CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference is always one of the year's most important credit union conferences, but it is also a special event for Credit Union Times. We have risen to the occasion and produced this 156-page special GAC issue. It features the latest news, in-depth trend stories, statistics galore, people features, reader feedback and everything else readers have come to expect from Credit Union Times. Here is a guide to just some of the features in this issue: * Talking Back.This issue has plenty of reader feedback. See letters on pages 16-19. * It's About the People.Features on credit union leaders Mary Shipe, John Dill, and Kyle Markland can be found on pages 24, 80, and 94 respectively. * Stat Crazy.Find stats on investments, mortgages, branches and SBA lending on pages 114-122. * Tech Time.Get your technology fill on pages 64-67. * Trends & Analysis. Learn all you need to know about ILCs (22-23); get the latest on the yield curve (30); see how airline CUs are dealing with their sponsors' financial troubles (38-39); find out what consolidation among CUs is doing to league dues (42-43); and get a snapshot of CU mortgage activity (76-77). * The Fun Stuff.Another edition of Beyond the Job (34-35) and a look at how CEOs balance life and work (84) lighten up the issue. * The Facility Factor.Credit union branches come in all sorts of themes (74). And what's this thing about pods? (132) * We're Opinionated…You can find opinion pieces from Congressman Brad Sherman (16), each NCUA Board member (19-20), NASCUS CEO Mary Martha-Fortney (21), America First CEO Rick Craig (21), USERS President John Schooler (102) and Empire Corporate Vice President Chris Duwe (102).