Sample State Proclamation
October is Cooperative Month
By the Governor of the State of [state]
WHEREAS, cooperatives are businesses that are owned and democratically governed by their members and exist solely to serve their members’ interests; and
WHEREAS, more than 29,000 cooperatives nationwide operate in virtually every industry including agriculture, child care, energy, financial services, food retail and distribution, housing, healthcare, insurance, telecommunications and many others; and
WHEREAS, cooperatives operate in the very communities in which their member-owners live and work; and
WHEREAS, the cooperatives in [state name] generate significant income, employment and revenue and function as engines of economic growth for local communities and the economy of [state name] [insert any statistics as appropriate];
WHEREAS, concern for community is a core guiding cooperative principle; and cooperatives operate with a set of shared values that include honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others; and
WHEREAS, cooperatives dedicate substantial human and financial resources to serve their communities beyond their core business functions, including charitable giving that meets the needs of underserved populations, investment in community development that generates jobs and income and helps create vital services, contributions and involvement in environmental protection activities, innovative projects that improve child health and welfare and support quality education; and
WHEREAS, the community commitment of cooperatives enhances economic opportunity and improves quality of life in [state names]’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, [appropriate name], by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of [state], do hereby proclaim October 2009 as Cooperative Month. I urge all citizens in private and public life to thoughtfully consider the value of the democratic cooperative structure, and acknowledge through private acts and public policy the role of cooperatives in meeting the economic and social needs of our nation, and I also hereby commit to using the resources and services of the State of [state], as appropriate, to better promote to the people of [state], the value of cooperatives and their important contributions to our state’s economy and their role in improving the opportunity and quality of life in our communities.
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