Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1940-02-15
CONSUMERS JOIN COOP
WHOLESALE AND SOCIETY
BY R. S. Sowell


Grating as bona fide consumer cooperative and has
become part of the organized cooperative movement,
since its stockholders have formally ratified and
approved the technical and legal transactions
sary in the Information of the corporation and
have instructed the directors to join the Eastern
Cooperative League and the Eastern Cooperative Whole
sale. These actions taken at the stock
holders first annual meeting, held Wednesday, Feb
ruary 2.
walter R. vo1clhausen, president of the organiza-
ticn and chairman of the meeting, the
citizens here who by their fai tn possible
the organic of the cooperative and urged neach
to do everything in his power to make this i'm
portant part of the Greenbelt experiment out
standing success"
He stated his belief that the Significance of the
groups, Health Association, Athletic Club, Credit
Union, newspaper, Citizens Association, consumers
cooperative, and others-lies in the fact that each,
In Its success, Is testimonial to the success of
Greenbel and to the of the democratic prin
ciples to which Greenbelt is dedicated.
The report Of Earl j. swailes, chairman Of the
membership committee, q brief summary Of what
that committee hopes to accomplish during the
rent year. Mr.. SWai1es asked each stoclho1der to
become an exoftcio member Of his committee and to
help him double the Membership and itonal
share subscriptions from all members during this
first year.
Mrs. Bertha Maryn, chairman Of the education con-
mittee, stated that "cons,mer cooperatives a
business and must be run on sound business basis"
and that the nature of cooperative is such to
require loyalty the part of the membership which
must be gained through understanding.
The education committee Will attempt to foster
this understanding, said Mrs. Maryn, by keeping the
membership alive interested and Informed matters
pertaining to the bndness, cooperative principles
and cooperatives at large; by assisting the member
ship committee in Its work; by Ike eping watch all
general sand by setting up advisory councils through
out Greenbe1t to discuss various problems.
Mrs. carnie Harper, member of the boards manage
nent COMM ttee, read the directors accommodation
concerning the organisation's Membership in the
Eastern Cooperative Wholesale and Eastern coopera
tive League.
She pointed out that to continue buying from the
E.c.W. and to enjoy the advantages Of centralized
b,yings such chain stores enjoy, it is necessary
to apply for membership in both organi cations,
are interre1ated.
vt is a mistake" said Mrs. Harper, nto assume
that the direct economic interests the local men,
oers may be served adequately by society which has
no contact with the rest Of the cooperative move
ment."
and E.c.W. are the expert accounting service the
League renders and the participation manager
ana directors In the experiences and development Of
other cooperative societies.. E.C.W. is owned and
controlled by local cooperatives every state g.
long the Atlantic seaboard, from Maine to Florida.
During consideration Of this rec@endati on.
Robert smi tn educational director Of the Eastern
Cooperative League, addressed the meeting few
minutes, pointing out the advantages Of local orga
izations joining the organized cooperative movement
such as becoming a member Of Eel. and E.c.W. He
said they were building movement which enable
cooperators to increase their buying power and thus
buy at greater saving.
The Membership voted unanimously that the Green
belt Consumer Services should apply membership
In the Eastern Cooperative Wholesale and Eastern
Cooperative League.
Summaries of the legal and technical actions taken
by the old and boards and by the previous stock
holder Consumer distribution Corporation) in con-
nection with the transfer and trans lorna tion Of the
organization were presented by Dr.. Joe ". Still,
secretary. These actions speedily and mani
mous1y ratified and approved by the membership.
The report Of the general manager, besides being
read by sulo Laakso mimeographed stributed
to the approximately IT'S persons who attended the
meeting. (Editor's note: Details Of Mr.. Iaakso'e
report presented elsewhere in this issue Of the
cooperator). Also, printed copies of the organizes
t1on's new bylaws were made available to the
bers.
After the meeting, share certifi Gates were dis
trdbuted to mary Of the members who had previously
paid in full for at least share. Shares are a.
valuable to owners in the Consumer Services Offices