A Day in Maine to Get Organized and Energized to Sustain Local Economies

Our friends at Cooperative Maine are helping put together an inspiring one-day conference, "Creating and Sustaining Vibrant Local Economies in Maine" on March 22 (this Saturday), 9 AM-4 PM, Randall Student Center, Augusta. We like the goals for the day!

Goals for the Day

(1) What are Vibrant Local Economies in Maine now (find out what’s being done);
(2) What would vibrant local economies in Maine look like in the future (vision);
(3) Why is it important to have strong local economies?
(4) Learn the benefits of vibrant local economies;
(5) People leave at the end with action ideas/steps and energy to carry them out.

CDI staffperson Jessica Pooley will be in attendance to let people know about the work CDI is doing in Maine to strengthen local economies.

New publication: Cooperative Farming by Faith Gilbert, CDI contributing author

The Greenhorns, an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting young farmers, has published a guidebook for Cooperative Farming: Frameworks for Farming Together by Faith Gilbert. CDI's Lynda Brushett was a contributing author. "Compiled from 42 interviews with farmers and professionals, this is a how-to handbook on structuring and operating a group venture."

There is plenty of good information and insights here, so we're anticipating that it will be widely read. We were pleased to work on it and are happy that this resource will be available!

Northeast Cooperative Council Annual Meeting March 27, 2014

NECC 65th Annual Meeting and Leaders Forum, CoBank Customer Meeting

The 65th NECC Annual Meeting and Leaders Forum, "Strategic Decision Making Through Tactical Leadership" and the CoBank Northeast Customer Meeting will be held March 27-28, 2014 at the Albany Marriott, Albany, NY. Selected topics for the Cooperative Leaders Forum include risk evaluation in a global economy, succession planning for cooperative boards and management, messaging for members, and enhancing critical decision making skills. Learn more about the Leaders Forum and CoBank Customer meeting at http://cooperatives.aem.cornell.edu/necc/index.php and register through CoBank, here: http://www.cobank.com/Events-Meetings/Customer-Meetings/2014-Northeast-Customer-Meeting.aspx. 

Collegiate Conference on Cooperatives in Minneapolis/St. Paul

Calling Young Farmers: Conference on Co-operatives

Every February students attend the Collegiate Conference on Co-operatives. Sponsored in part by the CHS Foundation and CoBank, the event attracts participants from across the country to the hotbed of co-operation, Minneapolis/St. Paul. The annual conference features presentations by cooperative leaders from all across the spectrum, and it is beneficial to both beginning students and to those with some previous co-op education. This year it takes place on February 13-16.

"Our own history is so closely tied with the cooperative movement," said National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson. "Farmers Union has a strong commitment to providing co-operative education not only to our members, but also to the general public, and especially to young people."

New England Farmers Union will send four members to Minneapolis for this year's conference (expenses paid). If you, your child, or someone you know is a college student or is under 25 and interested in co-operatives in agriculture, please let us know.

Food First trip to Basque Country to Explore Food Sovereignty and Cooperative Production

BASQUE COUNTRY: Food Sovereignty and Cooperative Production

 March 22-30, 2014

Join Food First and experience the Spanish Basque Country, Euskal Herria, through the eyes of local farmers and activists while exploring food sovereignty and cooperative production.

Specially hosted by the Basque Farmers’ Union, recent honorees of the 2013 Food Sovereignty Prize, you’ll have the unique opportunity to learn how agriculture and food play key economic and social roles within Basque society by preserving important threatened traditions. Tour the renowned Mondragón worker-owned cooperative and stay in farmer-owned guesthouses and learn about the struggles and triumphs of Basque history while sharing delicious, local, cooperatively grown food.

We want to honor the US cooperative movement, and are offering a $100 discount to members of cooperatives. Just enter Coop2014 upon registering. We also provide partial scholarships through our Scholarship Program.

http://www.foodsovereigntytours.org/international-tours/basque-country/

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*Scholarships available for qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.

*The trip prices reflect fair compensation for the many groups and individuals who contribute their time, energy and expertise to the delegations. Please see website for cost inclusions/exclusions.

