{"id":37417,"date":"2022-07-07T08:35:46","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T15:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/?page_id=37417"},"modified":"2022-10-10T13:36:25","modified_gmt":"2022-10-10T20:36:25","slug":"cooperative-principles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/about-us\/our-cooperative\/cooperative-principles\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooperative Principles"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"row cooperative\"  id=\"row-2141792458\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-452357478\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n<ul>\n<li>Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles and values, adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Cooperatives trace the roots of these principles to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in 1844<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>These principles are a key reason that America\u2019s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, putting the needs of their members first<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t<section class=\"section gradient-bg cooperat-sec\" id=\"section_1027801455\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  bg-loaded\" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-4039399070\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<h2>Cooperative Principles<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-4039399070 {\n  text-align: center;\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n#text-4039399070 > * {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"row cooperat-icon-box-left\"  id=\"row-1240032292\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1567870821\" class=\"col medium-10 small-12 large-9\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<a class=\"plain\" href=\"#voluntary-open-membership\" >\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-sml-l icon-box-left text-left\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-1dark.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<h5>Voluntary &amp; Open Membership<\/h5>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-146651698\" class=\"col hide-for-small medium-2 small-12 large-3\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row cooperat-icon-box-right\"  id=\"row-475124306\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1553874000\" class=\"col hide-for-small medium-2 small-12 large-3\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1067665036\" class=\"col medium-10 small-12 large-9\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<a class=\"plain\" href=\"#democratic-member-control\" >\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-sml-r icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-2dark.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-531033586\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<h5>Democratic Member Control<\/h5>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-531033586 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row cooperat-icon-box-left\"  id=\"row-1651345640\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1351649789\" class=\"col medium-10 small-12 large-9\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<a class=\"plain\" href=\"#member-economic-participation\" >\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-sml-l icon-box-left text-left\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-3dark.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<h5>Members\u2019 Economic Participation<\/h5>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-671859454\" class=\"col hide-for-small medium-2 small-12 large-3\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row cooperat-icon-box-right\"  id=\"row-458937251\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1446757071\" class=\"col hide-for-small medium-2 small-12 large-3\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-95979436\" class=\"col medium-10 small-12 large-9\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<a class=\"plain\" href=\"#autonomy-independence\" >\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-sml-r icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-4dark.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-3687445563\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<h5>Autonomy and Independence<\/h5>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-3687445563 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row cooperat-icon-box-left\"  id=\"row-1198796991\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-342784008\" class=\"col medium-10 small-12 large-9\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<a class=\"plain\" href=\"#education-training-information\" >\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-sml-l icon-box-left text-left\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-5dark.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<h5>Education, Training, and Information<\/h5>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-629012321\" class=\"col hide-for-small medium-2 small-12 large-3\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row cooperat-icon-box-right\"  id=\"row-1069207950\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-991913518\" class=\"col hide-for-small medium-2 small-12 large-3\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1953156333\" class=\"col medium-10 small-12 large-9\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<a class=\"plain\" href=\"#cooperation-among-cooperatives\" >\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-sml-r icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-6dark.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-750844257\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<h5>Cooperation Among Cooperatives<\/h5>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-750844257 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row cooperat-icon-box-left\"  id=\"row-1632551815\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-899493884\" class=\"col medium-10 small-12 large-9\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<a class=\"plain\" href=\"#concern-for-community\" >\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-sml-l icon-box-left text-left\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-7dark.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<h5>Concern for Community<\/h5>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1493316120\" class=\"col hide-for-small medium-2 small-12 large-3\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1027801455 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1929258393\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1929258393 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_841689203\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  bg-loaded\" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n<h3>Understanding the 7 Cooperative Principles:<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row row-small align-equal top-inner-box-dark\"  id=\"row-1618848348\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-861555680\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n<p>Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles and values, adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-861555680 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 60px 20px 20px 20px;\n}\n@media (min-width:550px) {\n  #col-861555680 > .col-inner {\n    padding: 60px 30px 20px 30px;\n  }\n}\n@media (min-width:850px) {\n  #col-861555680 > .col-inner {\n    padding: 60px 40px 20px 40px;\n  }\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1786292764\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n<p>These principles are a key reason why America\u2019s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, putting the needs of our members first.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-1786292764 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 60px 20px 20px 20px;\n}\n@media (min-width:550px) {\n  #col-1786292764 > .col-inner {\n    padding: 60px 30px 20px 30px;\n  }\n}\n@media (min-width:850px) {\n  #col-1786292764 > .col-inner {\n    padding: 60px 40px 20px 40px;\n  }\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_841689203 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n  background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1198576353\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1198576353 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<section class=\"section blue-box\" id=\"section_1467177351\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  bg-loaded\" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-4171434078\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #voluntary-open-membership\" data-bullet=\"false\" data-link=\"#voluntary-open-membership\" data-title=\"Change this\" ><a name=\"voluntary-open-membership\"><\/a><\/span>\n<h2>Voluntary &amp; Open Membership<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-4171434078 {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n#text-4171434078 > * {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" style=\"margin-top:0.8em;margin-bottom:0.8em;max-width:100%;height:2px;background-color:rgb(253, 199, 56);\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-1.