Members' Council column: a democratic decision-making body

Members' Council member Carlo Elia is a eucalyptus grower in Italy. He takes a break from his hectic work life by attending matches at Stadio Olimpico, where he enthusiastically cheers on his favourite club AS Roma.

There are many differences, of course, between growers: large or small, Dutch or Italian, flowers or plants. But secretly, we all have a lot in common. That’s something I’ve learnt over the past few years as a member of the Advisory Council and later the Members' Council.

Vigorous discussions
How did I join the Advisory Council? I was elected to it from an FPC. And I was amazed at just how democratic it is here! We were really listened to as members and that has only improved with the Members' Council. We determine the course of the cooperative together, with the members and with the Management Board.

Right, we have more in common than we sometimes think. However, that doesn’t mean we always agree in the Members' Council. On the contrary! There are lengthy discussions. Sustainability, for example, is such a topic of conversation. I myself was against the stricter requirements. On the other hand, I understand now that we have to do this, otherwise we will lose our customers and consumers to competitors. Our buyers expect increasingly environmentally-friendly production from us. And with that comes new requirements. There are always different voices represented in the discussions of the Members' Council. This is what makes for such intense discussions. But in the end, we try to reach a workable compromise that suits everyone.

Your input is important
I find it unfortunate that members sometimes tell me that their input makes no difference. They think everything has already been predetermined. That’s not the case at all. We Italians look at the way Royal FloraHolland is organised with a tinge of envy. Why doesn't everyone see how well organised it is here? The Members' Council is a powerful forum and the Management Board is very keen to contribute ideas. The company is not afraid to adjust or reverse a decision when a change of course is needed.

So, in this column, I call on all members to join forces. We need each other to keep the coopeative as strong as it has been for the past 100 years. Share your opinion. Tell us what you need. It’s the only way we can arrive at the best solutions. Or become a member of the Members' Council. There are vacancies at the moment. Being a member of the Members' Council is a great way to develop yourself. I say that from experience. You meet other growers and discuss relevant topics. I know I’m going to miss it now my term is coming to an end. But it’s time to make room for new blood.

Strong together
We desperately need all the brainpower we can get. It’s not for nothing that the 'Together in our cooperative' project is such a hot topic now. The war in Ukraine, the bizarre energy prices and the coronavirus crisis show us how vulnerable we actually are. A solid strategy provides a good foundation to build on, so that we are less affected by these kinds of crises. And we need to implement that together.