Co-op Learning Opportunity Round-up

In This Issue Spring, Summer and Fall Events Co-op Teach-In Worker Co-op Conference NASCO Institute An Ongoing Opportunity: Co-op Teach-in The National Cooperative Business Association has launched an exciting initiative to mark 2012, the International Year of Cooperatives. The Cooperative Teach-In engages campuses with the cooperative movement through the creation of events, programs, and projects on co-ops. Sign up as a participant today! Featured Event: 2012 National Worker Cooperative Conference This event takes place every two years and in a different part of the country each time. We're lucky to have it in Boston, in the heart of the Northeast, in this International Year of Cooperatives. CDI staff will be presenting a workshop on "Co-ops Seeding Co-ops" and participating in panels on conversions to worker co-ops, co-op learning academies, and digital platforms for sharing information, as well as the "ask an expert" panel. Register today! A Perennial Favorite: NASCO Institute Held by North American Students of Cooperation each fall in Ann Arbor, Michigan, theInstitute attracts hundreds of cooperators from the U.S. and Canada for two and one half days of comprehensive technical programs and discussions. The 2012 dates and program are not yet finalized, but be sure to keep it in mind! Master of Management - Cooperatives and Credit Unions Remember that the deadline for Fall admissions to this 3-year program is May 31! Cooperative Development Institute The Northeast's Center for Cooperative Business PO Box 422 Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 www.cdi.coop / info@cdi.coop Tel: 877 NE COOPS (toll free) / 413-665-1271 Fax: 413-541-8300	Plant some seeds of co-op learning!
	Dear Co-operator, Spring is the season to think about cultivating new skills, new relationships, and new ideas. There is a wealth of educational co-op events taking place in the Northeast and beyond, so mark your calendar now and get set to grow and learn! Spring and Summer Events March 27-28, Syracuse, NY: Northeast Cooperative Council Leaders Forum and Annual Meeting and CoBank's Northeast Regional Customer Meeting. A gathering of Northeast agriculture and producer co-ops. March 31, Syracuse, NY: 2012 Upstate Cooperatives Summit: Building our Economic Future. Upstate New York cooperatives - banking, grocery, housing, agricultural, worker - together at last. April 11, Manchester, NH: Co-op Speaker Series, Session 3: Consumer Ownership. Registration is free and open to the public. Featuring St. Mary's Bank and Hanover Consumer Co-op. April 12, Augusta, ME: "How to Talk Cooperative!" Free training for anyone who wants to make informal presentations about the benefits of co-ops, presented by CDI and Cooperative Maine. April 14, Holyoke, MA: Western Mass. Jobs with Justice Educational, Organizing, & Membership Conference. CFNE will be tabling, and we're intrigued by the workshop "Good Green Jobs ~ owned by union members?" April 21, Orono, ME: HOPE Festival and Green Expo. Cooperative Maine joins 70 social change groups and keynoter Bill McKibben. April 21-22, Warren, VT: The Art of Small Business/Re-Inventing Small Business. Founder of South Mountain Company worker co-op, John Abrams, offers a course based on Companies We Keep. May 1, New York, NY: Solidarity Economy Fair. Details to come, stay tuned! May 2, Washington, D.C.: 2012 Cooperative Hall of Fame. A fundraiser for the Cooperative Development Foundation and always an inspiration. May 12, Plattsburgh, NY: Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better Northern Adirondacks. A celebration of cooperatives young and old, and a community workshop, organized by CDI. May 12-July 7, East Coast: Cabot Community Tour. From Miami to Portland, check the schedule for a celebration near you. May 14-18, online: Financial Analysis for Cooperative Start-Ups.Session III in the premiere co-op development training byCooperation Works! June 2-5, Tuscon, AZ: Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) Institute. For professionals who communicate for cooperatives. June 8, Burlington, VT: 10th Annual Employee Ownership Conference. For those who want to learn more about employee ownership as well as members of existing employee-owned companies; presented by Vermont Employee Ownership Center. June 13 & 14-16, Philadelphia, PA: Exploring Cooperatives: Economic Democracy and Community Development in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and Consumer Cooperative Management Association (CCMA) Conference. A cross-sector look at how to build great co-ops and networks, and how those help build great cities and regions; and the yearly gathering of food co-op participants. June 22-24, Boston, MA: National Worker Cooperative Conference.Day-long intensive on co-op development, films, tours, workshops, speakers, and a big party. Do not miss! July 8-20, Madison, WI: CUNA Management School. Professional development for credit union staff. See CUNA's other educational offerings as well. July 13-15, New Brunswick, NJ: Conference of the International Association for the Economics of Participation. A presentation and debate about research on democratic and participatory economic organizations. Fall Events Fall, Bronx, NY: Green Worker Cooperative Academy. For teams ready to turn their business idea into an eco-friendly co-op. Sept. 10-13, Kansas City, MO: Annual Conference for Purchasing Cooperatives. The only event by, for and about purchasing and shared services cooperatives. Sept. 17-21, Madison, WI: Effective Cooperative Business Development for Practitioners. Session One of the Cooperation Works! professional development training. Oct. 2-5, Seattle, WA: Annual Cooperative Conference. A cross-sector gathering of the nation's cooperatives. Oct. 6 -11, Quebec City, Quebec: The Imagine 2012: Conference on Co-operative Economics and International Summit of Cooperatives. A world-wide gathering of the cooperative community in our backyard! Oct 10-13, Reno, NV: 52nd Annual National Association of Housing Cooperatives Conference. The housing event of the year. Did we miss something? Drop us a line at info@cdi.coop! We will make sure to get the word out about your cooperative learning opportunity for 2012, the International Year of Cooperatives. Happy learning and growing!

