GRASSROOTS AND POLITICAL ACTION
The most effective communication with lawmakers comes directly from people at constituent credit unions. When lawmakers hear from the credit unions that are serving the people in the communities that they represent, then they pay attention. The success that credit unions have enjoyed with their legislative agenda in recent years is convincing proof. Assisting credit unions in continuing this proud tradition of grassroots advocacy is a cornerstone of the Association's legislative strategy. Knowing how to reach the lawmakers that represent you is a key first step.
Locate Your Lawmakers
Election information
Of course, the most important step that you can take in playing an active role in our democracy is to exercise your right to vote. Click here to help you or your members find the correct place to cast a ballot.
CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference
The Governmental Affairs Conference is a national, multi-day governmental affairs program that brings together legislators, regulators, and important policy makers with thousands of credit union participants from all over the United States. The next conference will be held March 3-6, 2008 at the Washington, DC Convention Center. For more information on GAC, please visit CUNA's website at www.cuna.org
Hike-the-Hill
Hike-the-Hill is a grassroots program sponsored by the Association and CUNA to provide credit unions with the opportunity on an on-going basis to visit Washington to educate decision-makers on credit union issues.
When credit unions participate in Hike-the-Hill, they demonstrate that credit union support has a real face, real concerns, and real stories of how credit unions affect the lives of working Americans.
For more information, please click here.
CULAC
CULAC is the federal political action committee of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). CULAC raises funds from individuals and uses its resources to support credit union friendly candidates who are running for federal office. In the 2000 election cycle, CULAC was ranked 25th of all PACs in terms of contributions to candidates seeking election to the U.S. House and Senate.
For more information on CULAC, please click here.
Project Zip Code
A basic component of effective communication between credit unions and elected officials is the strength in numbers of our grassroots membership. Lawmakers make different decisions when watched by affected constituents. To assist in demonstrating the credit union strength in every legislative district, a technology-based program to measure the number of members in state and federal lawmaker districts, based upon member zip codes, has been developed. The value of this information lies in the fact that it is not limited by the main office or branch locations of a credit union, but rather based upon the location of credit union members.
By participating in Project Zip Code, credit unions will be able to determine specific U.S. Congressional Districts and State Senate and House Districts for every one of their members. The implementation of a “district matching” process results in very powerful information to be used with state and federal elected officials. It provides them with the total number of constituents, which are credit union members, with whom a credit union and other credit unions across the country regularly communicate and maintain a business relationship.
If you are interested in participating in Project Zip Code, then please contact the Association office at (800) 842-1242 to receive a CD-ROM disk and installation instructions. If you have a CD-ROM disk and need to download installation instructions, then please click here.
- For a list of frequently asked questions on Project Zip Code, please click here.
- For a list of common errors on Project Zip Code, then please click here.
- If you would like to check the status of participating Rhode Island credit unions, then please visit the Project Zip Code information site.
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