FORT WORTH, Texas — Legislative advocacy on everything from the Treasury blueprint to banker attacks became a “hot topic” in the curriculum this summer at the just concluded Southwest CUNA Management School.

One special class which included role playing and hands on exercises was called “Advocacy Rocks” and was designed to “build more activists in the credit union community,” said the Texas Credit Union League in detailing the curriculum this week.

“Given the increased political pressure on the credit union movement, the leadership at the SCMS wanted a class, different from the past, that would inspire industry leaders into credit union activities,” said the league which conducted the CUNA-run two week school on the campus of Texas Christian University.

In addition to the controversial Treasury blueprint plan on regulatory consolidation, the class also covered proposed reforms to overdraft and interchange plus safety/soundness. The class, which included exercises for meeting with elected representatives, was developed by James Phelps, the league's grassroots director and Winter Prosapio, communications director.