The President’s Perspective

​New employee orientation just got easier! Plus, join us for the ND PAC Golf Scramble on June 20 in Lamoure, and CU Professionals Forum coming to Fargo in August. 

Happy Memorial Day.
Just yesterday, many of us were enjoying time with family and friends, savoring an extra day off work, hosting backyard barbecues, and attending parades in celebration of Memorial Day. I hope you also took a moment to remember the true reason for the holiday; to honor U.S. military personnel who lost their lives while serving our country. I want to send a special “thank you” to our veterans and service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. They have our enduring gratitude.

New employee orientation just got easier.
For some time, DakCU staff has been considering ways to help you get new staff members up to speed. Too often, we encounter those who are new to the industry, or even those who have been credit union employees for a time, who have only a vague idea of what your association does. Many are not familiar with our staff members, and don’t have an understanding of how our three-tiered system works for you.

I am very happy to announce that we have just finished our “New Credit Union Employee Orientation” Power Point presentation, which you can view and/or download here. I encourage you to take a minute to review, and please consider sharing it at staff meetings, new employee orientations, and even chapter events. Each DakCU staff member makes a brief video appearance where they introduce themselves and explain what they do. If you have any questions on this new resource, please feel free to contact Paige Langhoff, Membership Coordinator.

Keep advocacy in mind this summer.
While elections may seem far away, there are some important advocacy resources you should keep in mind. First, throughout June, America’s Credit Unions and associations and leagues across the country will be supporting 30 by 30 – a PAC fundraiser to raise one dollar a day from every credit union advocate throughout the 30 days of June. If you were at Summit, you heard Trey Hawkins speak to this, so please be on the lookout for details coming soon from America’s Credit Unions.

Also, be sure to check out America’s Credit Union’s Elections Hub where you can track how the newly united PAC has engaged and supported credit union-backed candidates nationwide immediately after each primary election. So far, we are hitting a 98% success rate of CU supported candidates nationally, with primaries yet to be held in either of the Dakotas.

Golfers & PAC supporters – you are invited!
Speaking of advocacy – here is another way you can help support our Political Action Committees in both states! First up – the North Dakota GAC is holding a PAC Golf Scramble on Thursday, June 20, at Memorial Park Country Club in Lamoure, ND. Special thanks to Eric Musland, CEO of Lamoure CU, for helping to facilitate this event. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. CT with a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. Find additional information and register here; contact John Alexander with any questions.

Then, the South Dakota GAC is planning a “Par for the PAC” event on Thursday, July 18, at Lead Country Club beginning at noon, MT. Additional information and registration available here; contact Chesney Garnos with questions about this event. I hope to see many of you at either (or both) of these advocacy events!

Congratulations to our individual achievement award winners.
If you have been following the Memo, you know we have been featuring the numerous awards that were bestowed upon our credit union members during Summit. Today, I would like to send a shout out to three individual achievement award winners: Laura Hausmann from United Savings CU, Professional of the Year; Jennifer Jerauld, Town & Country CU (Emerging Leader of the Year; and our Volunteer of the Year, Darrell Pepper from Ft. Randall FCU. On behalf of the association, congratulations, and thank you for your dedication to the credit union industry! I would also like to congratulate Jeff Schmidt and his crew at Voyage FCU on receiving the Growth & Progress Award. Only one Dakota credit union receives this prestigious award each year for outstanding growth in assets, shares, loans, and membership. More award announcements will be made in the Memo in upcoming issues, so stay tuned!

Join us for the CU Professionals Forum & Foundation Golf Scramble.
Finally, please save the dates – August 12 & 13, for DakCU’s CU Professionals Forum and Foundation Golf Scramble! Both events will be held in Fargo, and once again, 100% of proceeds from the golf outing will be donated to Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo for the CU4Kids Micropreemie Care Unit. Registration and additional information will be available soon, but meanwhile, please mark those calendars.  

DakCU President/CEO