New podcast: Credit union advocates discuss the power of grassroots

A trio of credit union industry leaders - Family Focus Federal Credit Union President/CEO Amy Brodersen, Members 1st Federal Credit Union President/CEO Michael Wilson, and California, Nevada, and Utah Credit Union League President/CEO Scott Simpson  - are sharing their experiences in grassroots advocacy and engagement. Their “Don’t Tax My Credit Union” efforts are highlighted in the "Rooted in action” episode of A CU Seat at the Table podcast, hosted by America’s Credit Unions Chief Membership & Engagement Officer Anthony Demangone.

“I think it’s really important from a small credit union standpoint because our voice is much stronger when we do things together,” said Broderson. She said asking her members to use their voices to protect their credit union is “not a big lift.”

“For me, grassroots is all about the members,” she added. “Whether I’m telling their story, or they’re telling their story.”

“This is the first time we’ve activated our membership in an engaged way because the threat was real—and is still real,” said Wilson. He explained how important it is to ensure members understand what is happening so they can help protect their credit union, stressing a similar importance and responsibility as a larger credit union to stand up for the industry at-large.

“We can’t be cavalier about when we use membership political power… but the attack here is on the business model itself,” said Simpson. “We say that ‘a tax on a credit union is a tax on you’ but that’s not just a slug line, that is the reality in this cooperative business model.”  

The group discussed lessons learned in grassroots advocacy, engagement from members, and why the threat to the credit union tax status is different this year. Listen to the entire podcast episode here. Learn about how to get involved in the Don’t Tax My Credit Union campaign and actions you can take today.