Advocacy 101 for Co-ops Webinar TODAY

Advocacy 101 for Co-ops Webinar Today, Tuesday, July 31, 3-4 p.m., Eastern There’s Still Time to Register! It’s not too late to attend this complimentary webinar, co-produced by the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) and the Campaign for Cooperation. It’s your opportunity to get: A comprehensive overview of the advocacy process Talking points for discussing co-ops with legislators Insights into the National Cooperative Development Act and its impact on jobs and the economy A Public Policy Toolkit for the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives The opportunity to interact with experts Moderated by Peter Frank, Cooperation Works!, expert panelists include R.L. Condra, NCBA; Amy Johnson, US Federation of Worker Cooperatives; Andrew McLeod, Cooperation Works! Urban Circle; Bob Noble, Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance; and Lisa Stolarski, NCBA. Who Should Participate? Cooperative developers, representatives and volunteers Members of community service organizations All who want to support the co-op movement

Job posting: Worker Co-op Developer, Brooklyn NY

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT – June 29, 2012
Cooperative Developer 
For the Center for Family Life’s Worker Cooperative Incubation Program

The Center for Family Life in Sunset Park promotes and supports the founding of cooperative businesses as part of our community development initiative. Under the auspices of our Adult Employment Program, we have partnered with community members and incubated five worker cooperatives since June 2006 and one collective. Our work as consultants and facilitators to the Sunset Park cooperatives has assisted greatly in their business development and financial growth. Our work has gained recognition by Speaker Christine Quinn, the GEO Collective, the UN 2012 Year of the Cooperatives, and other organizations nationwide who are looking to create their own cooperative incubation programs in immigrant neighborhoods as a way to increase economic development.

A successful Cooperative Developer would have:

• A strong interest/background in community organizing, worker/immigrant rights and, worker-cooperative business development.
• 2-3 years experience with social group work including meeting facilitation and coordination, democratic decision-making and mediation. Groups will range from 15 to 40 people.
• Ability to learn quickly and be interested in developing a variety of new skills; be able to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines; have the ability to work both autonomously and with groups. 
• Willingness to engage with the cooperative members, the customers of the coops, and other individuals and organizations supporting the development of the cooperative businesses.
• Experience interacting with the press as well as supporting cooperative members with public speaking engagements.
• Superior organizational, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated experience of written and oral presentation skills.
• Entrepreneurial/Business skills are preferred. 

Responsibilities will include:

• Serving as the main Developer for the Sunset Park Cooperatives. Provide consultation based on the developmental stage of each coop.
• Attend weekly coop meetings in the evenings and weekends.
• Support the various coop committees and the development of leadership of those members in particular.
• Support the office managers of the various coops and the respective office committees.
• Develop new cooperatives based on the readiness and interest of CFL and the community members.
• Collaborate with ED and Development Staff in seeking ongoing project funding and reporting to current funders.
• Coordinate process of legal incorporation and governance of coops with attorneys. 
• Development of ongoing technical and leadership trainings.
• Develop, review and assist in implementing marketing strategy with coop members.  
• Assist in maintaining customer contact database / member information. 
• Work with members to develop sales promotions, e-newsletters, and updates to the website.
• Outreach to media.
• Attend annual cooperative conferences.

Geographic Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York.

Supervision: The Cooperative Developer will report to the Cooperative Coordinator. Ongoing weekly supervision will be provided.

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours/week. Schedule varies week to week. There is an average of 1-3 evening meetings per week and some weekend meetings. 

Languages: Able to write, read and speak fluently in Spanish and English.


Qualifications:

• B.A. or M.A. level in Social Work, Sociology, or other related field. Business development experience is preferred.
• Experience with community organizing.
• Experience with working in Latino/a immigrant communities. Work in other immigrant communities is a plus.
• Must be a strong verbal and written communicator in English and Spanish.
• Experience with media, and communications messaging a plus.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Benefits: Full health benefits, vacation and sick leave.

Application Process:
Applicants for the Cooperative Developer position should submit their full resume along with a cover letter that includes salary requirements by email to Vanessa Bransburg, Cooperative Coordinator, at vbransburg@cflsp.org. Subject line should include: “Cooperative Developer position”.

The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2012.
Applications received after that time will not be considered.

The Center for Family Life, which is a program of SCO Family of Services, is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQI identified people and people with disabilities are strongly urged to apply.

Job Posting: Boston Recycling Cooperative Startup Manager

Job Posting: Startup Manager for New Recycling Cooperative Business

Boston Recycling Cooperative
Job Description: Startup Business Manager

Summary:

Boston Recycling Cooperative is seeking a startup business manager to
help form and grow a new worker-owned cooperative business.  The BRC
is a joint project between Boston Workers Alliance, MassCOSH, the
Cooperative Development Institute and the Boston Recycling Coalition.
This new business is a community economic development project meant to
demonstrate new models of job creation in the burgeoning “Green
Economy.”

