Conference 7.286::dcu

I have a couple of questions I'd like answers to.  Is the Annual
Meeting an appropriate place to ask?

1)  Mark Steinkrauss has repeatedly made the assertion that the NCUA
	has investigated the DCU and concluded that no board member
	was involved in any wrongdoing at the Credit Union.  However,
	an inquiry by a DCU member resulted in the reply from Richard
	S. Schulman, Trial Attorney for the NCUA, that no such
	investigation was conducted (see Note 403.0).

	To what was Mr. Steinkrauss referring?  Or am I misinterpreting
	Mr. Steinkrauss' statement?

	(Would Paul Kinzelman care to ask the question?)

2)  Why was the number of petition signatures required to call a Special
	Meeting increased at the meeting of the Board of Directors which
	immediately followed the Special Meeting?

    2a)	Did the members of the Board of Directors receive a written notice
	that a meeting would be held following the Special Meeting, and
	did that written notice contain a copy of any proposed amendments
	to the Bylaws?

	(This is perhaps a quibble - but, technically, if that were NOT
	the case, any amendments adopted at that Board meeting would be
	null and void [although it might take a lawsuit to force the
	issue].  I refer you to Article XXI of the DCU Bylaws.)

3)  Who paid the transportation costs for members of the Board of Directors
	to meet in California, Maine, and Bermuda?

				- - Steve

	I think that a lot depends upon the outcome of the election...

	But for starters:

	1) A motion to replace the chair with a specific individual.

	2) Rescission of the IPP.

	3) Discussion of offsite meetings, the need for them, and who
	pays for them.

	4) Discussion of the need for the change to the By-laws to
	require 5000 signatures to get a special meeting.

	5) Discussion of the costs involved with engaging legal 
	counsel based on the west coast. My understanding is that the
	legal folks who were present at the special meeting were from
	the west coast. I'd like this confirmed or denied, and if confirmed,
	a discussion of how much it cost the DCU to bring them here, and
	why a more local firm could not be used so as to avoid those
	costs.

						Tom_K

    Are these meetings run by Robert's Rules?

There are two issues here. First, .1 is mostly questions to be answered.

All these questions are useful to ask, but mostly of the current board.
Remember that there are only two incumbents, and everybody other than
the incumbents will have no information at the annual meeting because
(I assume) people will only be notified at the annual meeting who is
on the board.

In other words, if I am elected to the board, the annual
meeting may be when I find out, so I obviously won't be able
to answer any of those questions then. What you could do is bring up a list
of questions of things you'd like answered eventually by the new board and
make a motion that the membership would like answers to them.

All of your questions are reasonable and I would expect to answer them
publicly (to the members) if/when I find the answers to them (if I'm elected).

If I'm elected, I will give straight answers to questions (other than
ones that violate personal privacy of course).

The second thing has to do with specific issues.

I can say directly that I will rescind the IPP policy (what is still in place).

I will rescind most if not all of the bylaw changes of the past 6 months and
add in something concerning membership approval of bylaw changes.

I will direct that all consulting services be local to the Boston area - Tom,
you are correct according to what I know. Mr Melchione (who was present at
the special meeting) is based in California according to his mailing address.
If this is still true, there's no reason to pay for shuttling a lawyer back
and forth on top of his normal legal fees.

I will look closely at reducing overhead costs. One of the things
highlighted by that IDC credit union report was that in their opinion, DCU
has high overhead. Shuttling a lawyer back and forth (if that's true) would
certainly contribute toward that high cost.

    .4> All these questions are useful to ask, but mostly of the current
    .4> board. Remember that there are only two incumbents, and everybody
    .4> other than the incumbents will have no information at the annual
    .4> meeting because (I assume) people will only be notified at the
    .4> annual meeting who is on the board.
    
    I believe that in the last revision of the by-laws, the agenda
    was changed so that the report on the election came before old & new
    business instead of after. I'm not sure if the new board is in effect
    immediately. The by-laws mention that the new board needs to meet
    shortly and choose its officers.

