From The Field....

"We are making strives."

(Kinda like that idea...)

Little Pink Houses.....

"Ain't that America....??"

"Wanted to mention as a side note that John Mellencamp was here in concert last week.  Attended, but they played so loudly that it completed my dissent into deafness."
("From The Field")

An Interesting "Spin Cycle" at the Laundromatz...

NASCUS is the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors. A distinguished association of all the credit union state regulators from around the Country.  NASCUS held its annual meeting and conference - The NASCUS Summit - in Denver last week.

One of the featured speakers at the Convention was Chairman Debbie Matz  from the NCUA.  Chairman Matz in her talk provided an update on the economy, federal legislative initiatives, pending regulation, and NCUA's perspective of the future challenges confronting the credit union movement.

After the presentation, as previously promised, Ms. Matz opened the floor for questions from the audience.  NASCUS had been alerted several weeks in advance that there would be questions from the folks from North Carolina about the unjustified action by NCUA to preempt the NC regulator and to penalize NC state-chartered CU's with unnecessary, duplicate federal exams.  NASCUS had appropriately advised NCUA to expect the questions and Ms. Matz had been "prepped" in anticipation of the dialogue.

Jack Braswell, CEO of Members' CU in Winston-Salem, N.C., is the NASCUS state representative for N.C. He asked Ms. Matz if she had received a recent letter from John Radebaugh, CEO of the NC Credit Union League, providing detailed information on the dispute and encouraging the state and federal regulators to meet to resolve the disagreement. Chairman Matz acknowledged that she and the other NCUA Board members had in fact received the letter and information.  

Mr. Braswell then inquired if Ms. Matz intended to provide a written reply to the N.C. League as requested. Ms. Matz indicated that she believed she had replied.  When Mr. Braswell questioned that response, Ms. Matz looked to her Chief of Staff Steve Bosack, who indicated that a written response had not been forwarded to the N.C. League.  Ms. Matz stated that in any event she had said all she intended to say about the matter and that no further response would be forthcoming.

At which point the following exchange with Ms. Matz ensued. The "discussion" was fortunately recorded by a representative of the N.C. Credit Union League. The tone was courteous and polite.  What follows is a complete, direct and verbatim transcription ....

Ain't Grandma Grand...

"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be."

- Anna Mary Robertson Moses

(Grandma Moses)

(Ms. Moses also said: "If I hadn't taken up painting [at age 76!], I would have raised chickens." ... definitely my kind of lady!!!)

Charter Conversions..... Members Fear "New Look" ??

"Our members have voted [77% against !!] and overwhelmingly indicated their preference to remain a credit union."

- Technology Credit Union

San Jose, California
September 2012

Bet the deciding factor was....

Pearl...

"I've always tried to err on the side of excess."

( Yep, me too... )

From The Field...

"We have vamped up our mortgage advertisements and are hoping to increase the members' interest."

(Well, at least the interest of the men-bers anyway ....)

Region III......

Pinnochioan Leadership....
... afire with integrity.

Virtues Of Democracy....

"No government is perfect.  One of the chief virtues of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected."

              - President Harry S. Truman

Yes ! Just "point and....

Going Backwards....?

"You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backward."

- James Thurber

(These days looks like a Credit Union limbo in DC...)

Pearl...

"I don't care what is written about me so long as it isn't true."

- Dorothy Parker

From The Field...

"June just flew by and it looks like the rest of the Summer will be following suite."

 "... suite Summer sweat, ..." - at the Hotel California ? (The Eagles, 1977)

Political Precedence....

The answer to the problem then in D.C. ....

Watergate !
("I did not lie.")

Now...

NCUA.... An Appealing Idea?

"Regulation:  The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy."

- H.L. Mencken

You can always appeal...

The NCUA Overrules The Law of N.C. ....

"Sentence first - verdict later!"

"The Queen turned crimson with fury, and after glaring at Alice for a moment like a wild beast, began screaming:

 "Off with her head!  Off with her head!"

(...there are 48 state-chartered "Alices" in North Carolina!!)

David Letterman's Top 10 List Of Questions you should ask NCUA's Herr Yolles.......

Here's Dave....!!

 Understand there is a good old case of playground bullying going on with my friends down in North Carolina.  Seems like they are having to put up with a gang of Mike Tyson wannabees who are biting off ears and punching below the belt...well below, just barely above the socks actually.  Well our writers for the show sure do appreciate all the free material, because you really can't make this stuff up - its too absurd!  So, for those folks in the Tarheel State who are just trying to run a good old-fashioned Credit Union....Here is the list of the Top 10 Questions you should ask 'da "Regionator" about his illogical logic: 

1. Why are you picking on folks you say are completely innocent?
2. Is it illegal for a State to publish an independent "state issued" rating?
3. Understand that you have admitted that your undemocratically made-up "rules" do not overrule the N.C. State Legislature - is that true?
4. Appears that you cite the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) which you now confess does not apply to independent state reports - is that true?
5. Assume you know that at one time folks "universally' believed that the World was flat - do you still believe that's true?
6. How did you attempt to "resolve" this situation - when, how, and with whom? Would you please send documentation of your efforts?
7. What other "alternatives" did you consider to "resolve" all this?  Can you list your options?  Why was this draconian penalizing of the innocent your "only alternative"?  How did you make that decision?
8. Do you actually think this letter has helped average folks "understand" your action?  Really?  Really?
9. Glad you have so readily volunteered to openly and publicly discuss your motives and rationale in taking this action - when may we expect to hear from you?  ...AND #10 !!!!
10. Is everything in your letter "slanted" - or is it just your signature?

... when are you available to come on the Show ?

Got quite a large, national audience who certainly want to hear us chat!!! 

Wall Street Rules...Part 4

Q: If it walks like a...... 

and talks like a...    

                        ...and acts like a...      

Then it must be a...

Wall Street Rules...Part 3

Q:  What do you get when you cross the ABA (gotta luv it Keith Leggett!) with a duck?

Wall Street Rules...Part 2

Q:  What do b@#kers like best about community service?

Pearl...

"Don't compromise yourself.  You are all you've got."

- Janis Joplin

(Might try giving a "little piece of ya heart " too...)

From The Field...

" Just when I thought I was finally operating with a full staff, my peak-time teller went off and broke her angle..."

(Okay, that's probably all I need to know about that...)

Wall Sreet Rules...Part 1

Q:  What should you do if your b@#ker asks if he can help you?

Tonight's The Night....!!!

The real democratic process at work...

...government "of the people, by the people, for the people"!
(which should include government agencies, don't you think Mr. President?)

Sweet Baby James....

"Oh, I've seen fire and...."

Fire and Reign !!

BTD....(Biblical Transfer Day)

"21Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too.  Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied.  22Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Secu."

                               1 Samuel 19:21-22

                 (New International Version -1984)

(It's Biblical! Repent!! ...and come on over...)

Since "They" Refuse To Talk To NC State Charters...

"Listening" evidently has a limited, "somewhat pouty" definition on Duke Street...

So, guess we need to try another direction...

Welcome to the "Queen City"
  Charlotte, North Carolina  !!!

And the....

Apples and Oranges

Comparing a b#!k to a credit union is as silly as comparing an apple to an...

Credit unions are uniquely different!!!

If you're one of those cynics who think "nothing is unique",
 then name one word in the English language which rhymes with orange...

(Don't rush I'll wait....)

Pearl....

"Time flies like an arrow.  Fruit flies like a banana."

           - Groucho Marx

From The Field....

"Big news in a small N.C. town - we have a new choice in restaurants with the opening of Chic Fila!"

(Very fashionable dining, I'm sure...)