New Leaf Market

New Leaf Market is a voluntary organization; open to all persons able to use our services and willing to accept the responsibilities of ownership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination. Democratic Owner Control The Co-op is a democratic organization controlled by its owners, who actively participate in setting polic... ies and making decisions. New Leaf Market recognizes that owners have different motivations, needs and expectations. Owners are encouraged to participate at a level and on the issues that they choose. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the ownership. In primary cooperatives owners have equal voting rights (one owner, one vote). Owner Economic Participation Owners contribute equitably to, and democratically control the capital of the Co-op. At least part of that capital is the common property of the cooperative. Owners receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of ownership. Owners, through their Board of Directors, allocate surpluses for any of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting owners in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities of the cooperative. Autonomy and Independence The Co-op is an autonomous, self-help organization controlled by its owners. If the Co-op enters into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raises capital from external sources, it does so on terms that ensure democratic control by the owners and maintains the Co-op's autonomy. Education, Training and Information New Leaf Market provides education and training for its owners, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of the Co-op. New Leaf Market has a responsibility to educate the local community about co-ops and cooperative principles. The Co-op informs the general public about the benefits of ...Read More