 In today’s credit union industry, we are seeing a rapidly evolving landscape, which means the role of trade associations and leagues has never been more important. Apart from serving their members, credit unions join and invest their trust in these organizations to fuel their collaborative spirit-- advancing advocacy, sharing ideas and innovation, and building meaningful connections across the industry. This has and continues to be one of the many hallmarks of our industry’s success. Yet, it is not just about “feel good” moments that fuel this effort. Collaboration comes with certain expectations and responsibilities. Trade association and leagues must inspire confidence, demonstrate an ability to make sound decisions during time constraints and when the pressure is on, and remain steady in times of crisis or uncertainty. Most of all, these organizations need to be both accessible and accountable to the credit unions they serve. It requires commitment, leadership, and a lot of hard work. All the above is how and why trade associations and leagues earn your dues dollars, and your trust. Question is…are you getting the value you paid for? The good news is that DCUC is all that and more! We have certainly “punched above our weight class” and led from the front. When you compare value, performance, and strategic impact, DCUC remains the best return for your dues investment and budget. Here’s why: Relentless Advocacy: Over the past two years, DCUC has led the charge proactively by responding to attacks against the industry’s tax status. No one was as assertive, on point, or as consistent in standing up for our movement. We kept a close watch on several routes our opponents attempted to take in attaching proposals or self-serving narratives to their pitches against our industry’s historic tax exemption status; regardless that past attempts were also deemed uncredible by Congress. The point here is that DCUC evaluated threats, read the room, and kept a close watch to signal the entire industry into a proactive, agile advocacy front. That is something I’m incredibly proud of… DCUC’s relentless efforts and important role in igniting the industry’s shared response and success in the recent tax fight. And we will continue to keep watch as we expect a resurfacing of the issue soon. And as a result, DCUC continues to gain members who prefer an active partner in all advocacy matters, and we’re connecting with more like-minded sponsors looking to get involved. Plus, we continue to open doors inside the Capitol and throughout the Executive Branch. DCUC just concluded another successful Annual Conference. I am very proud of our relevant and diverse program that our Director of Conferences, Cindy Parker, and the dedicated DCUC staff worked tirelessly to deliver. Our conference offerings continue to be “best in class”—a sentiment expressed not only last week in Palm Desert, California, but also expressed following our Overseas Sub-council in Copenhagen, Denmark, last May, and our 2025 Defense Matters ahead of the GAC in Washington, DC.DCUC has significantly improved our conference agenda, with expanded offerings and insights to include more breakout sessions, increased networking opportunities for DCUC members and partners, and exceptional speaker lineups. Those who attended the conference were quick to express their appreciation for valuable and relevant discussions and how much they enjoyed the flow and programming. Whether it was the many “first time” attendees (credit union leaders, speakers, and system partners) or our long-time supporters, this year’s conference feedback reflected a steady consensus that this was the BEST conference they had attended in years. Hearing this reaffirms why we are so confident in saying that you won’t find a more rewarding experience as a member, sponsor, or speaker than at a DCUC conference. We are raising the bar, year after year, and we’re not stopping there! SAVE THE DATE for next year’s DCUC Annual Conference in Miami, Florida, August 3-7, 2026! I am also proud of the fact that while all seven of us were busy last week, DCUC remained laser-focused on legislative developments moving across Capitol Hill. Before Wednesday’s breakfast at the conference, DCUC was the first to respond to a letter signed by 52 bank associations sent to the Treasury regarding tax policy; the letter asking them to review the industry tax-exempt status. Our response was strong and firm, it didn’t recycle old industry talking points. DCUC delivered a bold, fact-driven response, pointing out the unspoken and avoided Sub-Chapter S tax policy, which banks use to avoid taxes on income distributions to bank owners. We also remained fully engaged in other action:
Navigating Change and Leading Forward A lot has changed since our 2023 Conference. Many of you may remember we had a unique joint appearance to promote the CUNA-NAFCU Merger.  What began as an intent to demonstrate “unity” quickly shifted into a period of transition and some necessary “disruption” in industry leadership. Since then, DCUC has stepped forward to fill gaps and proudly adapt to a new industry role.
The good news is DCUC emerged stronger than ever before. In fact, we’ve already accomplished 7 out of 8 objectives in our three-year plan approved following the aftermath of the CUNA-NAFCU merger. We are excited to grow DCUC’s impact and representation as a greater force in the immediate future. Looking ahead, we will continue to provide both the specialized expertise in military and defense credit union matters, just as we have for over 60 years, but also the broad industry insight needed to navigate complex challenges and opportunities. Once again, industry trade associations and leagues must always inspire confidence, demonstrate an ability to make sound decisions on the fly, and have a steady hand in any crisis. Most importantly, these organizations need to be both accessible and accountable to members. That said, we understand there will be leadership changes across the industry. We genuinely wish them the best, as these transitions often bring some internal turmoil and disruption for at least another year. This is expected and can be managed. It also brings important opportunities. Over the next year and beyond, the industry will need a steady hand. DCUC will continue to offer accessible, measurable impact and representation within this great industry and movement. We will continue to proudly serve and fill leadership gaps. We stand ready to lead, partner, and support all industry trade associations and leagues for the benefit of our members and the communities they serve. I expect new leaders to reach out and hope we can build something truly great together. Thank you all for your continued trust and enduring support! We’re proud to serve you, now and into the future! Comments are closed.
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