Our Heritage

from our cooperative family

International Cooperative Alliance Statement of Cooperative Identity
(Adopted at the International Cooperative Alliance Congress
Manchester, England, September 23, 1995)

Definition: A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

Values: Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperatives believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Principles: The cooperative principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice.

1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership. Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control: Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organized in a democratic manner.

3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation: Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence: Co-operatives 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 by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.

5th Principle: Education, Training and Information: Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public – particularly young people and opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

6th Principle: Co-operation Among Co-operatives: Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7th Principle: Concern for Community: Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.

• The pine tree is the ancient symbol of endurance, fecundity, and immortality.
• These are the qualities that we see in Co-operation.
• In the old Egyptian, Persian and Indian mythology, the pine tree and its symbol,
• the pine cone are found typifying life and the perpetuation of life.
• The hardy pine symbolizes the enduring quality of Co-operation.
• More than one pine tree is used to represent the mutual Co-operation necessary.
• The trunks of the pine tree are continued into the roots which form a circle.
• The circle is another ancient symbol of eternal life. It typifies that which has no end.
• The circle in this emblem represents also the world, the all-embracing cosmos of which
• Co-operation is a part and which depends for its existence upon Co-operation.