CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) is the premier credit union event in the country, and this year’s record-breaking event features hundreds of first-time attendees awed by the sight of more than 5,000 credit union leaders in the nation’s capital.

Those attendees met Sunday with members of CUNA leadership to learn about CUNA GAC and how to make the most of their experience.

Annie Lepper of MPECU in Duluth, Minn., has been part of the credit union movement for 19 years, but this is her first time at CUNA GAC.

“I knew this was a cooperative movement, but to see everyone here, all together, is amazing,” she says. “We’re all passionate about credit unions, and there's a lot of opportunity here.”

Kay Holman of Premier America Credit Union in Chatsworth, Calif., says she’s been pleased with the changes CUNA has helped foster at the credit union, and looks forward to telling her story to her elected officials during a Hike the Hill visit later this week.

“Our congressman is Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), whose goals seem to align with those of credit unions, but we want to make sure he knows just how important they are to his constituency, and to all Americans,” she says.

Will Rader, a board member of Unitus Community Credit Union, Portland, Ore., says he hopes to pick up tips on how to be an effective credit union advocate.

“I’m here to get smarter, to become a better spokesperson for credit unions,” he said. “I’m impressed with what I’ve learned about CUNA’s advocacy efforts, and I want to help.”

►Read more conference coverage from CUNA News, and get live updates on Twitter via @CUNANews, @cumagazine, @CUNA, and by using the #CUNAGAC hashtag. You can also follow the conference on Facebook and Instagram. For a complete schedule and information on keynote speakers and breakout sessions, visit the CUNA GAC event page.