HIGHTSTOWN, N.J. - Bob Walls may be the new kid on the block atthe New Jersey Credit Union League, but the former president/CEO ofthe Delaware Credit Union League is wasting no time setting hispriorities and getting to work on them. At press time, the 57-yearold Walls had occupied the corner office at the New Jersey Leaguefor a little more than a week - he took over the reins ofleadership July 25 from League VP Mary Lee Kleinkauf who served asinterim president/CEO since October 2004 following the League'sunanimous decision to terminate then president/CEO ThomasShaughnessy. A native of Delaware who has lived in the state mostof his life, Walls was still in the process of finding a place tolive in New Jersey. For now he spends the weekdays in New Jerseyand is staying in a motel near the League offices. On the weekendshe makes the two-hour drive back to his home just outside Dover,Del. Walls considers his acceptance of the position at the NewJersey Credit Union League part of his professional journey."Anytime opportunities open up, we consider our options and have toask ourselves do we really want to make the move." This is actuallyWalls' second "big" career move. Before working at the DelawareLeague, he was a Delaware state trooper for 21 and a half years.But Walls was well acquainted with credit unions since his fatherhelped start Delaware State Police FCU in 1960. Walls spent almost20 years as a volunteer for the CU including serving 13 years onthe board, the last five of which he was chairman. "So I bringsomething unique to this position (at the New Jersey Credit UnionLeague), both credit union and trade association experience," Wallssays. Although the New Jersey League has more than seven times thenumber of affiliated credit unions than the Delaware League - 245versus 35, respectively - Walls doesn't consider that a problem. "Aleague is a league. I'm fortunate I have more resources and staffhere to deal with the many issues credit unions are faced with suchas the banker attacks and CURIA," he says. He also doesn't considerit a problem that he's the third president NJCUL has had in threeyears - before appointing Shaughnessy to the position in 2003, theLeague Board decided not to renew the contract for itsthen-president Russell Clarke. "I'm my own person and I bring acertain skill set to the job, a sense of purpose," Walls saysconfidently. "I've worked with credit union trade associations for13 years, and I enjoy working with credit unions. I want to proveto all credit unions the value proposition of belonging to theLeague," he adds. The New Jersey League has a 75% affiliation rateof credit unions in the state. Walls wants to see that number goup, and he's confident that "as a group we can address theaffiliation issue. Any time you have an organization that'sdependent on membership, you want to make sure you meet the needsof all the members. Credit unions of different asset size need tobelong to the League for different reasons, but the message wedeliver to all credit unions has to be the same. Everyone needs tobe on the same page. If three out of four credit unions in NewJersey are members of the League, we have to find out from theother group what it is they'd like to see us do for them. They haveso much to offer." Walls stresses that he's not aware of any smallversus large credit union issues in New Jersey, and says a creditunion's decision whether to belong to the League is more of abusiness question than a size one. "It's difficult to be all thingsto all people, it's impossible to make everyone 100% happy. As atrade association there are some things we just can't do," he says.But Walls prefers to focus on what the League can do. One of thosethings is establishing a process so the League can betterunderstand the needs of credit unions in the state. One method hehas in mind to use is to have the American Association of CreditUnion Leagues (AACUL) do an analysis of the League to determine theareas it does well in, as well as those it needs to do more workin. Walls also wants NJCUL to establish a strong governmentalpresence both locally in Trenton, as well as in Washington, D.C.,and get credit unions and members involved in the passage of creditunion legislation such as CURIA. Walls says credit unions andmembers "need to get behind that bill and get New Jersey members ofCongress to sign on as co-sponsors." Walls also wants the NewJersey League to increase its involvement with strategic planning,education and training, and branching networks. He's a staunchdefender in the importance of credit union leagues in the schematicof the credit union industry. "They're where the rubber meets theroad. H.R. 1151 wouldn't have happened if the leagues weren'tinvolved in the process. If that ever happens again, credit unionswill need the backing of the leagues," he says. With shoring upcommunication with credit unions one of his priorities, Walls sayshe particularly wants to establish a dialogue with the differentcredit union asset groups in the state. His first opportunity to dothat will be by attending chapter meetings. "I need to talk withcredit unions and get a feel for how they'd like to see us meettheir needs. Information is what I need. We'll have to developdifferent methods for communicating with credit unions in NewJersey, including getting information from them and back to them."In addition to attending chapter meetings, Walls also plans to meetwith credit unions in the various districts as well as asset sizegroups. His first chapter meeting is scheduled for January, andhe's looking forward to attending a New Jersey Credit Union LeagueFoundation golf outing in September where he'll have the chance totalk with credit union leaders as well as play a few rounds ofgolf. "There are over 200 credit unions in New Jersey. I'd be onthe road every day if I tried to meet with all of them personally.My plan is to use the effective chapter system and meet with creditunions that way," says Walls. He adds that, "I plan to be as mobileas I can, but I also have obligations here. It's difficult tomanage a shop this size from the front seat of a car. I intend toprioritize the best I can and realize that priorities will change."Even so, Walls says he wants to talk face to face with as manycredit union people throughout New Jersey as he can "and reassurethem the League is moving forward. At the first League boardmeeting I attended, which coincided with my start date July 25, Imade the commitment we'd do the best we can to transform the NewJersey Credit Union League into the premier league in the country."[email protected]