effectively meeting economic compe- 

 tition. 



Once the initial economic need is 

 satisfied, there is apt to be a tendency 

 for members to lose sight of the bene- 

 fits of cooperative effort. For example, 

 as an association product becomes 

 established in the trade at improved 

 prices, competitors may be forced to 

 offer higher prices for stumpage. When 

 this occurs, patrons may fail to see 

 any price advantage in marketing coop- 

 eratively. The benefits are still there, 

 however, because if the association 

 were to cease operation, prices could 

 well decline to their previous level. 

 Members must, therefore, constantly 

 educate themselves about the overall 

 benefits from cooperation. 



Cooperative Must Be Soundly Organized 



Care must initially be taken to 

 study and appraise such factors as 

 potential membership, possible volume, 

 prices, alternative marketing outlets, 

 availability of transportation facil- 

 ities, and sources of financing. 



Assistance available from Forest 

 Service personnel. County Agricultural 

 Agents, State Agricultural Experiment 

 Station personnel, and others familar 

 with the timber industry and cooper- 

 ative marketing can be most helpful 

 at this time. 



The bylaws should specify the ob- 

 jectives of the association; conditions 

 of membership; date of the annual 

 meeting; and the number, method of 



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