Hold the Line, Stay Connected

There’s a lot coming at us right now. Conversations are shifting. The headlines feel louder, and the ground a little less steady. It would be easy to retreat. To stay quiet. To focus on what’s in front of us and not look too far beyond that.

But credit unions were not built on comfort. We were built in basements, back rooms and break rooms, and by people who were often told “no” by the institutions around them. People who weren’t handed influence or recognition. People who found a way to serve each other when the systems in place wouldn’t.

And while today’s challenges may look different, the need to pull together feels just as real. We’re navigating a lot: potential new interchange fee regulations, shifting leadership at the NCUA, questions around our tax status and the ripple effects of a volatile economy. For many, this moment feels uncertain. And when things feel uncertain, the instinct can be to look inward, protect what’s ours, and wait for clarity.

But that’s not how this movement was built.

Our founding advocates and organizers didn’t have the tools we have now. They didn’t have coordinated networks, digital platforms or listservs. Messages directly sent to Congress weren’t just one click away. What they did have was purpose and the will to show up.

Today, we still have that purpose — and now we also have the tools that make our voice louder and our reach broader and the networks to learn from and connect with each other. That’s not something to take lightly. It’s something to lean into.

This movement has always thrived on collective effort. We know how to pull together when it matters. And in uncertain times, that sense of unity isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

We will see that spirit reflected in moments like the upcoming MCUL GAC, where credit union professionals from across Michigan gather to hear updates, connect with one another, ask questions and better understand the landscape we’re navigating together. It’s an opportunity to engage directly with the policymakers who influence our future, to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing our industry and to walk away more informed, more connected and more equipped to lead.

We’ll also see it in spaces like the FUEL MI YP Leadership Summit, where young professionals are doing more than networking — they’re stepping into their potential. They’re building confidence, learning from one another and discovering that their voice matters in this movement. 

These events aren’t just boxes to check on a calendar. They’re where new ideas take shape, where relationships grow stronger, and where we move from conversation to action. 

I know how easy it is to get caught up in the stress of solving whatever issue is right in front of us. But every time I step into a gathering of my fellow credit union people, I’m reminded of who we are…and how we keep going, even when the path isn’t perfectly clear.

If you’re feeling unsure or even a little tired, you’re not alone. But now is not the time to disconnect. Now is the time to stay grounded in what brought us here in the first place.

Let’s stay connected. Let’s keep listening. Let’s keep showing up for one another. That’s how this movement has always worked, and it’s how it will keep moving forward.

Thanks for reading.

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