This year’s election cycle is focused on the question of what American democracy means. Some believe it is about majority rule – the winner takes all. Others have a more nuanced view of participation, diverse representation and a willingness to compromise.
One way American citizens learn democratic practice is by seeing it applied in the many civic and public organizations in which we all participate: in churches, in local elections, and in volunteer and nonprofit groups.
Credit unions are designed for democratic governance. One person, one vote. This process is implemented primarily at the annual meeting of members and during elections for board positions.
Practice without substance
In conversation yesterday, a longtime member of a credit union (he joined in 1966 at age 5) said he had never experienced an actual election. Instead, he learned, the chairman would appoint a nominating committee headed by the vice chairman. That committee would select only as many people as there were vacancies. The candidates were all familiar faces from the existing board or “associate board members.” The test was loyalty – would they “go along to get along with the rest of the board.” The tenures of several of these board members spanned three and four decades.
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