News Release
August 17, 2006
Contact: David Bridges, (863) 990-5219

Aug. 14, 2006 (Arcadia, FL) - More than 50 members of cooperatives from across Florida, including members of credit unions, agricultural and electric co-ops, and the Florida Farm Credit and Farm Bureaus, recently met in Sarasota to learn more about the co-op form of business and how to ensure a stronger future for their co-op.

The occasion was the 28th annual Cooperative Education and Leadership Conference sponsored by the Florida Council of Cooperatives (FCC). David Bridges, FCC president and senior vice president of Farm Credit of Southwest Florida, Arcadia, noted that this year's attendees included a number of cooperative educators from high schools across the state, sponsored by Farm Credit, in addition to members of different types of business co-ops whose attendance was sponsored by their cooperative.

A team of students from Hernando High School in Brooksville was recognized at this year's conference as winners of the FCC's annual "Cooperative in the Classroom" award. It is the second consecutive year that a HHS FFA team has won this award, led by teacher-advisor Rick Aherns.

The FCC is in the process of updating its curriculum package that is available to Florida cooperative education teachers. This project is led by FCC Board member Dr. Al Wysocki, IFAS, an associate professor at the University of Florida.

This year's conference program included presentations by Bridges and Wysocki as well as a number of outside speakers. Adam Schwartz, representing the National Cooperative Business Associate (NCBA), McClean, VA, discussed the national reach of business co-ops. The NCBA recently received funding from the U.S. Congress to conduct a census of cooperatives across the U.S. This research, said Schwartz, vice president of public affairs for NCBA, should result in a better understanding of the economic impacts of business cooperatives.

Florida Senator J.D. Alexander (R-D 17), State Representative Denise Grimsley (R-D 77), Robert Coker, senior vice president of public affairs for U.S. Sugar, and Dr. Jimmy Cheek, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources for the University of Florida, also addressed conference attendees on the importance of civic activism and political involvement. The Aug. 11-13 program ended with attendees working through a case study scenario developed by Wysocki and Todd Lawrence, general manager of Farmers Cooperative Inc., Live Oak.

The two and a half day conference at the Sarasota Hyatt followed the annual meeting of the FCC Board. Newly elected to the Board and the position of Vice President is Laurie Hurner of Florida Citrus Mutual, Lakeland.

The FCC also announced recipients of its two annual awards at the conference. Florida Natural Growers, Lake Wales, was named the FCC's cooperative of the year, represented at the conference by FCC Board member Dave Crumbley, vice president of public affairs. A recognition award for outstanding service to agriculture and support of co-op programs was presented to Board member Michele Collet Kriz, APR, manager of public relations for Seminole Electric Cooperative, Tampa.

The Florida Council of Cooperatives is a non profit trade association dedicated to promoting and supporting the co-op form of business and helping prepare future co-op leaders. For more information visit the FCC's web site at www.flcoop.com.

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