ELBERTA, Ala. — Elberta farmers expressed their frustrations Thursday night during a town-hall meeting of the Elberta Farmers Co-op.

Approximately 40 members of the organization came to the meeting held at the Elberta Firemen’s Hall and led by Alabama Farmers Cooperative Vice President James Fudge. They shared with Fudge concern over the issue of membership and how those records are kept.

Co-op Manager William Carlew said efforts had been under way to transfer membership information from boxed paper files to computerized versions.

“We’re in the process of scanning (membership) cards into the computer,” he said, explaining that the Elberta Farmers Co-op has more than 600 members.

Carlew added that several boxes of records are unaccounted for.

Several meeting attendees said they knew of fellow members who are not recognized at the Co-op store on Main Street. Further discussion of that issue resulted in Carlew asking those present to share his request that in the coming weeks, when members visit the store they check the record of their membership. If not indicated, Carlew asked that they fill out a form and pay the $25 membership fee. This would place them in the computerized records.

But that wasn’t the only complaint those attending last week’s meeting had. Several questioned how bylaws are handled and feel copies should be provided to each member.

Fudge theorized about why they might not be available.

“I think there’s the hesitancy to distribute the bylaws because we don’t know what’s on record with the secretary of state,” he said. “When it’s determined what the bylaws are, every member gets a copy.”

Fudge added that when and if Elberta Co-op bylaws are changed by its board of directors, those changes are sent to the state and usually become official six months later.

Fudge said he would share those concerns with the board, as well as the others discussed Thursday night. They include:

· Members desire to have a copy of both the co-op’s financial report and meeting agenda at its annual meeting.

· Members’ desire to know when co-op equity is retired.

· Members’ belief that communication between the board and members is poor.

The Elberta Board of Directors holds a closed meeting each month. According to the co-op website, members of that board include: President Tim Bartl, Vice President James Kaiser, Secretary/Treasurer David E. Bitto, Leonard Kichler, James Krauss, Greg Bloch, John Frank Jr., Todd Cassebaum, Tim Mullek, Anthony Peebles and Geoffery Schaff.