In arranging for sales, the cooper- 

 ative acts as an agent for its patrons. 

 Representatives of the association, 

 usually the manager and some di- 

 rectors, negotiate with buyers on vol- 

 ume, price, and other terms of sale. 



After representatives of the associ- 

 ation "feel out" the market, contracts 

 are drawn up between the individual 

 member and the cooperative. The 

 member agrees to cut a specified 

 volume of wood, deliver it to the asso- 

 ciation, and load it on a railway freight 

 car. The cooperative agrees to collect 

 the money, deduct costs involved in 

 making the sale plus any advance pay- 

 ment, and return the net balance to the 

 member. 



Au Sable members are woodland 

 owners in Alcona and Iosco counties, 

 Mich. The area served includes Tawas 

 and Harrisville Ranger Districts of the 

 lower Michigan National Forest and 

 the privately owned forest lands in the 

 vicinity. 



How It Began 



Although the cooperative was not 

 organized until 1940, the reasons for 

 its formation stem back to conditions 

 prevailing during the 1930' s. 



Privately owned lands in the area 

 were small woodlands with some "hunt- 

 ing club" ownerships. The forests had 

 been heavily logged, largely for red 

 and white pine. Many agricultural 

 lands were of low productivity so that 



