NY Credit Union Association

6 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 6 assists with member mergers and more. The Association also ensures it circulates a daily newsletter called the New York Minute. This is an informative email created to notify members of important news. These emails are also posted on the Association’s website, which members are encouraged to visit. The Association also utilizes social media channels to engage its members. And this kind of connection from the members is key, as, without it, the Association can do little to nothing. “We can’t be here without the support from our members. There’s no strong political action pack without them. So, whatever we do as an association, we look to engage our members,” says Mellin. In terms of creating visible communication, the Association helps its members to be seen within their own communities. One example is an event that the Association organized with Habitat for Humanity, where members got to build an A-frame home for a family in need. Credit Union support came from far and wide to assist, from Long Island all the way to Niagara Falls, Buffalo, and Watertown. This event highlighted the issue of the USA’s housing crisis which encompasses affordability and actual physical housing shortages. It’s events like these that spark conversations about what financial institutions can do to address this issue. As an Association, the members are passionate about the movement they are involved with. Mellin concludes, “It’s about coming to work every day and thinking that you can make a difference in the lives of people in a positive way. You can help credit unions instill their philosophy and remind them of who we are. We don’t have a job; we have a mission and purpose. I love what we do.” Attendees at EXCEL 22, the New York Credit Union Association’s Annual Meeting and Convention, gather for a group photo at the Sagamore Resort on Lake George in Bolton Landing, N.Y.