Shortly before I officially launched Mount Union PA (the organization), I mentioned my plans to a friend and colleague who said it would harm another local organization. I did then, and still do, strongly disagree since our goals are as different as night and day. The other organization has a board of directors who, for the most part, are either new to the area or too young to remember what our community was like less than half a century ago. It was booming and, yet, that period of prosperity was far less than it was 30 years before then!
Later, the same friend said I shouldn't expect to make all the changes myself. I don't expect that. What I expect is for our local businesses, organizations, families and individual citizens -- and those who call Mount Union home, regardless of where they now live -- to work together as a team. A team of committed people willing to share their talents, ideas, time, energy and resources to overcome any and all of our area's challenges.
No leader ever won a battle single-handed. No company ever produced a first-class product without first-class people and providers. American astronauts may have walked solo on the moon, but 220 million American citizens flew them there.
History proves that none of us can be the best at everything. But when all of us combine our strengths, we can and will be the best at virtually anything.
Great families, friendships and neighborhoods; great sports teams, communities and schools. The miracle is this: Teamwork has its own arithmetic. Combine two or more people in the pursuit of a common purpose, and suddenly one-plus-one is more than two. Together we are always able to accomplish what none of us could achieve alone.
Working together works!
What Drives Me
Helping everyone who lives in the Mount Union area is my first priority. No local, county, state or federal agency pays me anything. I do this because Mount Union is my hometown and I believe it has the potential to once again become the "industrial hub" of Huntingdon County.
I've lived here most of my life and I want to see it grow and prosper like never before. That's why I promote our area so much; as well as research projects that have been successful in other communities and pass that information along to local groups.
I started Mount Union PA (the organization) and this website in June 2006 to promote our area to a regional, national and worldwide audience. With your generous support, I've been able to cut back on my real job and work on it 15 to 20 hours a week.
It's just me and only me, Paul Prough, working away here. It costs me thousands of dollars a year to host and maintain this website ... and advertise Mount Union in travel guides, restaurant place mats, membership directories, and in several publications. (Some of the ads are displayed throughout this site.) It's because all expenses are paid out of my pocket that I appreciate your support.
Free Ways to Help
If you want to improve your personal or business life, be a better leader, inspire your team, build your bottom line, increase your membership roster or customer base, or communicate your ideas more effectively, clicking this link will help me to keep helping our area. If you use that link I get credit regardless of what you order and you pay not one cent more. I've ordered from Walk The Talk and always learned more than I expected. That's why I so strongly recommend their books and programs.
Donations
Families and individuals who want to see our area grow and prosper provide donations to help cover expenses. Local groups that want to help can become sponsors. More support comes from Walk The Talk as thanks for when you click through and order from them.
It's important to me that everyone in every corner of the globe can learn all about Mount Union and the opportunities available here.
If it's a stretch, please don't feel obligated to send me anything. It is for our area that I do this.
If you insist, of course I greatly appreciate gifts. I use these donations to help pay for this website, publication advertising, a newsletter that's mailed to all members, information researched and provided to our local groups, membership in local and regional economic development organizations, etc. Nothing you donate ends up in my pocket ... every penny of every donation goes to promoting our beautiful area.
Every single donation, regardless of how trivial it may seem, is an enormous help since I'm just one guy. I'm not a tax-deduction: in fact, I pay income taxes on everything you send me! I genuinely and personally appreciate each and every bit. It would be fantastic if you could share something to help me help everyone in our entire area.
Not sure how much to donate? These are just some suggestions: > $10 could be thought of as 83¢ a month or less than 3¢ a day. > $24 = $2 a month or less than 7¢ a day. > $36 = $3 a month or less than 10¢ a day.
You're welcome to mail me anything. Making a donation gets you nothing other than my sincere appreciation and your satisfaction of knowing you are helping to make our area greater than it has been for many years. Any and all generosity helps far more than you can imagine!
Sponsorship
Any business, organization, family or individual can become a Sponsor and gets these benefits:
> Your name and address highlighted on the Member page with a link to a separate page for your profile.
> The space for your profile is unlimited. You can include photographs and as much information as you want others to know.
> Your name on every page for Organizations.
> Your name on every page for Churches (still under construction).
> Your name included in all newsletters.
> Your name included in all correspondence.
> Membership in a sponsors-only advisory group to help determine where and how often to promote our area.
> A customized, personalized, frame-ready certificate.
> My unending thanks!
The minimum investment for a Sponsorship is just $96.00 a year. That breaks down to only $1.85 a week or LESS than 27¢ a day! And, if it's more convenient, you can pay it semi-annually ($48 every six months).
Please make your check payable to Mount Union PA and mail it to me. I will contact you to get all of the information you want on your Sponsor website page. If you want to include photos, I'll be happy to take them for you at no charge.
Any amount you can donate, whether as a Sponsor or not, is greatly appreciated and helps me to keep promoting Mount Union, Pennsylvania as an excellent business, industrial and residential community.