Wild Rose Co-op holds 8th annual AGM for members

Wild Rose Coop
The Wild Rose Co-operative Association held its 8th Annual General Meeting last Wednesday in Camrose.

During the meeting, open to all members/shareholders of the Co-op, members had the opportunity to review the 2015 Financial Statements, presented by WR Controller Hal Reid.

Reid called the 2015 financial statement basically a duplicate of last year.

He also stressed the fact that the Co-operative currently has no real long-term debt.

General Manager Carol Rollheiser gave her report, and called 2015 the best year local savings on record.

Rollheiser said the co-operative improved sales in most commodities.

In a brief recap of some activities in 2015, she mentioned the completion of the Camrose Food Store upgrade, the purchase of an additional pup trailer to deliver fuel to members, and a warehouse additional and renovation to the Killam Petroleum office.

Rollheiser said, “Looking forward to 2016, what we know for sure is uncertainty.

“Competition will become more intense as we all work to entice the consumer to our businesses.”

Rollheiser announced that the 2015 allocation to the co-operative’s 25,000 owners would be $3.6 Million.

“Of this $3.6 Million, $2 Million in cash will be paid directly back to our local owners in the communities we live, work, and play.

“Just to emphasize that point, our $3.6 Million in profits are staying right here in Camrose, Killam, Sedgewick, Viking, Hardisty, Alliance, Galahad, and all the surrounding areas.”

Members present at the meeting voted on three open board of director positions, as board members are elected for three-year terms, and Louie Hagel, Terry Brodie, and Graham Galletly all had terms expiring in 2016.

Hagel, Brodie, and Galletly all allowed their names to run for reelection, as well, Meghan Kearns had put forward her nomination. Kearns’ grandmother was Laura Woods, who was a long time Co-operative board member.

While ballots were being tallied, Board member Dale Johnson gave a short report about the Federated Co-operative Limited AGM he had attended.

Johnson said that general revenues were down a bit, but that the information presented gave indications of a solid financial performance in a very volatile market.

Leslie Cholowsky
Editor