People have been working together since the beginning of time to achieve good things. A co-op is the result of what can happen when people pool their resources together to achieve a common goal. The business created is voluntarily owned and controlled by the people who use it. In our case, over 11,000 people have invested in our co-op by becoming member-owners. In return, the co-op operates for the benefit of these people, our member-owners, and is guided by the bylaws they approve.
Cooperatives around the world look to seven internationally recognized principles to guide them. These are:
- Voluntary and open membership
- Democratic member control
- Member economic participation
- Autonomy and independence
- Education, training and information
- Cooperation among cooperatives
- Concern for community
By adhering to these principles, we stay connected to our member-owners, to our community, and to the global cooperative movement.
Interested in learning more about the co-op movement? These organizations support and promote co-ops nationally & internationally:
National co-op Business Association
International Co-operative Alliance
Member-owners enjoy the meal at our 2010 annual meeting.
