In an era of participatory politicking when Facebook, Twitter and other digital tools can turn any citizen into a lobbyist, have traditional trade associations entered their twilight years?

Fueling this argument are disaffiliations by big natural person credit unions, most recently by the 144,000-member, $1.6 billion Apple Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Fairfax, Va., which quit CUNA loudly in February. Said Apple FCU CEO Larry Kelly on his way to the exit, "Can you tell me one major thing that CUNA has done for credit unions in the last 12 years?" 

Apple joined a small parade of exiting credit unions, including the $1 billion New Mexico Educators CU in Albuquerque, N.M., and the $570 million Kirtland New Mexico FCU. Also on the list, the $1.6 billion Texas Dow Employees CU of Lake Jackson.