More Than Just Defense on The Hill

Last week, I had the chance to travel to Washington, D.C. alongside 45 of our Michigan credit union advocates for MCUL’s annual Hike the Hill. And after the many months we spent earlier this year fighting hard in the Don’t Tax My Credit Union campaign, this visit felt a little different. 

Instead of being in the thick of a fight, this visit was about taking a breath, thanking our congressional delegation and continuing to build the strong relationships we’ve worked so hard to maintain.

Overall, our conversations on the Hill were really positive and our delegation was with us on every issue we brought forward. So much so that at one point, one of our advocates asked a fair question: if our lawmakers agree with us on all these issues, is it really worth it for all of us to make this trip? I thought that was such a useful question for thinking about the big picture of our advocacy.

The short answer is yes — it’s absolutely worth it. It’s worth it because these meetings aren’t just about lining up votes when we need them. They’re about keeping the relationship alive, telling our stories and making sure that when tough times do come, our lawmakers don’t just know the issues, they know us and how the issues are affecting our members.

At the heart of advocacy, it’s not all that different from the way we treat friendships in our personal lives. You don’t only call your friends when you’re in crisis or when you need a favor. You call to check in, to say thank you and just to let them know you’re thinking of them. Advocacy works the same way, and this year’s Hike was a reminder that showing up just to say, “We appreciate your support,” is just as important as showing up to ask for something.

Of course, we still had meaningful conversations about interchange, tax exemption and the other issues on our radar. But another reason these meetings matter is because of the stories our advocates bring with them. This year, that included advocates talking about the rise in elder fraud in their own communities and what’s needed to address it. That wasn’t even an issue on our agenda, but stories like that stick, and they give our delegation a fuller picture of what’s happening on the ground back home.

Beyond the conversations, what really struck me was seeing so many first-time advocates on this trip — some young professionals, and some who’ve been in the movement a long time but hadn’t made this trip before. I loved watching new advocates experience the process for the first time, and just as much, seeing those who were once first-timers bring in fresh faces. It’s proof that our advocacy keeps building, year after year.

Finally, even though this visit seemed more of a check-in, we entered more than one Hill visit where bankers were the group before us meeting with our congressional member. Bankers are not letting up on their rhetoric on taxation and bank acquisitions, just to name a couple issues.  Bankers do not stop and we will not either.  

Thanks for reading.

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