New Horizons Supply Cooperative
Organization
New Horizons Supply Cooperative is a customer-owned business. It is a Wisconsin cooperative with offices at 770 Lincoln Avenue, Fennimore, WI 53809. The cooperative sells goods and services in Southwest Wisconsin and Northwest Illinois. New Horizons was formed in 1990 as the result of a merger of three area cooperatives.
Anyone may purchase from New Horizons Co-op. There are no membership fees; all customers are eligible to qualify for a share of any profits. Profits of the cooperative are returned to customers in the form of patronage refunds. Patronage refunds are paid in cash and equity (stock).
The cooperative is organized as a "producer", or farmer, cooperative. Farmers purchasing $1,000 or more of goods and services from the cooperative each year are eligible to become a director. Directors are elected by the other producer members.
Cooperative Principles
1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operatives are voluntary organizations.
2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members.
3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative.
Seven members serve on the Board of Directors. Directors are selected by district; each director represents an approximately equal number of members. The directors do not participate in day-to-day activities of the cooperative. The Board of Directors meet at least monthly to review financial and policy matters. They also meet with the cooperative's auditor and lender as needed. Current Board members are: Randy Heims (President), Muscoda; Dennis Conley (Vice President), Fennimore; Peter Winch (Secretary), Fennimore; David Fischer, Boscobel; Rod Marfilius, Prairie du Chien; Tom Mulrooney, Fennimore; and Jim Steiger, Bagley.
As in other types of businesses, there is a chain of command for personnel. Employees report to a location supervisor or department manager. They in turn, report to the cooperative's General Manager; the General Manager reports to the Board of Directors. The cooperative has approximately 30 full-time and 30 part-time employees.
An annual member meeting is held each year for presentation of financial and management reports. District director elections are held at this time. All patrons are encouraged to attend and participate in meeting discussions.
The cooperative has approximately 1,200 farmer members. Nearly 10,000 people hold an equity position in New Horizons Supply Cooperative.
For more information about New Horizons organization, please contact our main office.