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CoopZone News, by Hazel Corcoran
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1) Srategic Planning
The CoopZone Board has embarked on a strategic planning process. Some preliminary work has been done. Soon, for the first time in the seven and a half years since CoopZone's incorporation, in early May the Board will meet in-person! This is a very significant step and shows the importance that the Board is placing on the new vision and strategic plan.
Some key issues include: What are the value-added services which the members wish to receive from CoopZone? How do we find more significant financial resources to have a more fulsome member benefits offering? Can CoopZone have more impact, and if so, how? How do we get CoopZone and its members better known within the broader co-operative sector?
CoopZone must be marketed effectively and not be a "well-kept secret." We also wish to have it more obvious that CoopZone, although it's been managed by CWCF, is NOT only for worker co-ops but rather for all types of co-ops.
There is also a possibility of re-branding, since some don't like "Zone" but feel that the Network may be seen as more professional if called simply, the "Canadian Co-operative Developers' Network." What do you think? Please watch for a member survey in the near future; we encourage all members' participation.
2) Webinars
We held a webinar regarding Co-operative Accounting in February, ably led by Tom Webb and Dr. Daphne Rixon of CEARC, the Centre of Excellence in Accounting and Reporting. Information on this webinar can be found
here. There was some discussion about the possibility of further collaboration between CEARC and CoopZone, possibly leading to a Co-op Accountants' Network affiliated to CoopZone, like our Legal Network. (Please advise if you or an accountant you know may have interest in such a network.) Watch for upcoming webinars on The Difference between Co-ops and B Corp's, Platform Co-operativism, and more. Also, if you wish to suggest, or offer, a webinar, please let us know, by writing to Kaye Grant,
[email protected].
3) Co-op Development Training
The Introductory CoopZone training program is on-going with five students this year. For the first time, in June, an in-person version of this training program is planned in conjunction with the Enough for All anti-poverty program at Ambrose University in Calgary. Watch for details as they become available.
CoopZone is working with Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada's Co-op Development Manager to plan a workshop on co-operative development at the CMC's Congress in Ottawa, June 20th to 22nd. We hope to see many of you there!
4) CoopZone Legal Network
The CoopZone Legal Network has been running for several years now. It has had a dedicated Steering Committee guiding its work. The Committee members currently are: David Daughton (Committee Chair; & ED of PEI Community Legal Information Association, PEI), Mary Childs (lawyer, Vancouver), George Brown (lawyer, Ottawa) & Lauren Blumas (lawyer, Toronto). Hazel Corcoran, a lawyer by training, is staff resource to the Committee.
At this time the Steering Committee is searching for new members. Two of the members are seeking to move on, so we are seeking two additional members. If you are interested, please apply to me, at
[email protected].
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Ethel Côté, nommé à l'Ordre de l'Ontario / Ethel Côté Appointed to the Order of Ontario
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Ethel Côté, membre de longue date de CoopZone et aussi membre du CA, a été nommée à l'Ordre de l'Ontario pour son travail de soutien au développement économique des communautés francophones en Ontario et au Canada pendant 35 ans. CoopZone félicite Ethel pour cet honneur bien mérité!
Ethel Côté, a long-time CoopZone member and also a CoopZone Board member, has been appointed to the Order of Ontario for her work supporting
Francophone community economic development in Ontario and Canada for 35 years. CoopZone congratulates Ethel on this well-deserved honour!
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2017 CWCF - CoopZone Conference
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November 2 - 4, 2017 / du 2 au 4 novembre 2017
Ottawa-Gatineau
More information will follow soon, and registration will open in July, 2017. CoopZone members are also invited to attend.
Plus de renseignements seront bientôt disponibles, et les inscriptions seront ouvertes en juillet 2017. Nous invitons également les membres de CoopZone.
**Le français suit.**
This year we will start off our Conference with a one-day Worker Co-op Management Intensive.
November 2, 2017
Business Inn,
Ottawa, ON
The main Conference will run November 3-4, 2017
Four Points by Sheraton Hotel & Conference Centre
, Gatineau, QC
Confirmed speakers so far include: Senator Lucie Moncion (past President of Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada), Esteban Kelly, US FWC Co-Executive Director, Philadelphia, PA), and Russ Christianson, long-time member of CoopZone and CWCF's Worker Co-op Developers' Network.
