‘Be your best advocate’ June 14, 2021 by Stephen Gale, CU Magazine Stephen Gale, BMI Federal Credit Union I have been a credit union member since I opened my first account in 2005 at the age of 13. I had little choice in the matter: My father served on the board of directors of a local credit union. Still, I am grateful, and that account remains open to this day. I went to college to become a teacher. After experiencing no luck in securing a teaching position, I went to work for a small nonprofit. When it became clear there were no immediate opportunities for upward movement within that organization, I started searching for a new job.