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If You Crash it, They Will Engage

Find out what really happens when young professionals crash credit union conferences.

By Nick Fugal | Updated on June 01, 2015
cooperative trust crash event

What do Clint Eastwood, large camping tents, Idaho and young credit union professionals have in common? Crash Idaho 2015 of course! On May 20, 2015, for the first time in credit union history, a group of 25 credit union professionals under the age of 40 representing 10 Idaho credit unions came together to crash the 79th Idaho Credit Union League (ICUL) Annual Meeting. These professionals spent three days attending and participating in the annual meeting while also taking part in their own agenda outside of the regular meeting.

Crashing is an event that started in 2010 with a group of 20 young credit union professionals that decided the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) in Wash., D.C. did not have enough young professionals in attendance. They crashed the event by enthusiastically participating in the conference and disputing the status quo. Since then, crashing has turned into to something that engages young credit union professionals within the credit union movement in many different areas in the industry. Starting from that first crash event in 2010, crash events have happened annually at the GAC, at annual meetings for several credit union leagues, at most CUNA committee conferences, and state-wide credit union government affairs conferences. Plans for future crash events include the 2015 World Council of Credit Unions Annual Conference in Denver, Colo., the CUNA Tech & OpSS Council conference, the CUNA Lending Council conference and the Filene Big Bright Minds conference.

young professionals crash the ICULCrash the ICUL Annual Meeting 2015 began with 25 young professionals nervously sitting in a room together, wondering what was going to happen and what crash was all about. 23 of those in attendance had never participated in a crash event, and 21 had never attended an ICUL Annual Meeting in the past. During that meeting, Chad Helminak, Director of Impact at Filene and one of the 20 original crashers in 2010, led a discussion on the history of credit unions and what it means to crash. Crashers then had a chance to get to know each other by sharing stories and programs that Idaho credit unions offer their members to better their lives. Stories about serving the underserved, raising funds for local charities, and rescuing the member in financial distress were shared amongst the crashers. It was at that point that one could notice the nervousness begin to transform into excitement.

young professional networking crash the Iowa Credit Union League

Crashers spent that evening networking in the Clint Eastwood Presidential Suite at the Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho. The night included music, games and pizza, and crashers had the opportunity to sit down with four local Idaho credit union CEOs in small group sessions.

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