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What is a Cooperative? | Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc
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</form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> </div> <div id="content-top-highlighted" class="clearfix content-top-highlighted region--dark-typography region--dark-background region--no-separator"> <div class="container"> <div class="clearfix content-top-highlighted__container mt-no-opacity" data-animate-effect="fadeIn" > <div class="row"> <div class="col-12"> <div class="content-top-highlighted__section"> <div class="region region-content-top-highlighted"> <div id="block-cwb-custom-flashy-page-title" class="clearfix block block-core block-page-title-block"> <h1 class="title page-title"><span> What is a Cooperative? </span> </h1> </div> <div id="block-cwb-custom-flashy-breadcrumbs" class="clearfix block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <div class="content"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol class="breadcrumb__items"> <li class="breadcrumb__item"> <span class="breadcrumb__item-separator fas fa-square"></span> <span>Your Cooperative</span> </li> <li class="breadcrumb__item"> <span class="breadcrumb__item-separator fas fa-square"></span> <span>What is a Cooperative?</span> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="block-pagetitlebackground" class="clearfix block block-ctools-block block-entity-fieldnodefield-page-title-background"> <div class="content"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="main-content" class="clearfix main-content region--dark-typography region--white-background region--no-separator"> <div class="container-fluid pl-xl-5 pr-xl-5"> <div class="clearfix main-content__container"> <div class="row"> <section class="col-12 pr-xl-5 pl-xl-5"> <div class="clearfix main-content__section region--no-block-paddings" > <div class="region region-content"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div><article data-history-node-id="33" class="node node--type-pages node--view-mode-full clearfix node--promoted"> <div> <div class="panel-display sutro clearfix"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 radix-layouts-header panel-panel"> <div class="panel-panel-inner"> <div class="block-region-header"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-6 radix-layouts-column1 panel-panel"> <div class="panel-panel-inner"> <div class="block-region-column1"><div class="clearfix block block-ctools-block block-entity-fieldnodebody"> <div class="content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A cooperative is a business that was established by rural pioneers in the late 1930s and 1940s to provide electricity to rural Americans in places where investor-owned utilities wouldn't or couldn't serve because of cost. A cooperative is owned by the people who use it - members who have organized to provide themselves with the products and services they need. The members elect a board of directors who govern the cooperative and represent the needs of its members.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 radix-layouts-column2 panel-panel"> <div class="panel-panel-inner"> <div class="block-region-column2"><div class="clearfix block block-ctools-block block-entity-fieldnodefield-paragraph-blocks"> <div class="content"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--393"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns__1col"> <div><div class="video-card"> <div class="video-card__effectbox"> <div class="video-card__videobox"> <div class="field field--name-field-video-url field--type-video-embed-field field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="video-embed-field-provider-youtube video-embed-field-responsive-video"><iframe width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tenKnIx4ouY?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 radix-layouts-footer panel-panel"> <div class="panel-panel-inner"> <div class="block-region-footer"><div class="clearfix block block-block-content block-block-content9f90ccc6-3ac0-4579-9ac8-53cf47241281"> <h2 class="title">7 Cooperative Principles</h2> <div class="content"> <div> <div class="cwb-step_list container"> <ol class="step-list"> <div><li class="step-list__item" > <div class="step-list__item__inner"> <div class="content"> <div class="body"> <h1></h1> <h2>Open and Voluntary Membership</h2> <span><p>Membership in a cooperative is open to all people who can reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, regardless of race, religion, gender, or economic circumstances.</p> </span> </div> <div class="icon" style="background-color:rgba(245,245,245,1);"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/icons/icons8-handshake-128.png" width="128" height="128" alt="handshake" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </div> </div> </li> </div> <div><li class="step-list__item" > <div class="step-list__item__inner"> <div class="content"> <div class="body"> <h1></h1> <h2>Democratic Member Control</h2> <span><p>Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Representatives (directors/trustees) are elected among the membership and are accountable to them. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote); cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.</p> </span> </div> <div class="icon" style="background-color:rgba(245,245,245,1);"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/icons/icons8-elections-128.png" width="128" height="128" alt="voting" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </div> </div> </li> </div> <div><li class="step-list__item" > <div class="step-list__item__inner"> <div class="content"> <div class="body"> <h1></h1> <h2>Members’ Economic Participation</h2> <span><p>Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative; setting up reserves; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.