GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina Credit Union Leaguewrapped up its first five-week long State Capital Connectionsprogram on June 9, and based on the feedback the League hasreceived from its affiliated credit unions, NCCUL is giving the newprogram the thumbs up. Approximately 75 credit union leaders fromthroughout the state participated in the event and traveled to thestate capital to meet with legislators or leave CU information withstate elected officials. In total, CU representatives made contactwith more than 100 of the 120 members of the state House and 40state Senators out of the 50 in office. In prior years, NCCUL'sVice President of Governmental/Regulatory Affairs Dan Schlineexplained the League designated one day when the state legislaturewas in session for credit unions to travel to Raleigh to meet withtheir elected officials. The objective of that plan, he said, wasto connect as many credit union folks as possible with statelegislatures on the one day. Under the new format, 15-20 creditunion representatives went to Raleigh with their chapter on eachTuesday and Wednesday over the five-week period. Tuesday was spenton legislative briefings by the League and its retained lobbyist,and in the evening the credit union and League representatives metover dinner with three or four legislators. On Wednesdays thecredit union and league representatives met with the statelegislators or their staff in their Capital offices. Schline saidthe new format allowed the League to give more personal attentionto the credit union representatives. “Before, when 70 or 80 peoplecame to Raleigh on one day, it was difficult to help our creditunion folks connect with their local legislators,” he said. Inaddition, under the new format, Schline said there aren't differentgroups of credit union folks trying to meet with a legislator atthe same time. So the new format is more manageable and effectivefor both the legislators and the League. Schline said the NorthCarolina Credit Union League plans to continue the five-week StateCapital Connections in the coming years. “Lawmakers saw creditunion leaders walking the halls for five straight weeks, and theytook notice. The new format allowed us to meet with many morelegislators and deliver a much more compelling message.” -

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