Approximately 150 cooperative leaders met with top policymakers at the White House on May 4, 2012, to discuss how their organizations spur economic recovery through job creation and ongoing investments in their local communities. The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) coordinated the briefing with top White House policymakers.
At the White House Community Leaders Briefing, Kelsay and other cooperative leaders shared information about cooperative self-help approaches, and shared that as budgets get tightened, the cooperative self-help approach is a valuable alternative. The briefing touched on the Rural Council Roundtable, which is chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and includes representation from all federal agencies that are engaged in programs in rural America.
Kelsay also met with John Wells – Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Education and Research Division – and James Wadsworth – USDA Agricultural Economist/Program Leader – to provide information about the MACC Board Chairman Roundtable education program, which was developed through a partnership with Dr. Greg McKee, Director of the Center for Cooperatives at North Dakota University. The program focuses on Governance Policies for cooperatives and Board Succession Planning to ensure continuing board quality for cooperatives in the future.