First thing’s first: To Crash the GAC, potential crashers need to act soon. Applications are due Friday, Feb 3rd. Apply now at http://www.crashthegac.com.
Now, onto the good stuff.
For the third year in a row, attendees of CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference will be joined by select group of 15 young credit union leaders, known across the system as the Crashers.
But this year, it’s different.
The 2012 GAC comes on the heels of a rebrand that shifted the previously named “Crash Network” into the newly-dubbed “Cooperative Trust,” which carries the support of 3-year seed funding from CUNA Mutual Group.
A Contest in the Spirit of Cooperation
In the spirit of the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives, this years’ Crashers will be tasked with designing new ways for credit unions to use the cooperative model to grow your business, improve their communities, and heighten advocacy. The Crasher group with the most promising initiative, chosen by a panel of judges, will present their concept and results at CUNA’s Community & Growth Conference in October 2012.
With all of the cultural momentum in the marketplace, 2012 is a huge year for credit unions. We’re sitting in the middle of a perfect storm sparked by consumers themselves. We need to collaborate and demonstrate our value now more than ever.
Mentors, Advocacy, Networking
Crash the GAC will still include many of its familiar elements. CUNA’s Center for Professional Development has offered full scholarships for Crashers to attend the conference. Crashers will attend conversational mentor sessions with system leaders, hill hikes with state representatives, and the always restive Thunderpunch Party.
Since the inaugural Crash the GAC in 2010, Crashers projects have included founding the Austin Cooperative Think Tank, designing mentorship programs for New York state and Suncoast Schools Credit Union, and initiating regional advocacy events and meetups across the United States for young credit union professionals.
What’s Next?
In addition to Crash the GAC, The Cooperative Trust has three national and four regional events planned alongside a host of new opportunities including year two of The Collider innovation tournament.
Learn more about The Cooperative Trust and Crash events at www.trust.coop
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