11 



Table 5. — Methods used to maintain and expand membership by tobacco 

 auction warehouse cooperatives in Kentucky, North Carolina. 

 Tennessee, and Virginia 



Methods used by associations 

 to inform members and 

 promote membership 



Associations reporting 

 method used 



Hold annual meeting 

 Sponsor radio programs 

 Advertise in newspapers 

 Representative visits members on 



their farms 

 Agricultural ciasses and clubs 



invited to visit 

 Distribute copies of annual report 



to membership prior to annual 



meeting 

 Newsletters distributed 

 Membership meetings held in addition 



to annual meeting 

 Sponsor television programs 



15 

 15 



13 



13 

 12 



7 

 5 



4 

 2 



Members had an opportunity at the annual meeting to discuss operation 

 of the cooperative with directors and officers. Seven of the associ- 

 ations reported that they mailed a copy of the annual report to their 

 membership before the annual meeting. 



Membership meetings, in addition to the annual meeting, were held by 

 four of the associations. A few also distributed newsletters. Three 

 associations reported the number distributed. This was, respectively, 

 two, three, and four newsletters annually. 



Advertising media were used quite extensively. All associations 

 sponsored radio programs sometime during the year. Most sponsored 

 daily programs throughout the marketing season. Some utilized 1- 

 minute spot advertising announcements, while others used market infor- 

 mation programs 3 to 15 minutes in length. The latter programs con- 

 sisted primarily of market news and advertisements. 



Newspaper advertising was also widely used. Thirteen associations, 

 of 14 replying, ran advertisements in daily or weekly newspapers 

 throughout the marketing season. Only two associations reported 

 sponsoring television programs. 



Two other methods of improving public relations were reported by a 

 large number of the cooperatives. Thirteen associations stated that 

 a representative of the cooperative visited members on their, farms, 

 and 12 associations invited agricultural classes and clubs to visit 

 cooperative facilities. 