Note: Accommodations will be available at the Four Points Sheraton and a nearby hostel. The two conference sites, although in different provinces, are only 3 kilometres apart; we will organize ground transportation.
**Le français**
Cette année, nous commencerons notre Congrès avec une clinique sur la gestion des coopératives de travail
le 2 novembre 2017
Business Inn,
Ottawa, ON
Le Congrès principal se déroulera du 3 au 4 novembre 2017
Four Points by Sheraton Hôtel et Centre de conférences
35, rue Laurier
Gatineau, QC
Les conférenciers confirmés jusqu'à date comprennent: la Sénatrice Lucie Moncion (ancienne présidente, CMC), Esteban Kelly, Co-Directeur général de la US FWC, et Russ Christianson, membre de longue date de CoopZone.
L'hébergement sera disponible au Four Points Sheraton et une auberge à proximité. Les deux sites du Congrès, bien que dans différentes provinces, ne sont qu'à seulement 3 kilomètres de distance; nous organiserons le transport terrestre.
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| Camosun College Course on Co-op Development |
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by Joy Emmanuel
Turning Times Research and Consulting
In the fall of 2016, I offered a course in the Business Department at Camosun College in Victoria on Starting a Co-operative Business. In this article, I provide a brief overview on how the program went and hope it may spark ideas for similar programs. I welcome your comments and any insights that may feed into plans for the next time the course is offered.
The intent of the program was to provide a basic introduction to co-operatives and support participants in moving their co-op business idea forward. The curriculum covered the basic steps in starting a co-operative, including: forming a steering committee, feasibility studies, membership and governance, financing and incorporation. There were five sessions, each lasting 2.5 hours.
Eight participants enrolled in the program. They expressed an interest in several different types of co-ops. One participant was curious about the possibility of a driverless car co-op. Two people were involved with a group working on creating a housing/land co-op. One person expressed interest in a food co-op. Three people were members of a newly formed worker co-op. Two people worked at a local credit union and wanted to learn more about supporting co-operatives in general.
The diverse range of co-op interests meant that participants were introduced to various types of co-operatives beyond their immediate focus. This allowed them to become familiar with many ways the model can be used and introduced them to various choices they might consider depending on the type of co-op they pursued. This diversity also allowed opportunities to identify the common features of all co-operatives.
Just as it takes some time for people who are new to the co-op model to get a sense of how it might work with their idea, it took time for me to get a sense of their ideas and to work through the various options with them. Unfortunately, the person who had an interest in a land-based, educational, food-to-table co-op was not able to take her vision much further as it remained very broad and changed from week to week. Similarly, the participant interested in the driverless car co-op morphed from members being the potential users of the service to considering the possibility of local governments and other agencies being the members. I had to advise him on the importance of a critical mass to support this venture and review recent challenges car share co-ops have faced. While his idea was more concrete than the first example, he needed to try the co-op model on in different ways to see if it fit his ideas. In the end, he decided it was not a fit for where he hoped to go with this project. As you know, this process of discernment can also be beneficial.
The two people who were involved in the housing initiative found the course information useful; however, it was also a bit overwhelming when we started to discuss the various options they might consider for their initiative. A housing project is a major undertaking - most people interested in this type of initiative have a steep learning curve when they are starting out. Working with two of ten people in a collective project also has its limitations. Although I feel the course provided them with lots of relevant information, it will take some time for them to process - and relay - this information. Ideally, they will work further with a developer to help their project move forward.
Initially there were three members of a newly formed worker co-op. Unfortunately, one had to drop out due to personal matters. While this co-op is at a more advanced stage than the other initiatives described above, the members themselves seemed to be in different places in their understanding of co-operatives and in identifying the areas of support their co-op needed. While their co-op already had a semi-complete business plan, I sensed there were different levels of understanding as to its contents and purpose. While discussing feasibility studies in the course, I drew parallels to business plans to help them better understand aspects of their plan.
It was great to have two course participants who worked for a local credit union. They were interested in all aspects of co-operatives and provided a financial perspective on a few questions that added to everyone's learning.
