While We Await Word On The SECU Resolutions Resolution...

    Debacle?

     Or Is there Just A Problem With Free Speech?  

😎 About the thinking in a couple of recent comments:

✅ Anonymous August 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM "Fact is besides the 2022 debacle a member hadn’t use their “right” to bring a resolution at the annual meeting in decades." 

✅ Anonymous August 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM "Do you feel at all responsible since it was your actions that led to members being prohibited from speaking at the annual meeting?"

Best I recall the resolution introduced at the 2022 SECU Annual Meeting [here's a link to the actual text]  was a calm request for the SECU Board to communicate with the membership about several important changes that had occurred or were being considered at the credit union. Here was the ask:

  The Motion

"In accordance with the bylaws, pending vote of the membership at the 2022 Annual Membership Meeting; it is moved that:

The Board of Directors review and respond to the above seven questions, after statewide discussions with the staff and all advisory boards; and that the results of those discussions be published to all member-owners of the State Employees Credit Union as soon as practical.

In addition, it is requested that the Board of Directors update, publish, and make available to all member-owners its’ Strategic Plan for SECU no later than 90 days prior to the 2023 Annual Meeting. The Strategic Plan should clearly explain the Board’s recommendations for a new culture and new direction for SECU."

✅  The motion asked only for information and clarification. No harangue, no threats, no demands for action, no request for operational changes.  Please just "take your time" and provide some background and context. The bottom line question was pretty basic: Who are we? Where are you leading us? Why are you taking us there?

The resolution was requested by a number of highly loyal and committed SECU members, volunteers and employees. There seemed to be great concern over the "new culture" that had not been adequately explained to any group of SECU stakeholders.

 

✅  The motion was calmly approved without objection and was seconded by a member of the SECU Board from the podium...

  Hard to understand how that resolution was considered a debacle or was grounds for the SECU Board to revoke the members' rights to speak at their annual meeting

 

The SECU Annual Membership Meeting - 2025: "Curiouser and Curiouser!"

 

  “The proper order of things is often a mystery to me.”                                                                                                                             - The Cheshire Cat

Ms. Cathy Plaut, SECU Chief Legal Officer

CATHY.PLAUT@ncsecu.org

 

August 25, 2025

 

Re: SECU Member Resolutions - 2025

Dear Ms. Plaut,

Thank you for your prompt response [link] to my August 15, 2025 inquiry [link] concerning the presentation of SECU member resolutions to the SECU Board of Directors.  

I had hoped that specifically limiting resolutions to SECU governance issues would appropriately narrow the focus and scope of discussion. And, that the submission of resolutions well in advance would fairly enable all SECU members to review and consider the issues. It has historically been standard practice for all credit unions to include such discussions as part of their annual membership meetings. 

Wish to clarify your statement that member resolutions had not been allowed at "recent"' annual meetings is not fully accurate. SECU members were invited to fully participate in the annual membership meeting from 1937 through 2022.

Member resolutions from the floor were first prohibited only in 2023 and SECU members were prohibited from speaking at the annual meeting for the first time in 2024 - just nine months ago!

SECU members have not been prohibited from submitting resolutions prior to the annual membership meeting, until your ruling in your latest response of August 20, 2025.  SECU members may not now actively participate in any fashion at the 2025 annual meeting.

From your letter, it appears that you believe that the SECU bylaws permit member resolutions only through the calling of a "Special Membership Meeting". That is certainly a novel idea, perhaps unique to SECU; and certainly appears to erect new, substantial barriers for the membership.

But, again your response and clarification are appreciated. If a "Special Meeting" is the approved method, would you please send me a copy of your established rules and procedures for calling such a "Special Meeting". 

Thank you. Look forward to receiving those guidelines and procedures promptly.

Sincerely,

Jim Blaine, SECU Member

cc

Leigh.Brady@ncsecu.org

kristina.ray@nccud.nc.gov

 

... Ask Alice?