ABOUT COOPERATIVES

Co-ops are the best people development
institutions you can have....
Ray Marshall 1992

ARTICLES ON COOPERATIVES

• Impact of Cooperatives on the
United States Economy

• How Successful Cooperative Economic
Models Can Work Wonderfully

• Early History of Cooperatives
in Black America
_____________

How to Start a Cooperative and
Cooperative Marketing

Open Membership

A co-op is open to all persons who have a common need or interest.

One Person - One Vote

Co-ops are democratically controlled by their members.

Limited Return on
Investment

To ensure that the benefits of the co-op go to those who use it most,the co-ops will depend on their members to be owners and customers.

Benefits Returned
According to Use

In a co-op, any margins earned on operations above expenses,and a reasonable reserve, are available for return to members based on their patronage of the co-op. In a co-op, any of the expenses that can be reduced by voluntary efforts of the members reduces the cost of the item to all of the members.

Business for Cash
Whenever Practical

Co-ops must raise most of the capital and operating funds frommembers because granting credit is expensive and always risky.

Constant Expansion

Members will earn increased services from the co-op if it is effectively serving its members.

Constant Education

Since the cooperative form of
economic organization is new to most people, especially poor people, education is constantly needed by the members.

Photo Gallery of
46th Annual Meeting

Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement
Award Dinner (Birmingham)
Award Dinner Program

• First Day of 46th Annual Meeting (Epes)
46th Annual Meeting Agenda

• Second Day of 46th Annual Meeting (Epes)
46th Annual Meeting Agenda

Agroforestry Tour (Epes)

Federation History

Hearing from Wendell Paris about the
history of the Federation (2009)