	We are aware of two cases in which DCU employees violated 	
	DCU election guidelines by directly participating in the 
	BoD election other than by voting.

		1) Chuck Cockburn served on the Nominating committee.
		   Mr Cockburn is a DCU employee. How was Mr Cockburn
		   disciplined?

		2) We are aware of several cases where DCU employees
		   distributed literature on behalf of candidates, and/or
		   solicited other DCU employees to do so. How were these
		   employees disciplined?


				Tom_K

    
    
    
    It really doesn't matter that much. They can change the bylaws tomorrow
    to allow DCU employees to participate in the election process. Don't
    you guys get it yet??
    
    

>    It really doesn't matter that much. They can change the bylaws tomorrow
>    to allow DCU employees to participate in the election process. Don't
>    you guys get it yet??

Yes they can.  However, if the action was contrary to the bylaws at the
time it occurred, then it should remain a violation regardless of what
changes are made to the bylaws later.  (Unless some explicit verbage is
included to make the change retroactive.

	Paul

    I don't believe you can make bylaw changes effective retroactively. 
    This would open up a world of trouble if it were possible (just think
    if the meeting article were made retroactive!).

    
    Who's going to enforce the bylaws?? the NCUA?? 
    
    

    
    Nisreen is right.  DCU knows that nobody is going to enforce anything
    thus the blatant disregard we are witnessing.  The NCUA is a paper pussy 
    cat.  They are also *funded* by the credit unions they 'regulate'.  It
    is wise to remember all this when they are held out again as having
    investigated anything.
    
    It is *our* job to hold DCU, its Board, and senior management accountable
    for their actions.  This is, after all, what much of this is all about.
    A Board which can meet where it wants, 'invest' our money however they
    wish, a senior management team who does not hesitate to place DCU
    employees right in the middle of this.  DCU is a credit union out of
    control.  Who's at the wheel?

        DCU's annual meeting will be held on April 23, 1992 at 
        3:00 p.m. at the Maynard Rod & Gun Club, Old Mill Road, 
        Maynard, MA. 

	Directions to the Maynard Rod and Gun Club:
    
	FROM NORTH OF RT 2 and 495: Take Rt 2 exit east, then Rt 27 south
	to Maynard.
	When you come to a very messy intersection with light in Maynard
	(police station on your right), turn left to continue on
	Rt 27 - you are also now on Rt 62.
	There's a McDonald's on the right there. GOTO "A".

	FROM SOUTH OF RT 117 and 495: Take Rt 117 exit east (Rt 62 will turn
	onto your road at the light in Stow). Go straight thru the light
	at Stow and follow Rt 62 to Maynard (Rt 117 will branch off to the
	right as you approach Maynard). Continue on Rt 62 thru Maynard and
	you'll come to where Rt 27 turns onto your road from the left.
	McDonald's is on your right. GOTO "A".

	FROM RT 128: Take Rt 2 west. Turn left on Rt 62 south (just past
	Emerson (Concord) Hospital). Follow Rt 62 toward Maynard until you
	get to a light with a Getty Gas on your left. Rt 62 turns right,
	Rt 27 is straight, you want to go left onto Waltham St). GOTO "B".

"A":	About 100 yds from there, you'll come to another light where
	Rt 62 turns left (Powdermill Rd) and Rt 27 (Parker St.) turns right.
	You want to go straight (Waltham St). GOTO "B".

"B":	After about 2/10's mile you'll pass Mei Ling's Restaurant.
	Then on the left, you'll pass
	Winthrop Av, Waldon, Av, Wood Lane, First St, Second St, Third St.
	The next street on the left is OLD MILL St and
	there's a small dark orange sign on a tree about 20 feet up that
	says "Maynard Rod and Gun Club". Turn left into there and follow
	it back to the club.

