Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed tomorrow, Thursday, October 21 as Credit Union Day in Minnesota. The proclamation recognizes the impact credit unions have on their members financial well-being and the state's economy as a whole. View the Proclamation.

The theme of ICU Day 2021 is "Building financial health for a brighter tomorrow." ICU Day highlights the many ways that credit unions across the world help members improve their financial health and well-being. 

Additionally, U.S. Senator Tina Smith sponsored a resolution honoring October as National Co-op Month. The resolution notes..."Whereas, in the financial services sector, cooperatives, including credit unions, farm credit banks, and other financing organizations that lend to cooperatives, provide numerous benefits to the member-owners of those cooperatives."

Credit Unions are encouraged to share the Proclamation in your International Credit Union Day celebrations. Make sure to tag MnCUN and the Governor and Lt. Governor's accounts in social media posts:

Twitter: @mncreditunions
Facebook: @MinnesotaCreditUnions
Instagram: @mncreditunions


Twitter: @GovTimWalz
Twitter: @LtGovFlanagan
Facebook: Governor Tim Walz
Facebook: Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan
Instagram: @mngovernor

Even in extraordinary times, the true strength of the Minnesota Credit Union Network and League-CUNA System partnership shines through. Our continued success as a movement depends on our ability to work together to achieve our goals. It’s what we do together that sets us apart and advances the movement.

Membership with the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) and Credit Union National Association (CUNA) ensures powerful credit union advocacy at state and national level. And we provide your employees access to unparalleled compliance, training, peer networking and resources. 
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Contact Mark Cummins, President & CEO , or Mara Humphrey, Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer with questions.
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MnCUN's biggest event of the year - these 2 days will several breakout sessions and industry experts including:

• The State of Student Lending: The Foundation Scholarship Council
• Mission and Margin: using the building blocks of community finance to promote financial inclusion and DEI  : Pablo DeFilippi, Inclusiv
• Compliance Hot Topics: Panel
• The Way Forward: Post Corona Strategies for Credit Union Directors: Ancin Cooley
• Making Strategic Choices for Growth: Susan Hochsprung, CUNA Mutual Group
• Strategies to Keep Banking Human: Jim Perry, Market Insights

Visit the Accelerate 21 page on mncun.org for the full schedule and to register.

MnCUN is committed to the wellbeing of all attendees, guests, sponsors, speakers, and staff as we return to in person events. We will follow the current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local governments that are in effect at the time of the conference. Staff will continue to monitor the situation leading up to and at the event, and communicate any possible changes.

In addition to full conference, in person registration, we are also offering a new Virtual registration option that will provide viewing access to the conference general sessions. 

With questions, contact MnCUN Vice President of Communications and Engagement Andrea Molnau or Director of Engagement Ben Hering.​
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The 2022 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) returns to Washington D.C.,  February 26 - March 3 and there are a few opportunities to manage the costs of attending the credit union's industry premier advocacy event. 

Minnesota Credit Union Foundation GAC Scholarship: The GAC scholarship was created by the Foundation to provide financial assistance to credit union staff and/or volunteers who are members of the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) and wish to participate in CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference.

Scholarship monies allocated to applicants may be used for the cost of the conference registration and to help cover some travel expenses. The Foundation will be offering multiple $2,000 scholarships.

Preference will be given to applicants who have not attended GAC, are from credit unions under $100 million in assets, and have shown engagement with MnCUN and credit union advocacy.

Applications are now open and the deadline is Nov. 30. With questions contact Andrea Molnau, MnCU Foundation Executive Director.

CRASH The GAC 2022: The Cooperative Trust, CUNA, and MnCUN are joining forces to get at least one Crasher per state and D.C. represented at GAC. 

Crashers are credit union young professionals (40 & under, or "40 at heart") who are sponsored to attend a conference at a lower cost and with additional content designed especially for emerging leaders. Applications are easy, and the entire experience is career-changing!

Crashers receive free conference registration from CUNA. Travel, lodging, and food costs are the responsibility of the Crasher and their credit union.
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Applications are open until December 3! 

The 2nd Marketing & Business Development P2P of 2021 will feature Deshundra Jefferson, CUNA's Chief Strategic Communications Officer, and Joanna Hjelmeland Chief Communications Office and Vice President, Next Level Strategy, who will discuss strategic communications, media relations and crisis communications. Deshundra will bring a national perspective, while Joanna will provide a local perspective to media relations.

​Following the two guest speakers will be an open format conversation with peers. This event is meant to be an opportunity to meet and share with one another. 

