Everyone employed or leading in the organisation has a part to play in earning public respect and confidence for the organisation. The Cooperative has extensive influence over members and community lives. Mismanagement or abuse can have serious and far reaching effects. As employees and leaders, we work for the organisation. Our members are entitled to the high expectations they have of the staff and leaders within the organisation. They expect that we are honest, fair, and loyal. These are absolute standards. We must meet those expectations. There is no middle course. Where expectations are not met, stakeholders’ criticism quickly follows.

Where people lose trust in the Cooperative, they don’t seek the help they are entitled to; they don’t provide information necessary for delivering effective services; they resist repaying their loans and become increasingly resentful of Cooperative activities. Any abuse of trust, abuse of resources, abuse of information, or personal opportunism corrodes the entitlement of all members. Standards of integrity and conduct underpin the way we go about our business. The way individual Board members and employees go about their responsibilities, and the way in which the Cooperative as a whole goes about its functions, reflect on us all. It is not only what we do, but how people perceive what we are doing. We must always be seen to be acting with integrity. This is Ethics and Conduct Code for the Board, Staff and members of ………………… Cooperative whose application is intended to introduce specific performance and behavioral standards and must be committed to by anyone elected or appointed to the management of the Cooperative.