    

Thanks for the directions, Bill!

One has to wonder about why they are having this meeting
at a "3rd party" location with seating available for only
200 people, when there are lots of cafeterias, auditoriums,
and large meeting facilities all over the corporation
at many different sites.  I'll bet DEC could get 'em a room
just as cheap, located somewhere that everybody already
knows.  No conspiracy theories here, just seems kinda silly
to me.

./chris

Re .13

Not all DCU members are DEC employees.

    RE: .13
    
    >One has to wonder about why they are having this meeting at a "3rd
    >party" location ... I'll bet DEC could get 'em a room ...
    
    But, the credit union is completely separate from DEC, is it not?
    

    ...it's a corporate 'benefit'. John Sims told you so.
                                       Denny

    
    Thats right, the words to remember are "The DCU is an important
    employee benefit..."
    

I understand that not all DCU members are employees, and
that DCU is sometimes considered to be an employee benefit,
and other times considered to be a separate entity.

Nevertheless, DEC is clearly a member of DCU, and as a member
could certainly offer one of it's facilities to DCU to 
use for its annual meeting.

In years past, especially before DCU built it's headquarters
in Maynard, DCU held board meetings in conference rooms within
Digital, and annual meetings at the Mill cafeteria.

Just wondering why they chose a meeting site with seating
for only 200, given the large amount of interest in DCU
lately.

./chris

Also, it's my understanding that DCU doesn't pay DEC any $ for rental of
floor space for the DCU offices in DEC buildings.

Isn't the DCU headquarters, as well as every branch office, Digital
property?  I recall having to show my DEC badge to get in for the
informal meeting with the Board in DCU HQ.  Digital even allows some
community groups to use its meeting rooms when the purpose suits DEC.
For example, a community speech club that has Digital employees as members
meets after hours in my building.  And at least one DCU employee is a 
member of a similar speech club at another building.  So I don't
really see that it would be a problem to hold a DCU meeting at a
Digital facility.  Still, perhaps Digital prefers the DCU to hold
meetings outside, to avoid appearance of the DCU being part of Digital.

	Enjoy,
	Larry

Don't know about the HQ, but the EasyCash machine at
HLO has a large "Digital Capital Asset" tag on it.
That sorta implies that at least some of DCU's stuff
is owned by Digital.

./chris

	Are there really 200 people or better meeting rooms in Maynard?
	Or in an other location near by? I don't know.

	I also wonder about security concerns in a Digital facility. There
	would be non DEC people involved and that would mean extra security
	involvement. I suspect that not too many building managers at DEC
	would welcome this sort of meeting in their facility. Frankly, I 
	wouldn't. Our buildings are not set up for this big a public meeting.
	I know that there our IEEE meetings in ZKO from time to time but
	the Babadge is a little easier to isolate then most meeting rooms.
	And their meetings are less likely to get troublesome then this one
	is. (Not that I expect trouble but playing the odds.)

	Holding the meeting off(DEC)site seems like a prudent and reasonable
	thing to do. 

			Alfred

I've been informed offline that the DCU headquarters is *not* owned by
Digital.  I should also mention that I personally have no objection to
the meeting being held off-site.  And, to be fair, people should realize
that the usual location of the DCU annual meeting is the HQ lunch room.
They've made provision for 10x the normal attendence at an annual meeting.
I think 225 seats would be more than enough were it not for the concerns
some people have about the way the election has been conducted.  As it 
stands, I've decided to attend and observe events first hand.

	Enjoy,
	Larry

    Typically rental price for halls of this type (Rod & Gun clubs, Elks
    halls, American Legion posts, etc.) are in the $50 range.  Don't forget
    that this meeting is being held during the day and that traditionally
    attendance is very light.

    Traditionally, interest in DCU is very light, too.  I should think that
    DCU would, by now, be somewhat sensitive to how noticeably
    untraditional things have become.  FWIW ...
    
