Mike Welch's Nov. 12th column, "Merger of CUNA and NAFCU Not Good Idea" is another excellent piece on the CUNA/NAFCU issue. If a merger between the two associations was ever going to happen, I agree, after Ken Robinson retired as president/CEO of NAFCU would have been the most opportune. But as a credit union CEO, I didn't want a merger to happen. First, I believe there is a sufficient difference in the mission of the two organizations that there needs to be two, separately focused leadership teams. And second, there needs to be competition-even between trade groups. An example: Dan Mica makes three times what Fred Becker makes. The astronomical nature of Mica's salary (at least it appeared that way to me) and the reasonableness of Becker's made me think, "fiscal responsibility." When you have a competitor/comparison to benchmark against, I believe it is valuable for all concerned. And NAFCU is more responsive. I have received a personal response to every e-mail or call I have put in to Becker. I have not received the same level of attention from CUNA. Okay, enough of my rantings. Thanks for Credit Union Times' continued commitment for excellence in keeping the credit union world informed-and thinking. George Scheeler Former Credit Union President/CEO Edgewood, Md.