The credit union movement wouldn’t be where it is today without advocates who devoted their time and resources to fighting on behalf of their credit union’s members through 2022. This was the key theme of the PAC Contributors Reception on Thursday during the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ REACH 2022 conference in Palm Desert, CA.

(View/download conference and event photos from the REACH 2022 Photo Gallery)

After three days of lively events, collaboration and fostering a deeper perspective, those who are involved in advocacy at the state and federal political levels took a break from each day’s events to come together and be celebrated by the Leagues and the entire industry for their hard work and efforts. Every year, a special group of credit union leaders and professionals make more of a difference than their members will ever know by attending annual political events hosted by the Leagues and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), visiting state and federal legislators, dialoging with regulators, and devoting their energies to similar initiatives that engage politicians and policymakers on the “credit union difference.”

Because of their efforts, on the state side:

• The California Credit Union League PAC (Political Action Committee) raised more than $700,000 toward state candidates and over $179,000 toward the Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC) for federal candidates through individual giving during the GAC Sweepstakes, June CULAC Challenge, ongoing payroll deduction programs, and one-time donations during REACH 2022. Leaders and professionals from 105 credit unions donated, averaging $5,759 per individual.
• The California League’s PAC has interviewed over 50 state and federal candidates, attended 72 fundraisers, and hosted 27 in-person and virtual state and federal district meetings, fundraisers and/or check presentations. Over $28,000 was raised for House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters during GAC and over $100,000 for multiple members on the California Assembly Banking Committee (Committee Chair Tim Grayson, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senator Anthony Portantino, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel). The Multi-Chapter PAC Golf Tournament had another record-breaking year, raising more than $107,000 toward the state PAC as well.
• The Nevada Credit Union League raised $28,000 for the Political Administration Fund — $60,905 for the Political Action Committee, and $7,717 for CULAC through individual giving at the GAC Sweepstakes, June CULAC challenge, payroll deduction programs, and one-time donations during REACH 2022. The Nevada League’s PAC has interviewed over 39 state and federal candidates this year as well.
  
  

On the federal side:

• On the federal side, the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues raised more than $166,000 toward the Credit Union National Association’s (CUNA) national PAC (the Credit Union Legislative Action Council), with 541 individual contributors participating in 2022 (average donation of $28.45 per individual). All federal PAC donations were raised through credit union payroll deduction programs stemming from CULAC’s “$30 by June 30^th Challenge Sweepstakes,” where California raised the most and took first place out of all 50 states.
  
  

The Leagues would like to thank the following League Advocacy Award honorees for their ongoing commitment to advocating on behalf of credit unions and their members, as well as displaying extraordinary leadership in advocacy and political action:

• 2022 California PAC Advocate of the Year: Eric Day, Senior Vice President of Board Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives for CU of Southern California.
• 2022 Nevada PAC Advocate of the Year: Scott Arkills, President and CEO of Silver State Schools CU.
• 2022 Volunteer of the Year: Rebecca Collier, Board Secretary for California CU.
• 2022 Shapiro Advocate of the Year: Jake Harbour, President and CEO of Santa Barbara County FCU.
• 2022 Nevada Advocate of the Year: Rick Schmidt, President and CEO of WestStar CU.
• 2022 California Advocate of the Year: Linda Rossi, President and CEO of Ventura County CU.
• 2022 Political Professional of the Year: Brent Tercero, Executive Director of Credit Union Advocacy for SchoolsFirst FCU.
• 2022 Nevada Advocate Credit Union of the Year: Boulder Dam CU.
• 2022 California Advocate Credit Union of the Year: California Coast CU.
• 2022 Supplier of the Year: ASI (American Share Insurance).
  
  

Stay Engaged During REACH
Attendees and League staff will be sharing photos, comments and memories through Twitter (@CUatREACH), LinkedIn (#CUatREACH), and the REACH 2022 Photo Gallery. 

REACH is one of the credit union industry’s premier annual events, attracting leaders and system partners from across California, Nevada and the United States. This year it’s held from Nov. 1 – 4 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, CA!

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