Page 7 - Member Handbook

7 COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
OUR PRINCIPLES
Although cooperative businesses exist in in in in all all types of industry they are all all founded on the same principles Voluntary and and open open membership: Cooperatives are voluntary organizations open open to to to all persons able to to to use their services and and willing to to to accept the the responsibilities of membership without gender social racial political or religious discrimination Democratic member member control: Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members who actively participate in in in setting policies and making decisions through an an an elected elected board of directors These elected elected representatives are accountable to the membership Members’ economic participation: Members Members contribute to the the the capital capital of of of their cooperative cooperative through the the the the purchase of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a product or service This capital capital capital is is is used to to cover all all costs of of of operating the the the the cooperative cooperative Excess capital capital is is is allocated back to to the the the the membership based on on on an individual’s contribution over the the the the the course of the the the the the year Members via their board can also choose to reinvest that capital in in in the the the cooperative Autonomy and and independence: Cooperatives are owned and and controlled by the the the the members they they serve When entering into agreements with other organizations including governments they they only do so on on on on on terms that maintain democratic control by their members Education training training and and information: Cooperatives provide education and and and training training for for their members elected representatives managers and and and employees to improve the the the the development of the the the the cooperative and and and and its fits citizens They inform the the the the general public particularly young people and and and opinion leaders about the the nature and and and benefits of cooperation Cooperation among cooperatives: Cooperatives serve their members most effectively by working together through local national national regional and international structures Concern for for community: Cooperatives work for for the the sustainable development of their communities while focusing on on member needs 6