CUNA News
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Jobs
  • Contact

News

Home » Put all the advocacy pieces together
Leadership Subscribers

Put all the advocacy pieces together

How to prepare for advocacy meetings.

August 28, 2019
Dennis Chaptman
No Comments
2019-08_advocacypuzzle_116525

Combining passion, energy, and knowledge is crucial for advocates at any level.

Passion without knowledge, for example, won’t carry the message as effectively in meetings with legislators. A thorough knowledge of your credit union and the industry is indispensable.

“I’d recommend doing a crash course, sort of Credit Union 101,” says Timothy Strong, community development manager at $4.2 billion asset Visions Federal Credit Union in Endicott, N.Y. “Study what a credit union is, what a cooperative is, and how we’re different. When you’re really comfortable with that, coming up with tangible examples and tying it back into the issues becomes a lot more natural.”

Strong, who attended the CUNA Young Professionals Advocacy Workshop in 2018, recommends mapping out meetings with lawmakers and their staffs in advance to ensure you make the most of limited time. But he also warns about being too scripted and inflexible.

Timothy Strong

‘It's important for us to advocate, strengthen our identity, and reinforce our message.’

Timothy Strong

Kendra Rubin, vice president of government affairs for the New York Credit Union Association, offers these advocacy tips for young professionals:

  • Have a 30-second elevator pitch about yourself and your work.
  • Put in the face time. Attend social events to be recognized and build relationships that will last and may  leverage future access. “It’s better than sending a cold email,” she says.
  • Seek out classes in public speaking or read books on the topic. Listen to TED Talks to hear what speaking techniques are effective.
  • Be professional in all aspects of your personal and professional life. That includes making sure posts on social media platforms are appropriate. Listen to podcasts that give practical advice on handling yourself as a professional.

At the end of a meeting, Strong also suggests  offering to act as resources on future issues or if questions arise—and to circle back to answer questions that may have arisen.

“I'm an older millennial, and we don't always follow up as well as we could. It’s really important to have that follow-up,” Strong says. “If you tell somebody you're going to get back to them, do it.”

PODCAST: Young professionals and advocacy

Listen to a CUNA News Podcast with Adam Engelman.

Effective, skilled advocacy by the upcoming generation of credit union leaders is the foundation for protecting the advances past generations have made and ensuring the movement continues to thrive.

“It’s important for us—credit union employees, members, volunteers—to advocate, strengthen our identity, and reinforce our message,” Strong says. “It’s vitally important for young people to get involved in that.”

Upcoming young professionals advocacy trainings will pull all these pieces together, says Adam Engelman, CUNA’s director of federal grassroots and programs.

“Credit unions are well known to policymakers as a grassroots powerhouse,” he says, “We strategically planned these advocacy trainings around the CUNA/league Hike the Hill program to allow attendees to not only learn about advocacy but to put it into action.”

KEYWORDS advocacy hill visits

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Credit Union Magazine: Winter 2022

Winter 2022

Credit Union Magazine’s Winter 2022 issue highlights data-driven marketing, the board’s role in cybersecurity, elder abuse scams, credit unions’ auto lending advantage, and more.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • CFPB issues CUNA-opposed proposal on credit card late fees

  • Auto lending report shows significant credit union member savings

  • 2023 Credit Union Hero of the Year voting open

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

Vote for the 2023 CU Hero of the Year

View Results
More

Champion for the Credit Union Movement

Credit Union National Association is the most influential financial services trade association and the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America's credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

Resources for

  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Providers

Our Affiliates

  • American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL)
  • Credit Union Awareness
  • Credit Union House
  • CUNA Strategic Services
  • National Credit Union Foundation
GET CUNA UPDATES
© 2023 Credit Union National Association | ADA Compliance Notice & Legal
Email Us