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Critique of elitist, individualist and extreme-collective economic systems, philosophies and practices

Synergism and sharing paradigm in collective productivity and prosperity.

Promotion of successful enterprises that are broad and popular in ownership, management and operation in the mold of genuine cooperatives

Promotion of bigger roles for cooperatives in major industries and the economy

  1. Total Human Development and Harmony Through Synergism

  2. Holistic Health Care and Medicine

  3. Deep Ecology and Harmony with Nature 

  4. Sense of History and Sense of Mission

  5. Civics and Democratic Governance

  6. Culture as Community Creativity

  7. Light-Seeking and Light-Sharing Education

  8. Gender Sensitivity, Equality & Harmony

  9. Reconstructive/Restor-ative Justice

10. Associative Economics, Social Capital and Sustainable Development

11. Synergetic Leadership and Organizations

12. Appropriate/Adaptive Technology

13. Mutual Enrichment of Families and Friendships

14. Human Dignity and Human Harmony: Human Rights and Peace

15. Aesthetics Without Boundaries: 'Art from the Heart'   

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Become and Remain a Coop Member...

With Eyes Wide Open

By Amy Romero

Member, Advocates of Cooperative Education on Synergism; (ACES) Board Vice Chair and Education Committee Chair, Sts. Peter & Paul Parish (Makati) Multipurpose Cooperative; and Education Committee Member, Globelink Resources and Services (Manpower) Cooperative.

This article was first published in LightShare Digest.

WHY IS THE COOPERATIVE such a powerful tool for development? What is my role in being a coop member? What benefits do cooperatives offer? These and other questions are often asked by members. It is not surprising that even members ask these questions when it is expected that they are supposed to have been made fully aware of these before they signed up as members. So, it appears that there is something wrong in the way the Fifth Principle of Cooperative Identity (Education, Training and Information) is being observed in practice..

The Fifth Principle states:

“Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, manager and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. They inform the general public – particularly the youth and opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of cooperation.”

How then can we promote the effective education, training and information of members and prospective members and the community at large?

First, let us have a clear understanding of education, training and information.

Education is not merely information giving. It seeks to ensure a deeper understanding of the logic and rationale behind certain vital things.

In very concrete terms, training is not merely having more knowledge of certain concepts but having improved skills. One may be successful in giving information but such information must motivate one to act on and advocate certain issues.

Education, training and information happen not only through proper communication but, more importantly, through having the correct attitude on the part of the facilitators and the learners. One will learn if he has an open mind and an open heart.

Then, expectedly, correct action follows.
In the cooperative movement, information supposedly starts when a prospective member is informed by a member or officer of a cooperative in a pre-membership seminar. Then the prospective member signs up to be a member. Sadly, most cooperatives are contented with just that: having signed up so many members. But the orientation seminar itself must be a venue for the members to think deeply about the true essence and spirit of coop-erativism before they decide.

Otherwise, though they have decided to be members, their decision to be members may not be an informed decision. They were merely informed and then they decided without understanding fully why and how the organization exists and how they, as members, could help one another.

Continuing education is an essential factor in the success and survival of the coop. It is a self-evolving concept in the sense that as members are educated, they open their eyes more widely and yearn to learn more and participate more actively.

However, the education program must have a framework or curriculum showing precisely the logical sequence of topics and methodologies in modules. Facilitators chosen from among the members must be trained to conduct the education activities, thus, multiplying the capability of the cooperative to effectively reach more members.

Usually, the cooperative orientation meeting explains to the members the salient provisions of the Cooperative Code of the Philippines. Then it goes on to describe the membership criteria, duties, organizational structure, capital formation, savings mobilization and businesses. So, it’s done.

But why is it that the members keep on asking questions and why is it that they do not quite understand? Some do not even have the confidence to explain to others what the organization that he had already joined is all about.
Does he know that what he had joined is a business enterprise? And that parting with his cash and endorsing it to the cooperative for lending (in the case of credit coops) is, in fact, having a business jointly with other cooperators?

And does he know that as a business owner, he must patronize this business and make sure that the cooperative is managed in a profitable way because he is part-owner of it? If the members do not understand this very basic concept, chances are that they look at the cooperative merely as a source of credit and will not participate in its growth.

Do the members know that it is their capital share and savings deposit that must fuel the cooperative machine? And that they must not at all depend on grants and support of NGOs and benefactors?

Most cooperatives cannot even make their members complete their subscribed share or increase their savings deposit because after the orientation meeting no subsequent meetings are done. Continuing education is needed.

Open their eyes more widely and be vigilant. Facilitate activities that will motivate them to see, discern, analyze, assess, discuss; plan and act to provide more services to members. Plan and act on activities that will consolidate efforts and resources to have more business that will translate to bigger patronage refunds and dividends. This will ensure the stability and strength of the cooperative.

Open their eyes more widely and be aggressive to grab opportunities for viable business. Members are creative, enterprising and daring. All that is needed is for the officers to enjoin them in planning conferences and collective action. They are eager to start a business. They are anxious to expand and diversify. They long to create partnerships with others to complement talents and resources.

Open their eyes more widely and advocate issues. Cooperatives are affected by issues directly and indirectly. If a cooperative wants to benefit from decisions and laws, it must be part of its conceptualization, crafting and promotion. Cooperatives are living organizations that are potent groups for positive change.

Yes, open their eyes and motivate them well to keep those eyes wide open. So all members shall have joined the cooperative and consciously decided to remain as members because, knowing exactly what a cooperative is, it has been their free, informed and, therefore, firm decision to perform and live according to its basic principles, according to the real cooperative way.

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