RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – David L. Chatfield announced hisretirement as CEO of the California Credit Union League earlierthis year. “I would expect by January 1, give or take a couple ofdays, an announcement will be made,” said Diana Dykstra, chairmanof the league's search committee, regarding a new CEO announcement.Dykstra said she was pleased with the caliber of applicants thatapplied for the position, saying, “we had a large pool to choosefrom, and we had plenty of opportunity to interview individuals.”Dykstra said the committee isn't looking to find a clone ofChatfield, but rather someone who can grow with the position andchange with the industry. So what are qualities the committee islooking for? “It's really the innovation, the vision, the energy,and the passion of his leadership that we're looking to replace,”Dykstra said, adding Chatfield's ability to build teams and developa sense of cooperation are also important. While Chatfield has madea name for himself in the legislative arena, Dykstra said she feelthat quality isn't the most crucial one required of hisreplacement, even in the midst of current banker attacks in stateand national legislative arenas. Back in April 2005, Chatfieldannounced a retirement date of April 1, 2006. Organizational headsdon't ordinarily give a full year to find a replacement; however,Chatfield is no ordinary organizational head. He is, after all, theleader of the largest credit union trade organization in thecountry, and his leadership positions on the NCUA Board, FileneResearch Institute and World Council of Credit Unions have broughtadditional prestige to the League. Chatfield, however, said theLeague should fare just fine after his departure. “Everyorganization can benefit from a fresh approach. I'm not sayingthere's anything wrong with the direction we've set; in fact, muchof what we've done, the League will continue to do after I'm gone.But someone of the stature they have in mind to replace me willhave new things in mind, and I think they'll find somebody wellqualified to provide some great new ideas.” After the new CEO isnamed in January, he or she will begin work around March 1, 2006,which will allow for a month of training with Chatfield before hisretirement.