Palmer, Alaska
Dorothy II. Boll
ditor
Published every week at Palmer, Alaska, for the I'atanuska Valley Earners* Cooperating
Association for the purpose of giving news of the Associations rork, problems and
acconti 1 ishments, and for the dissemination of news of a public nature.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE '51.75 per year Single copy 10^
’ inFORmfiTIOn-PLEfi-SE
How much information should be released to Co-op members b the Board and Ilanagenent?
How much should be released weekly—or should the Board withhold information until'
each quarterly meeting?. These are questions on which different Boards of the M.V.PLC.A.
have had different policies. They vary considerably.
Generally it is conceded that there are always certain business transactions that can
not be released until a later date—as for example: the Association enters a bid on
produce to be'supplied some merchandiser. It would be folly to publicise the amount
bid. However, on the other hand there are many things members should know to prevent
them from falling prey to unfounded rumors. Secrecy on the cart of the Association
creates a fertile bed for the growth of false propaganda.
Now let us see what the Authorities on Co-ops have to say on this natter.
fflaoperatives are not really benefited by a blind or almost fanatical loyalty to the
association, because members having such loyalty are not inclined to be analytical or
to demand the economy and skill in administration that is essential to success. Loyalty
msed on understanding of the policies and problems and a feeling of ownership, result
ing from participation in the affairs of the association, assist it in meeting its prob
lems or facing any crisis that may later develop. .
l'
There is little uniformity among cooperative as to the means and methods used to main
tain contact between the membership and management or in the expenditures per member
for such purposes. Thus it would be difficult, within the limits of this study, to
measure the quality of the difficult program carried on by the associations. However,
there are some indices which appear to measure the results though these must be used
with caution and considered along with the efficiency of business administration.
Among these, tHurnover in the membership, that is, the withdrawals ar.d the new members
added, and the volume of business during'a 5-year period, give some idea of how well
the members of an association support it.
"The factors do not, however, indicate how well-nrenared the organization nay be to
withstand internal dissension among the leaders, the attacks of opposition, and un
favorable economic conditions that nay arise with'respect to the commodity handled by
the association. To measure these latter aspects, attention must be given to the con
tent of the educational program; that is, whether it is giving sufficient information
so that the members can judge of the efficiency of the organization irrespective of
profits or returns and the extent to which local leadership and group solidarity are
>eing developed. A study of the methods of contact and education should, at least, re
peal whether the objective of the association in its field'or contact work is only to
et new members and to hold or increase volume of business, or whether it is to develep
local leadership and to create within the rank and file of its members a feeling of
ownership of the organization and responsibility for its success.
?::om the information gathered'in this survey, it appears that those associations rho,
fcy means of local organization, make provision for members’ participation in the af
fairs of the association and direct and encourage such participation, have developed
greater loyalty and greater understanding among their members. -That seems to be even
more evident in such cases is the increased feeling of ownership of &hd responsibility
for the success of the association. This has promoted participation in the election
of directors, attendance at the annual meetings and a common understanding of what the
issoo iation is doing, the reasons for so doing, and the objectives yet to be realized. "
This is what the Farm Credit Administration has to say in one of its many reports and
studies of Cooperative Associations. ’Te can verify the findings of that research in
°Uj-. °wn association by just a little reflection back over the preceding years. rTe have
een going through a period of turbulence ar.d unrest due to a great extent to the lack
of understanding on the'part of the members. It is high time me walce up and correct
this ’unhealthy situation. Tfe have the means Cor the dissemir.fticn of information to
the members which is not at the present time being used to the fullest extent for that
purpose.