ALBANY, N.Y. (5/1/15)--The credit union message may still be ringing in the halls of the New York state Capitol after the New York Credit Union Association (NYCUA) held its annual Governmental Affairs Conference earlier this week.

The conference opened Tuesday with a general session, where attendees heard a compliance update from Mike Carter, NYCUA vice president of compliance, and a discussion by Mike Lanotte, NYCUA senior vice president/general counsel, about the state's new field of membership law (The Point April 29).

Lanotte was joined on stage by Ruth Adams, deputy superintendent of regional and community banks for the state Department of Financial Institutions. Lanotte also spoke about the state's prize-linked savings program, and briefed credit union leaders about issues they should discuss with their legislators the following day.

"All of the topics discussed were very important issues that affect credit unions," said Elan Nieves, staff attorney in the Office of General Counsel at United Nations FCU, Long Island City, N.Y. "It's always great to hear different perspectives on legislation from other credit unions and just generally connect with our credit union peers."

Nearly 150 credit union advocates visited the state Capitol Wednesday to discuss issues important to credit unions with lawmakers and to thank them for their support on pro-credit union legislation.

Credit union advocates, who also illustrated for legislators the history, structure and cooperative philosophies that credit unions hold, spoke with more than 100 state lawmakers during the final day of the event.

"Once again, the credit union message was heard loud and clear by our lawmakers during this year's state GAC," said William J. Mellin, NYCUA president/CEO. "All of the credit union advocates who participated in this year's conference did a tremendous job of relaying the credit union difference to our elected officials."