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Our mission is to enhance the quality of life and economic opportunities

or rural Mississippi residents through the development of cooperative businesses.

THE

QUIET MOVEMENT

MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COOPERATIVES A State Association of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund

Sep

201

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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Third QUARTER EDITION 2012 NEWSLETTER

This article has been dedicated to the international year of cooperatives;

I am sure many of us are not aware that India is the largest milk producer in the world

today. It was really interesting to know during my research that India utilized their

strong cooperative infrastructure in a very effective manner to achieve such a land-

mark in the world. India named this White Revolution or Operation Flood. With an

annual production of 108 million tons, 65 per cent of which is produced a national

herd of 113 million head of cattle/ buffaloes, India is the world’s largest milk-

producing country ahead of the second largest milk producer United States of Ameri-

ca with76 million tons. Some 75 million dairy farming households, mostly small

farmers and they are linked to

cooperatives.

Milking is done by hand, and

the milk is then transported to

the village collection centers or

it is collected by local milk-

men. About 45 per cent of the

milk is used by the farming

households and only 15 to 20

per cent is delivered to formal

milk processors.

Majority of milk products are produced and marketed in India by Anand Milk Union

Limited (AMUL). It was formed in 1946, it’s a brand name managed by one of the

premier Indian cooperative organization; the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing

Federation Ltd. (GCMMF).

The White Revolution did not only affect the Indian Economy but the Indian social

scenario as well. Traditionally, India’s dairy cooperative societies were run by men, but with time, this has gradually

changed. Today, about 18% of cooperative members are women and nearly all the women cooperatives are functioning in

the country. Over 1000 women in Gujarat’s Sundarnagar district have proved that modern technologies can ameliorate the

worries of poor rural women. The White Revolution or Operation Flood has helped farmers or cooperative members, direct

their own development, placing control

of the resources they create in their own hands. A 'National Milk Grid', links milk producers throughout India with consum-

ers in over 700 towns and cities, reducing seasonal and regional price variations while ensuring that the producer gets a

major share of the price consumers pay. The ultimate benefits achieved.

Cooperative Works!!!

BY: Nitu Srivastava

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SECOND QUARTER EDITION 2012 NEWSLETTER

As we approach the middle of 2012, it is wise for cooperatives as well as business owners to review their business plan for

the cooperative and their individual farming operations. The overall purpose of a business plan is a blue print or road map on

steps on how to successfully plan and operate your business.

The key elements that a business plan consists of are:

Executive Summary - Who you are and what you want to do

What are your products/services?

Describe how you will market your product ( why you can succeed),

Outline a timetable for planning and implementing your business,

Put together a basic financial presentation (expenses, projected sales, need for financing and cash flow).

In order to apply for loans or other outside funding a business plan is needed to demonstrate how knowledgeable the busi-

ness owners and cooperative members are of their field. FSA Loans, SBA, bank, or credit union each will require a business

plan to apply for funding.

If you would like more information or assistance on developing your successful business plan please contact the Mississippi

Center for Cooperative Development 601-354-2750.

$ Assets + Liabilities = Owners Equity

Goals Business Plan ? Balance Sheet

SWOT

Analysis SUM() Cash Flow Income Statement

Going Back to the Basics: Let’s have a Cooperative Revival By: Savannah Jackson-Hales

In order for your cooperative to be truly successful, we have to keep in mind and act upon the 7 Basic Coop-

erative Principles. We know that the world is not perfect and only in a perfect world will you have harmony

all the time in your cooperative. In running your business, just know that you will be offended, you will get

mad, and you will have the desire to just give up and quit, but guess what? You are not alone. Everybody at one point or

another go through these same feelings, and only the strong willed survives them. When your passion exceeds your dis-

comfort, you will experience more instances of success. Sometimes in this cooperative world that we live in, we have to

refreshed on what being in a cooperative is all about, the 7 Basic Principles. Sometimes, just like the church, we need a

revival, and reviewing these principles just might be the revival that we need along with some Cooperative and Board

Trainings.

So here are the 7 Basic Cooperative Principles:

Voluntary and Open Membership (Anyone approved can join)

Democratic Member Control (One Person One Vote)

Member Economic Participation (Patronage System and Shares)

Autonomy and Independence (Not Government Controlled)

Education, Training, and Information (Staying ahead of the game)

Cooperation among Cooperatives (Network! Network! Network!)

Concern for the Community (Being Economically and Socially Present)

Keeping in harmony with the celebration of the International Year of the Cooperatives, your state association, the Missis-

sippi Association of Cooperatives FSC/LAF, will be hosting our very own statewide cooperative revival on November 8,

2012 at the Regency Hotel in Jackson, MS from 8am- 3pm. Our hope is that you will be reintroduced to these with the

Mississippi Cooperative Summit seven principles on a much grander scale; so that you can go back to your own coopera-

tive and revive the business, the membership, the community, and most importantly yourself because as we all know,

true change starts within yourself first.

Let’s get to it Co-op!

