Blaine Seeking to Raise Consciousness Through Post Cards

ARLINGTON, Va. – Just as the potential conflict between NCUA and Community reared its head last week, executives at large credit unions, credit union trade associations and the trade press began to receive post cards about the issue. The cards had the familiar red, white and blue "Don't Mess With Texas" on the front and on the back continued the message with ".nor our credit unions." "Conversion is a bum steer for credit union members," the cards read. "Stop the rustlers! We need your vocal and financial support." Most oddly, the postcards were postmarked from the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, D.C and even though they carried the name and address of the Coalition for Member Trust on them, the members group denied any knowledge of them. But after items began appearing about the cards, Jim Blaine, CEO of the $13 billion State Employees' Credit Union, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, stepped up and admitted he had sent them as the first wave of what he called a "consciousness raising" effort. "I chose to mail the postcards from Washington because I really believe this needs to be a national issue and a nationwide discussion," said Blaine, who described the postcards as the first wave of a "consciousness raising" effort on the issue. "Yes, what is happening in Texas is important as a Texas issue but frankly the issue is bigger that just what happens with these two credit unions," Blaine said, referring to the $1.4 billion Community Credit Union and $1.2 billion OmniAmerican Credit Union. Both Dallas area based credit unions have filed applications to change their charters to those of mutual banks. "We really need to have a nationwide conversation about whether changing from a credit union to a mutual bank charter is ever good for a credit unions members," Blaine said, "but the problem is too many folks are laying low. I wish Gary [Base - CEO of Community] would come out and make his best case so we could have an open and frank discussion." Blaine also suggested that it might be appropriate for either CUNA or NAFCU or both to organize debates around the question between some of the former credit union executives turned bankers that advise the Coalition for Credit Union Charter Options and people who believe credit union members are best served by credit unions. "We need to get people talking about the big picture questions in this," Blaine said. -