My very best wishes to Mike Welch as he moves on to yet another chapter in and beyond his illustrious career as a credit union leader, publisher, and yes even as a mentor to those of us who read all of your 794 columns. As a retired credit union volunteer with over 50 years of service to the credit union movement and a retired educator with over 45 years in the classroom and one who has known Mike for over 20 years, I can unequivocally state that what I learned and absorbed from your columns and publication outweighed anything I could have obtained in a classroom or a textbook when it came to credit issues and concerns. For all of this I am most appreciative. When I served as a credit union volunteer and member of both the CUES Directors Forum and NAFCU Board, I may not have always agreed with what Mike wrote but I did respect him "telling it like it is" from his perspective be it CEO, director, trade association, or credit union issues. I along with many, many other people say, "thank you Mike for all you have done to foster the credit union spirit." You should take much pride in your accomplishments just as surely as I take much pride in knowing you. Enjoy your new third career and have a wonderful life. Frank De Mita Nassau Educators FCU, Chairman Emeritus NAFCU, Board Emeritus