Time to put `large vs. small' argument to rest

I have tried to keep quiet for quite awhile on this large vs. small issue, but I can’t after the comment made by John Edwards that “a lot of the smaller credit unions try to perpetuate” the notion that small credit unions are the backbone of the movement. You see, I was pretty active when H.R.1151 went through and many of the large credit unions were touting the small credit unions as the backbone of the industry notion. The reality here is that the members are the backbone of the credit union industry. A large credit union or a small credit union is nothing without the members. I don’t care what size a credit union is, if they don’t take care of the members they don’t survive. The movement needs to get over the large vs. small issue. In most cases, that is the case since the large credit unions spend a lot of money and time helping small credit unions become larger credit unions. But for some, there seems to be a desire to keep this big vs. small issue alive. Let it go!!! We are all in this together. We will not survive if we don’t change our thinking and begin working together to make sure everyone gets to take care of their members’ needs. And what about the folks who are not members at all? Are we working together to educate all consumers about their opportunities to join any credit union? It’s time we get after all those folks who don’t even know what a credit union is and believe me, there are more of those folks than you think. Pat Wagner President/CEO New World FCU Lafayette, Calif.