2011 Assembly Joint Resolution 69
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: declaring October 2011 as Co-op Month.
Whereas, cooperatives are independent, member-owned and controlled businesses, organized to process and market products and goods for their members; and
Whereas, cooperatives serve many needs, including credit and financial services, health care, child care, housing, insurance, and legal and professional services; and
Whereas, cooperatives sell food, farm supplies, hardware, and recreational equipment, and provide electricity, telephone, and Internet services; and
Whereas, today approximately 2.7 million Wisconsinites depend on approximately 650 cooperatives to provide these needed goods and services; and
Whereas, cooperatives help grow Wisconsin's economy, supporting nearly 30,000 full-time jobs for Wisconsin residents and recording about $8.6 billion in gross sales each year; and
Whereas, Wisconsin was one of the first states to enact a law authorizing cooperatives, in 1887, spurring the growth of electric, telephone, and agricultural cooperatives and town mutual associations; and
Whereas, the first Wisconsin rural electric cooperatives started in Richland Center and Columbus in May of 1937; the Cochrane Cooperative Telephone Company was one of the first telephone companies incorporated in 1905; and the first grain farmer cooperative started in Madison in 1857; and
Whereas, Wisconsin's strong roots as a co-op state continue today since two in every five people in the United States belong to a cooperative; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the
assembly, the senate concurring, That that the Wisconsin legislature declares October 2011 as “Co-op Month" and encourages Badger State residents to recognize the important role that cooperatives play in their everyday lives.
