CHICAGO — Massive change vs. measured change was the topic ofdebate Thursday morning in a final-day session at CO-OPFinancial Services' THINK 13 conference.

The team of executives arguing for massive change, includingPatrick Basler, president of First Financial Credit Union inChicago; industry attorney Michael Bell of Detroit; and Sarah Snell Cooke, publisher and editor-in-chief at CreditUnion Times, won the debate by 57% to 43%, according toaudience polling taken during the event.

The massive change team argued that credit unions representedmassive change from their very beginnings and have continued thatas a core principle since.

The measured change side, represented by Frank Diekmann,publisher of Credit Union Journal; Jill Nowacki, vice president for development at MAPS CreditUnion in Oregon; and Sandra Scott, vice president of card servicesand product management for Patelco Credit Union in California,argued credit unions had merely adopted and adapted to changesgoing on in the market.

Even though it was a spirited debate, in many ways some of thedebate struggled with distinguishing what represented massiveversus measured change.

“I don't think anyone is up here arguing for the status quo,”said debate moderator Caroline Willard, CO-OP's executive vicepresident for markets and strategy.

The lineup on the stage at THINK 13, with CO-OP EVP CarolineWillard as moderator.

“The question is what sort of change is most needed, Willardsaid.

The CUSO held its conference in Chicago's Swissotel from April29 to May 2.

Also from THINK 13:

• Virtual Teller Idea Wins THINK Prize13
• THINK 13 on Wednesday: SlideShow
• Starring on Google+
• Mayor Booker Keynotes on Change
• Innovation That MaintainsIdentity
• Innovation Needs Controls
• THINK 13 on Tuesday: Slide Show
• Self-Assessment First Step inInnovation
• Leaders Should Talk Last
• CO-OP Rebrands ATM, BranchingNetworks
• Chicago Confab Kicks Off