Left or right, this is going to be an interesting 2017 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference.

I've had a few conversations lately with some long-time credit union leaders to gage where their brains are just days into the new Trump administration. And I've been asking them, “With everything going on in D.C., what are you expecting out of this year's GAC?”

To be very blunt, each response has included at least one expletive. As one credit union executive said, for example, “In my years in this industry, I've never seen anything like this. And this GAC, we better have our s— together when we're communicating with those up on the Hill, or we're going to be getting lost in this mess.”

For perspective, let's back up a little bit. For the past handful of years, we've seen little as far as any huge surprises coming out of Washington as it relates to our industry. We've had a pretty good sense of the outcomes of new regulations, internal struggles and political posturing. But there's something new happening here that the media, industry experts and insiders just aren't completely sure about. And maybe that's causing some of those uncomfortable feelings in your gut.

The CFPB is up in the air(ish). President Trump recently appointed a new acting chair for the NCUA. Trump's appointments have been largely Wall Street and financial executives. Executive orders from the White House have been flying out the door, causing some nervous reactions in the technology, health care and financial industries. All of these things can add up to good or bad news for our industry. Maybe by the time we get to GAC, some of this uneasiness will have subsided. Or not.

Getting back to the GAC at hand, what's the one thing you're looking forward to? Or, maybe another way to ask that question is, what are you going to do and say to your legislative leaders that will make your point and cause and/or effect positive change for credit unions?

As of this writing, CU Times is working on its editorial content plan for GAC. While we'll be plenty busy covering different issues, breakout sessions, the Trailblazer Awards and Herb Wegner Awards, we're also going to be meeting with a lot of people off-site to gain more of an overall perspective of what the industry is facing with the new administration.

One question I plan on asking nearly everyone I interview will be this: “Are you happy?” Now, you might be thinking, “What the hell kind of question is that?” But let me explain.

Those three words are wide open to interpretation and whatever answer I receive, it allows for a greater amount of follow-up questions to get at the heart of the reasoning behind the answer.

I asked former President Jimmy Carter that question several years ago during a one-on-one interview. He smiled at the question and answered in his slow, southern accent, “Oh my goodness yes.” That interview, which was scheduled through his press secretary for only 10 minutes, lasted 25 minutes because he opened up about his happiness and the silver linings he saw happening around him personally, in politics and on international issues. Those answers also revealed his worries.

That's why this question, I think, is incredibly important. The question tends to ground you back into reality and into some honest and not-canned responses we typically get from leaders in any industry or political party.

If I get the chance to interview Bob Schieffer (crossing my fingers), I'm asking him that same question.

Happy or not, I think it's time to take ourselves even more seriously when it comes to activism on behalf of the credit union space. As a personal note, I'm easily distracted by nachos, cocktails and Monty Python references and I tend to not take myself that seriously. But in this case and for GAC-purposes, I'll be tightly focused on the work at hand.

What are we walking into when we arrive in D.C.? I honestly don't know what this GAC is going to turn into this year. I do worry that we'll have left-thinkers and right-thinkers picking their sides instead of working on a greater solution and future for credit unions. Because that's our ridiculous reality now. Most of us feel like we have to pick sides. And that means there will be a winner and loser (but only in your mind). I'd argue, as the one credit union executive said to me, “We'd better have our s— together” or the industry itself will lose.

For those of you attending GAC this year, I look forward to listening to you, meeting you and getting to know you. The other thing I'm looking forward to: Reporting on your credit union's, league's and even personal beliefs that you're standing for on behalf of this cooperative industry.

It might sound like I'm being a bit “cheerleader-y” about it all. Here's the thing, I'm just trying give a little realistic advice.

In my conversations with our D.C. reporter, David Baumann, who's been reporting on the Hill for decades, even he admits that he's never seen anything like what we're watching happen now with the media, the issues and the administration. The rules have either been tossed out, ignored or are being re-written.

As one credit union executive said, “I'm only a little worried that we're f—–. Having said that, I'm still optimistic.”

My thought on that statement? Worst bumper sticker ever.

See you in D.C.