Why young professionals should start planning now for the next GAC

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By Steffany Rodriguez, Assistant Manager, Call Center, Raiz Federal Credit Union

Are you a Cornerstone Young Professional seeking to dive deeper into the credit union movement? Are you interested in learning or expanding your advocacy knowledge? If you want to broaden your horizons, attending a governmental affairs conference should be on your professional bucket list—but don’t wait until the last minute. Start planning now.

Yes, now.

Some find the thought of attending a GAC intimidating, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the legislation that affects credit unions. But, as young professionals, we aim to become future leaders, which requires that we step out of our comfort zones, and this conference can be transformative.

For me, GAC was like no other conference I’ve ever experienced. The connections I made with fellow attendees and industry vendors, the insights I gained, and the advocacy skills I acquired are now invaluable assets that have significantly enriched my understanding and passion for credit union advocacy.

Attending GAC is crucial for understanding our movement and appreciating credit unions’ broader mission. My biggest takeaway was a firsthand glimpse of our industry’s leadership—those representing and advocating for the community of credit unions.

For instance, I witnessed my credit union’s CEO articulate the rationale behind our laws and regulations, highlight our community-centric approach, and explain to lawmakers the significant impact credit unions have on the communities we serve. I felt a mixture of enlightenment and enrichment.

As I said, if you want to excel in credit union advocacy, start planning now to attend the 2025 GACs (or Days at the Capitol) in your state and Washington, D.C. Remember, feeling overwhelmed or intimidated about the unknown is natural; embrace it, and don’t hesitate to follow these tips to ensure you’re setting yourself up for a successful GAC experience.  

• Lay the groundwork. Discuss your interest in advocacy and government relations with your manager or CEO so they know where your heart lies.
• Prepare to meet your goal. Learn all you can about advocacy and grassroots initiatives and how legislation works.
• Become a mentee. If you can, line up a mentor with experience in advocacy matters.
• Network with YPs. Connect with a Cornerstone YP Advisor for tips on how you can prepare for the conference.
• Get engaged. Immerse yourself in activities like chapter meetings or advocacy update calls to network with fellow young professionals and learn more about upcoming legislative and PAC events.
• Make an impact. Join grassroots programs like Cornerstone’s UNITE and participate in Project Zip Code and the Member Activation Program (MAP).
• Ask for what you want. Seek permission to attend a GAC on behalf of the credit union and be ready to explain why it should be you, pointing to all the work you’ve done to prepare for this moment.

Cornerstone Advocacy Events are available for review online, so you can save the dates and plan the details for your attendance. 

Best of luck, and I hope to see you at next year’s GAC.