With a course such as this, one never knows what the mix of interests and backgrounds will be. I used the diversity as an asset to broaden the learning opportunities for everyone. As you can see from the above, the outcome was not necessarily two or three new co-ops but all the participants left with a greater understanding of the co-operative business model and information on additional tools, resources, examples, and funding options that can help them develop their ideas.
[Editor's note: We understand that Joy will be offering this course again. Anyone in Victoria with interest in learning about co-operatives might consider taking it.]
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Top Issues Facing Co-ops Revealed in Study
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In its most recent survey, The University of Saskatchewan's Centre for the Study of Co-operatives asked co-op leaders across Canada to identify the most pressing concerns currently facing co-operative organizations. According to CEOs, board members, and managers in virtually every region and sector, the number one issue for co-op leaders is public awareness of the co-operative model - or the lack of it, that is. The top issue last year was Co-operation among Co-ops, which fell to number six this year.
The survey canvassed co-op leaders and academics on their views about the top issues, organized under themes such as organizational change, maintaining the co-op identity, government relations, relevance, innovation, technology and governance. The Centre for the Study of Co-operatives has created a poster that itemizes the top twenty themes and highlights the top six issues.
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Launching a Cooperative Isn't Easy - Here's a Resource to Get You Started
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This week, we at the Traveling Cooperative Institute, a peer-to-peer cooperative business development program of the Northcountry Cooperative Foundation, launched "
Collecting Ourselves," a comprehensive cooperative entrepreneurship curriculum.
The curriculum walks participants through an examination of the philosophy and practice of cooperation, the meaning of "development" and "entrepreneurship" in their lives, the steps taken to develop a cooperative business, and an exploration of two of the most important steps of collective entrepreneurship: organizing people into a steering committee and creating a business plan.
Popular Education
methods are used throughout the curriculum, drawing directly on the expertise and insight of participants to guide the learning process, endeavoring to make the content relevant to a wide audience by "meeting people where they're at." The total curriculum is comprised of nine workshops, encompassing up to 16 hours of training. The curriculum can serve as content for a semester class in university, be used in regular community study groups, or for a retreat-style academy. It was developed for young people in their teens to thirties, but is modular and adaptable for most ages, identities, and experiences.
Click here to read more.
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Partner with Canada's Emerging Co-operators! /
Conseils des associations provinciales - Pourquoi participer à la campagne Coop 150?
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**Le français suit**
Sharing Stories of Co-operation - #Coop150 Campaign
Celebrating Canada's 150th Anniversary of Confederation
Canada's Emerging Co-operators is embarking on a social media campaign to profile the diverse and powerful co-operative movement in every region of Canada.
The 150th Anniversary of Confederation is both a celebration and a reflection upon how Canada has built its institutions, its economy and its social fabric. By focusing on the personal reasons people choose the co-operative model today, we want to document 150 ideas, faces and projects from all kinds of co-operatives in Canada.
This storytelling project will be broadly promoted on Facebook and Instagram to build public knowledge and understanding of the role co-operatives play in our economy and society.
So, what passionate stories can you share from your province or territory?
Can you help us put out the call? We'd love to share stories from your member co-ops!
Team up with Canada's Emerging Co-operators to:
- Demonstrate active participation in youth engagement initiatives to your members
- Invite discussion on co-operatives, and share engaging stories
- Showcase the co-operative advantages unique to your communities
- Get inspiring testimonials you can share on your own Facebook pages
- Gain a greater online audience, with just a like, comment, share or hashtag
In the spirit of Canada's 150th, we're asking you - co-operators throughout Canada - to tell us your co-op story in 150 words!
- How did you get into co-ops?
- What do co-ops mean to you?
- What is innovative about your co-op?
About the campaign:
Submissions are open to anyone in Canada who wants to share their own co-op story. All submissions must include a photo and should not exceed 150 words.
You can share your 150-word co-op post with us over Instagram or Facebook with an image of your choosing using the hashtag #coops150. We will share your post with all of Canada. You can also send your story and a photo to
[email protected]
for us to post on your behalf.
