Grassroots Update with Chesney

​Making credit union voices heard with grassroots efforts; CU advocates stepping up in Sioux Falls and Brookings to share issues that affect our industry. 

by Chesney Garnos, Director of Political & Grassroots Affairs

Grassroots Advocacy: Making Credit Unions’ Voices Heard
Grassroots advocacy is a powerful tool for mobilizing the base of credit union membership to influence policy decisions. It leverages the strength of individual members' voices to create a collective impact on political and social issues relevant to credit unions.

The importance of grassroots efforts lies in their foundation; they originate from the ground up, driven by individuals and communities directly impacted by policy changes. This bottom-up approach amplifies the voices of credit union members, ensuring that policymakers hear their real-life experiences. Additionally, grassroots campaigns strengthen community relationships, enhancing relationships that are key to credit unions and their members. Moreover, when members advocate for themselves, it lends authenticity to their efforts, influencing legislative actions in their favor.

Credit Unions Continue to Go the Extra Mile
Many credit unions have successfully used grassroots strategies to effect change. For instance, during recent meetings in Washington D.C., credit union leaders shared their stories on how mortgage trigger leads are impacting credit union members. These conversations led to lawmakers from the Dakotas signing on to legislation that would protect homebuyers and put an end to the constant barrage of emails, text messages, and phone calls that often happen after they apply for a mortgage. We are grateful for their commitment to this issue.
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The grassroots efforts have not stopped there! Members from Levo FCU and Black Hills FCU attended the Good Morning Sioux Falls Mayor Roundtable this past week (photo left). It was a great opportunity for them to engage with local leaders in the Sioux Metro region. Additionally, over the past weekend, Chad Moller and Dane Dornbusch from Dakotaland attended a “constituent coffee” with Senator Rounds’ staff in Brookings, sharing member stories and discussing legislation that can impact credit union members (photo right). It’s opportunities like these that highlight the power of grassroots efforts but also serve as a blueprint for future campaigns.

How to Get Involved
Getting involved in grassroots advocacy may seem overwhelming at first, but with our help at DakCU advocacy can be simple, impactful, and even fun! Here are a few ways you can get involved:

• Advocacy Events: Participate in DakCU’s advocacy events which allow members to educate lawmakers on the important role credit unions play in our communities.
• Legislative Meetings: Reach out to me and I can help organize meetings with local legislators, allowing members to share personal stories and the positive impact credit unions have.
• Payroll Deduction: We greatly value the ongoing support from our CUPAC/CULAC donors, which plays a vital role in our initiatives. Every dollar is important. We suggest considering payroll deductions as a straightforward way to sustain our efforts. This method provides steady support for our efforts, ensuring our advocacy remains influential and protects our credit union members. For more details on setting up a payroll deduction, please feel free to contact me.

As we look forward to engaging with members on their 2024 contributions, we cannot thank our 2023 donors enough! To show our gratitude, we wanted to recognize our donors. Click here for the list of our individual 2023 contributors and click here to request your certificate.
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Advocacy is not just about influencing legislation; it's about empowering members to stand up for a cause they believe in. By actively participating in grassroots movements and even payroll deduction, credit union members can ensure that their interests are protected, and their voices heard.