Before hearing Oscar Rivera talk about what Guadalupe CU did for him when no other institution would bother, I didn’t truly understand what REAL Solutions meant, and I say this as someone who works at a credit union that participates in REAL Solutions. Sure, I got the gist, because like any other self respecting Millennial with a burning question, I looked it up to see what it was. Oscar, grand prize winner of the 2010 REAL Member Solutions Video Contest, had a story that helped me to grasp the program’s impact, and its tremendous potential.

In the interest of being perfectly candid, in my preliminary research, my initial reaction was positive but not particularly enthusiastic. Great, I thought, this is what credit unions should be doing. But what’s the benefit for my credit union? Opportunities enter my inbox with comforting regularity, and it didn’t take me long to learn that if I tried to pursue each opportunity, I would never get anything done.  So, how much energy should I devote to this when there are five other opportunities that more directly benefited my credit union?

The revelation I received when hearing Oscar speak was, like most revelations, more surprising because I felt like it should have been obvious to me from the get-go. Credit unions were founded by individuals on the philosophy of providing real, beneficial services to its members, who had no or limited access to banks’ services. They have spread across the world, including to the United States, not only because of its passionate advocates such as Edward Filene, but also because there was a real need and desire for a vacuum to be filled. Today, banks are more accessible and more competitive than they have ever been before. While it’s easy to lament this and see our potential members as harder and harder to attract, it doesn’t speak to the core of what credit unions are and what they do. The same philosophy that has allowed this global movement to prosper for centuries worldwide, will sustain us for centuries more, if we allow it to.

If you don’t believe me, look at the Guadalupe CU, who gave Oscar – a man who had never even used a financial institution before immigrating to the United States from Mexico – his business and subsequent home loans. Guadalupe’s practice of finding viable ways to serve low to moderate means immigrants has provided the tangible benefit of an 18 month-old, completely bi-lingual branch growing its membership by over 350% and becoming their second largest branch in share and loan originations.

So with my newfound perspective I feel that I can answer my own question: “the benefit of Real Solutions and the benefit of credit unions are one in the same!”

(Written by Sean Capaloff-Jones)

Sure there is some lighthearted last minute planning like:

• The Thunderpunch Soundtrack: Shannon Maloney was the first to start the conversation and surprisingly enough it took over a day before anyone announced the need for our theme song to be included. Props to Matt Vance for not forgetting his roots.
• Reminders for A Hostel Stay: See, the beauty of our community is that we’re tough enough to bunk up with 10 in a room and shower with flip-flops on, but smart enough to not go into it blindly. We certainly could not be having such a smooth planning if it weren’t for last year’s Crashers setting the stage.
• Thursday’s Bacon Sammich Breakfast: Bacon. Enough said.

I’m never one to shy away from bacon, cheap housing or music, but it’s the rest of the week that is giving me butterflies like crazy. (Probably more so, because I know I’m not alone.) In a previous post about our group, we saw a glimpse of who is coming and what amazing things we can expect from our Sweet Sixteen, but as Crash the GAC gets closer it’s becoming somehow more powerful.

Our Agenda is jam packed with amazing stuff, not to mention the individual Crasher Sessions. Late nights and early mornings will be the way of the land for our DC adventures. But you can’t say we didn’t warn you, Crashers!

For the everybody else who is packing up for their fancy (and sans-roommate) hotel stay, or gearing up to read updates back home – watch out. Our week will be culminating in an action-oriented session on Thursday where each Crasher is going to be finalizing their project on what they are planning once they get home. It’s likely that their ideas will make you feel warm and fuzzy, but it’s a guarantee that they will be significant.

Looking forward to DC and especially what follows!

Attending a Reality Fair: In addition to Hill visits, some of our Crashers will be helping out at the Reality Fair being hosted by NCUF

Hearing a Member Testimonial: Oscar Rivera, winner of the REAL Member Solutions Video Contest will be a guest speaker

Turning the Experience into Action: The Crashers this year will be finalizing a project during the GAC to work on once they are home. As just about everyone knows, Crashing is a life-changing experience. We’re taking this to heart and having everyone turn what they learn at their week in DC into action.  Keep an eye out for this in the weeks that follow (GAC).

Some things that we’ll be seeing again:

• Crazytown Hazing: We actually mean loving initiation into our Crash family. Every Crash somehow grows and develops into a mind-blowing experience with awesome people and we have no doubt know it will happen again.
• Thunderpunch: Of course we’re sticking with the same amazing title of this shindig.  Outside of the name and that it will be stellar, there are quite a few changes for this year’s partay.  You can read about details so far by clicking here.

Names, titles and geographic location are only tapping the surface on this Young Professionals Gear Up for GAC feature.

You can get even more up close and personal by going to our Meet the Crashers page.

It was an unbelievably difficult decision, but we’ve narrowed the applicants down to the crew who will Crash the GAC in February!

