Nebraska Cooperative Council

NEBRASKA COOPERATIVE COUNCIL IS A TRADE ASSOCATION OF NEBRASKA COOPERATIVES. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL, LEGISLATIVE AND LEGAL SERVICES TO ITS MEMBERS AND IS SUPPORTED PRIMARILY BY DUES AND FEES RECEIVED FROM MEMBER COOPERATIVES.

UNRESTRICTED FUND - THE COUNCIL PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL, LEGISLATIVE AND LEGAL SERVICES TO ITS MEMBERS.

RESTRICTED USE FUND - NCC-PAC - DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2000, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUND IS TO SOLICIT AND RECEIVE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND MAKE EXPENDITURES TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE SUCH ISSUES OR CANDIDATES AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE; TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL BEING OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THROUGH POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT; AND PROMOTE THE PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL AFFILIATION. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PAC BY MEMBERS TOTALED $29,900 AND $26,371 FOR THE YEARS ENDED AUGUST 31, 2022 AND 2021, RESPECTIVELY.NATIONAL AFFAIRS COOPERATIVE ACTION - DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2001, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED THE AGRICULTURAL CONVERGENCE FUND. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUND IS TO EDUCATE THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON HOW LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS MAY IMPACT NEBRAKA'S FARMER-OWNED COOPERATIVES AND THEIR MEMBERS; BUILD RELATIONS WITH STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP; AND EDUCATE MEMBER PRODUCERS ABOUT THEIR COOPERATIVES AND THE BENEFITS OF COOPERATIVE MEMBERSHIP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE COUNCIL EXPANDED THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUND TO SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE ACTIVITIES RELATIVE TO THE DENFENSE OF THE CAPPER-VOLSTEAD ACT. THIS ACT PROVIDES LIMITED ANTI-TRUST PROTECTION FOR PRODUCERS TO PROCESS AND MARKET THEIR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ON A COOPERATIVE BASIS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2012, THE COUNCIL CHANGED THE NAME OF THIS FUND TO THE NATIONAL AFFAIRS COOPERATIVE ACTION FUND.

RESTRICTED USE FUND - FUND FOR EXCELLENCE - DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1999, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED THE 'FUND FOR EXCELLENCE'. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUND IS TO BENEFIT AND SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION, OR ANY OTHER LAND GRANT COLLEGE.ENERGY SOURCE - DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2011, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED THE ENERGY SOURCE FUND. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUND IS TO CHANLLANGE THE NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE REGARDING ITS APPLICATION OF THE ENERGY SOURCE EXEMPTION ALLOWED FOR GRAIN COOPERATIVES. THE COUNCIL REQUESTED A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FROM THOSE MEMBERS AFFECTED BY THIS EXEMPTION EQUAL TO 13% OF THEIR 2011 COUNCIL DUES. ANY FUNDS REMAINING AFTER THIS ISSUES IS RESOLVED ARE TO BE REFUNDED TO THE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS ON A PROPORTIONAL BASIS. NO ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND WERE RECEIVED DURING THE YEARS ENDED AUGUST 31, 2021 AND 2022.LEGACY INITIATIVE - THE LEGACY INITIATIVE IS A MULTI-PHASE PROJECT COMMENCED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COUNCIL IN 2017 TO STUDY AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE OWNERSHIP RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COOPERATIVE PATRONS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE COOPERATIVES AND TO INTRODUCE THE COOPERATIVE BUSINESS MODEL TO YOUNG AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS. AFTER COMPLETING PHASES I AND II WHICH CONSISTED OF SURVEYS OF NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND COOPERATIVE EMPLOYEES IN LATE 2018; THE COUNCIL HAS ENTERED AN ACTION PHASE OF THE PROJECT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR COOPERATIVE VALUE PROPOSITION AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN ADDED VALUE IN COOPERATIVE MEMBERSHIP AND LOYALTY. THIS ACTION PHASE WILL BE CONDUCTED ON AN OPPORTUNITY DRIVEN BASIS. THE NEBRASKA COOPERATIVE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION DONED $20,000 IN 2019 TO ESTABLISH THE LEGACY INITIATIVE FUND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THESE PROJECTS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.