    Steve

    
    So how many people actually plan on going?
    
    cbc

    
    
    what identification will be required, to attend?
    
    thanks,
    sue

    For those of us who cannot attend, I'm sure we'd all like to hear
    things like;
    
                    o Who the new board consists of
    
                    o When did Mark Steinkrauss stop chairing the meeting
    
                    o How many attended
    
                    o Was it a "one sided" meeting
    
                    o Anything of interest
    
    I know I'd appreciate hearing this sometime shortly after the meeting.
    
    Don

>                    o When did Mark Steinkrauss stop chairing the meeting
 
	I think I can answer this one right now - never! It is my 
	understanding that Chuck Cockburn is slated to chair the meeting.
	Therefore, Mark will not have the opportunity to stop chairing,
	since he will not have begun!

						Tom_K

    
    Well, I just got mail from somebody who was speaking to a teller at a
    branch.  Seems the teller thought the meeting started at 1:00 pm, not
    3:00.  It looks like DCU may be planning to do the same thing they did at
    the Special Meeting in November, pack the meeting with DCU employees. 
    If DCU opens the doors to the membership and the place is already full
    of DCU employees, this is going to get real interesting very quickly.
    We will not be fooled by this again DCU.  It is VERY IMPORTANT that DCU
    members turnout enmasse for this annual meeting.  I hope DCU doesn't
    try this again.

re:  .28

Camcorder:  Yes, there will be at least two, perhaps
            3 there - assuming they'll let us in with
            'em.  I don't want to tangle with some
            security gorilla-type over a $1000 piece
            of hardware.

./chris

�Seems the teller thought the meeting started at 1:00 pm, not
�    3:00.  It looks like DCU may be planning to do the same thing they did at
�    the Special Meeting in November, pack the meeting with DCU employees. 
    
    I would think the starting time should be known since the branches I've
    been to have meeting notices posted.  Perhaps this was simply an error
    on the teller's part?
    
�It is VERY IMPORTANT that DCU
�    members turnout enmasse for this annual meeting.  I hope DCU doesn't
�    try this again.
    
    I thought DCU employees were DCU members.  Oh, that's right, they are
    the *other* members who have obviously been brainwashed to think
    differently from REAL CHOICE members.

    
>    I thought DCU employees were DCU members.  Oh, that's right, they are
>    the *other* members who have obviously been brainwashed to think
>    differently from REAL CHOICE members.
    
    And differently from open choices members ...

re: .32

When there is limited seating at a DCU event, NO GROUP should receive
preferential treatment.

Bob

    
    RE: .32
    
>    I thought DCU employees were DCU members.  Oh, that's right, they are
>    the *other* members who have obviously been brainwashed to think
>    differently from REAL CHOICE members.
    
    That's correct Mr. MacNeal.  They are DCU members like every other DCU
    member.  And all other DCU members will be waiting OUTSIDE the doors
    waiting to get in.  And they had damn well better be taking vacation
    like I plan on doing to be there.  Other than the DCU employees
    presenting as part of their job function, the rest should be on their
    own time.  I think your comment about brainwashed is a tad off the wall
    given the subject.  Nobody is suggesting they have no right to be there
    at all.

    The meeting is Due to start at 3.00 (or possibly 1.00 if you want a
    good seat.)
    
    does anyone know when it is supposed to finish. I have to attend my
    Son's Pre-school Open house at 7 pm, and don't want to miss either.
    
    q
    

    The longer it lasts, the more interesting I would expect it to be.

    I am not able to travel to the meeting tomorrow and I am told there is
    no way to establish a telephony link to the meeting room - not even a
    speaker phone.  Since no contingencies are established for people
    outside of the GMA geography to attend the meeting, I will be forced to
    wait for a call after the meeting and to getting a copy of the minutes. 
    I wouldlike to insure, no matter what the results, that there are ways
    explored in future meetings to allow everyone that wants to attned to
    be able to attend, either by telecommunications or interactive video of
    some kind.
    
