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Co-operative
Principles
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Here
at the Institute, we are often asked by members of the University
community and others "so, what exactly is a co-op, anyway?" It is
a good question, and one that cannot be neatly answered. People
have co-operated to achieve common goals for thousands of years.
However, the co-operative movement that enjoys world-wide success
first began over 150 years ago during the Industrial Revolution
in Europe. Since then it has developed into international movement
with nearly 800 million found in virtually every nation.
Because co-operatives exist in so many societies, under a wide variety
of governments and meets so many different needs, their essential
nature may not always be evident. For that reason, during the mid-1990s,
the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the international
voice for the organised movement, turned to BCICS director, Dr.
Ian MacPherson, to define the essential co-operative positions for
the modern era. The resultant ICA Identity defines co-operatives
as "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet
their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations
through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise."
Because economics and ethics are not independent of each other,
co-operatives have traditionally been built on a strong foundation
of values. "Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help,
self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity.
In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe
in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility,
and caring for others."
Co-operatives operate under seven principles that are guidelines
whereby they put their values into practice:
- Voluntary and Open Membership
- Democratic Membership Control
- Member Economic Participation
- Autonomy and Independence
- Education, Training and Information
- Co-operation among Co-operatives
- Concern for Community.
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Spring 2001: V1 - I1
Summer 2001: V1 - I2
Fall 2001: V1 - I3
Fall 2002: V2 - I1
Spring 2003: V3 - I1
Fall 2004: V4 - I1
Spring 2005: V5 - I1
Fall 2005: V5 - I2
Spring 2006: V6 - I1
Fall 2006: V6 - I2
Fall 2007: V7 - I1
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