Why does my credit union raise PAC funds?

The following article was submitted by Brandee Bickle, senior director of governmental affairs at the LSCU & Affiliates

So your credit union raises PAC funds … wonderful!  When you are weighing whether to participate in your credit union’s fundraising program, please know every little bit helps and is pooled together with the vast majority of credit unions in your state that raise something for the PACs.  PAC fundraising is just one piece of grassroots advocacy for the industry.  But it’s a very key piece.  Here’s some basic information on why and what this is:

• PAC stands for political action committees, and it is designed to involve credit union supporters in the political process. And there’s two PACs; federal and state.  These PACs make political donations to campaigns and are governed by ethics commission focused government entities.  Contributions that the PACs make are not focused on what party an individual is in … but rather, their support of credit unions.
• Regardless of your own personal political views, government activity at both the state and federal level has a direct impact on credit unions. It’s important for credit unions to be involved … and the PACs is integral to effective advocacy.
• By helping your credit union raise funds, your dollars help credit unions speak out for their industry and being able to serve your members.
• Credit unions are the ONLY ones that speak up for our industry. That’s why we utilize PACs to help pool resources together to make a positive impact.  Your contributions create one single, power voice to ensure that your credit union is there for your members for years to come.

Credit unions help shape the course of their future by engaging in PAC fundraising, by being involved, and sharing what is important to our industry.  Check out the video for quick insight into the mindset of why your credit union should even care about being involved:

http://www.gcua.org/temp/nowyouknow/gl_video7.html

Raising funds for the PACs is just one part of credit union advocacy, and thousands of people in each of the three states of LSCU help raise funds every year.  Protecting credit unions ability to provide financial resources to the members that rely upon you cannot be done without these people … people just like you.  Join the effort; when we work together credit unions can achieve good things for the members who need us!