While the CUNA board was deliberating the dual membership requirement, so was the board of the Michigan Credit Union League at its Sept. 16 meeting. Michigan became the first league to allow its credit unions to join the league without joining CUNA.
"The MCUL board passed a resolution that will enable Michigan credit unions to affiliate with the MCUL, regardless of whether the credit union is affiliated with the Credit Union National Association," according to a Michigan league email obtained by CU Times that was sent to credit union members Monday. "This action will take effect with the 2016 affiliation cycle."
On Friday, the CUNA board of directors voted to maintain the current dual membership requirement despite a final recommendation by the CUNA System Structure and Governance Task Force to offer credit unions membership choice in CUNA and/or a league.
"The board believes the most effective advocacy model for credit unions is one in which credit unions are members of both their league and CUNA," the board stated in a release. "As a result, the board took action to preserve the current membership structure."
Though calling the CUNA board's decision disappointing, the Michigan league said it respected the national association's right to take action on its own membership requirements.
With this membership requirement change, the board is strongly encouraging credit unions to continue affiliation with both CUNA and the Michigan league.
"In Michigan, we have a 99% affiliation rate with both associations, and we continue to believe that it is vitally important for the health of our industry and for the success of our advocacy efforts that credit unions remain affiliated with both associations," the league wrote in its email. "However, in rare instances, whether due to financial hardship or for other important reasons, a credit union in Michigan may find it necessary to affiliate only with the MCUL."
When contacted by CU Times Monday, Dave Adams, president/CEO of the Michigan league, said it was not the league's intention to publicize the membership requirement change outside of the Michigan credit union community.
"The Michigan league's action was not in any way a suggestion that we think credit unions in Michigan should consider not affiliating with CUNA," Adams said. "That was done in large part because we asked our credit unions for their input. They gave it to us and our board responded. So it's more about choice. It's not about any perceived dissatisfaction with CUNA."
CUNA did not respond to requests for comment on the Michigan league board decision. When asked during a Monday morning press call what CUNA would do if a league made such a decision, Chief Strategic Communications Officer Douglas Kiker said it would be inappropriate to speak hypothetically.
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