is also concerned with the relation- 

 ship of its programs to other pro- 

 grams in the Department and in other 

 Government agencies. Working with 

 an organized group of farmer-forest 

 owners has helped coordinate the 

 efforts of the various Federal and State 

 agencies. 



2. By dealing with timberland 

 owners as a group, rather than on an 

 individual basis, the Forest Service 

 has been able to eliminate a large 

 number of small sales. 



General Observations 



The experience of Au Sable Forest 

 Products Association emphasizes cer- 

 tain considerations fundamental to all 

 timber marketing associations. To 

 be successful they must: (1) Serve 

 an economic need, (2) be well organ- 

 ized, (3) be well managed, and (4) be 

 well financed. 



Cooperative Must Serve an 

 Economic Need 



A progressive organization does 

 not exist for itself alone. It exists 

 because it serves a useful purpose, 

 and this is particularly true of cooper- 

 atives. If a cooperative is to grow, 

 members and nonmembers must be 

 convinced that it will benefit them 

 more than other outlets. Unless it 

 can demonstrate a greater long run 

 return or saving to patrons, the associ- 

 ation will experience difficulty in 



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