An autonomous association
of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and
cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and
democratic-ally-controlled enterprise.
Thousands of Co-ops around
the world, in every country, are engaged in housing, farming, fishing,
manufacturing, food production, food distribution, banking, finance,
education and the arts. Each one conducts their affairs according to the
seven cooperative principals set out by the International Co-operative
Alliance in Geneva, Switzerland: http://ica.coop/ .
Here at Cleveland Student Housing Association, we do too!
The Seven Co-operative Principles
1. Voluntary and Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Member Economic Participation
(Important: CSHA is classified as a “group equity” housing co-op)
4. Autonomy and Independence
5. Education, Training and Information
6. Co-operation among Co-operatives
(CSHA – and you as individuals – are all members of NASCO: North American Students of Co-operation: https://www.nasco.coop/)