<p>It is nice to read a publisher's column that is clearly not ghost written and always stimulating. Mike Welch's January 30th column was great. I recognized some of the culprits he described. On CUs themselves, I mentally benchmarked my credit union, Navy Federal. I think we pass muster. I would call us straight arrow, open to new technologies and new ideas, and successful because we stick to the principles of the credit union movement and not-for-profit governance. At our last fall's planning conference, when board and staff took to the woods for fun and reflection, we questioned adherence to our common bond and field of membership. This was timely, following a year of Renaissance Commission hyperbole and monument building of Medici proportions. We reaffirmed the strength of our convictions, the fundamentals of our business, and our belief in the common bond. Next month I step down from a second of two five year periods on the Navy Federal Credit Union board, one active duty and one retired. At the conclusion of our planning conference, I wrote a short set of beliefs from what I heard us all say in two days of deliberation. Simple straight foreword stuff. I thought readers of Credit Union Times might find it of interest. We believe : That the foundation of our movement rests solidly on the importance of the common bond. That the not-for-profit member-owned character of our movement has its historical basis in the concepts of democracy and self-reliance. That the essential business of our movement is supporting the financial well being of our members and our community. That the success of our business is defined in the services we render and the care given members. That serving the financial needs of our members is more important than serving the institutional interest of an organization. That the volunteer leadership of our movement ensures the stewardship of our resources and the integrity of our operations. Although I put the words together, these thoughts came from the heads of many. Dan McKinnon, RADM, SC, USN (Ret), Second Vice Chair Navy FCU Vienna, Va.</p>