Photo: The CU on the Road Vehicle was a visible presence at the SD State Capitol yesterday in Pierre.

by Jeff Olson, VP of Advocacy and Awareness

Nearly seventy-five South Dakota Legislators and nearly fifty credit union professionals shared the evening in Pierre, SD at the annual South Dakota Credit Union Legislative social at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention center last evening.

 Credit Union professionals used the opportunity to visit and share their concerns and current financial service issues with South Dakota lawmakers during the 3-hour event.

Highlighting the “legislative day” in Pierre was the “Hike-the-Capitol” event as the credit union managers, professionals, and volunteers visited the capitol and were recognized in both the Senate and House Chambers by lawmakers during the afternoon session. The Senate President and the Speaker of the House recognized members of the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas, which serves our 47 federally chartered credit unions and over 240,000 credit union members in South Dakota. CUAD members were in Pierre to celebrate the credit union difference and to host the annual Legislative Social at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center.

While the event is designed as a social activity, Credit Union advocates used the evening event to visit with legislators from their respective districts.

“This was one of our best attended legislative events,” said Fran Sommerfeld, CEO/President of Sioux Falls Federal Credit Union.    “Representation from South Dakota credit union professionals and volunteers was great and each year our event seems to successfully reach out to more and more of our lawmakers as attendance and participation is growing.   It was a very successful and worthwhile event,” added Sommerfeld.

Next year’s SD Legislative Social will be held on January 29, 2014.