Cooperative Teach-In Initiative Launches

Cooperative Teach-In Initiative

We at the Toolbox for Education and Social Action (TESA) would like to announce the official launch of the"Cooperative Teach-In Initiative" as a part of the UN-Declared 2012 International Year of Cooperatives. The Cooperative Teach-In focuses on engaging colleges, universities, schools, and other communities on what co-ops are and how they positively change local and global communities. This initiative connects campuses with cooperatives, facilitating an exchange of information, ideas, tactics, and goals.

The Cooperative Teach-in allows people who are interested in a wide variety of issues to engage with the national cooperative movement and see how co-ops relate to them: from workers' rights to economic development, democratic control, environmental justice, fair trade, community empowerment, social entrepreneurship, food justice, and small farmers. For the past few months, TESA has been piloting the program in New England. We have already organized over a dozen co-op events and three courses as a part of this initiative! This project has already connected co-ops with middle schools, high schools, after school programs, community colleges, and universities. Now, we are extremely excited for cooperatives and campuses across the United States to get involved.Here is what you can get out of this initiative and what you can do to get involved:

• Sign up for our "Campus - Cooperative Connections",which puts you on a map that you can use to connect your campus with a cooperative, or your cooperative with a campus, to set up an event, program, or project on co-ops and the co-op movement. We will also help facilitate connections between co-ops and campuses.You can read testimonials here from people who've taken part in this initiative.
• Browse our ready-to-use educational workshops and resources to engage co-ops and campuses as well as our selection of recommended readings on co-ops. We've just started compiling these resources, so they will grow significantly as the year goes on. You can help us grow this library by submitting resources for all to use for free.
• Get in touch with us to access a team that will help you develop custom educational resources(projects, events, courses, programs, and more) for freeduring 2012. We will also help you make connections with a campus or a co-op to set up a cooperative education experience.
• In the near future, we will also have a showcase for highlighting campus projects, events, and programs on co-ops so that campuses, students, and co-ops can show off their work and make sure it's make an impact in the world.
• Wondering what a co-op is and how they build stronger communities? Read our in-depth overview (with videos too!) here.
• Stay up to date with the Cooperative Teach-In by following us on Facebook and Twitter as well as signing up for our low-traffic e-mail list. Please also help us get the word out by sharing this project via e-mail and social media!

My best,
Brian Van Slyke

***

The Cooperative Teach-In is a project being coordinated by The Toolbox for Education and Social Action as a part of the National Cooperative Business Association's activities for the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). Go here to find out more about what's happening in the U.S. for the IYC.

Attend Farmers Market Manager Professional Development Seminar March 20th

Mass Farmers Markets, The Mass Dept. of Ag Resources and the Cooperative Development Institute Present: 2012 Farmers Market Managers Professional Development Seminar Building a Strong Foundation for Success Where: Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center 222 Maple Ave Shrewsbury, MA 01545 Driving Directions When: Tuesday March 20, 2012 from 8:15 AM to 4:15 PM EDT Add to my calendar It is the off season for most farmers markets, but as you know, market managers are busy preparing for the next farmers market season. Join us on March 20th and gather with other market managers from across Massachusetts to share successes and failures, exchange ideas, fine tune your business plan and learn how to generate the much needed revenue your market needs for the many costs involved in managing a farmers market. Click here to check out the program and have a sneak peak at the agenda for the day Register Now! Register by March 6 and save $$! If you have any questions about this seminar please contact David Webber If you have any questions about registering for this event please contact Martha Sweet We look forward to spending the day with you!

