THE VALLEY SETTLER is published
every Friday by the Matanuska
Vrlloy Fr.rncr's Cooper;.tivo
Association at Primer, Alaska.
Mng.Editor: Marie Wilson
Subscription rates;
By meil;
Mr lied anywhere;
51.00 year
1.75 year
10 i copy
This paper is issued for the pur
pose of giving information and
new3 of the Matanuska Valley
Farmer's Cooperating Associations
work, problems, accomplishments,
and also, nows of local and gon
er 1 interest; and to foster the
cooper, tive spirit of the farmers,
of the Matanuska Valley.
Following is excrspts from an
article from the KELS FOR FARI'ER
COOPER..FIVES v.’hich expresses the
views of Prank Linn, second
member of the board of Directors
to submit an editorial.
The experts tell us that an
association is no better than
its board of directors. For that
matter, it is no better than
its members, because they seleot
the directors who, in turn, de
termine policies and hire a man
ager to carry them out. There
fore, if we - - the members.-- elect
good directors, we will have
sound policies and a good man
ager.
In spite of the misgivings of
any member , the coopart tive is
poking progress. His own good
sense, therefore, makes him de
cide to stick by the association
and try to do what he can to
elect directors who more nearly
represent his point of view.
If they were required to pass an
examination for the position, no
dought many of them would fail
to qualify. If the members in
quired closely into tho qualif
cations of others, it is likely
that they would bo retired and
replaced by men more valuable to
the cooperative. In so]looting
a new board member, a few simple
tests regarding his qualifications
will usually be sufficient to
tell u3 if he is the proper man.
1. 13 he a business man? Has he
carried own business successfully?
Is he a progressive farmer?
Ho need not bo a large scale
farmor.
2. Will he ' work? Is he willing
and able to take the time to in
form himself the problems and
policies of the association?
3. Is ho a loader?
Generally, the loaders in any
board are the men who are careful
to study the operations of the
association, and who weigh in
their own minds the possible
effects of proposed policies.
4. Is he a teamworker?
Is he the kind of man who will
work well in double harness?
Will he cooperate ’ ith the man
ager and his fellow directors?
There must be cooperation and
harmony in the board of directory
and the policies of the associa
tion must apply to all alike.
The man who can not get along
with others -has no business on
the board of directors.
5. Is he loyal to the association?
Is he eng: ged in any business
w here his interests might con
flict with those of the associa
tion?
6. WOuld. your candidate bo in
terested in getting on the pay
roll of the association at tines?
7. Would ho be able to give you and
other members complete and reliable
information regarding the associ
ation? Would he try to find out
the reason for members’ complaints?
The man who measures up to the
requirements 3et down here should
make an ideal director. In fact,
ho is so "ideal” that he will pro
bably not'be found in the average
community. The chances are you
elect at"least a few of the men
you want, and you will have the
. (continued on page 4)