Dear Editor
At the last Synergy Credit Union information meeting, board members stated they had not had enough information about whom the credit union may amalgamate with. Also members requested another information meeting be held, obviously to learn more about Conexus (Regina, Saskatoon) and Innovation (North Battleford, Swift Current) Credit Unions. Members decided we should call our elected president from Region 2 (Kindersley) and find out about the status of the next members' information meeting. We were seeking a date, time and place.
Drawing the short straw, I called the president and thus began the discussion.
I asked when we were to have the next information meeting. The president said they were not going to have another meeting (rather emphatically). I was a bit distraught as it was stated we didn't have enough information and that members had asked for another information meeting.
I asked if there might be a special case for Lloydminster and another information meeting, as Lloydminster (District 1) has many members, a fairly large portion of the operation and was central to the communities of St. Walburg, Paradise Hill, Lashburn, Maidstone, Marsden and Neilburg. One more time the president said, emphatically. "no" to a special case meeting. The president stated all members he had spoken to didn't want any more information meetings, they just wanted to come out to a meeting to vote. He stated there would be some time at the vote meeting for questions.
My third question was, would there be any resource people from Innovation and Conexus, in the position of director or management, at the vote meeting in order to answer our queries on the financial statements of Innovation and Conexsus. Once again I received an emphatic "no" as those directors and management would be busy at their own amalgamation meegings and the financial statements were on the websites of Synergy, Innovation and Conexus. I take it to mean members could find any information themselves.
With three strikes you're out: no more information meetings; no special case meeting; and you can find out for yourself, if you want any more information.
Well, what to do, and why do I have to do everything the hard way? So far the only information I have is a four-page promotion put forth by Synergy, Innovation and Conexus that, boiled down, states that because we will be bigger we can do a better job doing the same service you already have. As for other information, all I have heard is we have this many members and we are worth this amount of money. "We are big."
I am concerned about the legacy I will pass on to the next generation if I do not scrutinize the financial affairs of these three organizations of which I am the owner, if I don't find out how my finances are going to be looked after and if I don't find out who it is that will be the head of my financial organization.
Dare I say, the next generation could observe how prudent business managers conduct themselves in times of important and far-reaching decisions. At times like this, I am reminded of the classic short story by Guy de Maupassant, A Piece of String. Sometimes it is better to emphasize the fact we are an inquisitive, prudent and frugal lot and quick to take the time to explain where we are going and who we are going with. Maybe it would cause a lot less misunderstanding in the community.
Joe Holden
Synergy Member
Joan Sloan
Innocent Bystander
Lloydminster, Sask.
