10 



Acquiring Membership 



Several methods were used by the cooperatives to acquire membership 

 (table 4). Nine of the 14 reporting required growers to buy a share 

 of the associations' common stock. The price per share was usually 

 $1, but one association charged $5 and another $10. 



Three associations required a membership fee. It commonly amounted 

 to $1. One association required a membership contract be signed, 

 which assured that the grower delivered his tobacco to one of the 

 cooperative's warehouses for sale. A share of stock did not have to 

 be purchased or fee paid in this case. Another association required 

 only that the grower patronize its facilities to acquire membership. 



Eleven associations, of 12 replying, stated that bylaw provisions 

 allowed the cost of the membership share or fee to be deducted from 

 patronage refunds due the grower. 



Table 4. --Methods used by 14 tobacco auction warehouse cooperatives 

 to allow growers to acquire membership 



Method growers acquired 

 membership 

 in association 



Associations reporting 

 method used 



Buy share of association's stock 

 Pay membership fee 

 Sign membership contract 

 Patronize association's facilities 



Total 



Number 



9 

 3 



1 

 1 



14 



Maintaining and Expanding Membership 



Attracting growers to join an association and maintaining present 

 membership were accomplished not only by operating success but by 

 methods of communication used to inform members and potential 

 members (table 5). 



