GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina Credit Union League wrapped up its first five-week long State Capital Connections program on June 9, and based on the feedback the League has received from its affiliated credit unions, NCCUL is giving the new program the thumbs up. Approximately 75 credit union leaders from throughout the state participated in the event and traveled to the state capital to meet with legislators or leave CU information with state elected officials. In total, CU representatives made contact with more than 100 of the 120 members of the state House and 40 state Senators out of the 50 in office. In prior years, NCCUL's Vice President of Governmental/Regulatory Affairs Dan Schline explained the League designated one day when the state legislature was in session for credit unions to travel to Raleigh to meet with their elected officials. The objective of that plan, he said, was to connect as many credit union folks as possible with state legislatures on the one day. Under the new format, 15-20 credit union representatives went to Raleigh with their chapter on each Tuesday and Wednesday over the five-week period. Tuesday was spent on legislative briefings by the League and its retained lobbyist, and in the evening the credit union and League representatives met over dinner with three or four legislators. On Wednesdays the credit union and league representatives met with the state legislators or their staff in their Capital offices. Schline said the new format allowed the League to give more personal attention to the credit union representatives. “Before, when 70 or 80 people came to Raleigh on one day, it was difficult to help our credit union folks connect with their local legislators,” he said. In addition, under the new format, Schline said there aren't different groups of credit union folks trying to meet with a legislator at the same time. So the new format is more manageable and effective for both the legislators and the League. Schline said the North Carolina Credit Union League plans to continue the five-week State Capital Connections in the coming years. “Lawmakers saw credit union leaders walking the halls for five straight weeks, and they took notice. The new format allowed us to meet with many more legislators and deliver a much more compelling message.” -

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