WICHITA, Kan. – For the second consecutive year, the Kansas Credit Union Association sponsored the television coverage of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' Governor's Address on the Kansas Public Telecommunications Service in coordination with all three Kansas public television stations. The Governor's Address was delivered Jan. 9, the opening day of the state legislative session. Ashley Friesen, communications specialist for the KCUA said, "Credit unions in Kansas are strong supporters of the governor's office and she is of us. It's a great partnership." In addition to sponsoring coverage of the Governor's Address, KCUA also donated $9,000 for sponsorship of KPTS' weekly program, Ask Your Legislator. The live show is broadcast Sunday nights at 5 P.M statewide, and Friesen said, "It's a unique opportunity for credit unions to seize." Invited Kansas legislators answer questions called in by their constituents on various topics. Friesen said the show "challenges our legislators to think about their constituents and their concerns." As for KCUA's sponsorship of the Governor's Address and Ask Your Legislator, Friesen said, "We feel this is an excellent way to gain coverage for and recognition of credit unions across the state, hopefully gaining support for credit unions and expanding various fields-of-membership. In addition, this serves to bridge a gap between our legislators and our state credit unions, supporting our on-going grassroots movement." As part of KCUA's continuing effort to get the credit union word out to consumers and heighten legislators' awareness of credit unions and the benefits of membership, KCUA recently sponsored the first flight of its statewide cooperative communications plan on radio stations and in newspapers statewide. The first flight ran Jan. 9-13; the second one will run over International Credit Union Week in October. The ads were designed by Wichita-based Armstrong & Shank around the theme of "Power of People" and raise the awareness among potential members of the benefits of joining a credit union. The same agency also designed the artwork for KCUA's year-round billboard advertising in Topeka. Friesen said the billboards are strategically placed on the drive to the state capital and alert legislators that nearly half a million of their constituents belong to a credit union, as well as the value of CUs to the state's economy and their members' lives. -

[email protected]