Ladies and Gentlemen: It's time to get our collective selves, our staffs, and our members behind Wescom Credit Union's "On The Mark" initiative to bring credit cards back to credit unions! I believe, and I sincerely hope you'll join me in this belief . that Darren Williams and the Wescom team are taking the much-needed step to bring this valuable core member service back to where it truly belongs! It's incumbent upon us . the leaders of the credit union industry, to throw our full weight (in my case, that's considerable given my waistline!), and whatever support you can possibly give, into making sure this venture becomes a reality! Our members deserve nothing less!! I know that many of us have sold our credit card portfolios in the past for a variety of sound business reasons. I too am one who has done this and am proud to say, as I'm sure many of you would, that the affinity relationship we developed was in the best interest of our members at the time. However, this fact has changed dramatically over the years, especially when you consider the recent acquisition of MBNA. The time is now to do all we can to make sure that our members have a true credit union option when it comes to this core product. Preserving the long-term interests of our members and the credit union industry by keeping all aspects of this business within the movement is what we should and, dare I say must get behind. By getting involved, by writing letters, by challenging . wherever, whenever, as often as you can . the ABA/CBA/et al's tired old reasons why credit unions can't be allowed to provide this core service has to be done. If we don't, what other core service will the banking associations try to come after next? We pride ourselves in our tradition of cooperative spirit and collective grassroots power to assure that our members, and the communities in which we work and live, have valuable financial service alternatives to better their lives. Wescom honors this tradition through proven partnerships with credit unions in a variety of ways with their Resources Group and their work with PSCU. Shouldn't we then honor, as Wescom does, this cooperative tradition by taking a stand with them? We owe it to our current and future members to do so and support initiatives that will ensure price and value benefits they most likely won't get anywhere else. You may ask why I'm asking for your help to support Wescom . especially when this strong competitor is right in my own back yard? Well, it's just as simple as this . It's the right thing to do for my members and for the credit union industry! If I pride myself on doing the right things for our members, every moment of every day, then I have to put any and all competitive feelings aside and do the right thing! This is right!! I hope you will all join me in supporting Darren and Wescom . no matter where you might be . no matter your field of membership . no matter your competitive concerns. If we don't, we just might as well send an engraved invitation to the banking associations to take more away from our movement and our members in the future! Thanks for listening and my sincere thanks for what I hope is your support! Edward H. Fox President/CEO Southland Credit Union Downey, Calif.