Credit unions could use a charismatic leader right now. Who is going to rallies the troops to get this splintering industry to-well-cooperate?

Certainly there are leaders in the credit union industry who could probably fit the bill. (This song keeps running in my head as I'm writing this.) Executives who know their business, are great speakers and can get people to follow them exist.

Credit union executives are not lemmings, and no one expects them to be. But when all is said and done, there needs to be a unifying force and someone needs to represent that force. An industry leader doesn't have to come from the trades or consultancies; in fact, it shouldn't. If true prosperity is to come to a cooperative industry, cohesion must reach a critical mass and it must build from the grass roots level on up. And the rest must realize that you don't have to agree with every word out of that person's mouth or every action the person has ever taken to stand behind a great leader.