Minnesota credit union employees and members blitzed the hallsof Congress with nearly 800 phone calls last week to keep themomentum going for the “Don't Tax My Credit Union” campaign, theMinnesota Credit Union Network said.

The call total adds to the more than 16,000 emails, postcardsand letters already generated through the campaign by Minnesotacredit unions, the league said.

The phone blitz, held Sept. 26, targeted Minnesota's two U.S.senators and eight House members.

To prepare for the blitz, the MnCUN contacted all Minnesota credit unions and urged them tohave a designated phone for employees and members to call from orto have employees make calls from their desk extensions to membersof Congress.

Minnesota credit unions used the CUNA -dedicated phone number toconnect with their members of Congress.

“It was a fresh, new way for us to keep credit union employeesand members engaged and connected with their members of Congress onthis critical issue,” said Mara Humphrey, MnCUN vice president ofpublic affairs. “The phone effort was an incredibly effective,personal appeal that reinforced all of the other advocacy effortswe're leading to protect the credit union tax status.”

MnCUN has been driving the 'Don't Tax My Credit Union' campaignwith a number of other initiatives, including:

• Mailing to Congressional elected officials 3,500 postcards thatwere filled out by credit union members at branches throughout thestate.
• Engaging with members and elected representatives throughFacebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Vine. Through social media, closeto one million messages were sent to Congress from credit unionsacross the country, according to the MnCUN.
• Generating credit union emails with “Don't Tax My Credit Union”messages sent by members to Congressional representative.

MnCUN also said its grassroots education and action team, GREAT, has grown tonearly 1,000 advocates since the 'Don't Tax My Credit Union'campaign began in May.

The credit union association said it has designated October asGREAT month with a goal of reaching 100% credit union employeeparticipation in the grass roots team. MnCUN also is asking everycredit union in the state to get at least two percent of theirmembership involved in GREAT.