COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio CU League is now the third league to endorse giving member credit unions the choice of joining the league without being a member of CUNA.
The OCUL board Wednesday decided on the position following an earlier survey of its membership. The study showed that 58% of Ohio CUs favored membership choice, while 27% supported dual membership.
In October, the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates said that next year it will allow its member CUs to join the league without being a member of CUNA, after its board voted unanimously to grant credit unions the option. And the New York Credit Union Association’s board of directors just passed a resolution that calls on CUNA’s board to modernize its membership bylaws. The resolution urges CUNA to reconsider its position on the dual-membership requirement, citing recommendations made by CUNA’s System Structure and Governance Task Force.
The topic of dual membership requirement in the leagues and CUNA has been hotly debated among credit unions. CUNA’s System Structure and Governance Task Force recently recommend allowing CUs such a choice, but the trade association’s board voted against the recommendation.
“We have a full measure of respect for the CUNA board’s decision-making process and conclusions. Upon studying the questions illuminated through the work of the CUNA Task Force, we have simply drawn different conclusions,” the OCUL said in a position statement. “We believe we are responding favorably to the high quality of the work done by the CUNA Task Force, and to the inclinations of Ohio credit unions, a majority of which favor membership optionality.”
The OCUL stated that it agrees with the CUNA Task Force that interdependence between the leagues and CUNA “provides the best operating model for CU advocacy,” adding that choice and interdependence can work “hand-in-hand in an evolved, effective three-tier system of CU unity, advocacy, and support.”
The league also noted that it will work in close collaboration with CUNA “to earn the membership of Ohio credit unions in both the Ohio League and CUNA.”
Wednesday, the California/Nevada Leagues stated that its board in January will begin discussion of what “choice” should look like when it comes to membership in the league and CUNA.
At the California/Nevada Leagues’ REACH meeting in Palm Desert, Calif., league CEO Diana Dykstra said she has no idea what the league board will decide, but in her comments expressed support for the current dual membership structure. “The power of one system is the envy of every trade association in the United States, and the task force wanted to make sure that was reinforced,” said Dykstra