Follow us
on Instagram @Coop150 or Like our
Facebook Page
to read inspiring Canadian co-op stories! Did you know: Our campaign format was inspired by the renowned portrait and personal story collection on social media known as "Humans of New York."
The most popular 150-word submissions will be showcased in Ottawa, in June and in November, as part of Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada's official gatherings. As many as 150 co-operative stories from across Canada will also be published as a journal and submitted to Library and Archives Canada via legal deposit.
**Le français**
Récits de coopération - Campagne #Coop150
150e anniversaire de la Confédération canadienne
Les Coopérateurs émergents du Canada s'apprêtent à lancer une campagne sur les médias sociaux pour mettre en valeur la force et la diversité du mouvement coopératif d'un bout à l'autre du pays.
Le 150e anniversaire de la Confédération constitue à la fois une occasion de célébrer et de réfléchir à la manière dont le Canada a
bâti
ses institutions, son économie et sa société. Nous souhaitons donc recenser 150 idées, projets et visages représentant toutes sortes de coopératives en activité au pays afin de présenter pourquoi les gens choisissent, aujourd'hui, le modèle coopératif.
Ce projet narratif sera publicisé à grande échelle sur Facebook et Instagram afin de sensibiliser la population au rôle que jouent les coopératives dans notre paysage économique et sociétal.
Alors, quels captivants récits aimeriez-vous raconter?
Aidez-nous à faire connaître cette initiative! Nous espérons lire et transmettre les histoires de vos membres.
Joignez-vous aux Coopérateurs émergents du Canada pour :
- Montrer activement à vos membres votre volonté de mobiliser la jeunesse
- Encourager les discussions et la transmission d'expériences inspirantes
- Faire valoir la spécificité coopérative de vos communautés
- Obtenir des témoignages évocateurs que vous pourrez partager sur votre page ou profil
- Élargir la portée de votre présence en ligne à l'aide d'un « J'aime », d'un commentaire, d'un partage ou d'un mot-clic
Dans l'esprit du 150e, nous demandons aux coopérateurs canadiens de décrire
leur vécu coopératif en 150 mots.
- Comment êtes-vous venus à vous intéresser au modèle coopératif?
- Que représente une coopérative pour vous?
- Qu'est-ce qui distingue votre coopérative?
À propos de la campagne
Toute personne résidant au Canada est invitée à nous soumettre son histoire de coopération. Toutes les soumissions doivent se limiter à 150 mots et inclure une photo.
Utilisez le mot-clic #coop150
pour nous transmettre sur Instagram ou Facebook votre récit coopératif de 150 mots ou moins accompagné de l'image de votre choix. Votre publication sera partagée en ligne à l'échelle pancanadienne. Vous pouvez également nous envoyer votre texte et votre image par courriel à l'adresse
[email protected]
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nous les publierons en ligne pour vous.
Suivez-nous
sur Instagram (@Coop150) ou cliquez « J'aime » sur notre
page Facebook
pour vous laisser inspirer par des expériences coopératives canadiennes! Pour la petite histoire, notre campagne a été inspirée par la célèbre collection de photos et d'anecdotes personnelles connue sous le nom de Humans of New York sur les médias sociaux.
Les soumissions les plus populaires seront présentées à Ottawa lors des rencontres officielles de Coopératives et mutuelles Canada tenues en juin ainsi qu'en novembre. Cent cinquante récits de partout au pays seront sélectionnés et publiés sous forme de recueil, lequel sera soumis par dépôt légal à Bibliothèque et Archives Canada.
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For the third year in a row, BCCA has partnered with Vancity and more than a dozen BC co-ops and credit unions in BC to launch an interactive business skills bootcamp for entrepreneurs or community members who are interested in building a co-op enterprise.
BCCA is excited to announce we are now accepting applications for this year's Cooperate Now program. Cooperate Now will be held May 4 - 7, 2017 in Vancouver, BC.
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Exciting New Chapter for Award-winning All 4 Each program!
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From On Coop E-Newsletter: Issue 2, February 17, 2017
This spring, the All 4 Each Co-operative Education Program (past winner of the TOP CO-OP award for mobilization at the International Co-operative Summit) will be unveiling an exciting new delivery model! Led by original program designer, Kerr Smith, the program will be accessible to all co-ops and credit unions, equipping them with the tools and training necessary to spread the word about our co-operative movement in education institutions across Ontario. Stay tuned for more details, and look for an information webinar in the near future!
