About “Crash the GAC”
Every year some of the biggest and most influential minds in credit unions come together in Washington DC to talk about the most pressing issues of the moment. And not only talk about them, but to do something about them on Capitol Hill.
The opportunity to participate in these conversations and events is typically limited to top-level credit union staff, which leaves young CU professionals under the age of 30 out of the mix. This is a shame, and we can do something about it.
Crash the GAC gives 20 credit union professionals under the age of 30* the oppotunity to participate in the event by:
• Attending conversation sessions with industry thought leaders each day, including members of the Filene Research Institute, the World Council of Credit Unions, and the National Credit Union Foundation.
• Hiking Capitol Hill with representatives from your state.
• Attending networking events like the Herb Wegner Awards.
• Attending GAC breakout sessions .
• Building relationships with other under-30 credit union professionals.
Some questions you may be asking:
How many Crashers will attend?
We’re limiting it to 20 spots, so claim yours early.
Who can come?
The core group is credit union professionals under 30. That said we’re willing to give some wiggle room to “under 30.” If you’re 32 and really want to come, we probably won’t say “YOU ARE TOO OLD GO DRINK SOME METAMUCIL AND WATCH AN EPISODE OF THE GOLDEN GIRLS.”
Probably.
How can I convince my CEO to let me go?
Filene’s George Hofheimer has written a nice list of 7 Reasons to Crash. This is a nice starting point to prove the ROI on adventure.
Where will we stay?
Hotels in DC are ridiculously expensive. Since we don’t have the scratch for a $400/night room, I’ve blocked out a group of 20 beds at the local hostel, Hostelling International. Palmetto Cooperative Services are sponsoring all 20 beds at the hostel. So housing is free!
Brent has stayed here on numerous client trips, and can vouch for the fact that it is clean, the staff is friendly, it tends to be filled with interesting international travelers, it has a library and kitchen, and a guitar named Lily you can borrow and play if you so choose.
Often, attendees have extra beds in their hotel as well. If you’d like to crash but are lucky enough to have a hotel hook-up, feel free to utilize that. You won’t hurt our feelings. We’ll just be jealous and a little bitter towards you.
How about food?
The hostel has a kitchen and food storage, so we can split a pantry full of chips and sandwich makings to keep cost down. DC is also full of reasonably priced restaurants.
And finally – if you are someone or know someone at a league that would be sweet enough to invite us over to your hospitality sweet for food and good conversation, let me know. We’ll love you for it.
So the total cost will be?
Your plane ticket + food. That’s it.
