By Karen Smith, Senior VP, Chief Advocacy Officer

When people think about advocacy, they often picture a legislative hearing, a vote on the House or Senate floor, or a packed day of meetings during Hike the Hill. Those moments are certainly important — but they’re only part of the story.

The reality is that advocacy has no off-season.

In Montana, our Legislature meets only every other year. If advocacy only happened during those 90 days, we’d miss countless opportunities to build the relationships and trust that ultimately shape public policy.

That reality was reinforced as I reflected on the three lawmaker lunches we hosted across Montana this spring. While each gathering was unique, I walked away with the same impression: our lawmakers genuinely want to understand credit unions and the role they play in strengthening Montana communities.

I heard legislators share stories about being lifelong credit union members. They asked thoughtful questions about how credit unions differ from banks and why the cooperative model matters. One legislator even remarked that a $1,500 community contribution from a small credit union represented a significant investment because they understood what that gift meant relative to the institution’s size.

Those conversations reminded me that advocacy is often less about persuasion and more about education, understanding, and building trusted relationships.

That’s exactly what our lawmaker lunches were designed to do. Rather than advocating for or against a specific bill, they brought credit union leaders and elected officials together to share perspectives, strengthen relationships, and deepen understanding of the cooperative difference.

When lawmakers hear directly from the people serving families, farmers, small businesses, and communities across Montana, they gain valuable perspective. They see firsthand how credit unions improve financial well-being, strengthen local economies, and reinvest in the communities they serve. And when policy questions arise, they already know who they can turn to for trusted, practical insight.

Advocacy isn’t confined to the Capitol or legislative session. It’s inviting a legislator to visit your credit union, sharing a member success story, participating in community events, responding to a call to action, or traveling to Washington, D.C., for Hike the Hill. It’s building credibility one conversation at a time.

As we look ahead to this fall’s Hike the Hill and continue preparing for future state and federal advocacy efforts, our work doesn’t begin when we walk into a legislative office. Every relationship we build, every story we share, and every conversation we have lays the foundation for future success.

Thank you to every credit union leader, board member, Advocacy Champion, and volunteer who continues to engage with policymakers throughout the year. Because advocacy isn’t something we do only when the Legislature is in session — it’s something we do every day to protect and advance the credit union mission.

Learn more about credit union advocacy in a recent conversation I had with America’s Credit Unions’ Kathleen Coulombe:

• Listen to the podcast
• Watch the podcast