This is the second of two articles on celebrating cooperatives in Greenbelt.
October is Co-op month with this year’s theme being, Cooperatives: Commit to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Co-ops celebrate people working together to make their communities and the world a better place for everyone. Cooperative principles and practices governed by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) form the basis for today’s cooperative principles as practiced here in Greenbelt.
Co-op Month began on October 12, organized by the Greenbelt Cooperative Alliance (GCA) in the spirit of cooperation among cooperatives. Cooperatives are membership organizations and voluntary and open membership is the first principle listed by the ICA. Participation is the second principle, where members must use the services of the cooperative in order for it to be successful. Greenbelt cooperatives have put membership and participation into practice in innovative ways according to the needs of each organization.
Convey Knowledge
The principle of Education, Training and Information is crucial to the continued success of cooperative businesses. Greenbelt co-ops, by being a participant in GCA, can explain cooperative business to both co-op members and non-members. In addition to fulfilling its purpose of disseminating information, the Greenbelt News Review also works with college and graduate students to further their education. The Co-op Supermarket and Pharmacy holds sampling of products and offers consumer information including factsheets and recipes. Greenbelt Homes Inc. (GHI) sends email and printed newsletters and holds town hall meetings on relevant topics. The Greenbelt Federal Credit Union has financial counseling and education for members through Green Path Financial Wellness and in its quarterly newsletters. The New Deal Café hosts the monthly Reel and Meal film series exploring vital environmental, animal rights and social justice issues followed by a discussion with experts or filmmakers on the subject of the film. The Café is also a place for city, county, legislative district and state elected officials to meet with constituents. Greenbelt MakerSpace Cooperative holds regular sessions to help people learn how to repair equipment and plans to open a tool lending library soon. And, the purpose of the Greenbelt Nursery School is to provide an enriching educational environment for young children and their parents.
Democratic Control
The principle that cooperatives maintain their autonomy and independence is closely linked to the principle of democratic control. Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. As such, they hold annual meetings and elect a board of directors to set policy. The Greenbelt News Review and the Co-op Supermarket and Pharmacy hold annual meetings in the fall and each has a seven-member board. The Greenbelt Federal Credit Union, GHI, the New Deal Café, MakerSpace and the Greenbelt Nursery School hold their annual meetings in the spring. The credit union has seven board members plus three credit committee members who are elected. GHI members elect nine board members, three audit committee members and five nominations and elections committee members. The nursery school board is comprised of seven committee chairpersons, four elected executive members and the school’s director and administrator. Many co-ops, including GHI, the Greenbelt Nursery School, the Greenbelt Federal Credit Union and the Co-op Supermarket and Pharmacy, hire managers to run the day-to-day business of the co-op.
Community
Greenbelt cooperatives also strongly support concern for community. The Greenbelt Federal Credit Union annually sponsors two shredding days, collects school supplies and provides financing for co-op housing. The Co-op Supermarket and Pharmacy offers free space to the Greenbelt Elementary School for the collection of books prior to the Labor Day Festival and to other nonprofit groups for fundraisers. Members of the Greenbelt Nursery School find that they build lifelong friendships that build their community. The New Deal Café has instituted environmentally sustainable practices and provides a gathering place for many groups. MakerSpace engages people in activities related to science, technology and arts and crafts. GHI committees are focused on many community issues. The Greenbelt News Review provides information on civic and community organization news and events and is an outlet for divergent views in its Letters to the Editor.
Principles
Cooperatives build a better world by providing their member-owners a variety of services and giving them a say in how the business is operated. Many surveys have shown that people trust cooperatives and prefer to do business with cooperatives because of their values and principles. These are the values and principles under which Greenbelt cooperatives also operate.
