The advocacy challenge ahead is maintaining progress and taking advantage of opportunities in a different political environment, wrote CUNA Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan in Credit Union Times this week, as CUNA prepares for its annual Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC). Donovan notes that the credit union advocacy goal is intentional and has resulted in many victories in recent years.

“We were able to achieve all of this because we have a strong advocacy goal, a strategy that works, and an agenda that is credit unions’ agenda.

The advocacy challenge ahead is maintaining our progress and taking advantage of opportunities in a fundamentally different political environment.

Donovan notes that the economic effects of the pandemic will lost longer than the public health crisis, which is why credit unions continue to push for policy that keeps them in position to meet members’ needs.

He notes that there will be challenges due to a change in leadership in the White House, Congress, NCUA and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

“Credit unions exist to improve their members’ financial well-being and advance the communities they serve. To prevent misguided policies from impeding that critical work, all of us – credit unions, leagues and CUNA – must continue to deliver the outstanding 360-degree advocacy that is a hallmark of our movement,” Donovan wrote. “When we work together, we have a positive impact on policy. Telling our story and showing our work will help us confront and overcome these daunting challenges. And after a whirlwind 2020, we have a lot of stories to tell.”