Business Plan By :Tywan Arrington

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THE STATE COORDINATOR’S REPORT FROM THE DESK OF BEN F. BURKETT

SECOND QUARTER EDITION 2012 NEWSLETTER

2.5 X 2025

.Inside Help

By: Conston Scott

As an Agribusiness Management Specialist you are assigned to different counties to provide service to

small farmers and ranchers. We are to help them become economically sound and increase their profitability. Training

and technical assistance is provided through workshops on USDA Programs, farm management, vegetable and livestock

production along with Cooperative Development training.

I was assigned to Oktibbeha County to find small farmers and hopefully start a co-op. I was fortunate to meet Mr. Or-

lando Trainer, a Road Supervisor for District Two in Oktibbeha County. He is a member of Winston County Self Help

Co-op in Winston County. He knew the value of being a part of a co-op and he became my help on the inside. When

we talked, I found out that he had been meeting with a group of small farmers and invited me to the meeting. I told

them about the plan Mississippi Association of Cooperatives (MAC) had for starting a co-op in Oktibbeha County. I

passed out some pamphlets with information concerning MAC and the services they provide.

They now meet on the last Saturday of the month. They have met several times and are ready for Co-op Development

Training. It is great to have a man on the inside that is willing to help.

Visit Our MAC Website :

www.mississippiassociation.coop

Like us on Facebook

Thank you very much everyone, to all MAC

staff, farmers, Board member, and volunteers

for making the 45th Federation of Southern

Cooperatives/ LAF Annual meeting in Epes,

Alabama successful and for helping us pre-

pare Friday night’s dinner.

On the month of June I traveled to West Africa where I

visited the Federation of Africa Associated Cooperative

member FEPERRS. In Senegal, I met with the President of

the Board of Director about the status of the Cooperative.

They need assistance from federation in marketing their

local grown rice. Also in month of June, we marketed pro-

duce to one of our old customers; the Gulf Coast Produce

Distributors Inc. Indian Springs Cooperative sold $3000.00

in produce to this company.

I continue to represent Federation of Southern Coopera-

tives/ LAF on the Board of the National Family Farm Coa-

lition (NFFC). We had our NFFC summer meeting in Oma-

ha, NE. Darnella Winston and Maya Crooks went with me

to that meeting. Please note that the MAC Board meeting

will be held on Saturday, September 15th, 2012.

We will have a 40 year celebration & fundraiser dinner on

December 13, 2012 at 7pm in Jackson MS. Ticket will go

on sale on September the

15th 2012. The tickets are $100 per person per ticket. For

more information contact me on my cell @ 601-310-5223

or at the office @601-354-2750

To stay abreast of the many exciting things we are involved

in at the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, please

visit our Website at www.mississippiassociation.coop or

befriend us on MAC Face Book.

Congratulations! Mrs.

Shirley Blakely, for be-

ing re-elected as Missis-

sippi’s representative.

She is also elected as

president of the Federa-

tion of Southern Cooper-

atives/LAF. Mrs.

Blakely, we are so proud

of you, and you continue

to represent the state of

Mississippi.

Shirley Blakely

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Mississippi Association of Cooperatives 233 East Hamilton Street Jackson, Mississippi, 39202

COOPERATIVE MEMBERSHIP

Attala County Self Help Cooperative

Beat 4 Farms Cooperative A.A.L

Family Farmers Cooperative

Indian Springs Farmers Association,Inc.

Milestone Cooperative Association

Mississippi Delta Southern Rural Black

Women in Agriculture

Mid-South Progressive Agricultural Group

New Community Cooperative

North Bolivar Development Cooperative

North Delta Produce Growers Cooperative

South Rankin County Farmers Association

Shuqualak Community Action Group

Winston County Self Help Cooperative

East Central Federal Credit Union (Hope)

Shelby Bolivar County Federal Credit Union

Shreveport Federal Credit Union

First Delta Federal Credit Union

Cooperative Associate Membership Bogue Chitto / Lincoln County Community

Center

Quitman County Development Organization

SECOND QUARTER EDITION 2012 NEWSLETTER

Staff Roster

Ben F. Burkett

State Coordinator

Myra Bryant

Executive Director

Kimberly Crisler

Director of Finance/Housing

Daisy Garrett

Administrative Assistant/

Outreach Coordinator/

Facilities Manager

Tywan Arrington

Agribusiness Management Specialist

Joe Barnes

Agribusiness Management Specialist

Maya Crooks

Agribusiness Management Specialist

Savannah Jackson-Hales

Cooperative Business Development

Specialist

Antonia Montgomery

Agribusiness Management Specialist

Angela L. Moore

Secretary/Bookkeeper

Conston Scott

Agribusiness Management Specialist

Nitu Srivastava

Information Technology Specialist

Daniel Teague

Agribusiness Management Specialist

LyTanya Toomer

MS Agriculture Mediation

Program Specialist

Darnella B. Winston

Cooperatives Field Specialist

Otis Wright, Jr.

Agribusiness

Management Specialist

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Hubert Nicholson President

Jessica Foxx Vice President Celeste Rogers

Secretary Charles Houston

Treasurer Sandra Bennett

Assistant Secretary

Board Members: Mae Ida Wesley Lynn Stapleton Jessie Fleming

Evelyn Cummings Robert Jackson

Andre Matthews Louis Sanders