COOPERATIVES HIT THE MARK WITH CONSUMERS

Playgrounds flood with games during school recess. A great example is hopscotch. The game can be played by one child or a large group, and the rules are simple. A course is laid out, typically drawn in chalk on pavement. Blocks are numbered in the order they must be hopped in, with a home, or safe, spot at the end. Then players toss a marker into designated squares and hop through the course.

In some ways, the game reflects how cooperatives were formed. Co-ops—notfor- profit, member-owned businesses— may serve a few people or large groups. But all co-ops use the same “course,” following seven key principles. By “hopping” on each principle, co-ops provide an efficient consumer resource focused on service, not profit.

October is National Cooperative Month. To celebrate we’re taking a look at the important role co-ops play in our community.

What are co-ops?
Cooperatives are owned by their members—the people who receive services from them—and are found in many industries. For example, more than 900 electric co-ops serve 42 million Americans. According to the National Cooperative Grocers Association, 30 percent of farmers’ products are marketed through more than 3,000 farmer-owned cooperatives in America. Familiar brands like SunKist, Land O’Lakes, Cabot Creamery, Ocean Spray and Sun-Maid all are co-ops formed to help farmers distribute products.

In banking, 10,000 credit unions provide financial services to 84 million members across the nation. Co-ops also have been formed to provide child care, insurance and housing. Nearly 30,000 cooperatives operate at 73,000 locations nationally.

Guiding Principles
The cooperative movement traces its roots to a store started by weavers in the town of Rochdale, England, in 1844. The Rochdale model revolved around a set of guidelines drawn up by one of its members, Charles Howarth. When introduced into the U.S. by the National Grange in 1874, these “Rochdale Principles” fueled a cooperative explosion.

Although stated in many ways, the Rochdale Principles hold that a cooperative must provide:
Voluntary and Open Membership: Membership in a cooperative is available to all who can reasonably use its services, regardless of race, religion, sex or economic circumstances.
Democratic Member Control: Co-ops are democratically controlled, with each member having one vote. As a result, control remains in the hands of all customers. Directors are elected from the membership.
Members’ Economic Participation: Cooperatives provide services “at cost” and remain not-for-profit regardless of the value of benefits delivered. Any money left over after all expenses are paid—margins— belongs to the members. Each member’s share in the margin is determined by the amount of his or her use of the co-op’s services.
Autonomy and Independence: Cooperatives are self-sustaining, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If cooperatives enter into agreements with others or raise money from outside sources, they do so on terms that maintain democratic control as well as their unique identity.
Education, Training and Information: Keeping members, directors, managers and employees up-to-date on issues so they can effectively govern the co-op. Communication, particularly with young members and opinion leaders, helps generate necessary public support for cooperatives.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives: Mutual support helps cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies and deal more effectively with social and community needs.
Concern For Community: Cooperatives develop communities with programs supported by the membership.

To learn about electric cooperatives, visit www.nreca.coop. For details on different types of cooperatives, visit www.go.coop.