LATHAM, N.Y. – Building support among state and federal legislators and staying connected with them is a constant process for credit unions. That's just what over 80 credit union professionals and board members from the New York State Credit Union League's Southern Tier district did June 13 when they hosted a legislative reception attended by N.Y. Assemblywoman Donna Dupardo (D-Binghamton) and Sen. Thomas Libous' (D-Binghamton) District Director Terry Kane at the Binghamton Club. "Staying connected with our state and federal representatives is essential to the success of the credit union movement," said Stephen Gardner, director of the Southern Tier district. "Credit unions, individually and as part of New York's credit union faction, need to become more involved in the political process," he added. Assemblywoman Lupardo, a new member of the Assembly, told attendees of how impressed she was with the credit union education she's received from the credit unions in her district and from the League's governmental affairs department. She also mentioned the good works CUs do and her credit union membership when she talked about her co-sponsorship of three League-supported bills currently before the state legislature – A. 166 would permit CU to be included in banking development districts; A.4970 would authorize credit union participation in the Excelsior Linked Deposit Program; and A6637 would allow CUs to accept municipal deposits. There are 10 CUs in the Southern Tier district. Together they serve 211,329 members and have over $2 billion in assets.