With so many challenges facing credit unions in 2008, atAmerica's credit union leagues, we take an activist view. That is:We can't, and won't, sit still.

So, here are five broad areas on which the leagues, throughAACUL, will be active on behalf of credit unions in 2008. We atAACUL will be talking about all of these areas this week during ourannual meeting in Naples, Fla.

Advocating for credit unions in the state legislatures. Perhapsthe most important function of the leagues is to serve as creditunion advocates before state and local government — in particular,the state legislatures; 2008 offers no small number ofopportunities for doing just that. Already, leagues are gearing upfor state legislative sessions and pressing the credit unionmessage. In my own state of Virginia, for example, we areintroducing legislation to allow state and federal credit unions toaccept public deposits — and we are readying for a fight with thebanks as a result. In California, the league is preparing newlegislation to protect credit unions and their members from datasecurity breaches, such as that which occurred with the TJXcompanies in 2007. Undaunted by the governor's veto of similarlegislation last year, the league is getting “back up on the horse”to try again. That's the tenacity that typifies league action instanding up for their member credit unions. Meanwhile, leagues willcontinue to serve as the first line of defense for credit unionsagainst attacks in the state legislatures by banks and others, whoaim to constrict or weaken the credit union charter.