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

I've had a few conversations lately with some long-time creditunion leaders to gage where their brains are just days into the newTrump administration. And I've been asking them, “With everythinggoing on in D.C., what are you expecting out of this year'sGAC?”

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

For perspective, let's back up a little bit. For the pasthandful of years, we've seen little as far as any huge surprisescoming out of Washington as it relates to our industry. We've had apretty good sense of the outcomes of new regulations, internalstruggles and political posturing. But there's something newhappening here that the media, industry experts and insiders justaren't completely sure about. And maybe that's causing some ofthose uncomfortable feelings in your gut.

The CFPB is up in the air(ish). President Trump recentlyappointed a new acting chair for the NCUA. Trump's appointmentshave been largely Wall Street and financial executives. Executiveorders from the White House have been flying out the door, causingsome nervous reactions in the technology, health care and financialindustries. All of these things can add up to good or bad news forour industry. Maybe by the time we get to GAC, some of thisuneasiness will have subsided. Or not.

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

As of this writing, CU Times is working on its editorialcontent plan for GAC. While we'll be plenty busy covering differentissues, breakout sessions, the Trailblazer Awards and Herb WegnerAwards, we're also going to be meeting with a lot of peopleoff-site to gain more of an overall perspective of what theindustry is facing with the new administration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are we walking into when we arrive in D.C.? I honestlydon't know what this GAC is going to turn into this year. I doworry that we'll have left-thinkers and right-thinkers pickingtheir sides instead of working on a greater solution and future forcredit unions. Because that's our ridiculous reality now. Most ofus feel like we have to pick sides. And that means there will be awinner and loser (but only in your mind). I'd argue, as the onecredit 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 tolistening to you, meeting you and getting to know you. The otherthing I'm looking forward to: Reporting on your credit union's,league's and even personal beliefs that you're standing for onbehalf of this cooperative industry.

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

In my conversations with our D.C. reporter, David Baumann, who'sbeen reporting on the Hill for decades, even he admits that he'snever seen anything like what we're watching happen now with themedia, the issues and the administration. The rules have eitherbeen tossed out, ignored or are being re-written.

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

My thought on that statement? Worst bumper sticker ever.

See you in D.C.