NAPERVILLE, Ill. -
CU Journal: How did you get started in credit unions and with the Illinois league?
Plauda: I met (current Texas CUL CEO) Dick Ensweiler when I was practicing law in Minnesota and he was president of the Minnesota Credit Union League. His wife, Judy, had been a friend for years. Dick became president of the Illinois League in 1974 and he hired me as the league’s first general counsel in 1977. I took the job thinking I would be here a few years and then move on. Instead, I got hooked on credit unions.
CUJ: What comes to mind when asked about the biggest changes you’ve seen in your 30 years of credit union experience?
Plauda: The IT revolution has changed credit unions more than anything else in the last 30 years. Also, the reduction in the number of credit unions coupled with the increase in size of many of the remaining credit unions has made the environment very complex–especially given the fact that needs of the smaller credit unions are vastly different than those of the larger ones. The associations and their business subsidiaries truly have to be all things to all credit unions. In the late 1970s the league hosted a conference for the “Million Dollar Managers.” At that time very few managers were even eligible to attend. What a change in a relatively short period of time.
CUJ: Can individual CU leagues continue to prosper as stand-alone associations?
Plauda: I believe that the partnerships that already exist between many states will continue to increase in order to build economies of scale. However, I also believe that individual league entities will remain in place because of the need for state-level governance/PR and the need for a direct governmental affairs presence in each state.
CUJ: What have been some of your favorite and least favorite memories at the league?
Plauda: My favorite memories include being associated with some very dedicated and hard- working staff, Board and credit union people. I derive great satisfaction from knowing that working with credit unions to help their members is a great way to give something back to society. My least favorite memories relate to times when credit union “politics” stood in the way of progress.
CUJ: Where do you envision credit unions and the league being 30 years from now?
Plauda: I have trouble envisioning what will happen in two years let alone 30 years. My sincere hope is that leagues and credit unions will continue to adapt to the changing environment while keeping focused on the fact that our reason to exist is very basic–-working together to help people. I hope that we never get so caught up in the process that we forget the purpose. If history is any indication, we will adapt quickly and keep true to the purpose.
