Atlanta, GA. – During October, cooperative businesses across Georgia will observe National Co-op Month, celebrating the state’s member-owned and democratically-controlled businesses like Jackson Electric Membership Corporation.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed a proclamation designating October as National Cooperative Month.

In his proclamation, Governor Deal acknowledges the emphasis cooperative businesses place on improving communities. He said, “These businesses not only serve the interests of their members, but they also dedicate substantial human and financial resources to serve their communities beyond their core business functions.”

Governor Deal also recognizes the important role cooperative businesses play in enhancing economic opportunity and improving the quality of life in Georgia’s cities and towns. His proclamation says, “Georgia cooperatives improve the well-being of the citizens and communities across our state, including the hundreds of thousands of member-owners in Georgia who depend on approximately 41 co-ops for electricity. Cooperatives play a major role in Georgia’s economy, supplying agricultural products and providing credit, telephone service, health care, housing, insurance, and many other products and services contributing to Georgia’s ranking as the number one state in the nation for business.”

“Every day is a great day to celebrate the cooperative spirit,” said Chip Jakins, Jackson EMC president and CEO. “But, we are honored the rest of the state joins Jackson EMC and the other cooperatives across the state during October in educating the public about how cooperatives are different.”

Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same core principles and values, adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance. These fundamental principles prohibit discrimination and require that cooperative membership be voluntary. Cooperatives are autonomous organizations that must be run democratically and they provide education and training to their members. Cooperatives must cooperate between themselves. While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities.

To learn more about the electric cooperative story and the principles that govern these organizations, view this video from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tenKnIx4ouY

A PROCLAMATION

Cooperative Month

WHEREAS: Cooperatives are businesses that are owned and operated by their members. These businesses not only serve the interests of their members, but they also dedicate substantial human and financial resources to serve their communities beyond their core business functions; and

WHEREAS: More than 29,000 cooperative businesses operate in the United States with 350 million members, generating $514 billion in revenue and more than $25 billion in wages; and

WHEREAS: Georgia cooperatives improve the well-being of the citizens and communities across our state, including the hundreds of thousands of member-owners in Georgia who depend on approximately 41 co-ops for electricity. Cooperatives play a major role in Georgia’s economy, supplying agricultural products and providing credit, telephone service, health care, housing, insurance, and many other products and services contributing to Georgia’s ranking as the number one state in the nation for business; and

WHEREAS: The community commitment of cooperatives enhances economic opportunity and improves quality of life in Georgia’s cities and towns; and

WHEREAS: During the month of October, cooperatives of all types and from all industries reaffirm their member-service mission and their commitment to community and pledge continued active involvement in the communities in which their members live and work; now

THEREFORE: I, NATHAN DEAL, Governor of the State of Georgia, do hereby proclaim October 2016, as COOPERATIVE MONTH in Georgia.