Success on Cooperative: The 50th Year Founding Anniversary of Don Galo Credit Cooperative, Inc.

It was a momentous event as old and new active members converged at Don Galo Sports Complex @ 6:00 PM last June 21st, 2012; in order to be part of this much awaited celebration.

Right after the General Assembly held last March 17th (three months earlier), the staff and officers plus the active members-volunteers laid the plans, highlighted with series of meetings, for the BIG day.

They were able to encourage and close solicitations for funding the activity with the local business owners taking part. Other more successful cooperatives also helped by sponsoring training for the officers and staff prior to the recent activity.

In turn, different committee heads and members sliced their time researching for the coop's history, old photos with memorable activities and programs, including the brain-draining interviews with some of the earliest, oldest but in good standing members.

The venue for the grand occasion was the sports complex of the barangay. Although, the lady captain, honorable Marilyn Factor-Burgos (also a former BOD-board of director member) is in the USA right now for a month-long vacation, she left an approval that the coop's event be held there.

True enough, we took turns laying all the decorations plus the tables and chairs (we already helped the catering service staff) to make the preparation be finished ahead of the time.

We expected 200 active members (good payers) to attend the occasion via RSVP (request for responses), a French phrase for, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," or 'please reply'.

There were glitches that happened during the actual event,but attending members didn't noticed it. They've enjoyed the gathering, the food, the souvenir program and the writing wall (tarpaulin).

It took more than three hours for the program to finish. We entertained messages from local politicians and unexpected guests, too. That's part of being in a Filipino gathering. We can't avoid to welcome them. That's part of what we call ' Filipino hospitality'.

Amid the controversies that stained the good image of the coop, MIGS (members in good standing) keep it going and support the increasing program that will support the needs of the members.

(With personal writings and opinion by travelman1971 aka Ireno A. Alcala)