News Release
Contact: Public Relations Coordinator
(800) 342-9835, ext. 8130State GAC Perfect Venue for Sharing CU Difference with Legislators
(May 29 - Latham, NY) – Attendees of the New York State Credit Union League’s annual Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) participated in 81"Hike the Hill" visits in Albany last week to promote progressive credit union legislative issues to their elected leaders.
More specifically, participants asked state lawmakers to advance municipal deposits legislation, support a special additional mortgage recording tax exemption for New York State charters and recognize the need for financial education in high schools (grades 9-12).
At each visit, hiking credit unionists presented informational packets to their respective representatives that included general credit union background, memorandums of support on favorable credit union issues, Project Zip Code data broken out by legislator, the League’s second annual MORE (Member Outreach & Reinvestment Endeavor) Report that documents efforts by New York State credit unions to fulfill their social mission and a "Little Guy" from CUNA’s campaign, which represents working men and women from all walks of life who are credit union members, was also part of the hand-outs.
At the end of the day, hike participants gathered to compare notes and reflect on their legislative visits before the beginning of the evening’s legislative reception where networking with more than 100 elected officials and/or their staff continued on a more casual basis.
GAC continued the next morning with keynote addresses by John Parfrey, director of the NEFE® High School Financial Planning Program and an inside update on Albany politics from Bob Bellafiore, senior partner at Eric Mower and Associates and Steven Greenberg, founder of Greenberg Public Relations. Together the two have decades of experience in New York State government positions and are regular commentators on "Capital Tonight" and "New York Now."
Parfrey talked about the need for young people to be fully prepared for the financial challenges that await them in adulthood and acknowledged how many New York credit unions have supported NEFE’s efforts to help raise a financially mature new generation.
Bellafiore and Greenberg led a lively discussion on the state of our state government today and in the foreseeable future taking into account the events that have occurred since former Governor Eliot Spitzer’s March announcement. There was also a spirited exchange on the upcoming presidential election and candidate issues.
The New York State Credit Union League (NYSCUL) has served as the trade association for the state’s credit unions for 91 years. It is the fifth largest league in the country. New York credit unions have assets of more than $39 billion and 4.2 million members. To learn more about the League, visit www.nyscul.org.
 These “hikers” definitely ended their visit on a high note. Pictured (l-r): John C. Gibardi, CEO, Entertainment Industries FCU; Assembly Banks Chair Darryl C. Towns (D-Metropolitan); William J. Mellin, president/CEO, New York State Credit Union League and Lou Jimenez, CEO, Montauk CU. |
 Meeting in the Capitol outside of the Senate Chamber are Jim Doig, CEO, Sidney FCU; Senator Thomas W. Libous ( R-Southern Tier) and James Stracuzzi, president/CEO, CCSD FCU. |
 Relaxing with their elected representative at the New York State Credit Union League’s legislative reception are (l-r): Marie Betti, CEO, Western New York FCU; Senator William T. Stachowski (D-Buffalo) and Niagara’s Choice FCU Board Member Pat McCune, CEO Al Frosolone and Board Member Ray Granieri. |
New York State Credit Union
League, Inc. & Affiliates
P.O. Box 15118, Albany, New York 12212-5118 | 1021 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12205
800-342-9835 | Fax 518-437-8284