| The largest statewide association of its kind, Cooperative Network serves member-cooperatives owned
by more than 6.3 million Minnesota and Wisconsin residents by providing business development,
communications, education, government affairs, and safety and environmental services for a wide variety
of cooperatives. Cooperative Network provides the means for cooperatives of all types to join together to
strengthen their businesses, grow our economy and serve our communities. |
Dispatch – a Minnesota publication – Updates members
on Cooperative Network’s legislative work in Minnesota.
Dispatch is distributed every two weeks during legislative
session and once a month when the legislature is out of
session.
Contact – a Wisconsin publication - Updates members
on Cooperative Network’s legislative work in Wisconsin.
Contact is distributed every two weeks during legislative
session and once a month when the legislature is out of
session.
Capsule – a Minnesota publication – Provides timely
information on matters pertaining to Minnesota’s nonprofi
t, consumer-owned electric cooperatives. Capsule is a
monthly newsletter.
Dairy Update – a Minnesota and Wisconsin publication
– Reports information on matters pertaining to our dairy
member-owned cooperatives. The Dairy Update is a
quarterly newsletter.
Mutual Interests – a Wisconsin publication – Informs our
mutual insurance members of legislative and regulatory
matters. Mutual Interests is a quarterly newsletter.
Co-op Living – a Minnesota publication – Informs our
senior cooperative housing members of legislative and
regulatory matters, and general industry information. Coop
Living is a quarterly newsletter. |
Membership List
At their request, associate members have the
ability to receive our entire membership list
and contact information to communicate with
Cooperative Network members directly.
Educational Programs
From credit matters to communication,
Cooperative Network offers a wide variety
of educational programs to its membership.
Associate members have the ability to take
advantage of these programs.
Conferences
Associates are invited to all of our
conferences held for various Cooperative
Network sectors. These conferences have
proved extremely useful to our associate
members in learning the issues of interest
and importance to each of the industries
Cooperative Network represents.
Annual Meeting – Booth Display
All associate members have the opportunity
to have a booth display in our highly-traffi cked
area at our annual meeting in November.
Hundreds of our members from Minnesota
and Wisconsin attend this event, giving yet
another opportunity for associate members
build relationships and connect with the entire
Cooperative Network membership.
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Protecting and Promoting Co-op
Business Model
- Protect co-op business structure and
tax status, including Capper-Volstead
exemption.
- Prevented legislation that would force
equity redemption upon request.
Passage of legislation on the distribution
of unclaimed property, reducing co-op
paperwork.
- Educate public about how co-ops differ
from non-cooperatives; ex: Public
Service Announcements, curriculum
development.
- Unite industries to create connections that
strengthen business strategies. Diversity
in membership provides political strength
and brokers coalitions between industries.
- Offer Co-op Director Liability workshops
and on-site trainings, Co-ops 101
workshop.
Health Care
- Developing health care co-op for
farmers, their families and staff and
agribusinesses.
- Navigating the state regulatory process
for implementing the health care initiative.
- Patron-members will receive a substantial
health care co-op membership discount
if your co-op is member of Cooperative
Network
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Financial and Credit Issues
- Free members-only red fl ag rule model
policy, written specifi cally for co-ops.
- Passage of law that co-ops can charge up
to 18% interest rate on purchases.
- Members-only Credit Manager Network.
- Master Supply Contract created by former
Stoel Rives attorney, Joel Dahlgren.
Transportation
- Chair of rail shipper coalition working
to pass federal legislation for captive
shippers.
Ag Chemical/Fertilizer Issues
- Lobbyist focus to stop perennial attacks
on ag chemicals.
- Closed the loophole on out-state dealers
not paying ACRRA tax on sales in
Minnesota.
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What is the Credit Managers Network?
A networking group comprised of credit managers from co-ops around Minnesota that are members of the Cooperative Network. At meetings, Cooperative Network will facilitate a forum to share ideas between credit managers.
This Credit Managers Network is designed to help make the duties of a credit manager easier by presenting updates on credit issues, sharing ideas on solutions and day-to-day problems faced by credit managers, and discussing conciliation court cases. Members of the Credit Managers Network will hear from speakers on pertinent topics and share their legislative concerns with Cooperative Network staff. Members will receive periodic email updates from Cooperative Network to keep them in the loop on important developments and educational resources. A stronger, more effective credit program will result in a more successful cooperative that will meet members’ needs in a very competitive market. |
When and where will they meet?
The Credit Managers Network meets 3 times per year, including the annual Credit Issues Conference. Their next Credit Manager Network-only event is September 23.
How can I find out more?
Contact Matt Hughes, 651-228-0214 or
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