By confiding such information, Marquette–who is quick to point out that he shares Credit Union Times' Political Action award with the all of "the associates in our credit union"–hopes he and his colleagues will set the bar for other credit unions to get involved in PAC activities. "It's just so easy to sell a candy bar or a bear," said the CEO.

"Just this morning," Nahodil interjected, "when we had our branch managers' meeting, we emphasized the importance of selling the PAC bears and the PAC candy bars."

Members 1st has been so successful with such endeavors that it has been awarded NAFCU's White Hat, which recognizes the credit union that raises the most money for NAFCU/PAC, every year since 2003.

Marquette was the driving force behind setting a Members 1st and NAFCU/PAC record by one contributor of $80,000 in 2005, which nearly doubled the previous records of $44,000.

"Politics and money are a fact of life," Marquette remarked. "Credit unions should really think that political contributions are a way to reward our friends [in Congress]. If we wait until legislation has been submitted that is anti-credit union, that's too late." According to Marquette, "it is critical to support the state and national PACs."

Staying in touch

Marquette is an adviser to Representative Todd Platts (R-Pa.), and serves on his "Friends of Platts" Committee at home in the district. According to George Nahodil, executive vice president of Members 1st, "We visit our congressmen twice a year in their offices. Once at the CUNA [Governmental Affairs Conference] and once at NAFCU's Congressional Caucus." Nahodil also noted that Members 1st sends out an electronic newsletter that goes out on a monthly basis to the relevant congressional representatives.

"We want them to know what is going on," Nahodil said, "We are community focused here and we want our representatives in Congress to know that."

Members 1st is also very involved in the community, and while it's certainly not the main goal, the credit union ensures the lawmakers know about those efforts. The community activities in question range from Senior Olympics to several children's charities to the American Heart Ball. One of the most important things Members 1st does, according to Nahodil, is financial education. "We are at the high schools three times a week," he said.

Clearly, Members 1st FCU's PAC activities offer some good visibility as well. "If we give the perception that we are a 'little credit union,' Marquette said, "it diminishes our political capital. We want to support charities that are good for our community, but that also give us political exposure."

When asked about the national trade associations, NAFCU and CUNA, Marquette noted that they need to be visible with lawmakers and congressional candidates, and contributing to political campaigns is an important part of that. Marquette added, "We need to support the national trade associations in their efforts to stave off negative legislation."

Members 1st has also contributed to the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association PAC and helped to raise $25,000 for that fund.

Member satisfaction and fun with fund raising

Members seem to like what Members 1st is doing. "Here is the credit union difference," he said. "We have a 98% member satisfaction rate. People need to know that. That's the vision of political and social humanitarian involvement. What bank can say that?"

The credit union also makes its fund-raising activities as painless as possible. "We make it a strategic goal in our organization," Nahodil added. "Raising PAC dollars needs to be fun. We sell hotdogs to our associates; let them have a dress-down day for $5.00. We have a catered dinner with the president–all these activities raise PAC dollars."

Despite the misgivings of some toward money and politics, Nahodil said, his organization does not have any hang-ups about it. "PAC's are clean," he said. "They give our national trade associations the right to be at the negotiating table." He emphasized that, "credit unions are serving the average American and that the only way legislators will know the difference is through PAC activities."

The big picture, Marquette feels, is to be able to continue to support our members. "This is why we have PAC activities," he emphasized. "This is the big picture."

The CEO hopes other CUs will follow in his footsteps. "It's just so easy to sell a candy bar or a bear," he mused. "Just think, if every credit union in the movement raised five or ten thousand dollars for the PAC, what kind of a war chest we would have."

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