Directors of Regional Farmer Cooperatives -- Selection, Duties, Qualifications, Performance

Excerpts from the report: The success or failure of farmer cooperatives in the field of business management is linked to three interdependent factors--the quality and competence of directors elected by the membership, the administrative and executive ability of the manager employed by the directors, and the policies formulated jointly by directors and hired management. At the request of regional farmer cooperatives and the American Institute of Cooperation, Farmer Cooperative Service undertook a broad general study to provide basic information on the qualifications, selection, duties, and performance of cooperatives' boards of directors. This is one of three reports based on the general study. This, the second report in the series, describes the broad areas encompassed by directors' duties and responsibilities and sheds light on their experience, training and compensation. It compares the performance ratings managers of cooperatives assigned their boards of directors with the performance ratings individual directors assigned the same boards. And it furnishes criteria for judging the qualifications of individuals for directorships.