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Surviving the Perfect Storm

Make your voice heard at NAFCU's 2009 Congressional Caucus on September 20-23, to learn about and discuss legislative issues that matter most to you and your members. This is your opportunity to talk with your congressional delegation as well as Senate Banking and House Financial Services Committee members and top NCUA, Treasury Department and White House officials and to personally discuss the crucial issues your credit union faces.

Impact Legislation Before it Impacts You!

With uncertain economic times and new challenges facing our nation’s financial services sector, Congress is tackling issues that will have a fundamental impact on the credit union industry. Your legislators need to hear from you on how current issues are affecting your credit union, including:

• Regulatory reform;
• The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA);
• Corporate credit union stabilization;
• Changes to the bankruptcy code; and
• New consumer protection legislation on products such as credit cards and overdraft protection programs. 

If your lawmakers and Congressional staff are not hearing from you on how
these issues will impact your service to members, they cannot take your concerns
into account when they vote. 

Now, more then ever, you must take advantage of the opportunity to act and make your voice heard on Capitol Hill! Your full participation in NAFCU’s 2009 Congressional Caucus this September will help elevate lawmakers’ understanding and commitment to support the efforts by credit union advocates. Be sure Congress hears the credit union voice. Register today and make a difference!

Visit With Your Member of Congress:

• Give you an opportunity to provide valuable information on how CRA or interchange fees will affect your bottom line and your members; 
• Provide face-to-face contact and the opportunity to see what arguments and information are persuasive; and
• Offer an opportunity to get to know your legislator personally. You will be more than just a name in his or her district the next time you make contact.

Sample Issue Briefs for your Congressional Visits

Sample Customizable Press Release for your Congressional Visits

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Keynote Speaker

Donna Brazile

Named one of the ‘100 most powerful women’ by Washingtonian, veteran Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile is an author, a syndicated columnist, and the vice chair of voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee.

Ms. Brazile began her political career at the age of nine when she worked to support the campaign of a city council candidate who promised to build a playground in her neighborhood. Four decades and innumerable state and local campaigns later, she has worked on every presidential campaign from 1976 through 2000, when she served as presidential campaign manager for former Vice President Al Gore.

Author of the best-selling autobiography Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics, Ms. Brazile is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. In the media, she serves as a political contributor on CNN; consultant to ABC News; regularly appearing commentator on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos; and frequent contributor to NPR’s News and Notes. In print and online, she is a columnist for Roll Call and Ms Magazine. Brazile is founder and managing director of Brazile & Associates LLC, a general consulting, grassroots advocacy, and training firm based in Washington, D.C. Her passion is encouraging young people to vote, work within the system to strengthen it and run for public office.

Featured Speakers

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Merkley’s public service began as a 19-year-old intern with Oregon’s former Senator, Mark O. Hatfield. And 33 years later, in 2008, he returned to Capitol Hill to the U.S. Senate to represent Oregon.

As Oregon’s House Speaker, Merkley emphasized replacing bitter partisan warfare with a culture of bipartisan problem solving. The result was what many termed the most successful session in decades. The legislature increased education funding, expanded access to affordable prescription drugs, passed landmark environmental and energy legislation, established domestic partnerships, cracked down on predatory payday and title lending, and created Oregon’s first ever Rainy Day fund.

Merkley’s interest in public office is an extension of his passion about building a better America. He likes to keep grounded by asking the simple question: “What is best for our children, our workers, our families, and our planet?” Merkley won his first campaign for State Representative in 1998. He was elected Democratic Leader in 2003 and Speaker in 2007.

Representative Jim Himes (D-CO)

Rep Himes represents Connecticut’s 4th District in the United States House of Representatives.  He is currently serving his first term in Congress and is a member of the House Committees on Financial Services and Homeland Security.

As a member of Congress, Jim works hard to provide all American children the same opportunities he had to succeed: access to a first-rate public school, affordable and effective health care, a decent and safe home, and a supportive community.

