hGitor..Lay m. dkii
palmer, Alaska Advertising. June Knoff
Published once a week ?.t Palmer, Alaska, for the Matanuska Valley Farmers' Coopera
ting association for the purposeoof giving news of the *.ssocia Ions' work, problems
and accomplishments.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE $1*75 $1.00 for six months lOjzf a copy
SELECTING . A BOARD Of
DIRECTORS
The members of our Co-op have one very important duty e.t the next Annual meeting of
the stockholders on TuescV y evening, august 15th, and that Is the selection of five
Directors who will serve with the two who arc holdovers. Getting directors to serve
has been a difficult task for tho last three years, due to the trouble that has oc
curred in the organization In the last five years. Directors have to ettend nestings
to formulate policies and supervise the carrying on of the business by the manager
and. other employees. Mootings are held every two weeks and it requires several hours
to attend to the business e.t hand, then, occasionally, special meetings have to bo
called, when some Important business hits to b_ taken care of before the next regular
meeting. The^e are also committee meetings that have to be attended ani .special
services to perform as members of these committees. Altogether, anyone who serves
as a director on the Co-cp Board doesn't have to be a member cf any ether board to
keep hi 1 busy.
Directors do not receive any.*alary for their work ns directors, but do receive reim
bursement for transportation expenses or for special services authorized by the board,
directors are Halted tc i?100 per month for any services to the Co-op as employees.
This prevents them from holding profitable jobs v/ith the association. This rule has
been the subject of dispute sometimes, but usually it seems to be a good
rule.
Generally speaking, directors are elected, because they have a group of friends. Some
times this works cut all riaht, but If the person who Is elected does not have the
qualifications f ,r a good director then It Is usually bad. for the /tssccl tlon. There
are more Important reasons for the selection of a Director than ju^t his friendship
with a group or the average member of the Co-op. There arc sevapai qualifications
which are very Important, however, not everyone needs tc have a}}. of the qualifica
tions enumerated. There usually has to bo a leader In the group, but if all tried
tc be leaders th- t 'wouldn't work either.
One important qualification is: How does the candidate conduct his own business? Does
hw manage his own business ’.veil, an does he cooperate with his neighoors and work
for the gooJ cf the community as well as himself? Some people who manage their own
business well are not good directors either because they are so selfish and self
centered that they will not cooperate with other pe:plo. This type cf person usually
doesn't need tc cooperate and .nly uses the cooperative tc further his own selfish
ends. On the other hnnH, the successful type of person who will cooperate with others,
nakes the best type cf director because he will work for himself and others as well,
thereby promoting successful projects for the group as a whole.
Secondly: Does the candidate held, a narrow view ;s tc whoa the benefits of the organ
ization should go? Does he favor his friends and relatives or people who belong to
the same political party that he does, religious order, fraternal organization? Does
he pull for the good J_.bs th t he as director can get for his friends and relatives?
4 fair ainbec. director will not work fer special benefits f r his friends or certain
gr.ups tc the disadvantage of any ether member.
Third: L good direct r will investigate all sides of any question and not be swayed
by the ^pinion of ethers when ho knows they are wrong. He will be friedcly to the
members and try to give them an answer to any pertinent question about management or
policies that affect the members or its employees. He will try to secure a good
competent manager and support the manager if he believes that he is doing a good Job,
but feel free tc criticize when he thinks something is wrong.
Now, perhaps you wonder why anyone should want tc be a dlrectcr--or will anyone accept
the responsibility when we all know that directors as a whole are watched by the mem
bers for any weakness that may be perceptible. Frequently brick bats come their way,
and. backbiting goes on all the time. Directors are subject to recall at any ti ..e
there is a small chance for any glory or financial returns tc be gained.- V :
Kell, the reas. n that some people will spend their ti me and effort on these Jobs is
that someone has to do it. No organization of this kind can c^nt. on page 3