adminThe Florida Advocacy Conference kicked off yesterday featuring opening remarks from Patrick La Pine, President/CEO of the LSCU. After a statewide update from the League’s Advocacy Team, CUNA Mutual Group sponsored the Political Action Committee Awards Luncheon.The following credit unions were honored with the Chairman’s Awards, which are presented to the credit unions raising the highest percentage above their PAC goals. Winners included:
UNDER 50 MILLION
- Pompano Beach City Employees Credit Union – FedPAC
- Manatee Community Federal Credit Union – CUPAC
50-100 MILLION
- Florida West Coast Credit Union – FedPAC
- Country Federal Credit Union – CUPAC
100-500 MILLION
- Members First Credit Union of Florida – FedPAC
- First Commerce Credit Union – CUPAC
OVER 500 MILLION
- Achieva Credit Union – FedPAC
- Community Credit Union of Florida – CUPAC
Additional accolades were given as the Chapter Leadership Award for the chapter that raised the highest amount above its PAC goal was presented to the Sara-Mana Chapter of Credit Unions. Up next was the honor of the President’s Award, which is presented to the credit union that raised the most PAC money overall. Suncoast Credit Union was the recipient of this distinguished award.
Honor Roll Credit Unions (distinction given to a credit union in which the President/CEO/Manager is a Capitol Club member and board members and/or all senior staff are Ambassador or Congressional Club members) included:
- Achieva Credit Union
- Campus USA Credit Union
- First Commerce Credit Union
- Florida West Coast Credit Union
- floridacentral Credit Union
- FSU Credit Union
- Gold Coast Federal Credit Union
- Members First Credit Union of Florida
- San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union
- Suncoast Credit Union
- Tallahassee-Leon Federal Credit Union
- Tropical Financial Credit Union
- We Florida Financial
After a productive afternoon of meetings at the Capital, credit union leaders returned for more networking and acknowledgments. Sen. Anitere Flores was honored as the 2016 Lawmaker of the Year at the legislative reception and is pictured above.
In 2016, Flores sponsored and successfully passed two LSCU-backed priority bills. Flores’ legislation, which was aimed at protecting consumer data at gas pumps, took a great step towards further protecting members from data security issues. She also sponsored a bill that updated laws relating to the service of process for financial institutions. Flores is supportive of efforts to pass public deposits legislation and is always accessible and helpful to credit unions and the LSCU.