Senator Bob Corker (R-TN)

Corker began his career in public service in the appointed position of Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration, where he served for two years in the highest appointed office in state government. As commissioner, he tightened the state's budget and helped move almost 40,000 Tennesseans off welfare and into jobs.

In 2001, Bob was elected mayor of Chattanooga. He transformed Chattanooga’s waterfront – attracting $2.1 billion of investment to revitalize the city, implemented merit bonus pay for teachers which dramatically raised student achievement in some of the city’s most challenged schools, and worked with local law enforcement officials to cut violent crime in half.

On November 7, 2006, Bob Corker was elected to serve the people of Tennessee in the United States Senate. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; Foreign Relations; and the Special Committee on Aging.

Invited Speakers

President Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama

Vice President Biden

Dr. Jill Biden

Secretary of Treasury Tim Geithner

NCUA Chairman Michael E. Fryzel

NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland

Department of the Treasury Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions Michael Barr

Presentation Slides

Fred Becker's Presentation

Rob Johnson's Presentation

Agenda-at-a-Glance

Sunday, September 20

3:00 p.m.          Delegate Registration

4:00 p.m.          Lobbying 101 and Issue Review

5:00 p.m.          Welcome Reception with NCUA

Monday, September 21

7:30 a.m.          Delegate Registration

7:45 a.m.          NAFCU Delegate Breakfast

8:45 a.m.          Opening Ceremonies

9:00 a.m.          General Session

12:00 p.m.        Caucus Luncheon

2:00 p.m.          Capitol Hill Visits

6:00 p.m.          NAFCU's Political Administrative Fund Event

Tuesday, September 22

8:45 a.m.          Opening remarks – NAFCU President and CEO Fred Becker

9:00 a.m.          General Session           

12:30 p.m.        Capitol Hill Visits

5:00 p.m.          Congressional Reception

Wednesday, September 23

8:45 a.m.          Opening Remarks – NAFCU President and CEO Fred Becker

9:00 a.m.          General Session

11:00 a.m.        Closing Remarks

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Special Event

Cocktail Reception and Tour

Sponsored by and benefiting NAFCU’s Political Administrative Fund

America’s Most Wanted Film Studio/Crime and Punishment Museum

Monday, September 21

Reception: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Museum Tour: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Registration Fee: $150/person, $250 per couple

Corporate funds are accepted. Tickets include cocktail reception and free museum tour.

Join your credit union colleagues at a cocktail reception in the America’s Most Wanted Film Studio and see how community involvement in fighting crime has led to dramatic results. This will be followed by a tour of the brand new Crime and Punishment Museum, where you’ll discover the cast of characters in America’s history of crime and find yourself in the middle of a fully intact crime scene with fresh evidence. Begin your investigation using such forensic science techniques as fingerprinting, ballistics and DNA testing to solve the crime and learn about famous cold cases and crime in the media!

Accommodations

The Grand Hyatt Washington

1000 H Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001

NAFCU’s 2009 Congressional Caucus is at the Grand Hyatt Washington, a state of the art conference center and hotel with Metro Center access right from the lobby. The Grand Hyatt is ideally located near Capitol Hill, the White House, the Smithsonian Institution and other major landmarks and museums. It is the perfect hotel to mix business and pleasure, bring the family and explore all that Washington, DC has to offer.

Room Rates:  Single $275, Double $295 (plus 14.5% tax*)

Reserve your hotel accommodations through our online registration system to receive our negotiated room rate!

To guarantee this rate, rooms must be booked by Thursday, August 27, 2009. Room reservations received after the deadline will be confirmed subject to rate and room availability.

***Please note that rooms after September 23rd may not be available at Grand Hyatt***

*Federal credit unions are exempt from tax, if payment is made by the credit union’s official check or credit card. You must present the Tax Exempt Form upon arrival.

** After the room reservation deadline, all room reservations and rates will be confirmed subject to availability.

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Registration Fees

Or call NAFCU's Member Service Center to register today at 800-344-5580!