It started as a movement. An idea. Word of mouth among the target audience built it into an event. A thing. A space was opened. Plans were laid. Meetings were held. Money was gathered. Pooled really. No, this isn’t another story of how credit unions entered the US marketplace – but it could be.
Instead this is how a group of Gen Yers took to the nation’s capital this week to claim their spot at the legislative table during one of the most important and tumultuous times in credit union history.
Led by Brent Dixon and Matt Davis (aka modern day Ed Filene and Roy Bergengren) Crash the GAC is a perfect example of collaboration, communication and innovation.
If you want to see the power of social media. Twitter #GAC10.
If you want to see the power of viral marketing and some pretty kick-ass SWAG, check out CU SWAG’s Crash the GAC t-shirt contest.
If you want to see what a grassroots movement looks like in 2010 – see the line-up of speakers that generously donated their time to this cause. The original cause – people helping people.
And, if you want to see Brent Dixon rocking a tie, check out this blog.
The 2020 Vision of Marketing 
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February 24, 2010 at 5:35 am
Janine McBee
It’s refreshing to see the energy created around the “Crash the GAC” event. It’s encouraging to see young folks passionate about credit unions. Opportunities abound as young and old work together to collaborate, innovate, dream and challenge each other forward. Our collective efforts are what will propel credit unions into the future.
February 24, 2010 at 7:48 am
Denise Wymore
Hey Miss Janine,
You are so right. These folks really got me reenergized about the movement. I feel like so many CEOs today are staring at their countdown to retirement calendars on their desks they aren’t thinking about mentoring the next generation.
I love that that doesn’t matter to this group. They will mentor themselves because somewhere they heard about the financial cooperative cause, and it lit a fire. Now more than ever we need those old-fashioned credit union values – promoting thrift, people helping people (dare I say collaboration) and realizing that we are not for charity, not for profit, but for service.
There, I said it.
Cheers!