    I am not entering this to complain, nor to invite others to do so on my
    behalf, but I wanted to insure that the people that took the time to
    vote (no matter who they voted for) understood that I have done all
    that I can to attempt to be there.  I would like to publically thank
    Tom_K for offering his assistance to represent my interests out there. 
    He has been very supportive of my efforts and those of many others.

    I hope it's pretty short. I expect to be expected back at the WTC
    if we don't get everything done before I take the afternoon off. 
    
    Past meetings have been pretty quick from what I've heard. There 
    really isn't that much that has to be done assuming everything is
    neatly and fairly done.
    
    			Alfred

    
    Isn't it interesting that some of the DCU communiques have 
    gone on about how the special meeting disenfranchised so
    many DCU members who could not attend and they choose to 
    have the annual meeting in a place which seats only 225.
    
    Steve
    

I've forgotten which topic discussed the fact that DCU was apparently going
to have an Employee meeting in the Annual Meeting room 2 hours BEFORE the
Annual Meeting, so if this is the wrong topic, I apologize.

Considering the way DCU and the BoD has acted in the past, I suspect that the
DCU employees will be given the results of the BoD election BEFORE the rest of
us find out at the Annual Meeting.  Would someone who is attending the Annual
Meeting ask the question of the auditors, BoD, and DCU management, who besides
the auditors knew the results of the election before they were announced
at the Annual Meeting.

Thanks,

Bob

I already asked. Mary Madden claims that nobody knows the results of the
election until the auditor reads the results at the appropriate time in
the meeting.

    At all the branches I've been to the busiest day of the week is
    Thursday (pay day). Logic would indicate that Thursday would be about
    the worst day to close early. I'm not around to check the branch so
    could someone tell me if this meeting is going to include all the
    branch people or just the main office?

    			Alfred

re 534.46

"As Mark Steinkrauss read off the election results..."

Did Mark chair the meeting?

re:  Mark....


Yes he did.  Mark was "President and Chairman of the Board,"
at least according to him.  He conducted the meeting properly,
efficiently, and well.  He talked to us prior to the start of
the meeting, and encouraged us to talk to Melchione and work
any issues before the meeting began.  I don't know how things
would have come out if RC hadn't won, but considering the
election results, things went well.

Mark was really friendly yesterday.  He came over and talked
to me for 15 minutes.  We chatted about Alpha, about my job,
about his move to Fruit of the Loom.  We both had a good laugh
about the non-cyclical nature of the underwear industry.
It was really curious, actually.

./chris

re .45:

I think it makes perfect sense -- Mark Steinkrauss is 
a communications professional.  I appreciated the way
that he applied his skills to conduct the meeting in
a smooth and positive fashion.  

	Enjoy,
	Larry

    Re .-1
    
    Yes Mark Steinkrauss chaired the meeting very efficiently. Very
    differently from the way he chaired the Special Meeting and very
    differently to how he behaved at the informal board gatherings with
    members last year.
    
    The only thing that turned my nose up slightly was his reverence for
    high level managers in Digital. He detailed the qualifications and
    service record of all the old board that was there. He introduced all
    board candidates that were at the meeting. Asking each to stand out
    after their name was read. I found it curious that he read out
    qualifications of those that were of high level manager/VP type but
    said nothing about the rest. As I say I think this is a minor criticism
    but I find it symptomatic of what I hope is now the OLD/PAST attitudes.
    
    As others pointed out he was friendly towards to REAL CHOICES
    candidates and supporters. Very different from how I've seen him
    before.
    
    Dave

    
    Re: Steinkrauss behavior
    
    I wouldn't have expected otherwise.  All is said and done and
    he is moving on and leaving it behind.  If any of the old BoD
    might be expected to be uncomfortable, I would expect it to be
    those who will be still employed by Digital.
    
    Steve