This event will be made only via webinar/conference call. Webinar and call in instructions will be provided to registered attendees.

For a list of all P2P sessions, visit our Peer-to-Peer (P2P) webpage. With questions, please contact MnCUN Director of Engagement Ben Hering by email or by phone at 651-288-5519

​As a credit union, your goal is to help your members achieve all of their financial needs, wants, and dreams. To reach this goal you need a team that is consistently promoting the products and services that will help your members save time and money, make more money, and bring greater levels of financial security to their life. The only problem is the member service your team provides is best described as “Order Taking” rather than “Value Creating.”

If this describes your credit union, you are not alone. Many, if not most credit unions struggle with an “Order Taker” approach to service and sales, and they are looking for a way to change it. In this webinar, we will discuss the 4 essential elements to build and maintain a highly effective sales and service culture which is focused on creating value rather than just taking an order:

• Fostering a member centric mindset within the credit union
• Providing effective sales processes and skills training
• Establishing a culture of coaching
• Shaping performance through meaningful accountability

In addition to addressing these topics, SalesCU will provide sales processes and skills suggestions and resources to begin training your team.

Monday, November 8, 2021 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM CST
Free 90 Minute Webinar
Presented by: Nick Brown, Member Services Guru of SalesCU

Who Should Attend:
This webinar is ideal for all credit union sales and service leaders which includes lending, branches, contact center, marketing, and training. 

Join the Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids committee at the 2nd Annual CU4Kids Karaoke for Kids event on Thursday, November 18 as a part of ACCELERATE 21. Just like regular karaoke, live band karaoke from Hurricane Karaoke Band will offer your favorite songs to sing to, but with a real band! All proceeds from the event to benefit Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare!

​For further details please see the event flyer! Please contact Kim Peterson via email with any questions. 

Sponsorship Opportunities
Stage Manager Sponsorship ($2,500) - Only 3 Available
10 complimentary drink tickets, event signs, recognition on Minnesota CU4Kids website, logo featured on ACCELERATE 21 slideshow, logo featured at event, 5 confetti poppers and 2 Fast Track Cards 

Rock Star Sponsorship ($1,500)
8 complimentary drink tickets, event signs/announcements, recognition on Minnesota CU4Kids website, logo featured on ACCELERATE 21 slideshow, logo featured at event, 1 Fast Track card

Opening Act Sponsorship ($1,000)
5 complimentary drink tickets, event signs/announcements, recognition on Minnesota CU4Kids website, logo featured on ACCELERATE 21 slideshow, logo featured at event

Stagehand Sponsorship ($600)
Name featured at event, name featured on ACCELERATE 21 slideshow

Crowd Sponsorship ($300)
Name featured on ACCELERATE 21 slideshow
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***Individual Fast Track Card***
Don't wait on the list! For only $25, you can purchase a Fast Track card that allows you to move up on the performing list. Fast Track cards must be purchased by November 15.

Now in its 5th year, CU Forward Day had a record number of participation with 64 credit unions and partnering organizations with over 2,300 employees volunteering 10,000+ hours impacting more than 540,000 people all over the state.
 
CU Forward Day – held annually on the second Monday in October, is a Minnesota state-wide initiative of credit unions employees, members and partners coming together to do one simple thing –  spread kindness. 

​Navigating the ongoing pandemic, many credit unions opted to participate with smaller group sizes and outdoor activities, however, the goal of coming together as an industry to give back throughout Minnesota remained consistent. 

Examples of service projects for the day included:

• Volunteering and fundraising for local nonprofits like Second Harvest, Feed my Starving Children, United Way, Adopt a Hiway, Human Society, and many more.
• Packing meals and food drives to address hunger in locations across Minnesota
• Park and yard cleanup projects
• Document shred days and flu shot clinics
• Virtual examples include employees making tie blankets at home or purchasing items from a non-profit’s Amazon Wish List.
• Many simply performing random acts of kindness in their communities like buying coffee for strangers, grocery shopping or handing out gas cards.

In 2013, Saint Paul-based credit union, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, hosted their first organization-wide Plus It Forward Day. A play on “pay it forward”, the Plus It Forward concept grew out of an employee-driven idea of what it meant to be a part of the community, to giveback and how credit unions could randomly spread kindness.

In a response to the growing cooperative nature of the event, the Minnesota Credit Union Network assumed the coordination of credit union participation, tracking and media efforts going forward under the umbrella name CU Forward Day starting in 2017.