Chip Filson Blog

Blog
Cooperative design is unique. It provides singular focus on the member value. It’s that member relationship that is the foundation of credit union sustainability. And enhancing member participation in credit unions is vital to maintaining a distinct cooperative choice for consumers. This blog shares my passion and observations about cooperatives’ roles for consumers in the American economy. I highlight the responsibility of all participants in the credit union system to enhance the ever-expanding legacy of our common wealth paid forward for future generations. Now, as just a member, these comments are fueled by the gratitude, compassion, and vigor of all the compatriots who have journeyed with me over the past four decades. Source

Actions

Share this page

Media Outlet details

Scope Trade/B2B
Language English
Country United States of America
Similarweb UVMSimilarweb UVM Request pricing
Comscore UVMComscore UVM Request pricing

Recent Articles

Search

Let Us Live to Make All Free

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
This is a closing post  tracing the impact of America’s revolution on our political and moral priorities today. The focus is on freedom in  its many meanings in America and around the world. The Battle Hym of the Republic is sung at virtually all patriotic celebrations. The text was by abolitionist and suffragist Julia Ward Howe.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

July 4, 2026: Credit Unions and America’s 250th-Ideals and Contradictions

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
America’s Declaration of Independence opens with words that  inspired a new era of world wide democratic political revolutions. No more rule based on divine right, inherited position or pure force. The words: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Freedom and Credit Unions as America Celebrates Her 250th

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
One of America’s founding ideals is captured in this poem with its familiar and oft-quoted  final lines from her “silent lips:.” The New Colossus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Credit Unions and America’s 250th Annivesary

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
As we head to this Saturday’s national celebration, this week’s posts  put credit unions’ role in the context of the country’s ongoing pursuit of “life, liberty and happiness.” The country’s fulfillment of its ideals has not been a straight line for either individuals or our collective accomplishments. Independence and interdependence in our common life often seem at cross purpose.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Credit Unions & America’s 250th Celebration-History Matters

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
Today credit union  momentum for the 250th birthday of America was interrupted by a Supreme court decision. The 6  – 3 conservative majority ruled  the President had authority to fire members of independent agency boards established by Congress to be partially shielded from total Presidential control. The decision overturned almost 100 years of precedent. It means Trump’s firing of NCUA board mebers Harper and Otsuka will  be upheld by lower courts where the case is on hold.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Credit Unions Learning from America’s 250 Celebration

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
This week ends with the 250th July 4th national birthday celebration. It is a moment of community consequence for a country founded on ideals and a vision begun  with the words all men are created. . . Our implementation of this founding declaration has been uneven. Even with ever increasing economic prosperity that leads the world. So this milestone celebration creates ambivalent feelings for many who believe our vision is falling short in critical areas of our national life together.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

The Limits of Virtual Meetings and Relationships

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
One of the vital initiatives  Ed Callahan took as Chairman of NCUA was to take the monthly public board meetings “on the road.”  Over a period of two and half years, public  board meetings wewre held in all six regions. Often in locations that coincided with already planned league or national conferences. For example the July 1982 board meeting was held in Chicago  at the same time as NAFCU’s annual meeting. That was the same weekend that the Penn Square bank failure occurred.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Kyle Haumptman’s Final Call as a One-person NCUA Board

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
If Senate hearings proceed as planned and Trump’s nominee for the next NCUA chair is approved, Thursday’s board meeting will be Hauptman’s final time as NCUA’s solo leader. As he departs,  NCUA situation is like a suitcase without a handle, or wheels. The agency is being led by a single person, not the prescribed board. Its operataing capacity has been reduced by a DOGE induced, staff designed elimination of 20% of its workforce.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

A Different COOP Growth Mode or The Real Thing?

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
In  the CEO’s words:  At Good Neighbors we do not have a “growth” strategy; we have a “strength” strategy. Which is to say that we are not looking to increase members by numbers but instead are trying to grow members intentionally by focusing on those who are philosophy/mission aligned and who want to participate as owners. This is because we no longer have exclusively our closed SEG group and are instead tasked with building our own common bond.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Do Plants Have Feelings?

|
By Chip Filson
| Chip Filson Blog
At a recent reunion a colleague told a story of his granddaughter’s college interview. The panel was professors and tutors from the college. Her area of study was liberal arts not science. How might you or your grandchild have answered? She paused  for a time, then said: ” I don’t know the answer. But here is how I would  test to determine what might be the situation.” She was admitted to the college. Many personal decisions and  business options do not have factually provable answers.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?