Credit Union Association of the Dakotas (CUAD) recently awarded $10,000 in member rebates through their Member Engagement Rewards Program initiative, or MERP. CUAD launched the initiative in early 2016 to reward credit unions engaging in CUAD activities, programs, and services. MERP was developed to demonstrate to member credit unions CUAD’s commitment to provide “best of class” dues supported services that are valuable and necessary for the best possible success in serving members.
“The Member Engagement Rewards Program serves several purposes,” says Jeff Olson, CUAD President/CEO. “It provides an incentive for credit union members to up their ante, if you will, to have more ‘skin in the game’ as to their support and involvement in CUNA and league activities and initiatives while earning points for each activity.”
Olson continues, “Members then have a choice of how they want to utilize their reward. They can use it towards their league dues, for conference or education registrations, or they can even gift it to the Credit Union Foundation of the Dakotas or contribute to GAC scholarship funds.”
This year, one of the largest CUAD member credit unions, Black Hills FCU of Rapid City, South Dakota gifted their rebate to a much smaller credit union with limited resources, truly exemplifying the “people helping people” philosophy!
Services credit unions receive points for are a mix of CUNA supported initiatives and CUAD League supported programs, such as: Project Zip Code; CUNA MAP Program; CULAC/CUPAC payroll deduction participation, including disbursing CUPAC Checks; CUPAC/CULAC Raffle; Engagement in CUAD’s Voter Voice grassroots government relations; Social impact reporting and support through CU Social Good; Chapter Involvement and support; Compliance/Regulatory or Lending Conferences; MEMO newsletter subscriptions; Attend Summit/Annual meeting; Attend Legislative Social; Attend CUNA GAC or Fall Regulatory/Legislative Hike-the-Hill; participate on GAC Committee; Participate in quarterly Compliance Network Conference Calls; Provide Comment on prospective regulations and rules; Participate in the Annual Membership survey; and others as designated by the CUAD board of directors.