The problem of obtaining and maintaining an adequate number of interested, actively participating members is one of the most important problems with which cooperative organizations have to deal. An organization interested in maintaining itself and in rendering maximum service is likely to feel that more members are needed if it is in need of more capital or volume of business, or if its prestige in the community is waning.

Of far greater importance from the point of view of cooperative progress is the question of whether or not all farmers who may be benefited by doing so are taking an active part in cooperative marketing organizations.