First,
the new Suite Caroline U22 Debit Mastercard is out and I tested mine out at the mall today! My little sis is turning 11 soon, so I wanted to get her a crystal. She collects Swarovski crystals. I got her a little duck. She’s gonna love it! The cashier told me how cool she thought my card was, and I told her I agree. Of course, I felt a little awkward saying it was the Suite Caroline card, so I just smiled. She said she had never seen a card decorated so cute! She said it made her happy just to look at it. I smiled again. “Me too,” I said.

Second,
I will be singing the National Anthem at the Rays v. NY Game at Tropicana Field on July 31, 2010, and for me, that is going to be a really big deal! The game is supposed to be sold out and that means thousands of people! oooooo! I prepare differently to play the anthem than I do for other shows, because it is such a song of reverence. Not only that, but everyone knows it so well. The pressure is really on not to mess up. Plus, the whole place goes quiet for it, for a little added pressure. I hope you come to the game, and that you get to your seat early.

I will try and do a good job!

Lastly,
Make sure to enter the U22 Takes Over the Trop Contest and you could watch the game and hear my National Anthem rendition for FREE.

This is your BIG CHANCE to get involved in the big time!! If you are between the ages of 12-22 (like me) you can enter to fill one of four VVEERRYY cool positions:

1. You could be the junior bat boy/girl for the game (just don’t stand too close to home plate .. u know why!)
2. You could throw out the ceremonial first pitch (notice how we have to say ceremonial, so you realize that you are not actually pitching to the first professional batter up in the game LOL)
3. You could be the junior announcer, and help call all the action as it happens (this one would be good for my cousin Danny, because he knows A LOT about the team)
4. And this one may be my fave … you can sing during the 7th inning stretch!!!Oh, and I bet now u are wondering how to enter….

All you have to do is submit a video or photo at http://www.u224u.com/get-in-the-game before July 14th. Good Luck!!!!

I’M A DEBIT CARD! I’M A DEBIT CARD! Well you may think I meant to say that I HAVE a debit card. But nope, I meant to say that I am one!

GTE Federal Credit Union’s U22 Account now has a Suite Caroline U22 card and if you have ever seen my website or my myspace then you will know what this card looks like. It has pretty colors and peace signs and flowers. Totally love it!! If you already have a U22 Account just tell your branch you want to get the new Suite Caroline card and they will handle it. Or you can call the awesome people at member services 888.871.2690 x 40401. Or if you don’t have a U22 Account, now is a great time to become a member of GTE Federal Credit Union so you can get the cool design! Check it out!!!

The U22 Account is for 12 to 22 year olds! Learn more about how you can become a member. Click Here

I went to my branch today and asked them to order mine and they said it would arrive in the mail in about a week!! Can’t wait hope you like it too!!

I had the best day today! I got to play a concert at the new GTE Federal Credit Union branch in St. Petersburg, FL. It is such a pretty new building!! It is across the street from Perkins Elementary School. I played a concert as a reward to some of the classes for their hard work on the FCAT. They could just walk across the street from the school, and GTE Federal Credit Union is right there! I got to tell them about the U22 checking account. Some of the kids were 12, so they were old enough to sign up for one. The kids even had signs asking me to sing some of my songs that they like. I played about 6 songs, and then I did a question and answer session. After that, I signed autographs and the funniest thing happened!! A mom asked me to sign her BABY! I’ve never been asked that before!! I signed on her onesie!! She was soooo sweet!!!! (Jennifer-My mom will send you a pic of that and maybe one of the concert too) The branch manager even had cake for all of us. It was so cool to see how GTE Federal Credit Union is more than a credit union to that community. The branch manager also invited some St. Petersburg officials and some parents and grandparents to attend the show. Everyone had a great time (especially me!) and I thank both GTE Federal Credit Union and Perkins Elementary School!! You really made me feel special!!

So, with my checking account, comes actual checks!

If you have never written a check before, and a lot of kids haven’t, it is really easy.

This is how I typically do it:

1. The simplest thing is to write the date on the date line first.
2. Then you have to fill in the line “To pay to the order of.” Sometimes that is a person, sometimes it is a business. I had to pay my Macy’s bill with a check, ouchie!!
3. Then you write in the dollar amount like this, $25.14. On the line underneath you have to write out the amount in “long hand.” That means you write “Twenty Five Dollars and 14/100.” I guess this is so the people with really bad writing have two shots at the bank being able to read the real amount! LOL.
4. The last thing is very important!! YOU HAVE TO SIGN YOUR CHECK!! Sounds like no biggie, but with all of the other writing you have already done at that point, it can be easy to skip over. Hahahaha. Does this all make sense??

I actually use checks a lot! Sometimes I even write my mom checks when I owe her money. I also write checks off my GTE Federal Credit Union U22 account when I need to pay my band. Sometimes when we play a gig they only write us one check, and they usually make the check out to me. So I deposit it and then pay the band their part of it. I just love writing checks. My mom says it is not nearly as thrilling when you are older. LOL. But for now, it makes me feel responsible. And maybe when I’m old it will still be fun because I had such a good start at it!!!

The winner was Matt W. from Bradenton, Florida, and we had a great JAM last weekend!! It was fun getting to play a duet, and he did awesome for his first big performance – didn’t seem to have any major nerves at all!!!

As for strawberries, well, what can I say about the FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL??? WWOOWW~!!

I got to the stadium really early in the morning the day of my concert, and as soon as I rounded the corner to do sound check I saw my U22 Billboard looking right back at me! I dropped my jaw, and started jumping up and down! I knew it was going to be a great day!! AND IT WAS!!!! Lots of you got to use your preferred seating tickets from the GTE FCU branches. And that was great to look out into that huge crowd and see so many of you that were there to be a part of my big day!! I think the concert went great, but I think the biggest hit was the U22/Suite Caroline guitar pics that I threw out from the stage!! I am still getting requests for those, but they are ALL gone!!! And did you see the awesomely cool ATMs all over the festival grounds? Yep, I was on those too. I have to say that little cartoon of me makes me smile. So thank you GTE FCU, U22 and all the really nice people at the Strawberry Festival. I like to sing about DREAMING BIG, and this was a big one come true!!

I, too, want to express gratitude to everybody for giving Matt an incredible experience!

Caroline and her family: You are a special family and we are blessed to have enjoyed the “process” with all of you (Ellie included)!  What natural talent (we are some of your best fans, Caroline!) We appreciate the patience, the practices, and all the positive energy and encouragement during our first “performance”.

Doug, Jen, and GTE Federal Credit Union: We all appreciate the new guitar, the lessons (which helped him tremendously), the tickets, and the special attention.

Communication during the whole process and enthusiasm for making this a special event for Matt was contagious and exceptional!

The experience for Matt (and us) is one to remember for a lifetime!

Wow.
Thank you!
Matt’s Mom Kim

Matt here! Alright this weekend felt great! We did a wonderful rehearsal at Caroline’s house with mics and amps! It was so much fun! Also I feel very comfortable on the songs Blank Piece by Caroline herself! I must be dreaming by The Maine,  Two is better than one by Boys like Girls and Just Another Story by Me! I think that this will be a great concert and Thanks to Caroline and her family for letting us practice at their wonderful home!!

-Matt Walden

GTE Federal Credit Union Suite Caroline Strawberry Jam Contest Winner

Check out the U22 youth checking account for 12 to 22 year olds at www.U224U.com. Because learning about money is important no matter what your age.