Chester's Co-op First General Membership Business Meeting

There are many keys to success regarding co-ops from providing the right product and services to its owner-members to making sure that the membership is diversified to encourage greater longevity and sustainablity. However, there is one key that is pertient to the thriving success of a co-op and that is the participation of own-members in the decision and implementation process of their business.
On February 3rd, 2006 Chester's Co-op held its first business meeting at Zion's Baptist Church in Chester, Pennsylvania. A business meeting is similar to a shareholders meeting. Each owner-member has a voice and vote, this is very important because the co-op exists to serve the needs of the membership. It is here that the financial health of the co-op, its strengths and weaknesses, and the strategic plan are disucssed.
The portion of the meeting that really exemplifies what cooperatives are about is the presentation of proposals by committees, owner-members, the board of directors and the discussion, debate, amending, motions, and voting take place. It is democracy at work and each person sees how their opinions and vote helps to establish the policies and goverance that they want to see at work.
The First General Membership Meeting yielded decisions on how to proceed with the building development, opening the Farm Fresh Market on March 31st, sponsoring a Family Wellness Fun Fair, creating a nominating committee, and owner-members hosting membership meetings in their homes, churches.
These decisions encourage the development of the Chester's Co-op, but more importantly they allow for owner-members to realize the impact that their participation has on the overall development and success of their business. Because without owner-members there is no need for the co-op and without their voices the co-op cannot thrive. So if you are an owner-member do not hesitate to get involved. Your voice and vote matter because it is your business.