Sparked last fall as a new initiative, Rekindle has steadily grown with an aim at reigniting the callfor credit unions to collaborate to solve problems, its organizerssaid.

The brainchild of Lonny Maurer, president/CEO of the $387million Belco Community CU in Harrisburg, Pa., Rekindle was builtaround the principle that credit unions are stronger together thanapart.

To further develop the concept into a scalable collaborativeframework, Mid-Atlantic Corporate FCU assumed a leadership role inthe initiative. Currently some 55 credit unions have joined themovement.

“Whether it's driving down redundant system costs or sharingstaff expertise, our movement has always been at its best when wecollaborate. And today – with a growing regulatory burden,ever-thinner margins and fierce competition from the banking sector– it's past time to reignite the cooperation that made our movementstrong,” said Jay Murray, president/CEO of Mid-AtlanticCorporate.

“Nearly everyone we speak with sees value in collaboration. WhatRekindle has taught us over the past year is that collaboration–for real impact – requires a great deal of hard work,” Murraysaid.

To build on its momentum among a group of credit unions in themid-Atlantic states, Rekindle has launched a website, hosted byMaryland-based CUSO Ongoing Operations, and released the second ina series of animated short films as an early step in fostering anonline community to complement the growing network of in-personRekindle regional groups called cells.

The leadership and Virginia cells consist of seven credit unionseach, five credit unions make up the Central Pennsylvania cell, 14in the Norristown, Pa., cell and the Delaware cell boasts some 22credit unions.