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Youth Tour Essay Contest 2012
The theme of the 2012 Youth Tour Essay Contest is The Seven Cooperative Principles.
High school juniors who participate will be asked to pick one or two of the following cooperative principles and explain why it is an important business concept and how it benefits the co-op members (customers -- Platte-Clay Electric Co-op customers are members – they are owners of the co-op).
Essays must be typed, double-spaced, 600 words, or about two pages typed, and are due at Platte-Clay by Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Some teachers make it a class projects, others extra credit and some students work on the essay on their own.
The top six finishers will present their essays and judged by an impartial panel. Of the six, the top two scoring students will receive a trip to Washington, D.C., in June, 2012, and the other four will receive a trip to Jefferson City, to participate in a youth leadership conference in July, 2012.
The top two students, if available, will be introduced to the members attending the 2012 Platte-Clay Electric Co-op annual meeting, Thursday, May 3, 2012.
The Seven Cooperative Principles
All cooperative businesses adhere to these seven guiding principles:
1. 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.
2. Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
3. Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. 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 the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4. Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives 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 cooperative autonomy.
5. Education, Training, and Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
7. Concern for Community
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.
See and hear what other students have to say about Youth Tour - Watch Youth Tour Videos.
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