Dakota CU News & Notes

Highmark welcomes new branch manager; a post-election webinar with America’s Credit Unions; and upcoming chapter events. 

Brenda Koehne

DakCU Offices Closed in Observance of Veterans Day
DakCU offices will be closed on Monday, November 11, in recognition of Veterans Day. During “The Great War,” fighting ceased when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week it falls upon. The observance of Veterans Day on November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
 
Highmark Welcomes New Branch Manager
Highmark Credit Union is pleased to welcome Brenda Koehne as the new Branch Manager in Custer, South Dakota. Born and raised in Rapid City, Brenda attended college at USD. She has numerous years of experience in the real estate and banking industry, serving as a realtor, title company escrow officer, and a mortgage loan officer in the Black Hills area.
 
Brenda looks forward to making Custer her home and getting involved in the community. In her free time, she enjoys taking in all the beauty that the Black Hills has to offer and climbing into her convertible to cruise through the Hills. Welcome to the credit union industry, Brenda!
 
Post Election Webinar
America’s Credit Unions advocacy team is hosting a post-election webinar today, November 7 at 1:00 p.m. (CT). Hear election results analysis and what credit unions can expect both in the lame duck session and the 119th Congress. Chief Advocacy Officer Carrie Hunt will lead a discussion exploring challenges for Congress as it faces must-pass year-end bills to fund the government and military; power dynamics at play in 2025; and how America’s Credit Unions, Leagues, and credit unions can work to advance their advocacy agenda. Sign up here.
 
Central Chapter Meeting
The South Dakota Central Chapter will host their next meeting on Tuesday, November 19, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Dakotaland Conference Room. The program will include BSA Training and FinCen Filing led by Lisa Snedeker, Sarah Senska, and Amy Kleinschmit. Kindly RSVP to Lisa Snedeker by Tuesday, November 12.
 
Credit Unions United Food Drive
The Credit Unions United Chapter is collecting canned goods, non-perishables, household paper supplies or toiletries for Cornerstone Soup Kitchen, a local food pantry. Top needs include canned foods (pop tops preferred), peanut butter and jelly, beef jerky and nuts. All donations are appreciated, please pay attention to expiration dates. Items may be dropped off by November 20 at any participating Minot area credit union, including Affinity, Aspire, Minot Area Schools, North Star, and Town & Country.  
 
Red River Chapter Friendsgiving
The Red River Chapter will hold their annual “Friendsgiving” gathering on Tuesday, November 19, at Swing Barrel Brewing, 814 Center Ave. A, Moorhead MN 56560. Dinner will be catered by Jay’s Smoking BBQ for $20/per person. A food drive contest will be held in conjunction with this dinner and all credit unions are encouraged to participate. A $250 prize to a charity of choice will be awarded to the credit union who brings the most donations! Kindly RSVP to [email protected].
 
Red River Chapter Holiday Social
The Red River Chapter will host their annual Holiday Social on Thursday, December 5, at TAK Music Venue in Dilworth, MN. Meet at 5:30 p.m. for dinner and the annual Irish Auction to benefit the Homeward Animal Shelter. Kindly RSVP by November 26 to [email protected].

One Stop GAC Shop
The Governmental Affairs Conference  (GAC) will be held in Washington, D.C. March 2 – 6, 2025. For those interested in attending, DakCU has prepared a “one stop” GAC shop on our website, which you can find here. This convenience allows you to register for the conference, make your hotel reservations, and apply for a scholarship for financial assistance. Please contact John Alexander or Chesney Garnos with any questions about the GAC agenda.
 
GAC Crasher Opportunity
The best way to ensure the continued success of our movement is to capture the attention, dedication, and enthusiasm of future leaders. That is why credit union leaders should encourage their young professionals to expand their industry network and gain confidence by applying as a GAC Crasher. One Crasher is selected from each state. Crashers receive free conference registration. If selected, DakCU is offering a $1,000 scholarship which can be used for travel, hotel, and incidentals. The deadline for applications is December 1 and the application can be found here.

Small CU GAC Scholarships
America’s Credit Unions has launched their 2025 Small CU GAC Scholarship Contest, where one or more lucky winners will again receive full scholarships to the 2025 Governmental Affairs Conference in D.C., March 2-6. The scholarship includes registration, airfare, hotels, and incidentals to the biggest event in our industry! To be eligible for the scholarship prize, participate in the America's Credit Union Small Credit Union Committee's Planning for Future Growth Project, which asks credit unions to share their current organizational chart with the strategies you've employed to fulfill your mission of serving members. Once all the submissions are collected at the end of the year, the Committee will pick the best one(s) and the winner(s) will receive the scholarship(s). All submissions will be turned into a comprehensive resource full of new strategies for your credit union to review and implement at your shops! Click here to participate. Deadline to submit is December 20. Questions? Contact Richard Mohr, America’s Credit Unions Director of Membership at (608) 231-4328.
 
WyHy FCU Seeking a Lead Accounting Coordinator
WyHy FCU is a Wyoming credit union with approximately $380 million in assets. With branches in Cheyenne, Casper, Rock Springs, Lyman and Green River, WY, their footprint spans the entire state of Wyoming. WyHy is currently looking for the perfect individual to fill the role of Lead Accounting Coordinator, joining the Accounting Department in the Cheyenne Branch. Compensation DOE and includes a generous benefits package. To apply no later than November 15, 2024, visit the hiring portal at Work@WyHy. For more information contact HR Director Dorothy Moen at [email protected] or call 307-638-4229.
 
FREE Holiday Signs
DakCU has an assortment of messages for upcoming 2024-2025 federal holidays FREE for your use on your credit union branch doors, websites, and social media. The signs can be downloaded here. If you need a different size and/or format, don’t hesitate to contact Lindsey Hefta at 701.250.3968.
 
SWAP Contributors – FREE Job Postings on Try a Credit Union
Contributing SWAP members have access to FREE job postings on the Try A Credit Union website! To have a job posted, contact Lindsey Hefta with your job description and she will be happy to assist you. The successful results we are seeing with our state-wide awareness program (SWAP) means we are increasing credit union awareness and consideration of credit unions as a better financial services option for consumers all across the Dakotas! It’s not too late to get on board for 2024. Contact Lindsey to find out how SWAP can reach more consumers in your area.
 
Leadership Development
Our iLead@11 DakCU Emerging Leader Program is designed specifically for credit union professionals in the credit union industry interested in enhancing their careers for advancement. Based on the popular Leadership@11 program designed by Eleven Performance Group, it is an ongoing program that allows participants to start whenever they want and determine their own pace. For a limited time, reduced pricing of just $1,999 per person and scholarships are also available! Learn more here.
 
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Submit your news to Shawn Brummer. Employee promotions, awards, new products or services, community involvement/recognition, job openings, all are welcome! 

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