Materials for the Public?
Finally, here are the comments that some respondents provided (personal identifiers have
been removed).
It would be good to find out what non-coop procured services coops purchase to see if we can
achieve an economy of scale and get a bulk discount, or if there's enough interest to start an
inter-cooperative venture to supply that service...
Just the comment that it's difficult to get a read on what or what not a coop would want to do,
from the opinions of one member - especially when it comes to paying for a service! I tried to
answer the questions as best I could based on what I hear and see around here and based on
what's been done in the past!
Interested in co-operative buying power of supplies. After previous experience with food co-op in
town I feel the gap is too wide in membership philosophy to combine credit unions with other co-
ops, unless it's a co-op bank. Considering how banks generally feel about credit unions I doubt
they would have any interest in us.
Thanks for doing the research. Feel free to contact me with questions...I am definitely available
and want to help with the movement of worker cooperatives/collectives.
A number of the joint purchasing areas are already being addressed for my cooperative through
the NCGA and I would not be interested in paying for these services through a different source.
I believe these are all important opportunities for cooperatives to cooperate. Although we are
willing to pay, there would be a point where it would be prohibitive.
I think cooperative trade is a great idea and, when materialized, it will be a gigantic step forward
for the cooperative community. As you can see my organization is not officially a coop. It is a
partnership between my family members, with equal participation, that can be changed any time
to a coop form. To me it is just a technicality. I have a great deal of interest in cooperatives as
way to achieve socio-economic justice. I hope you will consider my survey and keep me
updated...
Comment: On several items above, Yes or No is insufficient! "Maybe" would be the choice. It
would depend on the circumstances in each instance. I am involved in housing co-ops on all
levels, (a) As an officer/ board member of four; (b) As acting president of Connecticut Valley