adminDay 2 of the Florida Advocacy Conference started with an economic update on the state from Florida’s CFO Jimmy Patronis. Patronis grew up in Bay County where he was, and still is a credit union member. His update included ways that his team is working to ensure the best use of taxpayer dollars and firmly believes in the role that credit unions play in the lives of Floridians.
Next on the schedule was a power-packed panel of credit union advocates who have all successfully found creative ways to support the credit union movement by raising PAC funds and raising awareness on legislative issues. The panelists were Jan Page, CEO at Community South Credit Union; Gary Vien, CAO, Suncoast Credit Union; Patty Sarne, EVP, San Antonio Citizens Credit Union; and Dennis Holthaus, EVP, Achieva Credit Union. Ideas ranged from golf tournaments, CUNA’s map program, legislative lunches, and blue jean days, to targeted use of ATMs fees to raise PAC funds.
The conference concluded with regulatory updates and best practices from Ed Eastwood, Financial Control Analyst with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and Myra Toeppe, Regional III Director for the National Credit Union Administration. We thank all those who attended, and to those who did not, we hope to see you in Tallahassee in 2019.
