Before hearing Oscar Rivera talk about what Guadalupe CU did for him when no other institution would bother, I didn’t truly understand what REAL Solutions meant, and I say this as someone who works at a credit union that participates in REAL Solutions. Sure, I got the gist, because like any other self respecting Millennial with a burning question, I looked it up to see what it was. Oscar, grand prize winner of the 2010 REAL Member Solutions Video Contest, had a story that helped me to grasp the program’s impact, and its tremendous potential.

In the interest of being perfectly candid, in my preliminary research, my initial reaction was positive but not particularly enthusiastic. Great, I thought, this is what credit unions should be doing. But what’s the benefit for my credit union? Opportunities enter my inbox with comforting regularity, and it didn’t take me long to learn that if I tried to pursue each opportunity, I would never get anything done.  So, how much energy should I devote to this when there are five other opportunities that more directly benefited my credit union?

The revelation I received when hearing Oscar speak was, like most revelations, more surprising because I felt like it should have been obvious to me from the get-go. Credit unions were founded by individuals on the philosophy of providing real, beneficial services to its members, who had no or limited access to banks’ services. They have spread across the world, including to the United States, not only because of its passionate advocates such as Edward Filene, but also because there was a real need and desire for a vacuum to be filled. Today, banks are more accessible and more competitive than they have ever been before. While it’s easy to lament this and see our potential members as harder and harder to attract, it doesn’t speak to the core of what credit unions are and what they do. The same philosophy that has allowed this global movement to prosper for centuries worldwide, will sustain us for centuries more, if we allow it to.

If you don’t believe me, look at the Guadalupe CU, who gave Oscar – a man who had never even used a financial institution before immigrating to the United States from Mexico – his business and subsequent home loans. Guadalupe’s practice of finding viable ways to serve low to moderate means immigrants has provided the tangible benefit of an 18 month-old, completely bi-lingual branch growing its membership by over 350% and becoming their second largest branch in share and loan originations.

So with my newfound perspective I feel that I can answer my own question: “the benefit of Real Solutions and the benefit of credit unions are one in the same!”

(Written by Sean Capaloff-Jones)

RSVP and stay up-to-date on details at http://trust.coop/thunderpunch

Sure there is some lighthearted last minute planning like:

• The Thunderpunch Soundtrack: Shannon Maloney was the first to start the conversation and surprisingly enough it took over a day before anyone announced the need for our theme song to be included. Props to Matt Vance for not forgetting his roots.
• Reminders for A Hostel Stay: See, the beauty of our community is that we’re tough enough to bunk up with 10 in a room and shower with flip-flops on, but smart enough to not go into it blindly. We certainly could not be having such a smooth planning if it weren’t for last year’s Crashers setting the stage.
• Thursday’s Bacon Sammich Breakfast: Bacon. Enough said.

I’m never one to shy away from bacon, cheap housing or music, but it’s the rest of the week that is giving me butterflies like crazy. (Probably more so, because I know I’m not alone.) In a previous post about our group, we saw a glimpse of who is coming and what amazing things we can expect from our Sweet Sixteen, but as Crash the GAC gets closer it’s becoming somehow more powerful.

Our Agenda is jam packed with amazing stuff, not to mention the individual Crasher Sessions. Late nights and early mornings will be the way of the land for our DC adventures. But you can’t say we didn’t warn you, Crashers!

For the everybody else who is packing up for their fancy (and sans-roommate) hotel stay, or gearing up to read updates back home – watch out. Our week will be culminating in an action-oriented session on Thursday where each Crasher is going to be finalizing their project on what they are planning once they get home. It’s likely that their ideas will make you feel warm and fuzzy, but it’s a guarantee that they will be significant.

Looking forward to DC and especially what follows!

What should be on the Crasher mixtape to beat all mixtapes?

Attending a Reality Fair: In addition to Hill visits, some of our Crashers will be helping out at the Reality Fair being hosted by NCUF

Hearing a Member Testimonial: Oscar Rivera, winner of the REAL Member Solutions Video Contest will be a guest speaker

Turning the Experience into Action: The Crashers this year will be finalizing a project during the GAC to work on once they are home. As just about everyone knows, Crashing is a life-changing experience. We’re taking this to heart and having everyone turn what they learn at their week in DC into action.  Keep an eye out for this in the weeks that follow (GAC).

Some things that we’ll be seeing again:

• Crazytown Hazing: We actually mean loving initiation into our Crash family. Every Crash somehow grows and develops into a mind-blowing experience with awesome people and we have no doubt know it will happen again.
• Thunderpunch: Of course we’re sticking with the same amazing title of this shindig.  Outside of the name and that it will be stellar, there are quite a few changes for this year’s partay.  You can read about details so far by clicking here.

Big ups to slogan-contest winner Jimmy Marks for his wordsmithery, everyone who submitted a slogan (24 submissions in 24 hours) for being such a hilarious, creative bunch of people, CU Swag for their t-shirt printing prowess, and of course for PSCU FS for sponsoring their production.

The GAC is right around the corner. This is when I start to lose my mind a little bit.

Names, titles and geographic location are only tapping the surface on this Young Professionals Gear Up for GAC feature.

You can get even more up close and personal by going to our Meet the Crashers page.

Our sponsorship from PSCU Financial Services is covering many things…one of them is CU*SWAG for all of our Crashers.

The Predicament:

We need a caption for the tshirt. And since you’re funnier and more clever than us, we want it to come from you.