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Join CDF's Engagement Committee and build a global co-operative community!
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If you're a Canadian co-operator interested in alleviating poverty, then we'd love to hear from you! CDF is now accepting expressions of interest to join its Engagement Committee.
This Committee (non-Board) is tasked with helping staff generate volunteer, financial and technical assistance resources through its current relationships and the cultivation of new relationships with the Canadian co-operative sector.
Click
here for more information!
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Co-operative Management Education
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Co-operative Management Education at St. Mary's University, offers rigorous and dynamic programs for co-operative management professionals. The programs cultivate a deep understanding of co-operatives, credit unions and mutuals, within a globalized, online curriculum.
Program options include:
Who can you think of that might be interested in either the Master's Diploma or even their shorter executive education programs? Please feel free to promote this learning opportunity within your networks or send your suggestions to Erin Hancock at
[email protected]
Click
here to read more about the program.
Certificate in Co-operative Management
This is a new online 10-month program being offered
by Co-operative Management Education, Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University (Halifax, NS).
It is comprised of a set of online and part-time courses designed to be completed in 10 months. These courses are designed to enhance practical knowledge of the relevance and impact of the co-operative business model. In addition to joining a fabulous international network of co-operators, students will acquire an expanded toolbox of co-operative specific management tools and best practices related to strategy, financial sustainability, and innovation.
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From Corporate Globalization to Global Co-operation
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This book by CoopZone member Tom Webb, is about the need for an alternative to capitalism. Co-operatives employ more than 250 million people. They impact the lives of three billion people and reduce almost every negative impact of capitalism - it is a model that works.
Webb outlines the principles co-operatives need to hold to if they are to be a successful alternative to capitalism, and examines the public policy changes needed to nurture the transition.
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Des professionnels du droit coopératif réunis à Montevideo /
Co-operative lawyers meet for Latin American summit in Montevideo
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** English follows**
(Royaume-Uni)
Plus de 100 avocats d'Amérique latine et 20 d'Europe, du Canada et d'Israël se sont rassemblés lors d'un forum sur le droit coopératif pour discuter de questions et d'enjeux liés au droit coopératif. Deux initiatives spécifiques ont été lancées lors de ce forum. L'Alliance Coopérative Internationale a annoncé son intention de lancer un site Web de lois coopératives. Parallèlement, les participants ont annoncé la création d'une revue internationale de droit coopératif et d'un site Internet international pour les avocats spécialisés en droit coopératif :
iuscooperativum.org .
**English**
(United Kingdom)
More than 100 lawyers from Latin America, and 20 from Europe, Canada and Israel, gathered for the forum, held alongside a Latin American Congress on Co-operative Law, discussing issues surrounding the law at a time when collaboration between organisations across national borders is becoming more important.
Two specific initiatives were launched at the Forum.
The International Co-operative Alliance
announced the intention to launch a website of co-operative laws - effectively an international legal website for statutes and other "black-letter" law. At the same time, the lawyers themselves announced the establishment of an international co-operative lawyers' website - iuscooperativum.org - for the publication of academic papers, the sharing of ideas, and ultimately the creation of an international cooperative law journal.
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Denver Taxi Drivers Are Turning Uber's Disruption on Its Head
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The largest taxi company in the Denver metro area is still mostly secret. .... All 800 slots for Green Taxi members are full, and there's demand for more. But nearly 150 drivers are out on the road so far. The rest are waiting, keeping their status as business owners quiet, biding their time to see if this will really work.
Read the full article here.
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European Parliament calls for the promotion of cooperatives /
Le Parlement européen appelle à la promotion des coopératives
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CECOP welcomes the European Parliament Resolution of 19 January 2017 on a European Pillar of Social Rights, led by MEP Maria Joao Rodrigues (S&D), which recognizes that cooperatives are an integral part of the social economy and calls for the social economy to be promoted. The text indicates that cooperatives, together with other social economy enterprises, "provide a good example in terms of creating quality employment, supporting social inclusion and promoting a participatory economy".
Read more here.
