At 5:30 pm (Pacific time) on October 24th, 2009 A.D. people from all over the world will be dancing Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I will be one of those people. Why? Because folks dig a common bond.
(Just two days back in the Northwest and I’m talking like a hippie again)
Anyway – my crazy friend Sarah Bang is always looking for events to bring people together. She gets the power of common bond. In June of this year I flew from New York to Portland to see her march in the Rose Festival Starlight parade as the Lacamas Shores Umbrella Drill Team.
And now she’s convinced a dozen of her friends to practice, practice, practice so we can be a part of history.
This morning Mark and I walked through our new neighborhood in Camas, Washington. The entire city is home to only 16, 700 people. That would be a small credit union population. In just three miles I walked through three different neighborhoods. I know this because there were signs posted at the entrance to each unique section. We will be living in the East Prune Hill neighborhood in case you were wondering. It’s quite lovely.
This got me thinking about the most basic human need – a sense of belonging.
It starts with your family, of course. But sometimes that isn’t enough. And so throughout life we create micro families. Whether it’s taking up the clarinet to march in the band or painting your body orange and black and cheering on the OSU Beavers, or congregating on Sunday at All Saints Church. We thrive on common bond. I’ve kept my account at Point West CU for 8 years and three out-of-state moves. Why? First, I love the CEO and my MSR Randy, but secondly, my VISA Debit Card has a photo of Portland, Oregon (my home town). Every time I use that card I’m reminded that I belong to some place.
I’m so excited to be moving “back home” and honored to celebrate a common bond with a dozen middle aged professionals by dressing up as a zombie.
For no mere mortal can resist the evil of the Thriller….
Mwaahh Haaaahhh Haaaahhhh Haaaahhhh……
The 2020 Vision of Marketing 
9 comments
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October 19, 2009 at 8:40 am
Sarah Bang
You are so right – people like, no, NEED, to belong. It’s why you see photos of great great great Uncle Oscar on the walls of wealthy homes, they are proving how LONG they have BELONGED. History is belonging. One of the hideous things (among many) we did to the slaves was tear them away from their family, their people, so that they no longer belonged – it was worse than torture. It weakened them. Belonging gives strength, even if it is psychological (ask any breast cancer support group).
October 19, 2009 at 10:06 am
Glenn Coble
I’ve decided to belong to a group (about 30 men) of Marion VIP’s… I know, Denise, how strange it is that I was invited. We are going to take tap lessons for a couple of months and perform at our Christmas extravaganza in tux and tails. I expect you will want ticket information… call me.
October 19, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Niche Banker
Denise, you are dead right about a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, that sense of belonging is something that will not happen (or “come back”) for credit unions unless they stop trying to target everybody and their dogs. I’m not talking about membership eligibility (that’s just a technicality for if you “qualify”), but rather talking about “targeting” by creating something that some people (the right fit members) will love, and others (the wrong fit members) will hate. Today, everybody is in the middle…no love, no hate. Instead, total lack of engagement.
October 21, 2009 at 1:58 pm
rebecca secor
Denise – I’m ecstatic that you’ve made the move back home. The Northwest is swelling with pride 😉
I totally agree with your comments…everyone wants (and as Sarah pointed out NEEDS) to belong. Sam’s Club, the farm co-op, the gym, your girlfriend’s scrapbooking club. It’s human nature.
October 21, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Julee
Pictures please!!!!
November 2, 2009 at 11:51 am
Butch Holley
Speaking of a sense of belonging – I give mad props to T Mobile and their Hey Jude Sing a long in Trafalger Square earlier this year.
November 12, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Debi
Wow I didn’t know that you have come back to the NorthWest how cool is that…. 🙂 So did I read this currectly your home base now again is Camas WA? Wow my sister is at the IQ CU Camas Branch now…. Are you close to that? Hope to see you again soon. You know that you haven’t seen my new hair. Talk with you later. Debi
November 13, 2009 at 9:30 am
Sarah Bang
Here is the link to the video of our Thriller. Denise is on the left in the back row. She practiced with us just a couple of times, but really knew the steps cold. Next year, she’s moving up front!
We had to do a countdown in the beginning to ensure we were dancing at exactly the right moment as everyone else around the world. Talk about belonging!
August 22, 2011 at 1:51 pm
James Robert Lay
Like whoa… blast from the past materializing in the future with http://www.branchinvaders.com