The burden of trade association dues during a rough economy plusinternal policy disputes apparently figure in two moredisaffiliations disclosed this week. by two Albuquerque creditunions.

Credit Union Association of New Mexico and CUNA confirmed thatthe $1 billion New Mexico Educators CU and the $570 Kirtland FCU,have resigned their memberships in each association.

Officials of CUANM downplayed the departures as “no big deal”but expressed puzzlement and frustration as the reasoning for theexits “coming at a time when their support is so vitallyneeded.”

In January, the $1.6 billion Texas Dow Employees CU of LakeJackson said it was quitting CUNA and the Texas Credit Union Leagueciting a list of complaints over lobbying, volunteer and policyconcerns it had with leadership of the trade groups. Efforts havecontinued since then to return Texas Dow back as a member.

Mark Wolff, senior vice president-communications for CUNA, saidthe national trade group would seek also to re-affiliate the twoNew Mexico CUs “with the goal of addressing their concerns.”

Sylvia Lyon, president/CEO of CUANM, said the president/CEO ofNMECU, Terry Laudick, had sent her a terse, “two-sentence” e-mailtwo weeks ago citing simply “economic reasons.”

“I've yet to get a response,” said Lyon expressing deep regretat the NMECU move. Laudick was not immediately available forcomment Friday.

The leadership of Kirtland, she said, had previously expressedgrievances on a number of topics relating to the CUNA stance onmember business lending and alternative capital. “We understand,”she said, the concerns CUs have about costs associated with trademembership but still “there's never been a time when cooperationand a united industry are more important.”

Lyon said she also had been in contact with David Seely,president/CEO of Kirtland and the CU chairman who has long beenvocal about CUNA practices. TheKirtland exit now “is “verydisappointing,” she said.

The resignations, she said, “represent 1% of our dues and willnot hurt us,” or the organization's viability.

The CUANM leadership, she said, had previously discussed theidea of joining the regional league co-op being formed as theMountain West Credit Union Association combining the Arizona,Colorado and Wyoming leagues but that idea was rejected. “We'llnever say never but for now we don't see the need,” said Lyon.Beside, CUNAM “wants to see how it will work” before making anycommitments.