Le 19 janvier 2017, le Parlement européen a adopté une résolution sur le « Pilier européen des droits sociaux » qui reconnaît que les coopératives font partie intégrante de l'économie sociale et appelle à la promotion de l'économie sociale. Le texte indique que les coopératives, ainsi que d'autres entreprises d'économie sociale, offrent un bon exemple en matière de création d'emplois de qualité, de soutien à l'inclusion sociale et de promotion d'une économie participative. Lire plus ici.
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From Grocery Stores to Labor Unions, Cooperatives Were the Answer - YES! Magazine
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This is an article that is part of their 20th-anniversary issue, where they asked a dozen reporters to speak with hundreds of people around the country-activists, entrepreneurs, parents, politicians, religious leaders, scientists, students, workers-to bring 50 of favorite inspiring solutio
ns.
"These are the ideas making the places we live more sustainable and inclusive-and bringing communities together."
Read it here
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How Norway Avoided Becoming a Fascist State
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Instead of falling to the Nazi party, Norway broke through to a social democracy. Their history shows us polarization is nothing to despair over. This article points to Co-ops having played a role in Norway in the 30's to avoiding fascism. Read the full article here.
Read it here
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2017 Local Organic Food Coops Network (LOFC) Assembly
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Held in Huntsville, Ontario from March 21st to 22nd 2017, this assembly brings together co-operative managers, farmers and food system developers to learn from each other. The two days are filled with workshops conducted by those on the ground from learned experience, group activities to shape the collective future of the sector and networking opportunities to build relationships within the network.
Key Note Speaker is Allison Hermes, Executive Director of P6 Co-operative Marketing USA.
(see photo)
Allison leads the innovative co-operative marketing P6 with over 12 co-op stores across the US, in collaboration with co-operative producers from across North America. Allison will demonstrate how the co-operative marketing model has benefited her member co-ops.
Click here for more information.
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2017 Co-operative Congress
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June 20 -22, 2017
Ottawa, Ontario
Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada is delighted to host co-operators from across the country in Ottawa for the Annual CMC Co-operative Congress.
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Hopeful Economics: Leadership & Innovation Summit.
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On April 21-22, 2017 Simon Fraser University and the City of Vancouver are co-hosting Hopeful Economics: Leadership & Innovation Summit.
Hopeful Economics features two full days of workshops, speakers and panel discussions, showcasing the most inspiring and untold stories of community economic development in Western Canada.
Location: SFU Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings, Vancouver, B.C.
Dates: April 21 - 22, 2017
Tickets: $350
Speakers at the summit include:
- Shaun Loney, social entrepreneur and author of Army of Problem Solvers, will present on reconciliation and the solutions economy.
- Judy Wicks, author of Good Morning, Beautiful Business, will speak about making the case for a more compassionate place-based economy.
- Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne will share her views on entrepreneurship, placemaking and identity.
- Michael Shuman, globally-recognized expert on community economics, will talk about about foreign investment and its implications for neighbourhood investment.
- Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps will talk about her efforts to foster a more innovative, proactive and responsive culture at City Hall.
- Carol Anne Hilton, recognized leading First Nation's business entrepreneur, will offer a sneak peak at the book she is working on, "Indigenomics - a Global Power Shift.'
On April 20, at a
separately ticketed event, Leman Kewan Hasano from Syria and John Restakis will give a presentation about the revolutionary co-operative models emerging in war-torn Rojava Syria, sharing how a new economy is emerging thanks to communities responding to challenges together.
Deepen your connections and learn about social innovations that are having results in communities. Come to Hopeful Economics: Leadership & Innovation Summit.
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Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC)
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From Far and Wide: Envisioning the Next 150 Years of Co-operation
This year's CASC conference will be held from May 30th to June 2nd,
2017, during the Annual Congress of Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (CFHSS) 2017, at Ryerson University, in Toronto. Registration, which includes the early bird prices, begins soon.
For more information on CASC and the conference, please consult the CASC
website or e-mail us at
[email protected].
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CoopZone is a network of people and organizations which help others to start and develop co-operatives.
Please send any comments, suggestions and ideas for articles to:
Editor of CoopZone Newsletter
Phone: 204-257-
1198
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