NCBA's Annual Cooperative Conference
May 4 - May 6, 2010
Capitol Hilton
Washington, D.C.
Cooperatives Transforming the Economy
This year's conference will focus on the role cooperatives have played during the economic crisis and how cooperatives can create their own economy by leveraging the 6th principle of Cooperation among Cooperatives.
Take a look at the scheduled breakout sessions taking place on the second day of the conference.
A full day of conference activities centers around lobbying on the Hill, including educating conference attendees on important issues to bring to their representatives.
At the Annual Meeting during the conference, members will learn about NCBA's 2009 activities and progress in 2010. They'll also be the first to hear who the new elected Board members are for 2010.
Don't delay register today to receive the early bird registration price!
If you're not a member join today and make sure your voice is heard!
Meeting Rates:
Standard Rate - $420 (NCBA member); $510 (nonmember)
Early Bird (before March 26) - $ 370 (NCBA member); $430 (nonmember)
Register today!
Breakout Sessions
Thursday, May 6
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Morning Breakout Sessions
Session 1
Collaborative Networks: Building Cooperative Bridges to a Sustainable Tomorrow
The Neighboring Food Cooperative Association is a New England-based alliance of 15 food co-ops focused on fostering a thriving regional economy. Our primary activities include measuring and communicating economic impact, optimizing regional food sourcing, and inviting core stakeholders into our network-based strategy. The session will include a brief presentation describing the impacts, approach, and current initiatives of the alliance. Then we will engage participants in strategic dialogue about core questions, best practices, and member-owner value related to cross-sector co-op collaboration. This session is designed to stimulate innovative cooperative leadership for sustainable economic development.
Presenters: Eric DeLuca, Neighboring Food Co-op Association
Erbin Crowell, Cooperative Fund of New England
Session 2
Transformational Communication that Builds Group Cohesiveness
In this day of social networking and multiple ways to communicate with your cooperative, we'll explore the most compelling methods in which you can give and gain information from your group members. We'll explore public domain methods (Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogs) as well as proprietary/internal approaches using current technology and intranet applications.
Presenters: Evan Hackel and Brian Metcalf, Ingage Consulting
Session 3
Co-op Housing and You: Creating Cross Sector Connections for Affordable Manufactured Housing
A 25-year record of impact and scale in the New Hampshire market has been adapted by ROC USA, a social venture network, to make cooperative ownership viable for homeowners in manufactured home communities ("MHC") nationwide. Come prepared to explore opportunities for your co-op to assist home owners and benefit your own co-op. With this new niche of thousands of cooperative members and their communities, you can easily create connections to improve your co-op's bottom line. Explore the multi-pronged strategy to transform the MHC marketplace through cooperative ownership and ROC USA's business model for achieving its mission at scale.
Presenters: Paul Bradley, ROC USA and Andrew Danforth, Cooperative Development Institute
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Session 1
On the Right Side of History: Democracy, Equity, Ownership, and the Cooperative Business Model
In this workshop we will discuss the cooperative business model and its ramifications for our economy and society at large. Topics will include cooperative principles, ecological economics and economic justice, and the social and economic effects of the cooperative model. We will sketch the span of past and future history, recount the ascension of democracy, equity and ownership, and observe their logical and natural culmination in the cooperative business model. Cooperatives are Transforming the Economy; indeed they are on the right side of history.
Presenter: Rick Riehle, Pangaea Organica
Session 2
Setting the Stage for Strategic Thinking: the Practical Significance of Policy Governance
How do boards of directors fulfill their accountability function in the co-op, honor their relationship with member/owners, define and clarify expectations for themselves, empower and hold management accountable, AND provide valuable leadership? Policy Governance is used by many co-ops as their governance system and yet the full potential of the governance system -- board's providing valuable, energizing, strategic leadership focused on the purpose of the organization -- builds on a clear understanding of the fundamental principles that make up the system. This will be a user-friendly, interactive presentation useful to those using the system or just curious about how it works.
Presenters: Mark Goehring and Marilyn Scholl, CDS Consulting Co-op
Session 3
Cleveland's New Evergreen Employee Cooperatives
Learn about Cleveland's new urban development strategy to create jobs and builds assets for low income residents which can be applied in other cities around the nation. With the support of The Cleveland Foundation and local non-profit institutions, neighborhood-based Evergreen cooperatives (1) pay higher wages and benefits to their employee members, (2) build significant assets for working members, (3) have a significant neighborhood multiplier effect, and (4) have a low carbon footprint plus green technology. The initial cooperatives are Evergreen Cooperative Laundry and Ohio Solar Cooperative.
Presenters: Jim Anderson, Evergreen Cooperative Laundry and Ohio Employee Ownership Center
Ted Howard, The Democracy Collaborative
Lillian Kuri, The Cleveland Foundation
For more information contact Pia Duryea at pduryea@ncba.coop
