IRMO, S.C. — The Carolinas Credit Union League became the latest state CU association to weigh in on the dual membership controversy Thursday, when its board of directors voted unanimously to offer CUs in the Carolinas the option of joining the Carolinas Credit Union League without joining CUNA.
"This issue is not new to the management or board of the League, who have been discussing and considering the issue for nearly two years," said John Radebaugh, president and CEO of the trade association that serves North and South Carolina, in a statement. "The board decision to offer membership choice recognizes that we are a membership organization and that our member credit unions throughout the Carolinas told us definitively that they want choice."
Radebaugh went on to say the Carolinas CU League does not view its relationship with CUNA "any differently." He said CUNA and its team play a "vital role in ensuring we can provide the support that credit unions in the Carolinas need and expect."
"In turn, CUNA relies on the local connectivity of leagues and credit unions as it advocates on Capitol Hill," Radebaugh said. "The Carolinas League and CUNA are interdependent, and the board and I are strongly encouraging credit unions to affiliate with both associations in 2016."
Radebaugh emphasized there still is a "need" for credit unions to work together at the local, state and federal levels to achieve advocacy success that is "as relevant and important today" as it has ever been.
"The change in dues structure is simply a change in the way we fund the system," he said. "We have seen great successes when credit unions, leagues and CUNA have spoken with one voice, and we know there are many to come."
The Carolinas CU League joins the New York CU Association, Michigan CU League, and the Ohio CU League in coming out in favor of allowing credit unions to choose to belong to their state leagues without having to also belong to CUNA, while the Mountain West CU Association and the California and Nevada CU Leagues say they support the status quo of league/CUNA interdependence.
