The membership of Cooperative Life discussed, modified, and accepted a proposal to
begin research on the feasibility of this project. The membership also indicated that it
supported the goals of the project. The Board accepted the research methodology and
gave detailed feedback on the draft survey of cooperatives at a meeting on March 7,
2004. Respondents to the research survey were drawn from the membership and contact
base of Cooperative Life. The Board of Cooperative Life helped review the survey results
and provided input into the design of tools created in response to those results.
Success depends on the project design meeting the needs of participants. Part of the
research that was conducted focused on exploring the needs and constraints of
participants. At the same time, the project falls within the organizational mission and
vision of Cooperative Life to help build a strong cooperative economy in the Northeast.
One indication of support from project participants has been the willingness to volunteer
to further develop the project, expressed by a few survey respondents and directory users.
In particular, a member of a workers' collective and a survey respondent, Jason Lemieux,
volunteered to professionally redesign the online directory website.
The list in the following table summarizes the various stakeholders of the project.
Table 1: Project Stakeholders
Cooperative Life: Board and membership
Cooperative Development Institute
cooperatives in the region and their members:
producer
worker
agricultural
utility
business and
credit unions
National Cooperative Business Association and
National Cooperative Bank
The ICA Group
VT Center for Employee Ownership
NH Community Loan Fund
government agencies such as the USDA Rural Development office