Mass Farmers Markets | 240 Beaver Street | Waltham | MA | 02452

By Land and By Sea: Leveraging Co-ops for Business Success--Conference in Unity, ME Jan 19

Eat Maine Foods is sponsoring a one-day conference for Maine farmers & fishermen on the cooperative model of doing business. See http://www.eatmainefoods.org/events/coop-conference, and go to http://bylandandbysea.eventbrite.com/ to register.

CDI staff will be presenting a couple of workshops. One of the main organizers was CDI's board president, Erica Buswell.

More details:
Thursday, January 19, 2012 in Unity, Maine 9am to 5:30pm

• Learn exactly what a cooperatively-organized business is all about. What are the advantages, what are the different types of co-ops, and why might it make sense for your business? We’ll cover the nuts and bolts of co-ops.
  
• Connect with Experienced Co-operative Business People. What are the financing options for co-ops? What local resources are available for start-up, problem-solving and co-operative business development? Go home with connections and an action plan for moving your co-op business or idea forward.
• Celebrate 2012: International Year of Co-operatives. Hear first-hand stories from other farmers and fishermen about how they have implemented a co-operative business. What worked? What obstacles did they overcome and how?

Sponsored by The Eat Local Foods Coalition of Maine and its members: Putting more Maine food on more Maine tables more often!
With support from and participation of: Lobsters on the Fly, MOFGA, Maine Department of Agriculture, Penobscot East Resource Center, Maine Farmland Trust, Cooperative Maine, Island Institute, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Local Sprouts Cooperative, Cooperative Fund of New England, The Broadreach Fund, Cooperative Development Institute and more!

Donations to Farm Families Hurt by Irene and Lee, Kicked off by Farm Credit East and CoBank

Dear Northeast Agricultural Leaders and Policy Makers,

Farm Credit East in concert with United Way is coordinating an effort to help farm families hurt by Irene and Lee with personal donations (up to $500 to each family) to make their holiday season a little brighter. We would appreciate your help in getting the word out to affected farm families that suffered crop losses and damage as a result of the Irene and Lee disasters. This support is for any farm family with $10,000 of crop losses/damage in designated disaster counties in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. This is not limited to Farm Credit customers.

Farm Credit East and CoBank have both agreed to put $100,000 to this effort, so we have $200,000 to start. Farm Credit East employees are also making contributions and Yankee Farm Credit will be contributing (for the NY and NH counties that Yankee serves). United Way of the Greater Capital Region has also made a contribution. The actual amount of the grants to farm families will depend on the number of applications and the amount of total funds raised (up to $500 per farm family).

Other individuals and businesses are welcome/encouraged to make a contribution and will be recognized for their contributions in a final press release on this effort. The press release includes information on how to make a contribution to United Way for this effort – on-line or by check. This is a charitable contribution for tax purposes.

This assistance is not intended to cover business losses or make major repairs to homes and farm structures – it is intended to show “farm community concern” for the farm families hurt by Irene and Lee with the hope that their holiday can be a little nicer knowing that other folks care. In the attached release, Bill Lipinski says it better: “We just want folks to know we care and hope that they can be positive during the holidays.”

We do appreciate the on-going efforts of Northeast Congressional offices, State Departments of Agriculture, USDA, Governor Cuomo’s office and other NE state initiatives to support farmers at this time. These efforts are vital to help farms and rural communities to recover.

We are currently taking applications for this assistance – folks can apply by going on-line to www.farmcrediteast.com. The application includes more eligibility details. The application can also be found in Country Folks. Our deadline is November 26 in order that we can work with United Way to have checks received by farm families in mid-December. United Way of the Greater Capital District has been great to work with and is receiving funds and will write the checks.

Please forward this message to other organizations that may be interested.

Your efforts in getting this information out would be greatly appreciated!!!

Best regards,

Bob

Robert A. Smith

Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Knowledge Exchange

Farm Credit East

2668 State Route 7, Suite 21

Cobleskill, NY 12043

518.296.8188

CDI co-presenting at Agricultural Strategic Marketing Conference

CDI's Food and Agriculture Cooperative Development Specialist Lynda Brushett will be presenting at this year's Cornell Agribusiness Strategic Marketing Conference, along with Senior Extension Associate Brian Henehan and Keystone Development Center co-op developer Lisa Stolarski. The team will help attendees explore the ins and outs of new agricultural co-op development.

There are scholarships available for the first 30 farmers who register -- hurry over to the conference website and sign up!