Most league CEOs chose not to publicly share their reactions to the CUNA board of directors' Sept. 18 decision that rejected three recommendations made by the CUNA System Structure and Governance Task Force.
The most contentious recommendation would have given credit unions the choice to join CUNA and/or a league, a controversy credit unions have been debating for 20 years.
Perhaps one reason for their silence is that they know a plurality of credit unions that responded to a CUNA survey now favor membership optionality, and that large credit unions hold that view by a two to one margin.
But one trade association, the Michigan Credit Union League, listened to the majority of its credit union members. In 2016, Michigan cooperatives will be able join the league without joining CUNA, a move that surprised league presidents.
The CUNA board also gave a thumbs down on other task force recommendations to enhance cooperation and interdependence with leagues in the delivery of advocacy for credit unions, and streamline the CUNA board structure from 24 board members to 15.
After CU Times contacted all of the league CEOs by email and/or phone, presidents from the Cornerstone Credit Union League, Maine Credit Union League, Credit Union Association of New Mexico and Credit Union Association of the Dakotas said they agreed with CUNA's decision.
A few other CEOs said they wanted to give the CUNA board decision more thought. Others said they didn't have enough information or needed their boards to mull it over first.
For example, the board of directors for the League of Southeastern Credit Unions, which doesn't hold an official position on the dual membership requirement, is expected to discuss it at a planning retreat meeting.
But what probably raised more than a few eyebrows among credit union leaders, however, was the decision by the board of directors of the Michigan Credit Union League to allow their member credit unions in 2016 to join the state league without joining CUNA.
As far as the Michigan league is concerned, allowing direct membership doesn't violate any CUNA bylaw or policy requirement.
CUNA did not respond to CU Times requests for its reaction to the Michigan league's direct membership decision and its consequences.
What's more, it's uncertain whether other leagues will follow Michigan's lead.
In the Sept. 30, 2015 print edition of CU Times, read reaction comments from league CEOs, learn more about about the Michigan league's decision and find out why one league CEO doesn't agree with the dual membership requirement but supported it anyway.
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