ODESSA, Texas -- A strong turn out from employees of the $115million First Basin Credit Union and their families and friendsenabled the CU to retain three board members who could have beenreplaced by candidates supported by members displeased with thecredit union's attempt to convert to a mutual bank, according tolocal press accounts and members who attended the meeting.

The credit union declined to identify the board members whocould have been replaced until the meeting began and, in the end,revealed that CEO Shem Culpepper, Board Chairman Annette Snowdenand board member Julian Beseril would stand for reelection.

According to local media accounts, which members agreed with,roughly 500 people attended the meeting and 414 voted. Of those414, each of three incumbents received more than 300 votes.

Danny Armstrong, one of the candidates from Save First Basin whois the husband of a vice president at another CU in the area,reported that many of the members were very surprised to discoverthat Shem Culpepper was on the board.

"We arrived expecting to vote on three board positions from aseven member board, with the other four sitting out because thiswas not their year," Armstrong explained. "I was floored when Ifound out that Culpepper is on the board. It turns out there wereeight board members after all."