"People are busy doing other things. So some people, they're not bad people, but they're serving on the library board or helping clean up the parks," she said.

Scholl agrees that member labor can drive down costs, but she noted a couple challenges. First, co-ops need to make sure they're meeting Fair Labor Standards. Secondly, she said food has low profit margins, and a store needs sufficient volume to keep its balance sheets in the black.

A cooperative in Brooklyn obviously does, but she said it isn't as clear if the one in Missoula does.

While she doesn't recommend the model Missoula selected, Scholl also doesn't believe it's generally a good idea to jump ship midstream. And Cumpston, with the National Cooperative Business Association, said if members evaluate their plan and decide they want to stick with it, they must be able to tell that story well.

"If you want your cooperative to survive, if you truly believe this is the best business model for your business or your service that's being offered, then you need to be reminding your membership why you're a cooperative and why that's a good business model for you," Cumpston said.

The letter Missoula's board treasurer sent calling for help seemed to serve as one big reminder for members.