Communication Powers Up during National Co-op Month

Communication departments in cooperatives throughout the United States are powering up efforts, this month, to educate consumers on the economic impact of the cooperative business model.

"October is National Co-op Month," says Candace Croft, president of the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) Board of Directors. "Members of the CCA organization are busy with writing, photography, video editing, social media, and more in an effort to tell their cooperative stories. This is a nationwide opportunity to raise awareness about the historical and successful cooperative style of business."

Under the theme "Co-ops Build Economic Power," this year's Co-op Month is focusing on cooperatives building economies that empower everyone. "Cooperatives have a different story to tell than the average business," said Croft. CCA organization members include communicators from various types of cooperatives: grocery, housing, farm-supply, electric, livestock-genetics, dairy-products, almond, and more. "Cooperatives are members in the form of producers or consumers of various products and services coming together to form a business. The alliances create buying and selling power, efficiencies, and returns profits to the members. This process helps to build adaptable and inclusive communities."

Members of CCA are using two specific hashtags when communicating about their cooperatives during the 2022 Co-op Month: #CoopMonth and #CoopsBuildEconomicPower. For more information about cooperatives, visit the National Cooperative Business Association's website at www.ncbaclusa.coop.

CCA exists to improve the effectiveness of all cooperative communicators; advance professional standards of cooperative communicators; afford interchange of facts, research, techniques, and opinions among cooperative communicators; and conduct an annual institute and other programs suitable to meeting the purpose of the association. Board members for the 2022-2023 business year, and their home cooperatives: Candace Croft, president, West Florida Electric Co-op Association, Inc.; Michelle Geans, vice president, Baldwin EMC; Cliff Dolbeare, secretary-treasurer, GROWMARK, Inc.; Adam Buckallew, MFA Oil Company; JuliAnn Graham, Tri-County Electric Cooperative; Kelly (Hester) Jimenez, Carroll Electric Membership Corporation; Jennie Lacey, Flint Energies; Dori Lichty, CentralStar Cooperative; and Anne Moore, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. Visit www.communicators.coop for more information.