Members of the roughly 70,000-member, $1.6 billion Technology Credit Union who oppose the credit union's proposedshift to a mutual bank charter will rally in front of the creditunion's San Jose, Calif., headquarters today.

The rally, which is scheduled at 11 a.m. PDT will besupplemented by a phone campaign through which members who alsooppose the charter change will call the credit union to expresstheir opposition, organizers said.

Event organizers have a permit for the rally in front of theheadquarters and another for an additional possible rally onThursday in front of one of the branches.

“It's easy to see how this could be the first in a long line ofdominos if this proposal succeeds,” says Carlos Rodriguez, a Tech CU member and event organizer. “TechCU is a healthy credit union that's doing well. There is no need toconvert to a bank or no real benefit to members except for thesmall few who will profit.”

Robert Marinace, a member since 1978, adds: “If I wanted to bepart of a bank, I would go to a bank.”

Other credit union members have voiced their opposition onFacebook and on a website launched in opposition.

One member, for example, said his father was the first CEO ofthe credit union when it was Technology Federal Credit Union.Daniel Maydeck said he was shocked when he learned of the proposaland how it would go against why the credit union was formed in thefirst place.

Credit union members will vote on the conversion beginning thisweek. A special meeting of the members has been called for Sept. 12where members also can vote in person.