Session materials from “Democratizing Co-op Finance,” presented by Annie Sullivan-Chin and Alex Fischer at NASCO Institute 2016.
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How many of your cooperative’s decisions are based on financial knowledge and expertise? Who traditionally participates in those conversations? Who has financial knowledge and expertise in your co-op? Why? How do we get everyone to participate equally and meaningfully in your co-op’s financial decisions? Traditional power structures often show up in our organizations, especially regarding finance, undermining our abilities to be have truly democratically run organizations.
Following a morning of co-op connections and professional relationship-building, Annie Sullivan-Chin (A Bookkeeping Cooperative) and Alex Fischer (Open Bookkeeping) will lead co-op staff and financial officers through a strategy session focusing on the importance of increasing overall financial literacy and creating financial structures as a way to empower all co-op members in collective decision making. We will share and practice successful training techniques to leave members excited, engaged, and educated.