The Boston Recycling Cooperative will be a bi-lingual (Spanish and
English) and multi-cultural company based in Greater Boston’s
low-income neighborhoods.  The BRC will focus on waste collection and
recycling of vegetable oil, metals, organic waste and other valuable
waste products.  As a worker owned cooperative, BRC will also develop
an innovative business model that includes worker-ownership and
democratically based management practices.

Responsibilities:

Administration: administrative aspects of operations, including
billing and payments, purchasing materials and maintaining financial
records

Financial Development: develop and maintain financial systems, conduct
financial projections, revise and update budgets, present and educate
worker-members about the co-ops financial position

Cooperative Development: develop a worker-cooperative business and
help coordinate and build a dynamic multi-cultural team based in
mutual respect and ownership

Supervision and Support: create systems of accountability and
supervision to maintain professionalism, efficiency and a high
functioning business

Public Relations and Marketing: develop and maintain high level
relationships and partnerships with relevant government agencies,
businesses, non-profit institutions and funding sources relevant to
the successful growth of the business

Controller and Regulatory Compliance: ensure that the cooperative
meets and maintains its legal, financial, insurance and regulatory
obligations relevant to its business operations

Worker Accountability: be responsive and accountable to the
worker-owners of the company

Required Qualifications:

Masters in Business Administration or minimum 3 years of
entrepreneurial experience as a senior manager or owner in a private
or non-profit venture 
Commitment to social and economic justice and
understanding of cooperative and environmental movements
Strong writing and communication skills
Demonstrated success managing strategic and operational planning,
budgeting and forecasting, as well as organizational development, and
performance management
Ability to facilitate collaboration and achieve results while managing
multiple projects, sites and personalities.
Solid PC skills, including e-mail, spreadsheet and word processing
Bi-Lingual Speaker required (English and Spanish)
Familiarity with Accounting Software such as QuickBooks
Experience working within a cooperative is a plus

BRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are
considered for employment.  BRC does not discriminate on the basis
of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual
orientation, disability, criminal background or veteran status. People
of color and women are encouraged to apply.

This is a part time position with funding for 2 years, with
opportunity for growth dependent on the success of the company. Please
apply by August 17.

To apply, please send a Resume and Cover Letter to
atanaka@bostonworkersalliance.org with "Boston Recycling Cooperative"
in the subject

"Fixing the Future" documentary screenings July 18

In Fixing the Future, public media star David Brancaccio (of Marketplace and NOW on PBS) visits locations across America that are attempting a revolution: the reinvention of the American economy. By featuring communities using sustainable and innovative approaches to create jobs and build prosperity, Fixing the Future inspires hope and renewal amidst economic collapse. The film highlights effective local practices such as: community banking, local business alliances, time banking/exchange, worker cooperatives and local currencies. Following the film will be an exclusive onscreen discussion panel featuring Bill McKibben, Majora Carter, Mike Brady and David Brancaccio.


In each screening location, local groups working on implementing grassroots solutions to the economic crisis will facilitate a discussion and brainstorming session. 


Screenings are being held on Wednesday, July 18 in:

• Worcester, MA, co-sponsored by Worcester Roots (buy tickets)
• New York, NY, sponsored by the NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives (buy tickets)
• Portland, ME, co-sponsored by Hour Exchange Portland, Local Sprouts Co-op, & others 

...and loads more locations throughout the Northeast and the U.S. Find a screening near you!

Community Finance Summit July 14th-15th: 20% Discount on reg by 7/6

Wondering how you can move your money from Wall Street to Main Street?

Come learn how - whether you have lots of money or just a little - it all counts.  How you spend your money and save your money shapes the world to be a place you want to leave for our children and their children - or not.  Sign up today for Co-op Power's Community Finance Summit - "Move Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street" - July 14th and 15th in Northampton, MA.

Click here to Register.

Register before tomorrow, July 6th, for a 20% discount to attend.  (Enter "EarlyBird" for your discount code.)

If you're a Co-op Power member, also get a 20% discount with the Member tickets.

If you're unable to pay, but would like to come, just let us know.  Email Lynn@cooppower.coop.

View the schedule to see all of the great things happening.  

Please forward this email and share the event flyer to help us get the word out. And please register today!

Call 877-266-7543 for more information.

Email lynn@cooppower.coop if you're interested in sponsoring or bringing information to share.

Lots of thanks to our sponsors: Common Capital, the Franklin County CDC, Common Good Finance and Stakeholders Capital!