Co-op Month History
The idea of celebrating the special nature
of cooperatives first appeared in 1924 in Waukegan, Illinois, when
members of Co-op Trading set aside a time for promotion of the cooperative.
Co-op Month became an October event in 1930.
However, it was not until 1948 that an official
proclamation was made naming October as Cooperative Month. Minnesota
Governor Luther Youngdahl, at the request of the Minnesota
Association of Cooperatives , made the proclamation. Soon, the
October Co-op Month celebration spread to other states.
In 1964, Co-op Month became a national event
when former Minnesota Governor Orville Freeman, then U.S. Secretary
of Agriculture, proclaimed a national Co-op Month. For seven years,
the government sponsored Co-op Month events.
In 1971, the responsibility for Co-op Month
was turned over to cooperative organizations. Today, the National
Cooperative Month Planning Committee, made up of representatives
of national co-op membership organizations, selects a theme,
prepares supporting materials, conducts public relations activities
and provides financial support for co-op month activities. To ensure
the active involvement of all of the cooperative sectors, each year,
a different national co-op organization chairs the planning committee,
raises funds for co-op month events and directs that year’s
activities.
Past Co-op Month Themes
1964 – Cooperatives – USDA Helps
Build a Better America
1965 – Cooperatives – Partners in American Life
1966 – Cooperatives – Links in Progress
1967 – Cooperatives – A National Asset
1968 – Cooperatives – Community Builders
1969 – Cooperatives – Progress through People
1970 – Cooperatives – A Better Life in the ’70s
1971 – Cooperatives – Cooperatives Care
1972 – Cooperatives – Cooperatives Serve
1973 – Cooperatives – People with Purpose
1974 – Cooperatives – Partners for Progress
1975 – Cooperatives – Pioneers in Serving America
1976 – Cooperatives – People Working Together
1977 – Cooperatives – Good for America
1978 – Cooperatives – Democracy in Action
1979 – Cooperatives – Good for All Americans
1980 – Cooperatives – Focus on Future
1981 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America
1982 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America
1983 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America
1984 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America
1985 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America and
a Better World
1986 – Cooperatives – Cooperatives Work
1987 – Cooperatives – People in Partnership
1988 – Cooperatives – People in Partnership
1989 – Cooperatives – Building your Community
1990 – Cooperatives – Building your Community
1991 – Cooperatives – Meeting People’s Needs
1992 – Cooperatives – Meeting People’s Needs
1993 – Cooperatives – Part of Your Life. Part of Your
Future.
1994 – Cooperatives – Time Tested – Member Approved:
1844-1994, 150 Years of Cooperation
1995 – Cooperatives – Expanding People’s Horizons
1996 – Cooperatives – Expanding People’s Horizons
1997 – Cooperatives – Expanding People’s Horizons
1998 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
1999 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
2000 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
2001 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
2003 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
2004 – Cooperatives – Owned by Our Members. Committed
to Our Communities.
2005 – Cooperatives – Owned by Our Members. Committed
to Our Communities.
2006 – Cooperatives – Owned by Our Members. Committed
to Our Communities.
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