by Chesney Garnos, Executive Director of Government Affairs The 2025 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) in Washington, DC was an unforgettable experience. It provided an invaluable opportunity to join forces with credit union colleagues from across the Dakotas and beyond. Together, we worked tirelessly to advocate for the continued success and growth of credit unions, ensuring that our voices were heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill. A special shoutout is deserved for our South Dakota credit unions Black Hills FCU, Dakota Rail Line FCU, Northern FCU, and Voyage FCU for your active participation, exceptional leadership, and vast knowledge that truly made a difference. Your contributions were integral to the success of our time in Washington, and I am incredibly grateful for your engagement. During our time in DC, we had the opportunity to hike the hill and meet with our elected officials. The importance of these hill visits cannot be overstated – especially when the topic of reconsidering our tax status has been brought up recent meetings in regards to tax reconciliation. Connecting with lawmakers directly helps them understand the real impact credit unions have on their constituents and communities. I would even argue that now, our relationships with lawmakers are more vital than ever. I am particularly thankful to U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson, and U.S. Leader John Thune for their time, attention, and willingness to listen to the concerns of credit unions. The conversations we had during these meetings were not only productive but also reinforced the importance of collaboration between lawmakers and the credit union movement.
It was a week of meaningful discussions, passionate advocacy, and a strong commitment to the credit union difference. Our shared dedication to strengthening our communities and ensuring financial well-being for all has never been clearer. Thank you once again to everyone involved—your efforts are truly making an impact, and together, we will continue to advocate for the policies that protect and empower credit unions and the communities they serve! Chairman’s Challenge: Record Breaking Year! Also, thank you to ALL who contributed to the Chairman’s Challenge last week! You can find that update here. Please note, if your name is spelled incorrectly or not under the proper credit union to contact myself to ensure we have that information updated! Again, we appreciate your support in helping set a record breaking year for this challenge! South Dakota Legislative Update: Today is the final day of the South Dakota Legislative Session outside of veto day. Stay tuned for a full update on the session next week! Scholarship Opportunity: Deadline March 31st! The SE605 Chapter of Credit Unions is excited to announce a $2,000 scholarship for a credit union employee to use towards continuing their education within the CU Industry. For more information on how to apply check out the application here. Please be sure to include what school you are looking to attend. Applications are due by 3.31.25 and should be emailed to [email protected]. Advocacy Opportunities Coming Up: Last but certainly not least, I wanted to provide a list of advocacy dates to save on your calendars! May 12th - Stack the PAC donor recognition and social during our 2025 Summit in Fargo, ND July 10th - Par for the PAC SD CU Advocacy Golf Classic in Garretson, SD September 8th -11th - Fall Hike the Hill in Washington, DC If you have any questions on getting involved in any of these events, please reach out to me at [email protected].
Comments are closed.
|
|
Copyright Dakota Credit Union Association. All Rights Reserved.
2005 N Kavaney Dr - Suite 201 | Bismarck, North Dakota 58501 Phone: 800-279-6328 | [email protected] | sitemap | privacy policy |
|
|
|
|