The Intense Deadline:

Because of printing & design requirements, the contest ends at 8pm PST TUESDAY, 1/25. We’ll vote for the winner on Wednesday, and the design will be finalized and sent to the printer by next week. Bam!

The Prize:

Writer of the winning caption will receive a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.

How to submit:

Leave a comment here or send us a reply on Twitter to @crashdotcoop
Ready.Set.GO!

It was an unbelievably difficult decision, but we’ve narrowed the applicants down to the crew who will Crash the GAC in February!

Our 2011 GAC Crashers are, in no particular order:

• Brandon Michaels, Chief Financial Officer from Mazuma Credit Union
• Kelly Griego, Executive Benefits Sales & Service Representative from CUNA Mutual Group
• Amber Renick, Member Service Officer from First Capital FCU
• Amanda Thomas, Marketing and Business Development Manager from Members First Credit Union
• Robert Lefkowicz, Service Center Manager II from Suncoast Schools FC
• Shannon Maloney, Director of Marketing from Seasons Federal Credit Union
• Ronaldo Hardy, Branch Coordinator from La Capitol Federal Credit Union
• Sasha Kemble, Trainer & Silver-Lining Specialist from Verity Credit Union
• Whitney Thompson, Member Service Officer from American Heritage FCU
• Melissa Polley, Member Communications Specialist from Wisconsin CU League
• Lisa Totaro, Marketing Associate from Sunmark FCU
• Chris Wolgamott, Community Development Liaison from Meritrust Credit Union
• Sean Caploff-Jones, Manager of Member Outreach from UMassFive College FCU
• Alexia Mavrakes, Senior Marketing Associate from Aspire Federal Credit Union
• Michael Langhorst, AVP Branch Manager from CFE FCU
• Jennifer Jenkins, Lead Marketing Manager from PSECU

Again, I can’t stress how much our team was impressed by all of our over 50 applicants.

Just like with our previous Crashers, I love that this group is such a diverse mix of personalities, talents, and geographies. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll showcase each of them in more depth so we can all get to know them. Also keep your eyes peeled for a CU Times exclusive profiling each member of the group.

In other news: We’ve almost finalized our list of brilliant speakers for Crash Sessions. You’ll also be getting to know each of them over the next week!

Thanks again to PSCU Financial Services and CUNA’s CPD for helping to make our week together happen.

I cannot wait to hang out with each of our new Crashers. Congrats everyone! Next stop: DC.

“Nap times need to be scheduled in.”

That one line pretty much sums up last year’s Crash the GAC.  For five days, 20 credit union kids from the under-30 set had the immense privilege of invading credit union’s biggest annual event – CUNA GAC. We rubbed shoulders with the best and brightest in credit unions, nonstop all day – everyday.

So – if you’re a credit union professional under the age of 30 and enjoy…

• learning more in a week about credit unions than you have your entire career
• spending close and personal time with some of the best people our industry has to offer
• staying up to the wee hours of the night
• waking up at the wee hours of the morning
• singing “Don’t Stop Believing” at the top of your lungs (it’s our theme song)
• influencing federal legislators that hold the key to your credit unions future
• returning to your job better educated, inspired and ready to make a difference

Then the 2011 Crash the GAC is for you.

This year we are looking for 15 credit union professionals under the age of 30 that want to flip their credit union world upside down. If you’re one of those people then it’s time to submit an application. Applications are due no later than Friday, January 14 at 11:59pm PST. The 15 crashers will be announced the following Tuesday, January 18.

Looking for Change-Makers

The GAC is an active event, and the Crash Network, an active community.

In addition to attending, this year Crashers will return to their credit union and complete a service project that improves their credit union or the greater movement. This can be anything from organizing a local credit union meetup of your own, to writing an advocacy column for the press, to volunteering at a smaller credit union.

Your project is up to you, and we think you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your project by the close of CUNA GAC. And don’t worry, we’re here to help.

We Couldn’t Do It Without Them

I know what you’re thinking right now – you’re excited but know that this is an insanely expensive event to attend and my credit union isn’t in the position to send someone like me. Thank goodness, a couple of good friends in credit union land are here to help:

CUNA’s Center for Professional Development has offered full scholarships for Crashers to attend the conference. Over the last year, CUNA’s Meghann Dawson has become an integral part of the Crash Network, and she’ll be spending the week helping guide each of us through the experience.

PSCU Financial Services has agreed to become the official Crash the GAC sponsor and cover the cost of crashers lodging, our opening meal, our Thunderpunch Party (crashers version of a conference reception), and a couple of other surprises along the way.

You’ll be responsible for the travel expense to/from Washington DC, a few meals and your favorite adult beverages throughout the week. Depending on what part of the country you live in, I’m guessing you could Crash the GAC for as little as $200. We’ve even had several Crashers take vacation time and come on their own dime. You won’t regret it.

We’re still finalizing our agenda and session leaders but have a lot to live up to after last years’ lineup, which included Gigi Hyland, Larry Blanchard, Pete Crear, Lois Kitsch and George Hofheimer, just to name a few.

Actionable Items

If Crash the GAC sounds like everything you’ve been looking for in your young career, the next step is to apply. Talk with your supervisor about how important this event is to you, what you’re hoping to get out of it, and what you’ll do with the knowledge when you return.  George Hofheimer’s 7 Reasons to Crash might help.

If you have any other questions, check out our About page or drop us a question in the comments.

See you in DC!