WASHINGTON-America's Community Bankers President and CEO Diane Casey-Landry highlighted the fund-raising ability of the Credit Union Legislative Action Council of CUNA and urged the bankers to compete. To illustrate her point, Casey-Landry held up a copy of a Credit Union Times article regarding CULAC's size and breadth of contributions both coming in and going out. It was also handed out to the membership. "Money does count. Give the credit unions the credit they deserve," she stated. She emphasized that CULAC's average contribution was only $22 and came from about 22,000 contributors. Casey-Landry quipped that each person there could leave $22 on the table right then if they chose to. ACB's political action committee, COMPAC, needs to raise a lot more funds to help compete with CULAC's $1.7 million raised last year, she said. At year-end, COMPAC had raised $241,766.18 while making $267,863.34 in contributions, according to Federal Election Commission reports. ACB Executive Vice President for Corporate Communications Bob Schmermund also pointed to CUNA's GAC just a couple weeks ago that drew more than 4,000 attendees and said ACB's numbers are improving but not where they would like them to be. Nearly 200 attended the ACB's GAC representing about 90 institutions and 22 state associations. ACB also had record attendance at its special event for mutuals at 120 participants. -

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