NCBA Legislative and Advocacy Update: June 4

Legislative and Advocacy Update Tuesday, June 4, 2013 • 12 - 1 pm, Eastern Join NCBA CLUSA President and CEO Mike Beall and Capitol Hill professionals as they discuss cooperative legislative matters and current issues in Washington. With Congress working on important legislation such as tax reform, the farm bill and the appropriations process, now is the time to get updated on issues that are important to you, your cooperative, and your community. During this update, learn what NCBA CLUSA is working on legislatively to advance the cooperative business model within Congress, the White House, and the federal government. Update Areas Overview of the current work in Congress and the Administration USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program consolidation proposal Development legislation: “Creating Jobs Through Cooperatives Act of 2013” Food Co-op eligibility for SBA programs Credit Union legislation including the “Member Business Lending” bill Tax reform and how it affects cooperatives including credit unions FEMA housing cooperative disaster funding eligibility Moderator R.L. Condra - Vice President of Advocacy, NCBA CLUSA Panelists Mike Beall - President and CEO, NCBA CLUSA John Weinfurter - Vice President, Government Relations, Witt | O'Brien's John Harsch - Director, Government Relations, Witt | O'Brien's John McKechnie - Partner, Total Spectrum Who Should Attend Cooperative developers, representatives, and volunteers Members of community service organizations Other groups/individuals that support the co-op movement and are interested in learning about cooperative legislative matters

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About NCBA CLUSA The National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) is the national association for cooperative businesses providing cross-sector education, support and advocacy helping co-ops thrive across a variety of sectors. For nearly 100 years, our mission has been to develop, advance and protect cooperative enterprises demonstrating that cooperatives are a better business model for advancing economic and social impact. For the last 50 years, we have supported cooperative development globally through our CLUSA international program.

Donate to the Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy! $2500 matching grant opportunity

By now, I hope that you're aware that the Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy--the high-energy, information-packed biennial eastern region worker co-op conference--will be held at Drexel University in Philadelphia July 26th-28th.

In order to make a grant match, we're raising money in amounts of $100 or less from individuals, co-ops, and organizations.  Fund 4 Democratic Communities, a nonprofit in Greensboro, NC, has committed  $2500 for the conference if we can match that amount.  To do this, we need as many people as possible to pitch in at http://s.coop/workercoop on Razoo.com.  

ECWD's nonprofit fiduciary is EDINA.  If you'd prefer to send a check, make it out to EDINA/ECWD 13 and mail it to ECWD / 463 Lincoln Place #126 / Brooklyn, NY 11238-6201.

If you know of others who may be willing to help with this, please forward this information to them.  

For information on the conference and to register, go to Eastern Conference For Workplace Democracy | Growing our Cooperatives, Growing our CommunitiesDrexel University in Philadelphia, PA July 26-28 2013

Mary Hoyer

ECWD Advisor

Amherst, MA 

mhoyer22@comcast.net

The Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy will be held from July 26th-28th at Drexel University in Philadelphia PA. This year’s theme “Growing Our Cooperatives, Growing Our Communities” will examine strategies to maximize growth and development inside of cooperatives and in the cooperative movement while maintaining cooperatives’ democratic values. 

In addition to the a full slate of workshops, discussions and panels and on cooperative mechanics, development and finances from expert developers and worker-owners from across the country this year’s conference will feature workshops such as: 

•Planning for Development: Strategic Planning and Goal Setting in the cooperative context 

•Scaling Democracy: Transitioning between structures to maintain workplace democracy 

•Changing States: Moving from “maintenance” to development in an established cooperative