Colin Powell, Chris Matthews and 'America' kick off 2008 GAC

CUNA News Now
September 20, 2007 | COMMENTS

Gen. (Ret.) Colin Powell and "Hardball" host Chris Matthews will be among the headline speakers at the Credit Union National Association's (CUNA's) 2008 Governmental Affairs Conference.

The event, to be held here March 2-6, will be CUNA's inaugural GAC headquartered at the state-of-the-art Washington Convention Center. The change of venue is in response to the demands of ever-increasing attendance that placed too many demands on the Washington Hilton, where the conference was held for the last 31 years.

"Our grand new venue at the Washington Convention Center is emblematic of the GAC's status as the premier national political conference for the credit union movement," said CUNA President/CEO Dan Mica.

"The Convention Center opens up exciting new possibilities for us in the way we are designing the 2008 GAC. It will be the GAC everyone knows, only even better." The GAC now attracts more than 4,000 credit union leaders from around the country.

This year's GAC theme is "Red, White and You," featuring a patriotic design that emphasizes personal involvement in political action on behalf of the credit union movement and its 90 million members.

Backing up the theme of involvement is the conference's slight shift in timing; The 2008 meeting moves its schedule forward one day from previous years to more closely correspond with the days when Congress is in session and available to meet with GAC participants.

During the conference, Powell, a former Secretary of State, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and considered one of the most admired men in America, will discuss leadership strategies based on his distinguished military and political career. MSNBC's Matthews, host of "Hardball with Chris Matthews" and NBC's "The Chris Matthews Show," will provide his no-nonsense take on the 2008 political scene.

And new this year, CUNA Councils will launch the event with a special kickoff concert featuring the band America, known for such hits as "Ventura Highway" and "A Horse With No Name." The musical highlight is scheduled for Sunday evening, March 2.

Conference registration is now open. GAC housing reservations will open on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m ET.

This article is from CUNA News Now and reprinted with permission.