Our 2011 GAC Crashers are, in no particular order:

• Brandon Michaels, Chief Financial Officer from Mazuma Credit Union
• Kelly Griego, Executive Benefits Sales & Service Representative from CUNA Mutual Group
• Amber Renick, Member Service Officer from First Capital FCU
• Amanda Thomas, Marketing and Business Development Manager from Members First Credit Union
• Robert Lefkowicz, Service Center Manager II from Suncoast Schools FC
• Shannon Maloney, Director of Marketing from Seasons Federal Credit Union
• Ronaldo Hardy, Branch Coordinator from La Capitol Federal Credit Union
• Sasha Kemble, Trainer & Silver-Lining Specialist from Verity Credit Union
• Whitney Thompson, Member Service Officer from American Heritage FCU
• Melissa Polley, Member Communications Specialist from Wisconsin CU League
• Lisa Totaro, Marketing Associate from Sunmark FCU
• Chris Wolgamott, Community Development Liaison from Meritrust Credit Union
• Sean Caploff-Jones, Manager of Member Outreach from UMassFive College FCU
• Alexia Mavrakes, Senior Marketing Associate from Aspire Federal Credit Union
• Michael Langhorst, AVP Branch Manager from CFE FCU
• Jennifer Jenkins, Lead Marketing Manager from PSECU

Again, I can’t stress how much our team was impressed by all of our over 50 applicants.

Just like with our previous Crashers, I love that this group is such a diverse mix of personalities, talents, and geographies. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll showcase each of them in more depth so we can all get to know them. Also keep your eyes peeled for a CU Times exclusive profiling each member of the group.

In other news: We’ve almost finalized our list of brilliant speakers for Crash Sessions. You’ll also be getting to know each of them over the next week!

Thanks again to PSCU Financial Services and CUNA’s CPD for helping to make our week together happen.

I cannot wait to hang out with each of our new Crashers. Congrats everyone! Next stop: DC.

Cara Aronson

Age: 22
Organization: The Filene Research Institute
My name is Cara and I am a 22 year old University of Wisconsin Madison senior. I will be graduating in May 2011 with a Bachelor’s in Consumer Affairs. I am currently one of the two interns at Filene Research Institute, I can honestly say it is the best job I have had in my 22 years of life! After I graduate I hope to continue working in the credit union field and later down the road I plan on attending law school. Outside of school and work I enjoy doing community service, hanging out with friends and family and doing origami.

Kelsey Balcaitis

Age: 23
Organization: A+ Federal Credit Union

My name is Kelsey, I’m 23 years old, and I’m currently the Community Education Specialist with A+ Federal Credit Union in Austin, Texas. I recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in personal finance. I have interned with Filene Research Institute and with CUNA working on Googolplex and MoneyMix. I am very fortunate with my work because I get to do what I love on a daily basis—I get to educate young people about personal finance issues relevant to our generation. I have also become very passionate about social media and manage the social media efforts for A+. When I’m not working, I enjoy reading, catching up with friends, and hanging out with my dogs, Ted and Oz.

Kristina Benson

Age: 26
Organization:
Bio: (Send us a bio, Kristina!)

Matt Davis

Age: 30
Organization: The Filene Research Institute

Matt is an advisor specializing in implementation. The Filene Research Institute has partnered with Matt to present, advise, and complete project work with credit unions based on our i3 ideas and innovative processes.

Prior to this engagement, Matt was a member of the Filene Research Institute’s inaugural 30 Under 30 group and author of “The Credit Union Warrior” blog. Matt has been at the center of credit union innovation since 2004. Projects such as What are you saving for? and Football Pick’em have earned Matt international recognition, including features in Fast Company, Yahoo! Finance, Bankrate.com, and credit union trade press. He is an accomplished public speaker, frequently presenting to credit union professionals across the country. In February 2009, Matt was named one of the Triad Business Journal’s 40 Business Leaders Under 40 (N.C.).

Matt earned a degree in marketing from the College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA), and completed Basic Cadet Training at the United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO). Matt earned his CUDE designation from the National Credit Union Foundation in 2009.

Dan Emery

Age: 27
Organization: Maine State Credit Union

After graduating from Erskine Academy in South China, Maine I attended college at The Golf Academy of the Carolinas in Myrtle Beach, SC. I received my Associates Degree in Business with a focus on Golf Complex Operations.

My professional career began at The Augusta Country Club in Manchester, ME where I worked as the Assistant Golf Professional for 4 years.

I left the country club in 2006 to work for Maine State CU. After 3 years as a teller, I was promoted to Marketing Specialist.

I have a strong passion for the credit union movement, education and community improvement and was awarded the 2008 and 2009 Outstanding Service Award for my commitment to “People Helping People”.

I am involved with:

CUNA as a certified financial counselor; the MSCU Social Responsibility Committee, which focuses on raising money for Ending Hunger in Maine; the Junior Achievement financial literacy program as a board member and Chair of the Fundraising Committee; Colonial Theater, INC, a non-profit organization, working on renovating and restoring the historic Colonial Theater in Downtown Augusta, as Treasurer; I am also a member of the Maine CU League’s Ending Hunger Committee, Marketing Steering Committee and the Maine CU Financial Literacy Council.

This isn’t industry related, but I also enjoy playing music, singing karaoke, playing any type of sport, snowboarding, camping, sky diving, rock climbing, reading, hanging out with my friends and cake (but only with certain frosting). I’ll try just about anything once. Except bungee jumping; I won’t try that. Carpe Diem, Baby!