I find it quite ironic that the timing of two issues ofparamount importance will soon be arriving together at every creditunion's doorstep, demanding immediate attention and action.

In the months ahead, credit unions will be challenged to eithermaintain their liquidity, investment and settlement services withinthe cooperative system, or go outside of the system for suchservices. At the same time, credit unions will be encouraged tocelebrate their cooperative heritage by marking the United NationsYear of Cooperatives in 2012.

I don't know about you but I believe that the credit unionmovement is at a critical juncture of unprecedented caliber in itshistory. We are facing choices of great importance in the months tocome, requiring business decisions governed by facts, details andanalysis. Our future as a movement and as financial cooperativeswill either grow stronger and more united by these decisions, orweaker and even more divided.

My personal opinion (and this is only me talking now as adevelopment educator) is when we take business outside of thesystem, we do exactly the opposite of what we preach each day toconsumers. (And let me tell you, if anyone knows anything aboutpreaching, it's me!)

If credit unions are the best deal in town, then why would acredit union choose a bank, or the Fed or another provider over aself-governed, member-owned cooperative, espousing the sameprinciples and values as the credit union itself? I understand thatthere may be exceptions, but in principle, how can a cooperativejustify such action?

I also believe that opting to go outside of the cooperativesystem is not an excuse for doing what's right for the member. Ifwe fundamentally hold the conviction that a cooperative businessmodel offers more value, including an ability to provide betterrates and services through aggregation, and in fact, shows evidenceto support such beliefs, then again, how is it justified for acooperative to secure business elsewhere?

One consequence I see of going outside of the system is that itputs the credit union doing so in a precarious situation as itlooks for ways to participate in the International Year ofCooperatives in 2012.

If we within the credit union movement are to mark the Year ofCooperatives, then isn't it reasonable to conclude that we firstall fully embrace our cooperative nature, herald its values and actin ways that are in alignment with those values and principles? Inother words, do we live the credit union legacy?

A few weeks ago, I found myself on Bainbridge Island, justacross the sound from Seattle. I was there to help mentor a groupof credit union and co-op executives attending the developmenteducation program at the Islandwood School.

Credit Union DEs have all participated in this intense,week-long program that engenders within each one of us a greaterunderstanding and appreciation of the credit union system, itscooperative values and principles, development issues that exist ona national and global level, and how credit unions, through theircooperative business model, exercise a distinct ability andresponsibility in addressing those issues.

Being in the presence of this newest class of DEs, I could nothelp but be caught up once again in the enthusiasm for ourcooperative model and how by working together, credit unions cangenerate a power and influence that far exceeds that of any onecredit union acting independently. Those who pioneered the RochdalePrinciples as well as credit unions understood completely thesignificance of that collective strength.

The world and the news media in particular, will all be watchingand reporting on us closely during the Year of Cooperatives in2012. My hope is that the words and actions of credit unions asAmerica's financial cooperatives will befit the legacy handed downto us by Ed Filene and Roy Bergengren.

Walt Laskos does public relations work at Western CorporateFCU.