Palmar />. laska.
Carl Rasmus3en,Edltor.
Published every Friday at Palmer,Alaska, by the Matanuska Valley
Cooperating Association, for the purpose of giving news of the
Associations' work, problems, accomplishments, local and general news.
Subscription by Mall, ^ 1,75 yearly Box $ 1.00. Single Conv 10^
WHAT KIND OF A MANAGER DO WE NEED?
Due to the fact that our present Manager will soon leave us, it
will be necessary to choose a new one and it might be well to study
and to learn just what kind of an individual we should secure to re
place the person who is leaving. Legally, it is the privilege and
the duty of the Board of Directors to perform this task and the Editor
does not think that it will be necessary or desirable to try to in
fluence then in any way, either for or a0tinst any person they may
choose, as we feel that the Board is capable to do so and believe that
they will secure the best Manager that is available.
However, many years of experience by other Co-ops have enabled in
vest i c a t rs to determine the most necessary qualifications of managers,
in order to insure successful management and it might bo well to re
state some of them for future guidance. Those are not just one man's
opinion but the cpini ">n of many Co-op. research men and are recorded
in brvks on the Co-operative movement by emminent authorities.
First, a Manager should be chosen for his ability to co-operate
with the Board of Direct ts and the Members of the Co-op. at large.
Then his business ability should be considered — cV'es be manage his
own business successfully? or is he just tryin0 to get a place where
he can receive a good salary and yet assume no risks if he should fail?
Wh*l-' c selfish, greedy Manager will injure the Co-op. by his tre.-d
and selfishness, on the otjner hand a good-natured, easy 0 oing Manager
tffll let the business go to rack and ruin becausd he can never say "nc"
tc any selfish, greedy member'who wants special favors. There must be
sufficient firmness cf character to be able'to say "no", and yet not
be hard boiled and arbitrary to the well meaning/ yet s .metines mis
taken, members.
Secon , no person should be selected as Manager because he- belongs
to a certain church, lodge, Patriotic organization < r political party,
when th;. membership is composed of ths many cl fferent shades of diff
erences appurtenant tc the 'above, and no one should be chose* just be
cause he is a good fellow, regardless of his business ability or ex
perience.
Third, an'1 perhaps equally as imp rtant as anything else to be con
sidered , is his knowledge of C^-ops and his attitude toward the Co
operative movement, regardless of his ability he will probably fail
unloss he understands and believes in the philosophy of the Co-operative
movement. Another imp rtant thing is knowledge of the conditions of
the members who usually join Co-ops because of the^r economic con
ditions.
There are many other qualifications to be considered, but generally
yaking, the main thing necessary isknowledge of the lob anr1 the
ability to handle it, with sufficient firmness of character to do the
thing that se^ms to be best, regardless of the effect on the Manager's
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