Mr. Pat Owens:

Again, we come back to the democratic principle. To act in the manner the Deputy suggests would allow a group on the board to determine that one of its members could remain in place for longer than the nine year period. Where are the rights of the membership in such a scenario? Members elect directors and if anyone should decide who should serve as directors of a credit union and for how long they should do so, it is the membership. The Deputy's proposal would transfer members' rights to perform this function to a small committee of the board. I am not arguing that committees would abuse this right but that it runs contrary to the democratic principles of credit unions.