After five years on the drawing boards, the Oklahoma Credit Union League finally has its Credit Union House and spanking new $2.2 million Oklahoma City headquarters.

Opening day ceremonies, with top Oklahoma politicos including the state's governor and/or lieutenant governor taking part in speech-making, were being held today in the newly constructed facility, within earshot of the Oklahoma capitol building.

"We're just excited about our dream coming true," said Debra Morrow president/CEO of the league, which over the years struggled against site problems along with a scaled down organization to arrive at the opening day milestone.

Since first announcing plans for CU House, patterned after the D.C. version, league leaders agreed primarily for economic and lobbying reasons to relocate its offices from Tulsa to Oklahoma City.

In the process, the Oklahoma league a year ago adopted a management pact with the Texas Credit Union League by which that group handles numerous services including training, human relations and accounting. Through attrition and since some employees did not want to move to Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma League also sharply reduced its staff from 24 down to 10.

"Let me tell you our Credit Union House is a showcase facility," said Morrow noting the one-story building contains the latest in high tech video equipment and meeting space suitable for large gatherings of legislators or industry groups.