Archive for the ‘Connections’ Category
Gala Discounts for Early Birds
Posted on: October 6, 2010
Gala 2010 is fast approaching, and so is the early-bird deadline! Register before Oct. 10th for a discount! www.ontario.coop/gala
On May 30th, 2010, you can join the movement for economic alternatives at the 2010 National Summit on a People-Centred Economy! From co-operatives that have seen as century of change, to the latest innovative social enterprises, citizen-led efforts to build a people-centred economy are rich in their history and diversity. In the face of this recent economic turmoil and growing ecological crises, these approaches are more relevant than ever!
The 2010 National Summit on a People-Centred Economy will be bringing together leaders and representatives of the community economic development, cooperative, and social economy sectors to build a common agenda and mobilize action for a secure, sustainable economy that puts people and the planet first.
The Summit will focus on six themes:
1. Finance and Investment
2. Enterprise Development
3. Local Revitalization
4. Organizing the Social Economy Marketplace
5. Strengthening the Movement
6. International
The summit takes place May 30th – June 1st, 2010 at Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. For more information on the event, click here to view the National Summit homepage, and to register, please click here! Check out the Summit’s wiki page where each of the issue papers for the six themes are available for review. This is a great opportunity for us to further advance the movement towards a sustainable economy!
Take care!
Daniel
Tell YOUR co-op story!
Posted on: March 15, 2010
Are you curious as to some ways which you can spread the story of your co-operative venture? Here are 4 different options you can exploit to let your story be heard!
(a) George Melnyk, a Canadian Studies professor at the University of Calgary, wants to find out how Canadian documentaries have dealt with co-ops. He is researching the portrayal of co-operatives in Canadian documentary films over the past 80 years, and is seeking help from co-operators across the country.
If you are aware of any Canadian documentary films – in English or in French – that have dealt with co-ops, contact Professor Melnyk at gmelnyk@ucalgary.ca
(b) Historian Ian MacPherson is looking for examples of co-operatives that help their members overcome conflict for his new project about “co-operation in peace”. Contact him at cluny1@uvic.ca
(c) ACE, The Association of Cooperative Educators is looking for stories of co-operatives and credit unions created by or for Aboriginal, Inuit and/or First Nations communities. To submit your story, or for more information, please contact Cathy Chamberlain, ACE Communication Director at chamberlain@ace.coop
(d) Nominate your co-op or credit union for a Co-operative Spirit Recognition Award. There are 7 award categories including Co-op Innovator, New Co-op of Distinction and Co-operative Social Responsibility. The nomination form can be found at http://tinyurl.com/2010SpiritAwardsNominationForm . The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, June 1st, 2010.
Learn the stories of more than 50 past recipients at the Spirit Awards Video Hall of Fame at http://www.youtube.com/OnCoopSpiritAwards
Co-operatively yours,
Daniel
If you are searching for some inspiration on how to prosper as an individual, and to build those around you, this is definitely the article for you. The author, Milenko Matanovic, a community builder and internationally recognized artist, describes 10 unique ways in which an individual can build their community. It is quite evident that building strong communities is critical to our survival, and that it takes hard work and dedication to achieve such a strong community. These insightful steps bring forward new ideas and opportunities for one to follow towards the fruition of self and community.
One particular point which I found inspiring was the idea to support a cause with no direct personal benefit. Mr. Matanovic mentions that it is only natural to be involved with things we care about the most, however, “the most interesting and important discoveries happen in the spaces between interests, disciplines, and ideologies.” He mentions that it is necessary to step outside of your ‘natural zone’ to uncover new solutions. When faced with problems in the future, make sure to look beyond your natural scope to discover useful solutions!
For a truly inspirational reading experience, check out this link featured in YES! Magazine.
10 Courageous Things You Can Do to Build Community by Milenko Matanovic — YES! Magazine.
Go Co-op!
Posted on: November 23, 2009
With the goal of building a stronger network of co-ops and co-operators, I’m directing you to this fine website: www.go.coop.
