PALMFR, ALASKA
Dorothy M. Dell, Editor
Published every Thursday at Palmer, Alaska, for the Matanuska Valley Fanners*
Cooperating Association for the purpose of giving news of the Associations ’Cork,
Problems and Acc anplishraent s.
S^X-'LlRfiON BY MAIL $1.75 SINGLE COPY W
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YOUR LOCAL CO-OP
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Tt has been pointed out several times that’the Co-operative set-up as we have it here
r ■'he Matanuska Valley is an unusual type. This is because'’ it .'Consists of s6 siccay
r '• "''r rant units and two types of cooperative organization under one management. In
. - yoars writers for Cooperative organ s’have indicated that consolidation of local „
cl .relatives would probably be'a good thing. Possibly wo have boon a trail blazer
his line—unless of coubPo, we fail to make this plan foasiblo. So far we have
' ' * r.roven that it is.
: at us take a look at the general organization of our local Cooperative.
live in the first place.two distinct types of Co-ops under one management—the
_ - t ’.-^er type and the consumer type.
-.h the Producer type we have the Produce Department, which handles all direct pro
v.. s of the soil, and the Creamery Department which handles the Animal products such
•:i'Ll: and eggs and their affiliated products. The two departments constitute the
rtant part- of the organization since they have all the voting membership and arc
t a. slirumcrtts that detennino the. income of tho patrons.' If these'two do not work
e; 1 'c.avoly, the consumer units cannot operate at a profit. If n member does not'selj
■ ].■ commodities through one of these departments he ceases to be a yotijg member. . Ho
; .:»• remain a stockholder end a consumer member and thus benefit in divi-donds through
a. consumer units, but ho has no vote in the affairs of the association.
The Consumer units or’departments of‘the Matnnuskn Valley Farmers* Cooperating Assocj
oui<n are: The Garage, The Warehouse, and the Trading Fost. Tho Dormitory-Staff
’■'ires and Apartments might be called Consumer units in that the tenants buy heat and
Mvihg quarters from tho Association, but no purchase saving tickets arc issued on
this unit of the Co-op. This part has been considered more as a service to the’em
pl rycos in providing them with comfortable living quarters at a reasonable cost. The
} c>w:r house, the Maintenance Department and the Administrative services of those units
nr apportioned among the several establishments that do produce the income of the
Association. The Co-op also has a.few offices, a restaurant, and Community Hall that
•■.rc leased out. * , ' . ,
The management of a set-up of this nature becomes rather complex ns can readily be
snor when one considers th£ many different phases of .its operation. To simplify the
handling of accounts etc., a centralized bookkeeping was set up. This system has. boon
criticized, but no bettor system has been suggested, and regardless of what other rlans
might bo attempted come central co-ordination would be necessary.
Now—who controls nil of this?
TTc have a Bor.rd of seven directors who ore clectod by the producer members—those who
arc actively engaged in marketing their products through the Association This Board
decides the general policies of the Association, establishes the wages) esnd hires
o General Manager, an Accountant, end the Editor of the Valley Settler. These three
are directly responsible to tho Board of Directors. Tho'manager in turn hires the
department hoad3 of the various units of the Association, These work with the manager
In forming policies in tho various units that they represent. The department heads in
turn hire their employees who are responsible to the Department'Hoad.
You may ask, "'.Thy arc tho fir si throe directly responsible to tho Board?"
First, tho cooperative is a democratic set-up and in our American system of government
we bc.Liuvc In check and balanco systems in order to insure that democratic control. In
Under- to achievo that end, the organization must bo so sot.up that no. one person con
ever oe put in a position whoro ho or she can becomo a dictator. , •
The manager is controlled by rules and regulations set down by the 3oard of Directors
who constitute the law-making body of the Association, The rules and regulations as
made by the Poa^d of Directors are also, controlled by the Constitution of the Associ
ation, a.nd the Constitution must be accepted by, the member shin. Therein the members
have a check c.n the Board and on the operating policies of tho Board.
The Accountant is m charge cf the bookkeeping of tho Association and the handling of
tho finance for the Association, 3y having tho Accountant directly responsible tc tho
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