LRB-3761/1
SRM:jld:ph
2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE
October 27, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Nerison and Vruwink. Referred
to Committee on Rules.
AJR89,1,1
1Relating to: declaring October as Co-op Month.
AJR89,1,42
Whereas, cooperatives are independent, member-owned and controlled
3businesses, organized to process and market products and goods for their members;
4and
AJR89,1,75
Whereas, cooperatives serve many needs including credit and financial
6services, health care, child care, housing, insurance, legal and professional services;
7and
AJR89,1,98
Whereas, cooperatives sell food, farm supplies, hardware, and recreational
9equipment and provide electricity, telephone, and Internet services; and
AJR89,1,1110
Whereas, today approximately 2.7 million Wisconsinites depend on
11approximately 800 cooperatives to provide these needed goods and services; and
AJR89,1,1412
Whereas, cooperatives help grow Wisconsin's economy, employing more than
1323,000 Wisconsin residents and recording about $5.6 billion in gross sales each year;
14and
AJR89,2,3
1Whereas, Wisconsin was one of the first states to enact a law authorizing
2cooperatives in 1887, spurring the growth of electric, telephone, and agricultural
3cooperatives and town mutual associations; and
AJR89,2,74
Whereas, the first Wisconsin rural electric cooperatives started in Richland
5Center and Columbus in May 1937; the Cochrane Cooperative Telephone Company
6was the one of the first telephone companies incorporated in 1905; and the first grain
7farmer cooperative started in Madison in 1857; and
AJR89,2,98
Whereas, Wisconsin's strong roots as a co-op state continue today since two in
9every five people in the United States belong to a cooperative; now, therefore, be it
AJR89,2,13
10Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin
11legislature declares October 2009 as "Co-op Month" and encourages Badger State
12residents to recognize the important role that cooperatives play in their every day
13lives.
