Legislative Update with Chesney

Pints & Politics in Pierre last week with three more
South Dakota events this week; giving back to our youth through Junior Achievement; and GAC scholarship opportunity! 

by Chesney Garnos, Director of Political & Grassroots Affairs

Pints & Politics in Our Capital City
Last week, our advocacy team was in South Dakota's capital city, Pierre. We hosted another Pints & Politics event at Oahe FCU during the lunch hour on Wednesday. The food was phenomenal! A huge shoutout to Dawn for preparing a delicious meal for all attendees—I even snagged one of her dessert recipes after the event! Also, a major thanks to Dawn, Jaymason, and the entire team at Oahe for hosting us, along with the Attorney General’s Office, area legislators, candidates, credit union members, and board volunteers. We had a great discussion about the credit union difference and the state and national advocacy areas we have been focusing on in 2024. Candidates and legislators also took the opportunity to share their work and platforms with those present.

It’s not too late to join us at any of these upcoming Pints & Politics events—simply email your RSVP to me:

• October 15: Top Floor Events in Huron at 6:00 p.m. CT
• October 16: Ben’s Brewing Co. in Yankton at 6:00 p.m. CT
• October 17: JJ’s Bar in Sioux Falls at 6:00 p.m. CT
• October 22: James Valley Chapter in Jamestown ND at Baymont Inn 

Giving Back to Our Youth
In case you missed the article last week, I wanted to highlight the 57 South Dakota credit union employees who have already committed to serving as volunteers for the Junior Achievement of South Dakota financial education program. I am continually amazed by how our credit union professionals go above and beyond, ensuring that both members and our youth have access to information and resources essential for financial well-being.

Join Us at GAC
Mark your calendars to join us in Washington D.C. from March 2 – 6 for the 2025 Government Affairs Conference (GAC), the credit union industry’s largest advocacy event. This event brings together thousands of leaders from across the country to advocate on behalf of our credit union members.

Also, don’t miss out on our Roger Heacock Scholarships! We are offering four scholarships valued at $2,500 each for attendees of the 2025 GAC—two candidates each from South Dakota and North Dakota will be selected. The application deadline is November 29. Interested? Email me today or apply here.
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For more information about this event, visit the “One Stop GAC Shop” on our website.