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THE VALLEY SETTLER Is published
every Friday by the Ilatanuska
Valley Farmers Cooperating Associ
ation at Palmer, Alaska.
*kig. Editor: Marie d/ilson
Subscription rates;
By mail ;
Hailed anywhere;
$1.00 year
1.75 year
10^ copy
This paper,is issued for the pur
pose of giving information and .
nev/s of the Matanuska Valley
Farmer’s Cooperating Association's
work, problems, accomplisliments,
also, news of local and general
interest; and to foster the
cooperative spirit of the farmers
of the Matanuska valley.
COOPERATION LIANA GEL .'ENT
(con't from last week;
The districts serve another use
ful purpose, often being used
as units for the conducting of
educational programs regarding the
association's activities. The
purpose is to make it easy for
members to take an active part
in the affairs of their associa
tions, including direct partici
pation in association control.
Another important point in connec
tion with member participation in
control of an association is the
use of the one-man one-vote prin
ciple, regardless of- volume of
business contributed to the associ
ation by the individual member.
This is another way in which co
operatives have sought to en
courage members taking part in
control of the association.
S.til.l. another way of furthering
direct participation of members in
the control of the association Is
the requirement that a member
must be present personally in
order bo vote, c provision found
in many Gtnte cooperative statutes,
he cannot turn over his right to
vote at r membership meeting by
giving his ' ‘ proxy to another.
The principle of nob allowing
3.
proxy voting in cooperative associ
ations is generally accepted as
sound.
In voting for directors, "ou are
selecting men who will assume
important responsibilities in
the conduct of your association's,
affairs. Because of their train
ing and expreience, some of your
fellowmembers are better quali
fied to act as directors then
others.
rombers of boards of directors
of cooperative associations are
not chosen to serve in an hon
orary capacity, although some
board members appear to take
this point of view. Doing the
work of a director adequately
and satisfactorily requires con
scientious thought and effort,
and the job carries with it im
port legal responsibility because
the corporate powers of the co
operative are vested in its dir
ectors .
Bccr.usc of t he responsibilities
resting on the directors, the
merits and qualifications of any
nominee should be weighed careful
ly before he'is elected to serve
on the board. Although any
member of an association mooting
the requirements stated in its
bylaws may be eligible for elec
tion to the board of directors,
this docs not moan that every
member is actually fitted to"
serve as a director. There are
other essential qualifications
in addition to the usual single
eligibility requirement of being
a member in good standing.
In electing directors, members
owe it to themselves to select
those individuals who are best
fitted to perform the duties of
directors. If it is possible,
to select othorv’isc well-qualified
individuals haying special train
ing in financing, marketing, lav;,
or general economics, this will
prove desirable.
( continued next week)