Dorothy IT, .Boftl
Polner, Alaska
—Editor
Published once a ’.ts.ok at Palmer, Alaska, for the Matanuska Valley Farmers' CooperaA
ting Association for the purpose-of giving ners of the Associations rork, problems,
an d ac c omplishment s,
Subscription Hate $L,76 por yoar $1,00 for six months 10r! a copy
WE ARE HAVING COMPANY . -
LET'S BE READY
It's only tv/o nooks until Colony Day Celebrations begin and very little, has been done
to -promote the cloahing up of our tom. The refuse of vintcr accumulations is still
present in all too many placos. Ho general Clean-up nook has been set. With the
prevalence of windy weather at this time of the year re really noed the 'next‘two rooks
for that rork as there rill be days T”hcn very little can bo done. Therefore, it rould
soon advisable to uso every possiblo chance botreon nor and Colony Day to set our torn
in order and be cortain that no unsightly debris bill be visible rhon our visitors
arrive.
The Chamber of Commcrco moots on Wednesday tho 18th and it is ouitc possible that some
definite action rill bo taken to urge a general Clean-up, but botrocn nor and then a
lot can be dono.
LC::C>\J IN C OPiiiATlC'N
A salesman diod and, as the story goes, ront to heaven* There ho found all former
salesmen, separated into tuo croups—failures lodged in one palace, the successes in
another. ,
The salesman -atchad the failures, a thin, hungry-looking mob, rhile the uniters camo
in to serve dinnor, A uaiter, vent doun-ono, aide ofvBho table find up the other laying
out groat platters'of delicious food, but strangely enough he uas preceded by another
raitcr uho affixed to each diner’s arm a lone iron spoon. This spoon rendored the
arm absolutely rigid so that it could not bo bent at the clbou, As a result the men
could not' get.the' food to their mouths.
The salesman then.rent into the Palace of Successes uhich, incidentally, turned out to
be the duelling place of a multitude of genial, .roll-fed, happy gcntJJteen. There ho
uitnessed the same proOodure he had soon in tho Falnco of Failures. But here thi long
spoon rigidly fixed to tho arm of each dinop proved-to be no impediment rhatcver.Sach
cooperatively dipped his spoon into the food and fed the man.seated next to him.
Returning t'o the first group, he net an old competitor and asked him rhy they didn’t
do the sane thing. Ho got .an outraged reply:
”I’ra starving and I ■should feed that dirty crook next to mo?”
T'rom the "Hill and Holler Nous’* published‘-.by Vh.it e River.Velloy Bice trie Cooporator,
Hollister, -Mo.
WHAT3 i:EYONO CUR L/MlE-7
Farmers group together to sell cooperatively because it is more economical for thorn
and it givos them more time to spend on the production sido r/hilo someone clso looks
aftor the distribution part. Farmers also group together to sell their products in
order to obtain better prices for bhat they produce. But—if this venture is to be
successful, it must b.o just more than dumping that, produce in the lap of the Associa
tion organizod to hondlo thdir distribution problems# Ary group of organized farmers
trill still have competition to meet, ap.d:’ in. order "to meet that c bmp c tit ion thoy must
put out u bottor product than tho other follon.
Cooperative leaders have found'that it pays to tell the truth and facts, or say nothing.
To "Slant a story" as thoy say, is not a good policy. It docs not build for good
public relations or build confidonco -in- the membership or others. There must be an
all out attempt to git/e OJJALITY and SERVICE at all times. Remember tho saying—"Thai;
you do, speaks so loud that I cannot hear vrhat you arc saying," A lot of propaganda
about duality and Service' nu3t be backed u-p by goods.
Keeping this in mind—let’s put our shoulders to tho rhcel to put out .the very best
that t:o can in all that no produco. Jink a tho label "Matanuska Haid" moan 0„aulity and
Scrvico. Don’t let the consumer dorm. One poor head of lettuce—rono bad egg—can do
tho Association more harm than ail the rest of the members can make up in a year. To
arc beginning a non year in tho Produce field—let’s make it a good year.