* The Rule Book of the Rochdale Society of
Equitable Pioneers was written by Charles Howarth and includes the Objects of
the Society as its “Law First”. They were setting out to improve both the
financial and social conditions for members. The objects include the setting up
of a shop, the building of houses, manufacturing, farming and a Temperance
Hotel – to provide an alternative to the public house, which was the only
meeting place for working people at the time. The ultimate aim was to change
all production, distribution, education and government to co-operation. They
knew that a world based around co-operation would be a much fairer place. All
members would be able to buy good food at reasonable prices, to be part owners
of the Society, take part in the decision making about how it would operate and
receive a fair share of the profits. In addition, they would have access to
libraries and educational classes which were normally only open to the rich.
UNDERSTANDING COOPERATIVE SOCIETY
Saturday, 31 May 2014
Thursday, 29 May 2014
Understanding Book: APPLYING THE CO-OPERATIVE FORMULA during formation
Many people have been made to perambulate
and waste their precious time and effort by some wolves in sheep’s clothing,
just because they don’t understand the actual process of setting up a
co-operative society. Is it atypical to be a novice in what you don’t
previously know? Or is it compulsory that someone must pass through some
unusual stress before he/she can be put on track? It is neither strange nor
funny for somebody to be taught what he doesn’t know. Therefore, as an amateur,
to benefit from what we are actually discussing about in this book, which is
“STEPS TO SETTING UP CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY AND RUNNING IT” I advise readers to
pay more than the usual attention to this book. As it will not just help those
intending to set up co-operative societies alone, relatively, it will add to
the knowledge of managing co-operative societies, which you already know.
Most
of the information’s you will find here might be what you already know, but if
you remind yourselves of it and act on them, you will achieve great benefit from
it as a co-operator. To start up this entertaining TRIP, let’s consider the
words used in the co-operative society BYE-LAWS. They are expected to guard you
through this exciting trip.
What
You Must Do, Before Your Co-operative Society Is Approved For Registration:
1.1a. About
ten individuals who understands and trust themselves and have a common objective
or pursuit are expected to come together, to discuss ways they hope to excel in
their various businesses, and also what to do to help their immediate
Community. After conducting with themselves and seeing the possibilities of
succeeding if they work together, they are expected to make their intention
known to the Co-operative officer in charge of the Area/LGA they operate from.
1.1b. The
Co-operative officer is expected to visit the group during their meeting, to
ascertain whether they have been pre-informed or not. This visit by the officer
will display the authenticity of the existence of such group. In the visit, the
officer is likely to educate them on the primary guidelines of setting up a
co-operative society, what a co-operative society is, how a co-operative
society is expected to function, its financing and the ways they expend funds.
1.1c. The
requirements to meet up with before setting up a reputable co-operative society
are made known to them. The reason of thrift payment by co-operators is
decisively explained to them in detail. The need not to be in a hurry in
running a co-operative society is brought bare before them.
1.1d. The
co-operators will then be expected to start some savings in which part of it
will be used to register the co-operative after which on routinely, the officer
visits them and check their various record books to make sure they are
acquainted with the understanding of book keeping and how to record them.
1.1e. During
these several visit by the officer in charge, who is certain that they have
gradually saved enough money to register the group and also very sure that
after the registration that the co-operative group will still have some money
left, he/she will then advice the co-operators to write an application to the
Director of Co-operatives through the registrar of the co-operative societies,
which he/she will attest to that he is recommending them for registration.
Understanding Book: COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS
2.1a. After
submitting the application of registration to the Director of co-operative through
the co-operative officer, the officer is expected to keep an eye on the
activities of the group in the area of regularity and making sure that the
vision behind the formation of the group is maintained. During this period, the
members are taught the Bye-Laws. They may be shown a copy of the Bye-Law and
ask to read through in order to ascertain whether they understand and is
satisfied with the contents.
2.1b. Because
they are new in the co-operative business, it will be fair to show them a copy
of the Bye-Laws as it will serve as a guard to them, in case they intend to
correct the content of the general Bye-Law to suit their interest. Hence the
suggestion in section 2.1a.
2.1c. Some
words used in the Bye-Law which might seem strange to the new cooperators,
are:-
i.
“Director”
ii.
“Regulation”
iii.
“Financial
Year”
iv.
“Laws”
v.
“Board
or Committee”
2.1d. The
words written in italics in section 2.1c
above which is defined below, Needs to be thoroughly explained to the new
Co-operators in order for them to be well sentient in the structure and
activities of the Co-operative system.
i.
DIRECTOR- Means; the registrar of
Co-operative societies Edo State Nigeria. If the group is doing the
registration in Edo State.
ii.
REGULATION- means; The Bendel State
Co-Operative Societies Regulation,
1976,as amended from time to time (as applicable In Edo State) if the
Co-Operative Society is to be registered in Edo State.
iii.
FINANCIAL
YEAR- means;
the period of twelve months beginning on 1st January and ending on
the following 31st December.
iv.
LAWS- means; the Co-operative
Societies Law, Cap. 45 Bendel State of Nigeria Laws 1976 as amended from time
to time (as applicable in Edo State) if the Co-operative Society is to be
registered in Edo State.
v.
BOARD
OR COMMITTEE- mean; the Board of Director of the Co-operative Societies.
2.1e. the
Officer must not fail teach the new venturers the actual definition of
co-operative society. The definition below will help the new co-operative
society member to be well acquainted with the terms and conditions of setting
up a co-operative society, and running it. At this point, the new co-operators
will be given the opportunity to make up their minds whether they are still
willing to continue with the process of registration or to terminate it. As the
Director of Co-operative will ask them what they know about the co-operative
society, before registering the group.
Undertanding Book: CO-OPERATIVE CORE VALUE
3.1. The core value of a cooperative
enterprise system is called, “coordinated cooperation," which enables
human with equal rights and mutual respect for each other work together, for
the welfare of the group. This differs from "subordinated
cooperation," where people work individually or collectively but are under
other people's supervision. Subordinated cooperation occurred in state
socialist communities that were formed through forced collectivization. True
coordinated cooperation does not exist as a prevailing value in any present
economic system.
a. The cooperative system cannot function
effectively in an environment of exploitation, corruption, and materialism, nor
where they are forced to compete with themselves or with large corporations for
marketing and supplies. For cooperatives to succeed, they must have morality
among the working-members, strong management of the enterprise, and community
support for the cooperative system. Furthermore, cooperatives need ready access
to suppliers and markets for their goods and services. And the members of a
cooperative must be able to work in a collective spirit and must share similar
material aspirations.
b. For a cooperative Society to function effectively,
it requires decent people with cooperative values, people with similar
material/economic needs. Most importantly, people with mutual respect for each
other. Having the sense of appropriate organizational and management
structures; to function conveniently in this politically dominated society.
Demonstrating neutrality can help to create an environment where the government
and other interest groups will come in to support small and medium scale
cooperative industry for the development of a local economy.
|
c. Values must first be established among
members, for the cooperatives to flourish. Or relatively; it will become the
responsibility of the co-operative
managers to create strong moral values in the members in order for the
group to make progress. This book therefore is designed to offers practical
viewpoint for developing cooperatives. It will help to examine the co-operative
principles, advantages, internal organizational structures, supportive infrastructure,
and wider environmental factors necessary for their development. Finally It
will address difficult questions of strategic priorities.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)