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

United Nations launches the International Year of Cooperatives 2012

The United Nations has declared 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives. Why?

"Co-operatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility."
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General

Or, as the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) puts it, it's about human need, not human greed.

The year launches October 31, 2011 in New York City

Our job during this year is to make sure that the public, policymakers, business leaders, and young people hear this message loud and clear. The three priorities identified by the UN and ICA are to:

• increase awareness of the cooperative business model
• promote growth of co-ops and the co-op economy
• convince lawmakers to establish co-op friendly policies

There are as many ways to do that as there are co-ops and members of co-ops (so we're talking billions!). One exciting national initiative that allows us to hit all three priorities in the U.S. is to support the Campaign for Cooperation. The National Cooperative Development Act of 2011 promotes job creation and economic development in underserved communities through cooperative business development.

Read more about it and find out how to contact your representatives at campaign.coop.

For more national information and tools for celebrating the International Year of the Cooperative in the USA, visit usa2012.coop.

What's happening in the Northeast?

There is an amazing diversity and energy among cooperatives in the Northeast. Here are just a few of the activities underway:

• The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions has organized New York: Building a Cooperative City, a kick-off event to launch the International Year of Cooperatives on Nov. 1
• Cooperative Maine is launching an online version of its directory,Stronger Together (see a preview!), and has made contact with Gov. Paul LePage to promote co-ops (contact Jane Livingston for more details)
• Co-ops in western MA formed the Valley Cooperative Business Association
• Amherst-based worker co-op T.E.S.A. is launching Co-opoly, the Game ofCooperatives
• SolidarityNYC has created a series of short films it will be screening all year
• NYC co-ops are engaging with the City Council on food policy and co-ops and job development through worker co-ops
• Cabot Creamery Cooperative will be doing a 2012 Community Celebration Tour in the Spring, stopping in cities from Florida to Maine

Cooperative Development Institute Events and Resources

During 2012 CDI will be:

• offering co-ops and associations the use of a new pamphlet, "Cooperative Business Solutions for the Northeast U.S." -- call for delivery options
• revamping its website, www.cdi.coop, to bring you more and better news, information, and opportunities
• touring to Plattsburgh, NY, Portland, ME, and Cummington, MA
• offering a new series of online tutorials and webinars

What will you be doing?

Here's some suggestions:

• Post your co-op's unique story to Cultivate.coop and Stories.coop.
• Make a video or snap a photo for My Co-op Rocks.
• Invite local policymakers, chambers of commerce, and schools to tour your co-op.
• Support the development of a new co-op nearby.

Thanks and stay tuned for more information, ideas and resources, coming your way.