A cruise around the Thimble Islands off Stony Creek, Conn., was the setting for the recent kickoff event for the new Young Professionals Program of the Credit Union League of Connecticut.

The under-40 crowd heard from Tony Emerson, league president/CEO, and Kelly Fuhlbrigge, vice president of government relations, and networked informally during the trip aboard the Sea Mist.

“Many had no idea that we did so much on both the state and federal level and they could play an important role in shaping the future of the credit union movement,” Fuhlbrigge said.

“It was a fun way to kick off an exciting program,” said Abbi Stamler, the league's marketing/communications coordinator and event organizer. “I was so pleased to see how much enthusiasm and passion the participants had for the credit union movement, and how much constructive advice they had to offer.”

A committee will be formed to plan future activities of the new group, the league said.