Kilcullen Credit Union, Co Kildare
The author rallies for change to start where you live.
A local solution for local people.
Frilly Keane writes
Whatever you had to say or not say about last week’s Frill-Bits, This week… tis a “we’re on the one road” call to arms. So do yerself a favour and stop reading now Jonotti. Or whoever you are today.
I know I’ve spoken here and there over the years about Registered Charities, HSE Service Providers, Representative Bodies and the NGO/ Voluntary Sectors in Ireland, and because of the day job I’ve had to behave myself and ‘hould back (Transparency Note: I don’t agree with a CHY Tax designation. Be a Not For Profit operating entity, VAT can be Zero Rate too btw).
However, for the year that’s in it, I’m determined to rally ye into a change that might have a more visible effect in yere own backyard.
Tales of wages benchmarked to the CEOs of PLCs and Multi Nationals, gluttonous expenses and HQ overheads, before we even get to the Pensions bigger than Beckham, are no longer news. That’s sad, but while I blame Revenue, Big 4/Top Tier Firms, and Corporate Enforcement for allowing this behavior become the norm; here’s something I want ye to consider:
STOP GIVING TO THEM
I don’t blame you the lad that buys the daff or runs 10k in a pair of slippers. There is a feel good that you earn. But there are other sources of well being you could try. Buy the brekkies for the next week in your nearest School Breakfast Club. Have you knowledge or skills you can share?
How about helping out their Homework Club. Do you know any local Community Welfare Officers, Social Workers or Carers? Ask them, is there anyone that needs a dig out. A visit every now and again, even if it’s just to swap out a bottle of gas, a box of nappies, or a spin to the post office to collect a pension. Giving away perfectly good prams, bikes, furniture, to family and friends? Find a local family that have had a tough time of it instead.
That’s the behavior that sees immediate effect in your community, and its long lasting.
Annuder one.
Banks. W’da’F have they done for your local patch? Besides trying to own it or Ghost Estate it? The time has come to get back to yere Credit Unions. The very institutions that were there for our Parents and Grandparents, in times of Communions, Funerals, School Uniforms etc, are in serious danger of extinction.
If they are not being suffocated by new Central Bank rules on Investments, Post Office Banking and Online Lending, they are been forced to merge. The Common Bond, a very valuable ethos to our grassroot identity, be it urban or rural, is racing into being a thing of our past.
I appreciate we all have a Credit Union story of mad lending, Assistant Manager jobs for Grandkids who only managed a term of Barber College. Those days are gone. If you have no interest in applying to your local Credit Union for that Car Loan, or that Trip to the World Cup Loan, or the Home Improvement – Man Shed Loan or the College Fees Loan, or clear the Bank Overdraft Loan, or whatever you’re having yourself Loan, then fair enough.
Volunteer. If you have Executive Skills, Management Skills, Marketing Skills, anything that could land into a daycent contribution at Board Level. Stump it up folks. BTW, Compare the lending rates…. You might surprise yourself.
And annudder’ting.
Shop Local. Fair enough, many’s a time I’ve gone for the fifty cent bag’a spuds too. But where would’ya be for the Fruit n’Veg man when you’ve forgotten the fancy herbs for sum’ting special? Or needed a bale of briquettes delivered. Even if it’s just once a week for a bunch of bananas; give them some custom. Show them your face once in a while. Likewise the butcher, baker, dry cleaner etc.
Our local traders, if they’re not being rated out of it, they are being Insurance Premium’ptied into closing down. Anyone been to their nearest pub lately, or who here goes into town to one of the ‘Squares to engage a Solicitor or an Accountant. Again, pick the nearest one to your front door. They might surprise you. Its not much lads. A pint, a pound a sausages and a few heads a’cabbage every week won’t hurt ye.
These are just two extracts from an election flyer received yesterday from a local independent.
“Increasing social and sporting facilities for our local area, with particular emphasis on allotments, community gardens, outdoor gyms and playing pitches “
“Ensuring a safe and clean environment, by focusing on footpath repair, gulley cleaning and tackling illegal dumping”
That’s who I’m voting for.
The Big Banks, The Big Bhoys, The Big Charities, The Big Retailers, The Big Parties. HAVE ALL FAILED US.
If you want to actually see this recovery they’re all taking about. Start it yourself. Strictly, Local.
Frilly Keane’s column appears here every Friday. Follow Frilly on Twitter: @frillykeane
