Dan High

Dan High of Twin Bridges

WHAT IS A CO-OPERATIVE?

A co-operative is defined as a user (patron) owned, democratically controlled (depending on how a co-op is organized, members may or may not have voting privileges) business in which benefits (often referred to as patronage and most often received in the form of lower prices, shares of stock, and/or cash refunds on purchases over a set time, etc.) are received in direct proportion to member participation (the more the member participates the better the return is that the member receives).Co-operatives are user-owned, tax paying business which are very capable of competing with privately-owned businesses providing similar services.The philosophy behind co-operatives is to supply something that is needed by someone--services, products, etc.

The first co-operative in America was founded in 1752 in Philadelphia.It was a company which insured buildings and property against loss by fire.