Complaining Out Loud

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-If the petition circulated by Randy Karnes earlier this year did one thing, it got at least some people to stop complaining behind the scenes about NCUA and the CU trade associations.

It also generated a lot of open, healthy dialogue, believes Karnes, CEO of CU*Answers.

Karnes circulated an online petition nationwide to CEOs and CUSO leaders that called for a number of changes to how credit unions are regulated, including Congressional oversight of the NCUA board and splitting the NCUSIF from the agency. It also challenged the effectiveness and roles of CUNA and NAFCU.

"It launched a thousand conversations," Karnes told Credit Union Journal. "Everyone knows that nothing happens with a blank sheet of paper. At least the petition brought people out to say, 'I would not have said it that way.' Or, 'I like this and absolutely agree and how can I help.' As well as, 'I absolutely hate it and how can I stop you.'"

It also led others in the industry to take more concrete actions regarding their opinions of the two major trade associations and NCUA, Karnes assessed. "I think it galvanized arguments regarding NCUA and the trades. I think many credit union people today are preparing to challenge the status quo and they feel a change is coming. I think many executives are now saying, 'How functional is our lobby environment? Should we reorganize it, turn it off?'

"I know more CEOs today are saying that maybe CUNA and NAFCU are only important to us and are not a good investment of our money," continued Karnes. "In essence, we beat our own drum but if no one is listening should we get on to other things?"

Critics Also Speak Out
The petition this year also drew sharp criticism from industry leaders, including David Adams, president and CEO of the Michigan CU League, who in a previous report (Credit Union Journal, Jan. 3) said that while the intent of the petition is sound-encouraging credit unions to raise their voices-the process is wrong.

The petition is still online (www.ipetitions.com/petition/change-NCUA-now/), and Karnes said he chose the electronic format to give the effort a long shelf life. "In essence, every new person that clicks on it sees it as a new idea. People never really look at the date, and it sparks the conversation over again."

Karnes said he stopped checking the number of signatures the petition received "a long while back," but said 100 had penned at his last check. "There's that old adage: If one complains nine people don't. I know if 100 people signed the petition I am confident thousands of people debated it."