Vol. 6
Valley Settler
February 26,
1943.
ro. 8.
ANNUAL
r
A ^
; / V
vy,
/J ^ I' - '
M UjV
I r r n
I L- L J\
One of the r.ost harmonious and interesting meetings that has vir
been held by the members of the Matanuska Valley Cooperating Associa
tion occured last Wednesday evening, February 24th. The members were
slow in gathering, so the session did not get under way until r- out
8:30 p.n. A total of 42 stockholders w^rc present at roll-call, and
about 30 more arrived later. President Donald Parks called the moot
ing to order and then celled on Secretary-Treasurer Roland Snodgrass
to read the minutes of the nrevious meeting and the Board of I’rector’s
Report. Both were favorably received by the members, and accepted.
The Director's report stated that the present number of stockholders
is 109, and that about thirty members had been terminated or suspended
during the past year, mostly for leaving their farms and for c sin0
to bo producers, however, it was stated that any time that the suspend
ed members became producers again, that the Board would consid- r re
instatement favorably. The Board is aware that the Marketing Contract
is bcin^ violated, and that it will be a serious matter if mert rs con
tinue to persist in dumping poor quality products on the local markets.
Members to endangering the success of the Cooperating members y such
actings, and the time and money spent to advertise and distribute Mat
anuskn Valley Products will bo wasted in addition to loss by \infavor
nble attitudes on the part of the purchasers in the markets thrt the
Cooperative has tried so hard to get. 7/hile nearly all of the : roducts
*11 bo needed for sale,
-G should bo sold with -
the understanding
O M '
that the low-'r ^rndo is
just that, and not the
high standard that is
desirenble. The re
cords show thrt most
of our members are co
operating, and the few
who are not, are caus
ing the Board to fool
that somethin^ must be
about it in the
future, to pro
the faithful mem-v! i
. Just what act- "> ^
will be taken, wasA- >
done
near
tect
bers
ion
/
w
%
not stated.
The Association is
in a very good finan- .
cial condition as wrs
predicted, and all ob
ligations were met
A
v\
promptly during the year.
The Farm Security
’'Administration vjls
paid $12,210, on the
loan from, TV total
business for t.h year
amounted to $re7,140,
an increase o' ?70,000
over last year,
$148,943, was paid to
farmers for farm pro
ducts, $48,000 more
than last year; of
this, $77,245, was
for purchase of dairy
products, or r a in
crease of $25,951 over
last year. This was
from 24 dairy, n in
comparison to 17 last
year. Egg purchases
were about th> sane'
as last year, or
$7,458, and t’r a aver
age price per dozen
was 57 cents.
A Garden produce ca.rrc to $£7,960, this yenr, with an increase cf
.if.9,226f over last year. Purchases of moat increased about one ihird
or to $£9; 000, this year. The largest producer unit is the Garb "A1*
ilk distributing unit. 1,359,610 pounds of milk went through the
■earnery, on which $>c6,870.84 has been advanced to the farmers or an
equivalent of 43 cents per gallon. A substantial dividend in addition
to the^ advance, may bo reasonably expected, as soon as the acce nting,
which Mr. Mulleney is now working on, is finished. Grade “B" an(j
butterfat represent more than $10,000 more.
Manager Stock, next gave his report, which contained many int -.resting
and instructive details of the result of the vear*s operations. The
effect of the ,Var on the operations, was explained and the means to
overcome some of the obstacles, presented to the Association by this
condition, were outlined. The difficulty which was encountered in the
securing of goods and merchandise was explained. The exporienc with
the change in electricity purchase, was dwelt upon, and recommendations
made. The hospital was mentioned, -and his report indicates that this
(continued on page 4)