Chairman's Challenge Thank You!

Your advocacy efforts are truly making a difference! Last week at GAC, we set a new record, raising an incredible $14,280 for the Dakotas—our biggest fundraising week ever!

By Chesney Garnos and John Alexander, DakCU Advocacy Team

Last week was one for the books! The 2025 Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, DC allowed for time well spent with credit union colleagues from across the Dakotas. We are genuinely grateful for all of those who took time out of your busy schedules to attend the GAC and hill visits with our delegation, including U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, U.S. Senator John Hoeven, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson, U.S. Representative Julie Fedorchak, and U.S. Leader John Thune. It was a great week advocating for the credit union difference!
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Chairman’s Challenge
A huge THANK YOU to each of our donors for your support during the GAC Chairman’s Challenge and Sweepstakes. Your grassroots contributions fuel our advocacy, ensuring we have a strong voice to protect and advance the credit union movement. With Chad Moller and Paul Bruecker leading the charge in South Dakota and North Dakota, we achieved an record breaking fundraising milestone for Dakota credit unions.

Every effort counted, and South Dakota secured a 3-peat victory in this year’s Chairman’s Challenge! South Dakota raised $7,975 and North Dakota brought in $6,305, pushing our total to $14,280 in just four days.

We couldn’t have done this without each of you. A special thank you to those who made this record-breaking year possible—our generous donors listed below!
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South Dakota
Aspen Federal Credit Union:
• Pamela Brown-Graff
Black Hills Federal Credit Union:
• Frank Bettmann
• Holli Edwards
• Matt Fitting
• Sean Lamb
• Rick Preble
• Jarrod Reisner
• Jerry Schmidt
• Ryan Shipley
• Amelia Thompson
• Mark Wixon
Bluestone FCU:
• Alayna Johnson
• Jeff Jorgensen
​Dakota Credit Union Association:
• Chesney Garnos
• Jeff Olson
Dakotaland FCU:
• Barbara Baus
• Nancy Boltz
• Amy Busch
• Ryan Goehner
• Mike Kluth
​• Char McDonald
• Chad Moller
• Jennifer Peskey
• Sarah Senska
• Lisa Snedeker
• Leslie Tenbensel
​Fort Randall FCU:
• Audrey Fink
• Julie Thomson
​Healthcare Plus FCU:
• Michelle Clemens
• Helen Torrence
• Guy Trenhaile
• Carrie VanOrman
​Highmark FCU:
• Melinda Howard
• Janice Kappelman
• Hannah Taylor
​Levo FCU:
• Fran Sommerfeld
M-O FCU:
• Gail Broer

Norstar FCU:
• Jay Kruse​
Northern Hills FCU:
• Renae Collins
• Drew Gertsch
• Barbara Kocer
• Afton Klode
• Sonja Merrow
• Cassie Pannone
• Rachelle Schneider
• Kip Wagner
• Misty Winter
Oahe FCU:
• Jaymason Bramblee
• Rosanne Summerside
• Dawn Van Ash
Sentinel Federal Credit Union:
• Dorothy Voorhees
Voyage FCU:
• Tiffany Mutchler
• Jeffrey Schmidt
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​​North Dakota
Capital CU:
• Jon Griffin
• Abigail Hermanson
• Ryan Monson
• Kay Zander-Woock
Dakota Credit Union Association:
• John Alexander
• George McDonald
• Jeff Olson
First Community CU:
• Steve Davis
• Chelsey Francis
• Craig Grundstrom
• Steve Schmitz
Fargo VA FCU:
• Emily Fyre
Hometown CU:
• Harold Hagen
​North Star Community CU:
• Dean Aanderud
• Josie Berg
• Debra Black
• Mike Black
• Bonita Eversvik
• Michael Foster
• Yvonne Fossen

North Star CU Continued:
• Tana Galbreath
​• Chris Heidt
• Bob Herrington
• Michele Herrington
• Lynn Justinak
• Alex Kalliokoski
• Rod Maddock
• Moriah McDannald
• Ronelle Mehlhoff
• Tammy Meyer
• Stephanie Murray
• Randie Ova
• Chad Peterson
• Jaime Schwede
• Karen Smith
• Barbara Welk
• Anita Zietz
​​Postal Family FCU:
• Karen Andersen
Railway CU:
• Chad Bartosh
• Dustin Bitz
• Paul Brucker
• Heather Fleck
• Derrick Hertz
Town and Country CU:
• Jennifer Jerauld
• Kalli Schell
• Shannon Webster
United Savings CU:
• Caroline Gerner
• Bonnie Mohr
• Heidi Peterson
• Jim Schaefbauer
• Krista Torbert
University FCU:
• Taylor Anderson
• Lacey Fetsch
Vue Community CU:
• Steven DeLap
Western Cooperative CU:
• Jason DeLorme
• Laurel Gangl
• Shailoh Kovash
• Justin Maddison
• Scott Schwindt 
• Melanie Stillwell