As the presidential campaign intensifies, I am struck by the common sense opportunity for all of us in the credit union world to come together and start to turn this country around. There is a practical way that we, as mission-driven people, can assert leadership and re-infuse energy into our communities.

My suggestion is that we join together and create a new internship model in this country for collaboration, which is the core of our beliefs. By doing so, we will educate a new generation of consumers on the benefits of credit union membership and remove some of the incredible despair of unemployment where young educated people can't get jobs.

Recently, a friend called me to seek help in finding employment or an opportunity for her son. He graduated from a good college and cannot find work. My sense is that all of you receive similar calls or are concerned about your own children or grandchildren.