To no one's surprise, the world is not a perfect place. Mistakes have a way of creeping in where you least expect them. Even credit unions and the groups that serve them stumble occasionally. Credit union organizations strive to have 100% affiliation of all eligible members. Those not in the fold are often not looked upon very favorably. Some credit union groups have taken the position that nonaffiliated credit unions cannot in any way participate in the group's activities. Big mistake! The way to convince nonmembers to join is not to treat them like second-class citizens. Or not to exclude them even from education conferences even though they are willing to pay a higher nonmember fee. In Ireland, a policy regarding the privileges of affiliation actually ended up in court. Seems the Irish League of Credit Unions had a policy in place that certain credit union insurance coverages were contingent on league membership. Not so said the Irish court. That breaches the provisions of the relatively new Competitive Act of 2002 and the European Treaty. The league actually proposed a rule that if credit unions didn't buy from the league-controlled provider, the CUs would be kicked out. It would be a mistake for all credit union groups in this country not to review membership policies on a regular basis, that is, if they are truly serious about achieving that elusive 100% affiliation goal. Credit union executives who think they can play games that benefit them personally as part of a merger are making a big mistake. But they keep trying. Big bonuses paid to the CEO of the credit union that will disappear in a merger with a larger partner has and should raise eyebrows for all concerned. So should high-paying, cushy executive positions for CEOs about to lose their credit union that entail almost no work or accountability. I am personally familiar with two credit union CEOs who went shopping for a merger partner that would offer them personally the best deal. A mistake? Sure, but unfortunately both got away with it. Sometimes what looks like a mistake on the surface turns out not to be one. Officials at a small credit union were chastised for selecting a new CEO without credit union experience. That would seem to be a mistake except that many credit unions have put CEOs in place who were new to credit union management and in fact to credit unions period. And they did very well. Did Navy Federal Credit Union, the world's largest, conduct a nationwide search to obtain the services of an experienced credit union executive to fill the big shoes of retiring CEO Brian McDonnell? Nope! Within weeks of McDonnell's announcement, came the news that his replacement had been selected. Vice Admiral Cutler Dawson, a 34-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, takes over on December 6th. Although Dawson has impeccable, high-level credentials in the Navy, his credit union experience is limited to having served on Navy Federal's board and committees off and on over the past five years. Is it a mistake to hire a CU CEO with such limited credit union experience? I think not. In fact, having seen similar examples at a dozen or more other large credit unions, I predict Dawson will keep Navy Federal on course and continue to move one of the country's most respected credit unions full speed ahead. Credit union groups still have a lot to learn about good communications. NACUSO recently announced a significant reorganization involving its long-time chief executive. It all seemed to make sense. What didn't is not informing dues-paying members first. Most members found out about the changes by reading the news story in Credit Union Times. Kudos to our news hound reporters, but a big communications mistake by NACUSO. Then there are examples of ongoing terminology mistakes. Credit union publications still refer to ATMs as “automatic” teller machines. There is nothing automatic about them. They are “automated” teller machines. Even a national group promoting its ATM Conference to credit unions referenced ATMs as automatic in its brochure copy. Speaking of printed pieces, in an otherwise very professional and informative International Credit Union Day newspaper supplement produced by Hawaii credit unions, a box appears entitled, “US Credit Union Statistics.” Under number of credit unions it shows 3,935. Under number of members it indicates that there are a total in the U.S. of 38,690, 844. Both numbers aren't even close to being correct. Such mistakes hurt credibility of the rest of the supplement. Everyone knows that because Allstate Insurance challenged credit unions in court, they can no longer use the “hands-family-globe” logo except outside the U.S. Or do they? Several credit unions still use it but doing so is a mistake. Stranger still, I saw an ad for a chiropractic clinic in a parish bulletin published by a church in Wisconsin that featured the old credit union trademark. The American Bankers Association makes lots of mistakes. Last year ABA listed credit unions as their top priority putting it ahead of fighting terrorism and getting legislation favorable to banks such as looser requirements for switching to a Sub Chapter S Corporation. This year they moved credit unions down the list although they denied that the previous year's outcry regarding misplaced priorities was the reason. Add all this to ABA's mistake column along with the fact that they tried to explain it all away by saying that its priority list was actually not prioritized. The final example of a mistake of dozens more I could have included if there was space, is only slightly connected to credit unions. A hotshot public relations firm sent out a release that it could guaranty published stories in industry publications. Might be a promise they can deliver in other publications in the credit union industry, but never in this one. Big mistake to make such an outlandish promise. Comments? Call 1-800-345-9936, Ext. 15, or Fax 561-683-8514, or E-mail [email protected].