WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – 2004 was an exhilarating year to be covering credit unions. Credit Union Times had no shortage of intriguing news stories to help fill its 3,000-plus published pages. From the same old same old with the bankers to new evolving stories like Check 21, 2004 was never dull. Topping the list on Credit Union Times' Top 10 is the plethora of high-profile industry leadership changes, including Dennis Dollar's chairmanship ending at NCUA, Mike Kitchen's sudden resignation from CUNA Mutual, Brian McDonnell's retirement from the world's largest CU, and others. That's followed by the dramatic failed bank conversion attempt by Columbia Credit Union. Relive the highlights of these stories and 2004 in the special Year in Review coverage on pages 20-43. 1. Plethora of high-profile CU leadership changes. 2. Failed bank conversion attempt at Columbia Credit Union. 3. Continued banker attacks, with Utah again the lightning rod. 4. Strong congressional support for tax-exemption and the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act. 5. Capital developments (GAO report on secondary capital, NCUA proposal on capital changes). 6. Check 21 mania, warranted or unwarranted? 7. Labor dispute at CUNA Mutual gets ugly. 8. Credit unions get serious about serving businesses. 9. Evolving landscape of credit/debit cards and ATM networks. 10. Failed mergers: Portland Teachers CU/Oregon Community CU and North Dakota League and South Dakota League merger deals fizzle out.