</p> </span> </div> <div class="icon" style="background-color:rgba(245,245,245,1);"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/icons/icons8-dollar-coin-128.png" width="128" height="128" alt="dollar sign" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </div> </div> </li> </div> <div><li class="step-list__item" > <div class="step-list__item__inner"> <div class="content"> <div class="body"> <h1></h1> <h2>Autonomy and Independence</h2> <span><p>Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control as well as their unique identity.</p> </span> </div> <div class="icon" style="background-color:rgba(245,245,245,1);"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/icons/icons8-puzzle-128.png" width="128" height="128" alt="puzzle" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </div> </div> </li> </div> <div><li class="step-list__item" > <div class="step-list__item__inner"> <div class="content"> <div class="body"> <h1></h1> <h2>Education, Training, and Information</h2> <span><p>Education and training for members, elected representatives (directors/trustees), CEOs, and employees help them effectively contribute to the development of their cooperatives. Communications about the nature and benefits of cooperatives, particularly with the general public and opinion leaders, help boost cooperative understanding.</p> </span> </div> <div class="icon" style="background-color:rgba(245,245,245,1);"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/icons/icons8-training-128.png" width="128" height="128" alt="education" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </div> </div> </li> </div> <div><li class="step-list__item" > <div class="step-list__item__inner"> <div class="content"> <div class="body"> <h1></h1> <h2>Cooperation Among Cooperatives</h2> <span><p>By working together through local, national, regional and international structures, cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs.</p> </span> </div> <div class="icon" style="background-color:rgba(245,245,245,1);"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/icons/icons8-crowd-128.png" width="128" height="128" alt="Dollar Icon" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </div> </div> </li> </div> <div><li class="step-list__item" > <div class="step-list__item__inner"> <div class="content"> <div class="body"> <h1></h1> <h2>Concern for Community</h2> <span><p>Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership.</p> </span> </div> <div class="icon" style="background-color:rgba(245,245,245,1);"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/icons/icons8-trust-128.png" width="128" height="128" alt="heart above hand" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </div> </div> </li> </div> </ol> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><!-- /.sutro --> </div> </article> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer id="footer" class="clearfix footer region--dark-typography region--colored-background region--no-separator "> <div class="container"> <div class="clearfix footer__container"> <div class="row"> <div class="clearfix d-none d-sm-block d-md-none"></div> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="clearfix footer__section footer-third" > <div class="region region-footer-third"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-footer-3-menu" id="block-footer-3" class="clearfix block block-menu navigation menu--footer"> <h2 id="block-footer-3-menu">Quick Links</h2> <ul class="clearfix menu"> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="https://icl.coop/">Illinois Country Living</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">NRECA</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="https://call811.com/">Call Before You Dig</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="https://safeelectricity.org/">Safe Electricity</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="https://voicesforcooperativepower.com/">Action.Coop</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="https://www.touchstoneenergy.com/">Touchstone Energy Cooperatives</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="http://login.microsoftonline.com/">Employee Email</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix d-none d-sm-block d-md-none d-none d-sm-block d-md-none"></div> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="clearfix footer__section footer-fourth" > <div class="region region-footer-fourth"> <div id="block-contactinfo" class="clearfix block block-block-content block-block-contentca0c2ec3-3ad6-4d0e-8fca-f7c00225b5e8"> <h2 class="title">Contact Info</h2> <div class="content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="100" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d6230.560753122341!2d-88.515017!3d38.665424!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8873e04a64ec5455%3A0x1ce33bfe909425e6!2s7784%20Old%20Hwy%2050%2C%20Flora%2C%20IL%2062839!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1650904191353!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border:0;" width="100%"></iframe></p> <p class="text-align-center">PO Box 517<br /> 7784 Old Hwy 50<br /> Flora IL, 62839</p> <p class="text-align-center">618-662-2171 / 1-800-582-9012</p> <p class="text-align-center">Hours: 7:30 A.M. to 4 P.M. 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