Looking at CUNA's 2016 Governmental Affairs Conference
February 25, 2016 3:41 PM
A view of the exhibit hall at CUNA's GAC as seen from the second floor of CU Direct's booth.
CUNA displayed several larger-than-life exhibits featuring stories from individual credit unions that help demonstrate the CU philosophy of people helping people.
Veteran moderator Paul Berry returned for his 15th GAC, encouraging credit union advocates to leverage their power on Capitol Hill.
CUNA President and CEO Jim Nussle rallied the CU faithful in preparation for Hike the Hill.
Award-winning journalist Ted Koppel "scared the bejesus" -- as CUNA GAC Moderator Paul Berry put it -- out of the credit union crowd when he talked about what led him to write his New York Times best-seller: "Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath.
During a Tuesday breakout session that was closed to the press at the request of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a panel of experts discussed "What does the Future Hold for Small Dollar Lending and overdraft Protection."
Moderated by Elizabeth Eurgubian of CUNA, the panel included: Lori Sommerfeld, senior counsel specializing in responsible lending regulatory compliance and CFPB matters for Buckley Sandler LLP; National CU Foundation executive director and former NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland; CFPB Assistant Director Corey Stone; and Todd Zywicki senior scholar and senior fellow with the F.H. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
The League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates honored Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) as one of its 2015 Federal Lawmakers of the Year. From left: LSCU & Affiliates Chairman Steve Swofford, Brooks, and LSCU & Affiliates President/CEO Patrick La Pine.
LSCU also honored Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.) as one of its 2015 Federal Lawmakers of the Year. Posey with LSCU & Affiliates President/CEO Patrick La Pine (far left) and officials from Space Coast CU and Community CU of Florida.
Credit union champion Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) tells the GAC crowd to lobby their lawmakers on behalf of his bill, HR 1188.
Cornerstone Credit Union League CEO Dick Ensweiler introduces U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) at GAC.
U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) addresses the GAC crowd, noting the problem with Dodd-Frank was it went in with a solution to the financial crisis before anyone really understood what caused the crisis.
Tansley Stearns of the Filene Research institute exhorts the GAC crowd to respect the movement's past even as it looks to the future.
Filene Research Institute is celebrating its 25th anniversary by changing the way it does business. "In the first decade, it was all about the research. It is, after all, our middle name," Filenes Mark Meyer told the crowd at the think-and-do tank's special breakfast event on Monday. "Then, we focused on impact."
Now, the institute is launching its next phase: Filene Centers of Excellence. With five distinct areas of focus with a $1 million commitment to each one for four years (after which, the concept will be reviewed and could be re-upped or tweaked, depending on market realities four years from now), the centers will be exploring "the war for talent," operational excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship, emerging technology and consumer decision making.
