Uncertainty reigns in Washington DC about the future of federal government agencies and their traditional roles versus the public.
CDFI grants are threatened; minority (democratic) board members of the FTC are fired; agency personnel are asked to submit weekly updates to DOGE on their work. Credit union taxation is on some agendas. NCUA board members spar over OD fees, versus uniting to support the agency’s mission to serve credit unions.
As the political and constitutional events evolve, the outcome will depend on political power. For credit unions, this is the voting and lobbying efforts of their members. Every industry “walks the hill.” Every paid lobbying group makes PAC donations.
But few groups would claim the potential clout of member-owners acting to protect their democratic institutions.
All Politics Is Local
Despite the news from Washington, all voting is done locally.
However, this member constituent power is latent. Asking for action requires informed awakening and clear messaging.
An immediate way to activate this process is to engage the members at the annual meeting. That is where their attention as owners and their role in governance is exercised.
The required annual baord election is the opportunity to affirm their potential political role by making this a real meeting, not a pro forma event. It starts, as shown in the example below, by showing how their board members are nominated and then voted on as part of the meeting.
The Chair and CEO’s reports should illustrate their credit union’s special role in members’ lives and in their communities. When presenting threats to the cooperative model, the members will know what is at stake. Finally, specific actions they may be called upon to support their member-owned financial cooperatives should be discussed and feedback sought.
Activating Member Empowerment at the Annual Meeting
Here is the lead story in the March 13, 2025 email to members by O BEE credit union.
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Apply for Our Board! |
| As an O Bee Member, you’re already part of an award-winning credit union dedicated to delivering gold-standard service to our Members. If you appreciate our mission and want to get more involved in helping families and communities achieve financial well-being, we invite you to join us as an Associate Board Member.
This volunteer position receives training on board responsibilities, credit union policies and industry regulations. Associate Board Members provide input on policies and help set the strategic direction of the organization. Typically, Associate Board Members have time to gain hands-on experience with the work and responsibilities before they are invited to join the Board as voting directors. We hope to fill two to three positions and encourage any Member who is interested to apply. Your voice and passion can make a difference! |
Transparency and Trust
The link at the end of the article lists the duties of the board, includes an application to be a nominee, and details of the board’s compensation.
Transparency is vital to a credible election process. This strengthens members’ awareness of their governance role. When the credit union then asks them to a act as citizens in a democracy, you have already “walked the talk.” They can trust that you have their best interets in mind.