Lizeth GeorgeOver the weekend, the LSCU Advocacy Team worked to ensure credit union priorities remained top of mind for lawmakers in Atlanta, Georgia and Point Clear, Alabama.
LSCU sponsored the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Annual Meeting that took place in Atlanta, Georgia. ALEC is America’s largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets, and federalism. Held in the capital city of one of our three state footprints, the LSCU leveraged this opportunity to visit and network with lawmakers from across Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, by attending and supporting workshops in conjunction with CUNA such as a conversation on digital asset and cryptocurrency solutions in the financial world. During ALEC, each state hosts a State Night Dinner for lawmakers and other stakeholders, and at these State Nights we were able to engage with our lawmakers and have discussions around upcoming legislative priorities such as public funds in Florida, and next steps for financial literacy in Georgia. We even ran into Georgia’s Senate President Pro Tempore, Butch Miller and were invited to an exclusive event for Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp. Supporting public policy groups is a key part of the LSCU advocacy strategy as we continue to build on the foundation of top-notch advocacy for credit unions in the Southeast.
LSCU also attended the Business Council of Alabama’s 2022 Government Affairs Conference in Point Clear, AL. We were thrilled to represent credit unions alongside the business community with most of the Alabama legislative, statewide, and federal delegations in attendance, as well as newly-elected or newly-nominated candidates from both sides of the aisle. On Friday, we attended the BCA’s Policy Committees to both promote and safeguard credit union priorities within the Council both in Montgomery and in DC. On Saturday, we enjoyed hearing from Governor Kay Ivey, legislative leaders in both the Alabama House and Senate, as well as heads of Alabama state agencies. We also attended a panel with the state’s congressional delegation. It was a special honor to see the BCA Distinguished Leader Award presented to both Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) and Senator and former President Pro Tempore Del Marsh (R-Anniston) for their extraordinary careers as leaders in the State House, as both announced their retirement from the Legislature at the end of their current terms.
On Friday and Saturday, we represented credit unions amongst these lawmakers and their key staff members in receptions and dinners and at an LSCU-hosted luncheon. We look forward to continuing to partner with the BCA to advance Alabama credit unions’ agendas in our state’s and nation’s capitals.