Developed by the National Cooperative Grocers Association, “the site’s aim is to highlight the importance, benefits and prevalence of cooperatives as a business model for us as individuals and as a society.”
The success stories provided are all American, but should inspire you to think of co-ops that are strengthening communities and improving lives right here in Ontario.
For example, the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association’s goal of providing decent low-cost housing and good food for students is very reminiscent of the initiatives of members of the Ontario Student Co-operatives Association, which include Campus Co-op and Neil Wycik in Toronto, Science ’44 in Kingston, Waterloo Co-op and the Guelph Campus Co-op.
Part of advocating for a stronger co-op sector in Ontario is understanding the many roles co-ops play across the province. Take a few minutes and learn more about these student-owned co-operatives and how they’re making campus life better.
Go Co-ops!
Co-ops Rock!
Posted on: November 19, 2009
Always eager to find new and exciting co-op content online, I recently clicked my way to this fine site, Co-ops Rock!
Rather than offer my own synopsis of the site, here is a description offered by site designer Ken Davis:
More inspirational than informational, there’s a small handful of articles to cover a few basics, a bunch of cool videos, an illustration gallery, and lots of links and resources. If you have 15 minutes, you should be able to find enough stuff to convince you that co-ops can change the world and are every bit as cool as the millions of people who are part of them think they are. (Okay, some of the videos are a little dorky. But dorky can be cool, too.)
Take the time to check it out and let me know what you think.
Mondragon and USW Join Forces
Posted on: November 13, 2009
If you haven’t already heard about the framework agreement signed between the United Steelworkers (USW) and MONDRAGON Internacional, S.A., here’s your chance!
The agreement commits to establishing MONDRAGON cooperatives in the manufacturing sector within the United States and Canada. The USW and MONDRAGON will work to establish manufacturing cooperatives that adapt collective bargaining principles to the MONDRAGON worker ownership model of “one worker, one vote.”
For more information, check out these links:
www.usw.org / www.mondragon-corporation.com
Recently, co-op developers Andrew McLeod and Lisa Stolarski sat down with Rob Witherall, who is coordinating the new program for the Steelworkers. To read that interview, visit McLeod’s blog, Cooperate and No One Gets Hurt.
To learn more about Mondragon, check out this post.
From Crisis to Recovery!
Posted on: November 9, 2009
Hello fellow co-operator’s.
I’m passing along this message about the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation’s upcoming AGM and Conference.
This is a reminder to please register as soon as possible if you will be attending the CWCF Conference. To register, please follow this link.
This year’s AGM/Conference will take place from November 19th to 21st in Moncton, NB. The theme is: From Crisis to Recovery!: How Worker Co-ops are a Critical Response to Times of Economic and Environmental Crisis.
The program will include a live video feed from the CICOPA Conference taking place in Geneva, Switzerland.
THREE CONFERENCE UPDATES:
- It is now possible to get to the registration page & all Conference information from the home page of CWCF’s site: www.canadianworker.coop.
- Elizabeth May has now confirmed that she can participate in real time, also via live video feed – the next best thing to being there, not to mention, a more environmentally option, given that she now lives in BC.
- The CICOPA session has been moved: it will now take place on Sat., Nov 21st at 11 am instead of on Fri afternoon. The speaker will be General Secretary Bruno Roelants. (The new Winnipeg video series & CCA presentation have been moved to Friday afternoon, & Sat morning workshops will take place earlier. The schedule now on-line reflects these changes.)
LAUNCH OF NEW CWCF WEBSITE:
CWCF is thrilled to announce its new, bilingual web site: www.canadianworker.coop.
CWCF has endeavoured to make the new site user-friendly and useful, and there are still a few more improvements to come. If you have any suggestions for improvement, comments, etc., please do not hesitate to share them with CWCF’s Executive Director, Hazel Corcoran (hazel@canadianworker.coop).
