ST. LOUIS COOPERATIVES an interactive workbook created by
interactive activities: Why do you want to start a cooperative?. . . . 10 Already using cooperative principles?. . . . . . 21 Designing your cooperative project. . . . . . . . . 28 Thinking about your membership. . . . . . . . . . 35 Your cooperative’s structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Cooperative decision-making. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Cooperative resource sharing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Cooperative opportunities and challenges. . . 61 Managing conflict. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Supporting STL’s cooperative ecosystem. . . . 68 Written and Designed by Members of Cooperation STL: Xandi Barrett Julia Ho Jenny Murphy Chris Willcox Many amazing people contributed to the information shared in this workbook. See pg. 76 for full acknowledgments. First Printing, 2024
What is a Cooperative? 2 Types of Co-ops 4 Why Start a Co-op? 8 Co-op History 12 Co-op Principles 16 How is a Co-op Created? 22 Co-ops in St. Louis 24 Designing Your Project 28 Cooperative Membership 34 How is a Co-op Structured? 40 How to Make Decisions 46 Distributing Resources 54 Co-op Funding 60 Conflict Resolution 62 Cooperation Among Co-ops 66 Resources 70 About Cooperation STL 76
cooperative? A cooperative (co-op) is a self-governing group of people who voluntarily work together to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled model of organization. 2
Every member of a cooperative collectively owns it. This means they have contributed some kind of investment in the cooperative. Each cooperative defines membership differently, so this investment could be capital, time, etc (see page 36 for more about membership). In a housing cooperative, for example, every resident owns the building by contributing to the building’s maintenance and equity or mortgage. MEMBER-CONTROLLED: In cooperatives, all members have an equal say in how the cooperative operates. Decision-making models vary (see page 48), but to be a cooperative, all members must have a say in the major policies of the cooperative. For example, all worker self-directed non-profit guide the direction of the work. MEMBER-BENEFITTING: All members of a cooperative have access to its benefits, such as housing, goods, profit, etc. In a worker cooperative, all employees share the profits that would otherwise go to shareholders, proprietor, or partners in a traditional business. 3
co-ops exist? WORKER CO-OPS A business owned & controlled entirely by its workers Examples: homecare, small manufacturing, bakeries In STL: Pure Vibes, Garrity Tools PURCHASING OR RETAIL CO-OPS Independently owned businesses that collectively purchase goods and services at lower rates In STL: Do it Best Hardware Stores 4
CO-OPs Organizations formed by producers of similar goods to sell them collectively. Examples: dairy, craftspeople In STL: Prairie Farms WORKER SELF-DIRECTED NON-PROFIT A non-profit where all workers manage programs and the organization as a whole. In STL: HOSCO CONSUMER CO-OPS An enterprise owned and governed by its consumers. Examples: groceries, health care, electrical or telephone service 5
A consumer-owned financial services cooperative in which every depositor becomes a member-owner In STL: STL Community Credit Union MULTI-STAKEHOLDER CO-OPS Owned by multiple types of members Examples: A grocery store that is owned and managed by both staff and customers. In STL: HOSCO HOUSING CO-OPS A Residential property owned and maintained collectively by its residents. In STL: Hidden Alley Ranch 6 Reference: “What is a Co-Op?” booklet based on cultivate.coop
the best structure. There needs to be more information out there about how people can develop a co-op that fits their mission.“ - Gibron Jones, HOSCO 7
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