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-1921645765\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p>Membership in a cooperative is open to all persons who can reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the responsibilities of membership regardless of race, religion, gender, or economic circumstances<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-1921645765 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1467177351 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-555793334\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-555793334 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<section class=\"section dark-blue-box\" id=\"section_1859442943\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  bg-loaded\" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-296889752\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #democratic-member-control\" data-bullet=\"false\" data-link=\"#democratic-member-control\" data-title=\"Change this\" ><a name=\"democratic-member-control\"><\/a><\/span>\n<h2>Democratic Member Control<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-296889752 {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n#text-296889752 > * {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" style=\"margin-top:0.8em;margin-bottom:0.8em;max-width:100%;height:2px;background-color:rgb(253, 199, 56);\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-2.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-3829138581\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p>Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions,<\/p>\n<p>Elected representatives (directors\/trustees) are elected from among the membership and are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote); cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-3829138581 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1859442943 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1184323785\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1184323785 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<section class=\"section white-box\" id=\"section_1060302267\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  bg-loaded\" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #member-economic-participation\" data-bullet=\"false\" data-link=\"#member-economic-participation\" data-title=\"Change this\" ><a name=\"member-economic-participation\"><\/a><\/span>\n<h2>Members\u2019 Economic Participation<\/h2>\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" style=\"margin-top:0.8em;margin-bottom:0.8em;max-width:100%;height:2px;background-color:rgb(253, 199, 56);\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-3.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-1201893760\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p>Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, setting up reserves, benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative, and supporting other activities approved by the membership<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-1201893760 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1060302267 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1010683208\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1010683208 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<section class=\"section blue-box\" id=\"section_2145272815\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  bg-loaded\" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-2506368253\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #autonomy-independence\" data-bullet=\"false\" data-link=\"#autonomy-independence\" data-title=\"Change this\" ><a name=\"autonomy-independence\"><\/a><\/span>\n<h2>Autonomy &amp; Independence<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-2506368253 {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n#text-2506368253 > * {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" style=\"margin-top:0.8em;margin-bottom:0.8em;max-width:100%;height:2px;background-color:rgb(253, 199, 56);\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-4.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-1673262729\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p>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 as well as their unique identity.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-1673262729 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_2145272815 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1723114250\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1723114250 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<section class=\"section dark-blue-box\" id=\"section_2034432071\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  bg-loaded\" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-3672723688\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #education-training-information\" data-bullet=\"false\" data-link=\"#education-training-information\" data-title=\"Change this\" ><a name=\"education-training-information\"><\/a><\/span>\n<h2>Education, Training &amp; Information<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-3672723688 {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n#text-3672723688 > * {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" style=\"margin-top:0.8em;margin-bottom:0.8em;max-width:100%;height:2px;background-color:rgb(253, 199, 56);\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-5.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-3336797980\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p>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 as well as their unique identity.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-3336797980 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_2034432071 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-296684566\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-296684566 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<section class=\"section white-box\" id=\"section_2118611114\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  bg-loaded\" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #cooperation-among-cooperatives\" data-bullet=\"false\" data-link=\"#cooperation-among-cooperatives\" data-title=\"Change this\" ><a name=\"cooperation-among-cooperatives\"><\/a><\/span>\n<h2>Cooperation Among Cooperatives<\/h2>\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" style=\"margin-top:0.8em;margin-bottom:0.8em;max-width:100%;height:2px;background-color:rgb(253, 199, 56);\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-6.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-187356856\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p>By working together through local, national, regional, and international structures, cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies and deal more effectively with social and community needs.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-187356856 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_2118611114 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1220766551\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1220766551 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<section class=\"section blue-box\" id=\"section_977823877\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  bg-loaded\" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-2886150630\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #concern-for-community\" data-bullet=\"false\" data-link=\"#concern-for-community\" data-title=\"Change this\" ><a name=\"concern-for-community\"><\/a><\/span>\n<h2>Concern for Community<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-2886150630 {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n#text-2886150630 > * {\n  color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" style=\"margin-top:0.8em;margin-bottom:0.8em;max-width:100%;height:2px;background-color:rgb(253, 199, 56);\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"icon-box featured-box icon-box-right text-right\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-img\" style=\"width: 136px\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-inner\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon-7.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"icon-box-text last-reset\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-667645035\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p>Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-667645035 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_977823877 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"parent":37415,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37417"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37417"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38466,"href":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37417\/revisions\/38466"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gce.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}