As far as the Michigan league is concerned, allowing direct membership choice does not violate any CUNA bylaw or policy requirement.

"We don't believe there is a legal or a strict bylaw requirement," Michigan Credit Union League President/CEO Dave Adams said. "If there is and if we are found to be in violation of that then we will have that discussion and deal with it. We believe that our association should have control over its own membership requirements."

Michigan league's bylaws are silent about requiring its credit unions to become members of CUNA. Although CUNA bylaws state credit unions that join their leagues automatically become members of CUNA, they are only recognized as members when they pay national dues.

The Michigan league's board of directors passed a resolution earlier this month that will enable the state's credit unions to affiliate with the league in 2016 regardless of whether the credit union also affiliates with CUNA.

"Our board's action was not in any way a suggestion that we think credit unions in Michigan should consider not affiliating with CUNA," Adams said. "Our board's action was simply one to change the requirements so that if there is a financial hardship or some other compelling reason why a credit might not be able to stay affiliated with CUNA, they would have the option of being affiliated with the MCUL and not drop out of the system."

"And that was done in large part because we asked our credit unions for their input, they gave it to us and our board responded," he added. "It's more about choice, and it's not at all about any perceived dissatisfaction with CUNA."

On Sept. 18, the CUNA board of directors announced that it voted to maintain the longstanding and contentious 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.

League CEOs from Cornerstone, Maine, New Mexico and the Dakotas said they agree with CUNA's decision.

"The (Cornerstone) board expressed appreciation for the CUNA/league system that takes advantage of the resources we have at both levels without duplication, which has been such a strong backbone to what we have accomplished over the years," Dick Ensweiler said. He is president/CEO of the Cornerstone Credit Union League, the largest trade organization in the nation.

John Murphy, president/CEO of the Maine Credit Union League, agreed the CUNA/league system is the best and the envy of many other national trade associations, but he disagreed with the Michigan league's decision on dues optionality.

"I see the benefits of the interdependent structure day in and day out," Murphy said. "I don't see that choice over the long term as having the benefits that some believe it would have. I support the dual membership. I respect everybody's position on it. But from our own experience, we believe that the structure we have has served us the best and can serve us even better in the future if we determine we want to make some changes to it."

Adams emphasized the Michigan league respects the decision made by the CUNA board of directors. He also said his staff will work to strongly encourage Michigan credit unions to maintain their CUNA membership in 2016.