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Last week, 5,500 credit union leaders, staff, and volunteers from around the country and world descended on Washington, DC, for CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference—the GAC! From Maine, we had over 90 participants representing 21 credit unions. We were well represented, with Maine’s representation eclipsing states who have two or three times more credit unions than we do in our state.
During the GAC, attendees from Maine participated in a number of CUNA’s committees:
- Tina Jamo, Katahdin FCU – Small Credit Union Committee
- Rebekah Higgins, League/Synergent – Payments Subcommittee
- Joann Bisson, Trademark FCU – Credit Union Powers Committee
- Jason Lindstrom, Evergreen CU – Marketing Council (Chair)
- Tucker Cole, Maine State CU – CULAC Executive Committee
- Liz Hayes, Infinity FCU – Consumer Protection Subcommittee; CUNA Board of Directors
While the Marketing Council did not formally meet at GAC, Jason was busy networking with committee colleagues and other marketing professionals during the event. Danielle Dulac, also from Evergreen CU, was selected to be one of this year’s “GAC Crashers.” Liz Hayes from Infinity FCU was formally seated on CUNA’s board while at GAC to represent Maine and our region. And to top it off, we received four CUNA awards, including:
- 1st Place Desjardins Youth (League) – Maine Credit Union League
- 2nd Place Desjardins Youth ($50-$250 Million in Assets) – Community CU
- 2nd Place Desjardins Adult ($50-$250 Million in Assets) – Community CU
- Honorable Mention Desjardins Adult (Less Than $50 Million in Assets) – Gardiner FCU
This is not a surprise. Maine credit unions are overachievers!
In 2020, we again achieved 100% affiliation, and surpassed our statewide awareness campaign of $150,000 by $25,000 (If you haven’t contributed yet, please do—it is never too late and the dollars will go toward promoting credit unions). This is on of top of raising over 200% of our CULAC fundraising goal and $832,332 for Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger in 2019. I can’t thank you enough for what that means to the League and our ability to advocate on your behalf and serve you.
But more importantly, I can’t thank you enough for what this all means to you. Your dedication and level of involvement demonstrates your commitment to each other. It extends the credit union philosophy of People Helping People to include Credit Unions Helping Credit Unions. Our commitment to cooperation and collaboration puts the power into our “Credit Union Super Powers” as Jim Nussle, CUNA’s President/CEO, calls them.
It is those super powers that make us special and unique, and gives us the ability to serve Mainers in ways other financial institution can only dream. So thank you for being overachievers and helping us all raise the bar year after year in everything we do.