Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome to Foundations: Training for New Agricultural Cooperative Directors

    • Pre-assessment & Survey (8-10 minutes; complete before starting the course)

    • Suggested Ways to Use the Foundations Modules

    • Disclosure: Course modules are not intended as legal, tax or finance advice specific to any particular cooperative

    • Your Instructors: Intro Video
  • 2

    Module 1: What is a Cooperative?

    • What is a Cooperative?: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: What is a Cooperative?

    • What is a Cooperative: Assessment

    • Hannah Scott Biography

    • Tom Worley Biography
  • 3

    Module 2: Governance - The Uniqueness of Cooperatives

    • Governance - The Uniqueness of Cooperatives: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: The Uniqueness of Cooperatives

    • Greg McKee biography
  • 4

    Module 3: Board - Prime Directive

    • Board - Prime Directive: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Board - Prime Directive

    • Board - Prime Directive: Assessment

    • Chris Kopka Biography
  • 5

    Module 4: Introduction to Board Terminology and Procedures

    • Introduction to Board Terminology and Procedures: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Introduction to Board Terminology

    • Introduction to Board Terminology: Assessment

    • Keri Jacobs biography
  • 6

    Module 5: Legal Rationale for Cooperatives

    • Legal Rationale for Cooperatives: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Legal Rationale for Cooperatives

    • Legal Rationale of Cooperatives: Assessment

    • Christopher Kopka biography
  • 7

    Module 6: Board Officers and Committees

    • Board Officers and Committees: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Board Officers & Committees

    • Board Officers and Committees: Assessment

    • Frayne Olson biography
  • 8

    Module 7: Serving as an Ambassador for Your Cooperative

    • Serving as an Ambassador for Your Cooperative: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Serving as an Ambassador for Your Cooperative

    • Serving as an Ambassador for Your Cooperative: Assessment

    • Courtney Berner biography
  • 9

    Module 8: Basics of Financial Statements

    • Basics of Financial Statements: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Basics of Financial Statements

    • Brian Briggeman biography
  • 10

    Module 9: Patronage

    • Patronage: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Patronage

    • Brian Briggeman biography
  • 11

    Module 10: Income or Profit Distribution

    • Income or Profit Distribution: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Income or Profit Distribution

    • Income or Profit Distribution: Assessment

    • Michael Boland biography
  • 12

    Module 11: Evolution of the Law

    • Evolution of the Law: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Evolution of the Law

    • Evolution of the Law: Assessment

    • Christopher Kopka biography
  • 13

    Module 12: Fiduciary Duties of Directors - Part One

    • Fiduciary Duties of Directors - Part One: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Fiduciary Duties of Directors - Part One

    • Fiduciary Duties of Directors - Part One: Assessment

    • Download: Cooperatives laws / state-by-state Excel spreadsheet of statutes

    • Michael Boland biography
  • 14

    Module 13: Fiduciary Duties of Directors - Part Two

    • Fiduciary Duties of Directors - Part Two: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Fiduciary Duties of Directors - Part Two

    • Fiduciary Duties of Directors - Part Two: Assessment

    • Download: Cooperatives laws / state-by-state Excel spreadsheet of statutes

    • Michael Boland biography
  • 15

    Module 14: Policy Governance

    • Policy Governance: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Policy Governance

    • Policy Governance: Assessment

    • Kristi Schweiss biography
  • 16

    Module 15: Developing New Directors for Effective Governance

    • Developing New Directors for Effective Governance : Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Developing New Directors for Effective Governance

    • Diane Friend biography

    • John Park biography
  • 17

    Module 16: Strategic Thinking Part I

    • Strategic Thinking Part I: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Strategic Thinking Part 1

    • Strategic Thinking Part 1: Assessment

    • Will Secor biography
  • 18

    Module 17: Strategic Thinking Part 2

    • Strategic Thinking Part 2: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Strategic Thinking Part 2

    • Strategic Thinking Part 2: Assessment

    • John Park biography
  • 19

    Module 18: Equity Management

    • Equity Management: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Equity Management

    • Equity Management: Assessment

    • Phil Kenkel biography
  • 20

    Module 19: Board Evaluation

    • Board Evaluation: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Board Evaluation

    • Board Evaluation: Assessment

    • Courtney Berner biography
  • 21

    Module 20: CEO Evaluation

    • CEO Evaluation: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: CEO Evaluation

    • CEO Evaluation: Assessment

    • Christopher Kopka biography
  • 22

    Module 21: Financial Benchmarking for Cooperative Directors

    • Financial Benchmarking for Cooperative Directors: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Financial Benchmarking for Cooperative Directors

    • Financial Benchmarking for Cooperative Directors: Assessment

    • Phil Kenkel biography
  • 23

    Module 22: Summary of Basic Cooperative Finance and Financial Management

    • Summary of Basic Cooperative Finance and Financial Management : Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Summary of Basic Cooperative Finance & Financial Management

    • Summary of Basic Cooperative Finance and Financial Management: Assessment

    • Keri Jacobs biography
  • 24

    Module 23: Property Rights in Cooperatives

    • Property Rights in Cooperatives: Video

    • Downloadable Workbook Chapter: Property Rights in Cooperatives

    • Property Rights in Cooperatives: Assessment

    • Matthew Elliott biography