Your reporter David Morrison prepared several high-quality articles on the Del Norte Credit Union situation. (See CU Times, May 21, 2008, page 1.)
I would like to point out that Del Norte Credit Union's home page (www.dncu.org) now features a colorful link labeled "New Member Policy." It actually links to a member expulsion policy, which is probably the harshest policy I've ever seen at a credit union.
If this draconian member expulsion policy is becoming the trend among America's credit unions, why doesn't the industry cease and desist claiming to be "member owned" and "democratically controlled"? In civil society, the right to citizenship is considered something which cannot be arbitrarily taken from an individual without a very thorough due process of law.
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Credit unions should not have it both ways on this issue: If you want tax-exempt 501(c)(1) or 501(c)(14) status, you must regard credit union membership as similar to citizenship, a legal status which cannot be summarily terminated on the whim of the current administration. If you want to call yourself a credit union, you should not be allowed to arbitrarily cancel a member-owner's right to vote.
Credit unions must meet or exceed the standards of good public citizens and not deprive their member-owners of their citizenship rights as credit union member-owners without legitimate due process of law.
Ronald Bensley Jr.
Research Analyst
Credit Union Research Services
Seatac, Wash.
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