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The International Cooperative Alliance (the ICA) is an independent, non-governmental association which unites, represents, and serves cooperatives worldwide. It was founded in London in 1895. English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish shall be the official languages of the ICA. Its registered headquarters, since 1982, is Geneva, Switzerland.
The ICA, as a world-wide representative of cooperative organizations of all kinds, has the following objects: to promote the world cooperative movement, based upon mutual self-help and democracy; to promote and protect cooperative values and principles; to facilitate the development of economic and other mutually beneficial relations between its member organizations; to promote sustainable human development and to further the economic and social progress of people, thereby contributing to international peace and security.
The ICA seeks to obtain its objects by serving as a forum for exchange of experience and as a source of information on cooperative development, research, and statistics; by providing technical assistance for cooperative development; by creating international specialized bodies in various sectors of cooperatives' economic and social activities; by collaborating with United Nations organizations, and with any other governmental and non-governmental international and national organizations which pursue aims of importance to cooperatives; by any other appropriate means.
Member organizations have the right to take part in formulating the ICA policies and work programs at the meetings of the ICA Authorities; to receive from the ICA all appropriate services, information and assistance; to participate in any Specialized Body of the ICA in accordance with its constitution; to appoint representatives to the ICA General and Regional Assemblies, and to Congress, and to nominate candidates for election to the Board.
Every member organization has the following obligations: to observe the aims and policy of the ICA; to supply the ICA with its annual report and a complimentary copy of all its relevant publications, as well as regularly inform the ICA on significant national cooperative developments, changes in its rules and bylaws, and all actions of the public authorities which affect the cooperative movement; to pay during the first three months of the calendar year its annual subscription; to take all such actions as shall be recommended by the Authorities of the ICA in support of its policy decisions.
Organizations which conform to the ICA Statement on the Cooperative Identity and observe the aims of ICA shall be eligible for membership of the ICA. The decision to admit to membership of the ICA lies with the Board. The Board shall consist of the President, four Vice-Presidents, and 15 other members, elected by the General Assembly for a four-year term. The Board shall meet at least once a year. The member organizations from one country shall not have more than one representative on the Board, excluding the President of the ICA.
The President is the chief representative of the ICA and presides over the General Assembly and Board of the ICA; The President provides the policy and organizational leadership of the ICA, in collaboration with the Director-General; The President meets once a year with the Audit and Control Committee to review the finances of the ICA; The President has the right to attend the meetings of the ICA Specialized Bodies.
The Vice-Presidents assist and support the President, and serve as the link between the Regional Assemblies and the Board.
The ICA leaders designed an international cooperatives symbol and a flag for the first “Cooperators’ Day.” After some experiments with different designs, the first rainbow flag was completed in 1924 and was adopted as an official symbol of the international cooperative movement in 1925.
In 2001 the ICA (International Cooperative Alliance) decided to change its flag. During the 1980s & 90s a lot of “rainbow flags” became popular around the world.
The ICA decided to change its flag in order to avoid confusions between the Cooperative Flag and the other “Rainbow flags”. The new flag is white with an ICA logo inside it.
The ICA logo depicts doves of peace emerging from a rainbow – the symbol of the Cooperative Movement – and represents the unity of ICA’s diverse membership. Red stands for courage. Orange offers the vision of possibilities. Yellow represents the challenge that Green has kindled. Green represents growth, a challenge to cooperators to strive for growth of membership and of understanding the aims and values of cooperation. Sky blue suggests far horizons, the need to provide education and help to unfortunate people and to strive towards global unity. Dark blue suggests pessimism, reminding us of less fortunate people in the world who are in need of the benefits from cooperation. Violet is the color of warmth, beauty and friendship.
Ex. 17 Look through the text “Consumer Cooperatives in the USA” and fulfill the following tasks:
1. Say in a few words what the text is about.
2. Say what you have learned from the text about consumer cooperatives in the USA.
3. Prepare a short talk on the role of consumer cooperatives in the American economy.
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