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You've Got Power,
And It's Not Just Electricity!
Cooperatives
are examples of democracy in
action. Cooperatives succeed
because of the power of people
working together. As a member of
a cooperative, you join the one
out of every four Americans who
belong to these member-owned
organizations. A cooperative is
formed by joining together to
accomplish a goal that cannot be
done as well individually.
At
Freeborn-Mower Cooperative
Services (FMCS), you are not "just a
customer." Instead, you are a
member-owner of this private,
nonprofit business. Unlike
customers of investor-owned
utilities, you, as a cooperative
member, have a say in
determining the leadership of
the cooperative, how it will
operate and which services it
will provide.
The members,
customers like you, elect fellow
members to serve as directors of
the cooperative. The directors
set policy and oversee the
general operation of the
cooperative. They also hire the
President & CEO, who implements
the policies and is responsible
for the daily operation of the
cooperative through the actions
of its employees. The employees
provide service to the members,
thus completing the "circle of
cooperation."
THE SEVEN COOPERATIVE
PRINCIPLES
1. Voluntary
and open membership. Because
cooperatives are voluntary
organizations, membership is
open to all persons able to use
their services and willing to
accept the responsibilities of
membership, without gender,
social, racial, political or
religious discrimination.
2. Democratic
member control. FMCS
members have equal voting
rights. It doesn't matter how
much electricity a member
consumes. When it comes to
electing directors, each member
has one vote.
3. Member
economic participation. Members
contribute equitably to the
capital of their cooperative. At
least part of that capital is
usually the common property of
the cooperative.
4. Autonomy
and independence. Cooperatives
are autonomous, self-help
organizations, controlled by
their members. If they enter
into agreements with other
organizations, including
governments, or raise capital
from external sources, they do
so on terms that ensure
democratic control by their
members and maintain their
cooperative autonomy.
5. Education,
training and information. New
challenges and new technologies
affect your cooperative and the
entire utility industry.
Ensuring our continuing
effectiveness can only be
accomplished by providing
information and training to the
members and public, our
employees, staff and directors.
6. Cooperation
among cooperatives. We are
"working together, working for
you," on many levels.
Cooperatives serve their members
most effectively and strengthen
the co-op movement by
participating in local, state,
regional, national and
international cooperative
organizations.
7. Concern for
community. This principle
focuses on members' needs and
prompts cooperatives to work for
the sustainable development of
their communities through
policies accepted by their
members.
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Cooperative Principles