The arbor at my #ConsumerCoop #CSA farm today...

#btv #vermont #vt

Today I finally cracked the issue that was blocking me around the real estate investment co-op model.

The thing I was wrestling with was how it could be a #ConsumerCoop without a patronage relationship, since I was thinking primarily about the investors.

*But* if it is organized as a consumer co-op in which the *renters are member-owners*, then they get a patronage refund after the investors are paid their limited return (max under #Vermont law is 6%).

#Coop relative of the #LandTrust?

What are good questions to include in a survey of a #ConsumerCoop's members?

#coop #coopgovernance #memberengagement #democracy

@samtoland there have been some issues around retaining earnings for #workercoops, though there's been some creative work on that front recently. They're also used for worker co-ops that have undocumented immigrant member-owners.

Generally the #consumercoop statutes are a lot more developed in the States, so there really hasn't been perceived need to jerry-rig something on an llc structure for that model.

And #multistakeholdercoops are virtually nonexistent here, so hard to say on that front.