WASHINGTON–CUNA will kick off the second full day of its Governmental Affairs Conference today with an appearance by Vice President of the United States Mike Pence.
CUNA said Pence has been a long-time credit union champion, adding, “His participation at this year’s CUNA GAC reflects all the great work credit unions do every day to support our members’ financial goals.”
Due to security requirements, doors will open for Pence’s session several hours ahead of his actual address this morning. The media and attendees have been banned from taking any photos or video of Pence’s remarks.
In Other GAC News:
CUNA Announced it has now raised approximately $32 million toward its three-year goal of $100 million to support its awareness initiative, “Open Your Eyes to a Credit Union.”
According to CUNA, approximately 425 credit union organizations have contributions to the campaign.
“Credit unions want to grow our membership and raise our profile among consumers,” said CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle. “It’s a milestone that illustrates the firm commitment this industry has to raising consumer consideration and bringing on new lifetime credit union members. We thank credit unions and leagues across the nation for their support.”
According to CUNA, during GAC geo-targeted ads have been running on mobile devices and featured throughout the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as well as the surrounding areas on shuttle buses, sidewalk clings, in the exhibit hall and hotel keycards. Attendees are also seeing faces of the industry on various signage throughout the week and are being encouraged to experience the movement by taking their own Open Your Eyes to a Credit Union photos.
A panel discussion on the initiative was moderated by Jill Tomalin, CUNA COO, and also includes: Mike Brooks, Head of Strategy at BrandCap; Teresa Freeborn, president and Chief Executive, Xceed Financial Federal; Tara Graff, senior vice president of marketing and business development with Hiway Federal Credit Union, and Graeme Traynor, managing director, Glover Park Group.
CUNA said the Open Your Eyes to a Credit Union campaign is live in Minnesota (Jan. 28 launch), North Carolina and South Carolina (Feb. 19 launch). The campaign has reached more than four-million consumers and gained nearly nine-million impressions, CUNA said. Consumers have watched campaign videos to completion over 1.5 million times, meaning they paused their social media browsing to fully watch an Open Your Eyes to a Credit Union video.
The campaign is designed to drive Americans to consider credit unions. For more info: cuna.org/awareness.
Bergeron Is Honored
Joseph “Joe” Bergeron, president/CEO of the Association of Vermont Credit Unions, has been recognized with the 2018 Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award by the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL).
The award honors a league employee who demonstrates visionary leadership at the state and national levels and was presented at a meeting in conjunction with CUNA’s GAC.
Under Bergeron’s tenure, Vermont credit union affiliation consistently stands at 95% or higher and now 60% of Vermont consumers are credit union members. “This dramatic growth in Vermont’s credit union system has positioned Vermont’s credit unions as the largest state-based financial institutions in Vermont,” CUNA said.
Bergeron joined the Association of Vermont Credit Unions began in 1978, and in 1980, at just 24 years of age, he became president/CEO of the Association and he continues to serve in that role today.
CUNA said Bergeron’s distinguished career includes serving on the Board of Directors for CUNA, Tricorp Federal Credit Union, the National Cooperative Business Association, and the Vermont Energy CO-OP. He also serves as an advisor for the CO-OP Development Institute and the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College and is an active volunteer with CUNA and AACUL, currently serving as the Chairman of AACUL’s State Issues Advocacy Committee and a member of the National Action and Response Program Administrative Council and the National Advocacy Fund Steering Committee.
“It was an honor to present this award to Joe,” said Scott Simpson, AACUL Chair and Utah Credit Union Association President and CEO. “Joe has demonstrated substantial leadership in a variety of times and places. Among league presidents, he is a steady and stable force, but this does not mean he is passive or dispassionate. Joe is deeply concerned and committed to the long-term well-being of credit unions, Leagues, and cooperative business as a whole. His steady leadership and strong commitment have paved the way for long-term success among Joe’s credit unions and, by extension, throughout the credit union system. His constant commitment to continuing to learn and advance the system is an inspiration.”
The Farley League Leadership Award was endowed by a contribution from Richard Heins, former CEO of CUNA Mutual Group, and named in honor of Gene Farley, former CEO of the Virginia Credit Union League, in recognition of his longtime leadership in the credit union movement.
“I had the honor of knowing Gene Farley earlier in my career,” said Bergeron, “And am humbled to have my name on an award that bears his name.”