sport the license plate. Stop by most credit unions to pick your commemorative license plate today.

A portion of all plates sold goes to Maine regional committee and to the Maine credit unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. A list of credit unions selling these special plates can be found at www.mainecul.org.