Having ownership in a cooperative business means sharing in the success of the business. The returns are real, and they are tied to the long-term vision and appropriateness of the goals of the membership. The financial viability that results from careful planning and efficient operations is mandatory to be able to pay patronage and capitalize on loyalty built from that cooperative advantage. There are challenges to cooperative principles in today's business environment. One is gaining the commitment and understanding of a new generation of cooperators.
Cooperatives face a never-ending parade of owners.
The task of renewing the commitment to the basic beliefs of cooperation and to the principles on which businesses are founded is ongoing. Efforts to educate our members and to promote the values of cooperation demand our resources. Cooperation is not a tired, old-fashioned concept. It is a vital and value-added method of business. Everything old is new again.