The President’s Perspective

​Welcome to Summit! Plus, DakCU advocacy team prepares for busy election season with CUPAC fundraising events; and some notable CU accomplishments! 

Welcome to Summit 2024!
Greetings from beautiful Grand Falls Casino & Resort where credit union professionals are gathering this week for Dakota Credit Union Association’s 18th Annual Summit! We are thrilled to have more than 200 individuals from North and South Dakota, as well as many business solution providers, all joining us for an incredible schedule of educational events, keynote speakers, annual business meeting, awards banquet, and golf outing, as well as multiple casual social gatherings where we reunite and reinvigorate our love and commitment to Dakotas’ financial cooperatives.

As a reminder, our “Give Back” project this year is collecting prepaid Visa gift cards in $25 increments for Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls. Please drop your cards off at the Summit registration table. The cards will be presented to families being treated at the hospital to help with incidental expenses.

As always, we will have event coverage in The Memo as well as on the-spot postings on our social medial platforms, so be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest. Stay tuned for a jam-packed and exhilarating week ahead! 

Governmental Affairs Committees put emphasis on political fund-raising efforts.   
This year’s election cycle will be another important one. Of course, each election year is important and credit union engagement will be key heading into the general election in November. Since each of our states has several contested primary races this June as well as November, the Governmental Affairs Committees (GAC) in both states are planning fundraising events to help bolster our Credit Union Political Action Committee (CUPAC) funds that will help support credit union friendly lawmakers and candidates.

Eric Musland and our friends at LaMoure Credit Union will be hosting the ND GAC Credit Union PAC Scramble on Thursday, June 20, at Memorial Park Country Club near LaMoure. The event kicks off at 9:30 with registration and a shotgun start at 10 a.m. To learn more or to register, click here.  

The South Dakota GAC will be hosting their event on Thursday, July 18, at the Lead Country Club in Lead, SD. This event opens with registration at 12:00 p.m. and a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. You can find additional details and register for the SD event here.

I sincerely hope you can join us; your support will help to bolster our CUPAC funds which strengthens our Dakota advocacy efforts, and provides scholarships for credit union professionals to attend important advocacy and government-focused events.  

Team work on display in Rapid City
Last week, three Rapid City area credit unions teamed up for the Habitat for Humanity Women Build annual event. Sponsored by Black Hills FCU; Highmark CU; and Sentinel FCU; more than 30 volunteers spent many hours helping to create one of largest Women Build events in recent years. We know teamwork makes the dreamwork, and once again, “cooperation among cooperatives” wins the day!

Congratulations to North Star Community CU!
Last week, North Star Community Credit Union announced they have broken ground on a second branch in Minot. With 12 locations already established across central and northeast North Dakota, this credit union has exhibited steady growth in both members and assets since their establishment in 1940. I am also pleased to see they have partnered with wild|crg, a trusted DakCU business solution provider for their design and build process. The new branch will have four drive through lanes, the latest technology and ATM with 24/7 deposit capability, and enhanced accessibility with a local artistic touch. Our most sincere congratulations to Bob Herrington and his staff on their continued success!

Joey Rotert named “Up-and-Comer” in Sioux Falls
Finally, I want to send a shout out to Joey Rotert, VP eastern market at Black Hills FCU, on being named an “Up-and-Comer” by SiouxFallsBusiness. I have always known Joey to be a modest, community minded, and extremely successful credit union advocate – which truly comes through in the article. No doubt, Joey is helping to connect the Sioux Falls area to Black Hills FCU and the credit union industry as a whole. Well done! 
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Let’s have a great week! 

DakCU President/CEO