Borrowing an infamous closing line from acclaimed broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow seemed an appropriate beginning for sharing my personal opinions with you.

Good night, because most, (but not all), small to mid-sized credit unions have fallen asleep in a dream world where status quo has become the order of the day. I watch with concerned bewilderment as one after another of my peers are taken over by their larger credit union competitors. I love credit unions and all the values we are supposed to stand for! But, like flames in a sea of candles, one by one we are beginning to flicker and burn out. Sad, it is, because it doesn't have to happen.

In its heyday, Michigan had 1,182 credit unions. Today that number is at 392 and continuing to decline. As industry consolidation gobbles up credit unions at the rate of one per day nationally, many managers and boards remain in denial, still feeling invincible. Others have already let apathy set in deciding simply to linger on until whatever will be.will be. The good news is the vast majority of us are devoted, prepared and driven. But, are we prepared to fight our dragons when we are armed with plastic swords?