Regarding the Editor's Column ["Step Up and Put the Fear of CUs into Bankers" July 4 issue].
I wholeheartedly applaud Sarah Snell Cooke's efforts to ignite a new passion for credit unions on the issue of member business lending.
Her suggestions from involving a community partner to "lobby on (credit unions) behalf" to actively setting appointments to meet with your member of Congress are right on target. It is crucial for credit unions to recognize that the next 90 days are the most important time for the credit union movement to make an impact. Between now and election day, credit unions, that is, constituents, have the greatest leverage they will have during the two-year congressional cycle. This is the time when congressmen and senators really listen and often make commitments for their future support.
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Credit unions must take advantage of this unique window of time to frame their messaging and ask for support on credit union needs. Invite the candidates to your community events, introduce both the incumbent and the challengers to your staff and your members (separately, of course) and volunteer for a candidate's campaign, if you are so inclined.
I am especially supportive of Cooke's suggestion that we get our business partners (SEGs) involved in the process. There are tens of thousands of them, and they all benefit from the existence of the credit union movement. Also, do not discount the importance of those members retiring. They will hold their seat until January 2013, with the opportunity to pass important legislation during the lame duck session.
It is not only your patriotic duty, as Cooke suggested, to get involved, it is your responsibility to your community, your job and the credit union movement. I hope this letter will throw another log on the fire and motivate a few more credit union professionals and volunteers to take action.
Dan Mica
President/CEO
The DMA Group
Alexandria, Va.
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