TodayCo-op officials: Spread the word
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Article RatingNearly 100 cooperative leaders from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region attended a National Co-op Month Kickoff Celebration Thursday at the Clarion in Middlesex Township.
The event was sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Alliance of Cooperatives (MAAC).
Keynote speaker Mary Harding McLaury of Touchstone Energy Cooperative highlighted the luncheon with a presentation on "Becoming a Champion for the Co-op Difference." She stressed the importance of communicating to the public the increased value co-ops bring to their members and customers.
Each year in October, the nation's cooperatives celebrate the cooperative way of doing business. In his opening remarks, MAAC President David Zimmerman said, "Cooperatives differ from other forms of business because they're owned and controlled by their customers, not by investors."
Zimmerman, who represents Genex Cooperative of New Holland, spoke of the ways co-ops stand apart:
About four of every 10 Americans belong to a cooperative, from credit unions to purchasing, child-care and food co-ops.
"Even if you don't belong to a co-op, you use co-op products every day from Ocean Spray juices to SunMaid raisins and Land O'Lakes butter," Zimmerman said. "Since we're owned by our customers, we take pride in our commitment to the communities where we work and live."
Among MAAC's membership, co-ops provide services in agricultural, dairy, electric and financial sectors.
Agricultural co-ops throughout the United States own more than 1,000 brand names such as Sunkist and Welch's. The nation's 3,200 farm supply and grain co-ops, such as MAAC's Cumberland Valley Cooperative Association and Southern States, provide essential services to farmers.
Dairy co-ops produce more than 80 percent of all dairy products in the U.S., including those from Borden, MellowButtercup and Marva Maid.
Electric co-ops serve 37 million Americans. MAAC's electric co-ops in Pennsylvania include Bedford, Tri-County, Valley and Adams.
Financial co-ops such as MAAC members AgChoice Farm Credit, ACA; CoBank; AgFirst Farm Credit Bank and Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit provide agriculture with one-quarter of its credit needs.
For more information on cooperatives, contact MAAC at 814-238-2401 or visit www.maacooperatives.org.
