When The Credit Union Journal produced the Aug. 5, 1998 edition of the newspaper, it's unlikely that anyone in the credit union movement recognized that the work to get the Credit Union Membership Access Act passed into law would lead to a brand new chapter in credit union politics, catapulting the movement into a whole new level of never-ceasing but always-changing political advocacy.

CDCU Works to Rebuild New Orleans' 9th Ward

* A 60-year-old grandmother in Everett, Wash., grabbed the arm of a fleeing robbery suspect when she saw him handcuffed and running toward her in his underwear.

WASHINGTON - In the latest twist of a long-standing battle between credit unions and the Internal Revenue Service more than a dozen state-chartered credit unions have received the most definitive guidance to date on what is taxable under the Unrelated Business Income Tax.

FEBRUARY

OGDEN, Utah - Alliance CU, one of the largest remaining state charters in Utah was approved by NCUA to convert to federal charter. The $85-million-CU joined an exodus that began four years ago when the state's bankers heightened their attack on the liberal field of membership rules. Alliance Community FCU was granted a community charter encompassing three counties.

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Addison Avenue FCU, the CU for Hewlett-Packard companies has hired J. Benson Porter, an executive at Washington Mutual, as its new president. Porter, formerly the chief administrative officer and head of corporate affairs at WaMu, will succeed Steve Lumm, who is retiring as head of the $1.9-billion CU.

WASHINGTON - In the 10 years since credit unions mobilized in a nationwide campaign to pass HR 1151, the CU Membership Access Act, the perception of credit unions on Capitol Hill has changed a lot.

VANCOUVER, Wash. - It wasn't so much one moment as a series of moments that have come to define 2004 for credit unions.

VANCOUVER, Wash. - It wasn't so much one moment as a series of moments that have come to define 2004 for credit unions.

WASHINGTON - The House voted overwhelmingly to allow credit unions and banks to handle large currency transactions from regular customers, so-called seasoned customers, without having to file reports aimed at tracing money laundering and terrorism.

Rick Craig, President/CEO of America First Credit Union in Ogden, Utah, webcasts a greeting and message of support to deployed members of his credit union during Operation Best Wishes. Tom Connors, Chairman of the Board looks on. The national tour visited America First Credit Union on January 22 and 23, before crossing America in early February to visit North Carolina and Marine Federal Credit Union and Fort Bragg Federal Credit Union.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA said it approved a charter last month for a new credit union in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Union Baptist Church FCU will serve about 225 members of the Fort Wayne parish.

Throughout 2007, the Credit Union Journal is profiling the credit unions of each U.S. state and D.C. Rather than appear in alphabetical order, the states are being featured in the order they became states.

It makes me angry that that people in charge would betray the very institution they represent. If you don't like it, why don't you go to a mutual savings bank.

BOSTON - Credit union industry officials are still trying to determine the extent of a massive data breach that could match the 2005 debacle at Card Systems Solutions, Inc. in Arizona.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA said it approved a charter last month for a new credit union in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Union Baptist Church FCU will serve about 225 members of the Fort Wayne parish.

DEARBORN, Mich. - DFCU Financial's Supervisory Committee has been asked by the NCUA to investigate two members' complaint alleging bylaw and election procedure violations related to the upcoming board elections.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Over protests from the Riverside City Council, Raincross Credit Union will merge with Visterra CU in approximately two months following a Jan. 18 membership vote.

Greeley, Colo. - Colorado State Employees Credit Union supervisor Heather Garraus, 37, was shot to death in the parking lot of the CU on Jan. 23 after leaving work for the evening. Local news reports identified Garraus as the wife of Greeley Police officer Ignacio Garraus and her alleged assailant as Shawna Louise McKay, 35, a former police dispatcher for the combined Greeley-Weld County communications center and the ex-wife of Weld County Sheriff's investigator Ken Nelson. She was held on suspicion of murder and will be charged with first degree murder. The motive for the shooting was believed to be an extramarital affair. Terry Leis, CSECU CEO told the Rocky Mountain News, "We are deeply saddened by this loss. We are trying to support the family."