Free $25 Woos People to Meeting in Eden Prairie

An estimated 1,400 members and guests of SPIRE Federal Credit Union turned out for the organization's annual meeting on Saturday, wooed by a special incentive: Each person received a free $25 for attending the gathering.

This was SPIRE's second year offering the free $25 with the 2013 meeting held at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. Last year, about 1,200 SPIRE members attended the 2012 annual meeting, said Dan Stoltz, president and CEO of the nearly 64,000-member credit union. 

Prior to offering the $25 money incentive, SPIRE's previous annual meetings only attracted about 150 menbers, Stoltz said. 

Besides giving members the free $25, SPIRE also presented an inspirational speaker, Devon Harris, a member of Jamaican bobsled team that participated in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. The team's adventures inspired the Walt Disney movie "Cool Runnings."

Currently, SPIRE has 11 branch locations including ones in Roseville, Eden Prairie, Woodbury and Eagan. The credit union has a branch in Maple Grove and plans to dedicate new offices in March in Maple Grove.