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CUAD awards $4,750 in GAC assistance scholarships

BISMARCK, ND (February 15, 2019) — Credit Union Association of the Dakotas (CUAD) along with the South Dakota and North Dakota Government Affairs Committees, is pleased to announce that six Dakota credit union professionals have been awarded financial assistance scholarships to attend the Credit Union National Association’s Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) being held March 10th – March 14th in Washington, DC.

Those receiving $1,000 scholarships from South Dakota include Jane Duerre, CEO Norstar Federal Credit Union (Britton, SD) and Gail Broer, CEO M-O Federal Credit Union (Huron, SD). Receiving a $500 scholarship is Lisa Snedeker, Branch Manager Dakotaland Federal Credit Union (Huron, SD). In North Dakota, Lacey TerWee, CEO University Federal Credit Union (Grand Forks, ND) was selected to receive a $750 scholarship.

In addition, each year the Filene Research Institute’s Cooperative Trust selects exceptional and upcoming young leaders in the credit union movement to appear as “Crashers” at the CUNA GAC. We are proud to announce that Lacey TerWee, along with Joey Rotert, Marketing & Development Manager, Sioux Falls Federal Credit Union (Sioux Falls, SD) and Rachel Lere, Accounting Specialist, Black Hills Federal Credit Union (Rapid City, SD) are each receiving a $500 scholarship after being selected as Dakotas’ Crashers.

Applicants for the GAC Scholarships are judged individually on grassroots and political affairs participation, and scholarships are awarded based on need and credit union asset size with preference generally given to those who have never attended a CUNA GAC Conference. “The Crasher program, along with our GAC Scholarships, provide a great opportunity to experience credit union advocacy first hand in our nation’s capital,” says Jay Kruse, CUAD’s Chief Advocacy Officer. “It is a primary goal of our Governmental Affairs Committees in both states to get more people involved in our advocacy efforts, and scholarships like these help to make attending our industry’s premier conference a reality.”

Jeff Olson, CUAD President/CEO agrees. “The scholarships that our Governmental Affairs Committees provide to the biggest credit union event of the year are one more way that our organization demonstrates to our members our sincere commitment to credit union advocacy,” he stated. “As an organization, CUAD’s advocacy efforts are first and foremost, and the ongoing commitment to providing these scholarships is evidence of the support that we have for those efforts throughout the Dakotas,” he added.

The GAC Scholarships were first initiated by the Dakotas’ Governmental Affairs Committees in 2009 to cultivate, promote, and energize credit union professionals and members in the grassroots advocacy process. Since then, a total of $45,950 has been awarded to 64 affiliated credit union professionals. The scholarships are open to all CUAD affiliated credit union executives, staff, and volunteer members.

During the GAC, more than 5,000 credit union people from all across the country come together to hear from influential legislators, policymakers, and credit union experts. Attendees from the Dakotas will have the opportunity to meet their elected representatives face-to-face during Hike-the-Hill visits, and to network with industry leaders and game-changers.


About CUAD

The Credit Union Association of the Dakotas (CUAD) is the professional financial trade association serving 72 credit unions that employ nearly 2,200 individuals in 230 branches. With more than 492,000 members in North and South Dakota, Dakota credit unions have assets in excess of $7.1 billion and currently are providing Dakota consumers with over $5 billion in loans. In our mission to help credit unions succeed, CUAD plays a key role in growing membership and helping to provide service excellence to members from offices in Bismarck, ND and Sioux Falls, SD. For more information about CUAD visit our website at www.cuad.coop.

Contacts

Credit Union Association of the Dakotas (CUAD)
2005 North Kavaney Drive
Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone 701.258.5760

Shawn Marie Brummer
Director of Communications
Credit Union Association of the Dakotas
1-800-279-6328, ext. 966 or 701/220-2200

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