LATHAM, N.Y. -- Heeding alarms sounded here and elsewhere over the continuing decline in league membership impacting industry service and performance, CUNA disclosed Monday a special "Affiliation Task Force" met last week to plot ways to halt the CU member slide at leagues.

Convening of the special membership panel during CUNA's America's Credit Union Conference & Expo in Las Vegas comes amidst new evidence the member drop in leagues is cutting programming and services.

For one, the New York State League of Credit Unions, hit by continued slippage in its affiliation rate down to 72% from a high of 90% a decade ago said it planned to cut back on TV/radio advocacy advertising in the fall because of a lack of funding.

In its May 28-June 1weekly newsletter citing its roster at 375 CUs and the 140 eligible "who are not," William Mellin, the president/CEO acknowledged disaffiliation has been occurring for various reasons including mergers, internal budget restraints and slowed growth.

While these all may be valid for not belonging, the cost in industry unity and cooperation hurts credit unions' future. Considering bank attacks alone as well as competitive challenges on the Internet and elsewhere, the cost of a fractured league has reached a point of "high concern" said Mellin, who launched a series of statewide meetings this spring to bring more wayward CUs back into the fold

CUNA officials said the "Affiliation Task Force" meeting in Las Vegas was organized by its closely-linked American Association of Credit Union Leagues.