Setting the Tone...

Political Leadership begins with You.

Each CEO and Board Member should seek to understand the political environment facing the movement and commit resources to a well-developed plan of political involvement. Whether you are a Credit Union CEO, or a Volunteer Board Member, your leadership sets the tone for political involvement.

As a CEO or Board Member, you can set the tone by:

• Championing political action as an important issue
• Developing a board approved plan for political action and fundraising that is integrated into your business plan
• Establishing a Governmental Affairs Committee and putting them on your agenda for every board meeting
• Being an educator. Make sure that your staff and volunteers are kept informed of important political and legislative issues

There are numerous activities in which you can be involved that will help to set the tone that political involvement is an important part of the Credit Union Movement. From hosting an elected official for a visit to the credit union or annual meeting, to using your newsletter to communicate with your members about important political and legislative issues to being directly involved in campaigns with financial and volunteer support, credit unions can make an impact on the politics of the day.

The authority to organize and operate credit unions was granted with the stroke of a pen. Sweeping changes, for good or for ill, could also come with the stroke of a pen wielded by a president or governor, by a regulator or by a judge.

The average Credit Union CEO invests approximately 55 hours per week on behalf of the credit union. If each CEO dedicated just two of those hours to helping ensure the survival of the Credit Union Movement, we could take charge of our future.

Role of Credit Union CEOs

Copyright © 2008 - Credit Union National Association, Inc.