WASHINGTON — Callahan & Associates Chairman Chip Filson launched apublic campaign Monday to change the process by which NCUA Boardmembers are nominated,and realign the NCUA's strategies with cooperativeprinciples.

Filson made the announcement during a standing-room-only pressevent during the opening morning of CUNA's Governmental AffairsConference in Washington.

Filson's campaign, which leverages the White House'spetition program, aims to influence the ObamaAdministration into making the NCUA Board appointment processpublic. If the petition receives more than 100,000 signatures in 30days, the administration is required to respond.

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Filson, a Republican, also tossed his own hat into the ringMonday, publicly announcing his desire to serve on the NCUA Board.The board currently has one open position, left vacant whenDemocrat Gigi Hyland resigned in October 2012 after serving past her term's August2011 expiration.

The NCUA Board will require a second appointment this summer toreplace Board Member Michael Fryzel, a Republican, when his termexpires in August. The NCUA must have members from both politicalparties; Chairman Debbie Matz is a Democrat.

To achieve the 100,000 signature threshold, Filson toldCredit Union Times he will ask credit unions to share thegrassroots effort with staff and credit union members.

“The beauty of the petition is that it gives everyone, allstakeholders, a chance to participate in the process,” he said.

A public campaign reverses the current nomination process, inwhich the White House appoints board members after a closed-doorvetting. Changing the process, Filson said, is the first effort inaligning the board selection process with cooperativeprinciples.

“Cooperatives work because they are citizens stepping forward.While some might say reform is the responsibility of Congress, theadministration or a presidential appointee, it's critical to alwayskeep in mind that 'we the people' are the government,” hesaid. “Volunteers stepping forward created every facet of oursystem – credit unions, the leagues and trade associations, andmost of our service providers. It follows that the design of creditunions for the next 100 years should include a regulatory body inwhich credit union members, volunteers and professionals have apublic voice.”

Despite his desire to serve on the NCUA Board, Filson said theinitiative isn't about him. Even if his petition fails to attract100,000 signatures, Filson said he will continue to issuestatements and promote his cooperative NCUA vision.

“There's no point in having this open petition process ifeverybody continues to (appoint board members) the old fashionedway,” he said. “If others aspire to leadership at the NCUA, theyshould publicly say so. In that way, we could already change theexpectations people have about how responsive the NCUA couldbe.”