VALLEY SETTLER
Published every Friday at Palmer,
Alaska, by the Iviatanuska Valley
Farmers vCooperatj ng association for
the purpose of eivinb news of the
Association's work, proolems, ac
complishm nts, and news of local
and general interest.
By— --C P..Rasmussen.
Subscriotion rates: Yearly
Local $1.00
By V-all 1.75
Single copy .10
SOME THI’YJS TO THINK ABOUT.
'less than two weeks from now, the
".embers of the Matanuska Valley
locperat ir;<_ Association will assem
ble for the purpose of holding theii
i-.nnuf.l St jkholder's Meeting, Re
sults cf *:ne financial operations
will be given and policies will be
discussed both past and future. It
might be v 11 to state some of the
things that have been suggested by
various stockholders in regard to
management ana policy. First we
hear that there will be a movement
to formulate a mere drastic policy
in regard to non-producer3. Some
suggest that all members, who fail
to produce and sell at least -|500
worth of products during the year
be susper ’or' an'5 the right to vote
he taken i.\ ay. Some suggest a lcw
r figure, but no one has to the
knowledge f the writer, made any
concession to the consumer member.
We think that this should also be
considered and for the reason that
in the past the consumer units have
at various times provided the funds,
by their successful operations, for
the carrying of the nen-nrofitable
producer units. We suggest that a
combination of products sold and
goods purchased be the basis for the
determination of desirable active
members, another item that must be
considered is the member who is
starting to produce some product
that requires some time to develope.
He must b< considered a producing
member also, otherwise how will we
get started in beef cattle and egg
production and sc forth, that offer
such good prospects for the farmers
of the Valley? Kow about the member
who hasn't sufficient money to pur
chase equipment and live-stock to
get started^ and who does not desire
to borrow funds for this purpose,
but who gets a job and earns the
money to get starred with?
7e should consider the purpose for
which this Project was started. I
believe that this was for the pur
pose of providing homes for worthy
individuals and that no special type
of individual was specified, except
that the diversified farmer was the
type outlined in the beginning and
the writer still thinks that this
type of farmer will be the most suc
cessful in the long run.
Another question that will face the
new Board of Directors is in regard
to a new Manager, since the present
Manager has announced that he will
leave in the near future it will be
necessary to secure the services of
another to teke his place.
Some members think that a local man
should be selected, one who under
stands the situation and who knows
the people in this vicinity. Others
think that an outside man should, be
secured, one who has no connections
with any local group, and who would
be impartial to all members in bus
iness relations.
While ethers think that the Board
should handle this matter without
help from the Members. However, it
seems to the writer, that this is a
question that the members could be
of help in, in arriving at a de
cision.
'.Ve also hear some discussion in re
gard to the Garage since it has been
n source of worry for some time.
Some think that it should be leased
out like the Hospital, and others
that it should be partly closed, the
non-paying units, at lease.
The writer feels that the Garage is
too large for the business that is
available, and it was believed to be
so, before the Cooperative took it
over. When the clearing program was
discontinued, for which the building
.vas built and equiped primarily, the
overhead and administrative costs be
co.mc too hieh for the unit to carry,
The employees of the Garage have
tried very hard to overcome this
load but unless it shows a much bet
ter business picture this year, it
will not be profitable to the Asso»
:iation in terms of profit by these
operations.
Another question that may arise is
in regard to violation of the Mark
eting Contract. Do the members feel
:hat those members who willfully
violate the Marketing Contract
?hould be permitted to participate
In the forming of the policies of
tho Association?
These and other questions should be
considered before the meeting takes
place.
•5J*
Father M. Sulzmann, at one time
..priest of St. Michael's Church here
is now a Chaplain in the Army.