The President’s Perspective

It's a whirlwind week in our nation's capital as Dakota credit union advocates are actively engaged at the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference. 

A packed event center at GAC.

Greetings from our nation’s capital! We are back in Washington, DC for the 2023 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC). This year, I am very pleased to be joined by 33 Dakota credit union leaders and advocates from 16 unique credit unions, as well as association team leaders, to participate in the largest credit union event in the world. Getting here was a bit sketchy, as winter weather was impacting almost all of our travel plans with many flights and connections canceled or delayed. However, we all landed safely and have been hitting the ground running.

The GAC is the largest and most impactful credit union conference, and the one event that all advocates and leaders should consider attending at least once. We are told that this year is hitting new records, with more than 5,500 in attendance.

Many of you have heard me say, “Effective advocacy is about changing the conversation and defining the debate on our terms.” I have also said that the political process is too serious a business to be left to the politicians. That is why the CUNA GAC is the most significant, most exciting, and most consequential event in the credit union movement. Here, credit union leaders can network and share with their credit union peers, actively engage with regulators and our elected officials in Congress on issues that impacting their credit unions and members back home, engage with innovative vendors during the largest exhibition hall of any financial services event, and most importantly, learn how to be a part of the fierce CUNA/League 360 degree advocacy approach all year round.
 
Melanie Stillwell and Paul Brucker receive “Credit Union House Hall of Leaders” award.
It certainly was an honor and privilege to induct Melanie Stillwell, Western Cooperative Credit Union (Williston, ND) and Paul Brucker, Railway Credit Union, (Mandan,ND) into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders during the annual meeting of the Credit Union House over the weekend here in DC.  This prestigious award honors credit union leaders who have made a significant impact on the credit union movement at the local, state, and national level. Both Melanie and Paul are actively engaged in the credit union movement here in the Dakotas, and they are the first from North Dakota to be recognized with this award. Congratulations Melanie and Paul, and thank you for your leadership and service to Dakota credit unions. Be sure to catch the full story in today’s Memo.  

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Melanie Stillwell and Paul Brucker receive Hall of Leaders Award.

Dakotans actively engaged in pre-conference committee meetings.
Several Dakota credit union leaders arrived in DC early and were busy with committee meetings and pre-conference activities over the weekend. We are quite privileged to have several credit union leaders from our region actively engaged on the national level: Jerry Schmidt, President/CEO, Black Hills FCU, participated in his first CUNA Powers Sub Committee meeting on Sunday; Melanie Stillwell, President/CEO, Western Cooperative CU, serves on the Examination &  Supervision sub-committee; Lacey Fetch, President/CEO, University FCU, serves on CUNA’s Small Credit Union Committee; Floyd Rummel III, President/CEO, Northern Hills FCU serves on CUNA’s Consumer Protection sub-committee; Jay Kruse, DakCU Chief Advocacy Officer, serves on the CUNA Volunteer Committee; Jon Griffin, Chief Lending Officer, Capital CU, serves on CUNA’s Payments Committee; Paul Brucker, President/CEO, Railway CU, serves on the CUNA CULAC Executive Committee and the CULAC Board of Trustees; and Chad Moeller, Chief Growth Officer at Dakotaland FCU, serves on the CULAC Board of Trustees. 

As for me, I was also busy this weekend chairing the AACUL Executive Board meeting on Friday, attending the CUNA Executive Committee and Board meetings on Saturday, as well participating in the CUNA Advocacy Committee meeting. Sunday was also busy with the CU House annual meeting, CUNA Strategic Service Board Meeting, and the Awareness LLC Board meeting. On Sunday evening, our Dakota delegation all gathered at Ruth’s Chris Steak House for our annual Dakota GAC Group Dinner and some excellent conversations.
 
Dakotas recognized with top CULAC Awards during GAC.
North Dakota earned the CULAC Vanguard Award for raising the highest percentage over goal in the nation in 2022. Collectively, North Dakota credit unions finished at 206 percent. South Dakota was once again in the top ten, coming in 6th with 150 percent over goal.  This is the 4th time that North Dakota has earned the top honor and the third consecutive. Collectively, the Dakotas contributed nearly $32,000 last year.
 
Two Dakota credit unions are also being honored with the CUNA Circle of Excellence Awards. This prestigious honor goes to the one credit union in each state that raises the highest dollar amount for our federal PAC dollars, or CULAC.

Receiving the award for South Dakota this year is Black Hills FCU headquartered in Rapid City, which raised $6,315. From North Dakota, the award goes to First Community CU headquartered in Jamestown, which raised $4,317.  

In closing, I want to congratulate and offer a heartfelt thank you to all our credit unions for their commitment to CULAC and credit union advocacy. Year in and year out, Dakota credit unions have taken extraordinary pride in supporting this important and necessary effort, and I couldn’t be prouder. 

DakCU President/CEO