CUNA and NAFCU Raising CU Profile on National Political Scene with Convention Events

WASHINGTON – CUNA and NAFCU are both hosting and participating in numerous events to raise the profile of credit unions with national political leaders. The Democratic National Convention is taking place in Boston at the end of this month. There, CUNA will be hosting a welcome reception for the Tennessee congressional delegation on the Sunday evening prior to the kick off of the convention. That Monday, the organization will be helping with a Goo Goo Dolls concert in honor of the Democratic senators and then on Wednesday, there will be events for the Democratic whip teams. CUNA will also be working on several other events with folks from Michigan and cap the convention off on nomination night Thursday evening. Everyone at the convention will be receiving a delegate or media bag, which will include the child identification kits CUNA recently began distributing with the National Child ID Program. “Two thousand was an uptick in our presence and we’re trying to continue that,” CUNA Vice President for Political Affairs Richard Gose explained. He added, “It’s just one of those venues that offers unique opportunities.” He said it is a great time to have politicians of all levels all in one place at once. It is just one piece of a political puzzle, Gose said. NAFCU will be doing a number of events with the Democratic Leadership Committee, including a number of policy breakfasts throughout the week. “It’s a great networking opportunity,” NAFCU Senior Legislative Representative Murray Chanow. “At theses events you don’t necessarily get a lot of business talk.” But, he added, you get to know a lot of people very well that you may not otherwise have known. NAFCU will also be co-hosting a Little Feat concert and will be the main sponsor of an event for Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.). Chanow also said he would be attending the “Breaux Beach Bash” held by Senator John Breaux (D-La). “The more that NAFCU’s out there, the more that members of Congress see we’re out there,” Chanow stated. Plans for the Republican convention are a bit more fluid since it is not until the end of August. Gose said CUNA is doing some sort of event for New York Governor George Pataki. CUNA and NAFCU both will be involved in a salute to the House Financial Services Committee. NAFCU will also be at a party hosted by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) in honor of the entire committee. Additionally, the House Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee will be holding a “Tribute to the South.” A number of NAFCU’s board members and staff will be attending the conventions. [email protected]