Principle 6 Conference, 2018: "Learning Through Cooperative Connections"
Event Information
Event description
Description
Once a year, co-op supporters from across Maine get together to meet, network, share experiences, and learn how we can work together to grow Maine's cooperative economy. Our name for this conference, Principle 6, comes from the 6th of the seven internationally recognized cooperative principles, "Cooperation among Cooperatives." This year's theme is: "Learning Through Cooperative Connections".
Announcing Our Agenda And Workshops Line Up...
Marketing Maine Co-ops: Tackling Communications Together
Facilitated by:
Mo Manklang,Communications Director, U.S. Federation of Worker Co-ops, usworker.coop and John Crane, General Manager at the Portland Food Co-op, www.portlandfood.coop and Doug Clopp, Communications Director at Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), cdi.coop
How do we build a cohesive communications strategy together? How can we share co-op messaging? How do we communicate the value of cooperatives to our own members and the community at large? Presenters will lead an interactive workshop in which we determine the ways that Maine Cooperatives can connect to share resources and elevate cooperative messaging together.
Strategies for Sustained Growth
Facilitated by: Ken Greenleaf, Business Advisor, MaineStream Finance, www.mainestreamfinance.org
This workshop will explore ways to focus strategic thinking for the benefit of the health of your cooperative and how to integrate plans and ideas to fit the mission of your cooperative. Assess your co-op’s place in a changing economic environment, and understand how to best quantify your co-op’s goals while maintaining the integrity and spirit of your unique cooperative’s culture.
Equity and Inclusion in our Co-ops
Facilitated by: Jonah Fertig-Burd, Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), Cooperative Maine Business Alliance (CMBA), cdi.coop, maine.coop
How can we create more equitable co-ops that work to include people of different races, classes, gender, ability and sexual orientation? What we are co-ops in Maine and beyond doing to be inclusive and what can we do together to increase equity in our co-ops in Maine? You will gain a greater understanding of equity and inclusion in our co-ops, ideas for how you can address these priorities within your co-ops and resources to learn more.
Building Company-wide Financial Literacy
Facilitated by: Joe Marraffino, Democracy at Work Institute, institute.coop and Deborah Hawkins, Cooperative Fund of New England, www.cooperativefund.org
This presentation will share tools and practices to support all members of the cooperative to understand the financial outlook of the business. The core focus will be the development of a one-page dashboard that can be understood at a glance. Get practice building your own dashboard and gain skills that facilitate reading, creating, and presenting basic finances.
Community Challenges: A Foundation for Identifying Community Partnerships
Facilitated by: Jeanee Wright, Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), New England Resident Owned Communities (NEROC) Maine, cdi.coop and Bobby Marcroft, Cooperative Development Institute (CDI)
Housing Cooperative participants will join a conversation about challenging situations in the community. Together, we will unpack the challenges to gain a better understanding of the issues and then work together in groups to consider potential outcomes. Learn to use coaching and motivational interviewing soft skills to help identify potential wellness needs of your community members and consider connections to known or unidentified needs for partnerships.
Governance and Management in Cooperatives
Facilitated by: Joe Marraffino, Democracy at Work Institute, institute.coop and Thane Joyal, Board Development Consultant, CDS Consulting Co-op, www.cdsconsulting.coop
This interactive workshop will discuss the roles of Governance and of Management in a cooperative, how co-ops can effectively relate to each other, and how you can strategically respond to challenges that face your business. Learn basic principles and collaboratively design responses for a case study of a cooperative in trouble. invited members of Maine cooperatives will talk about how their Governance and Management systems address their emerging issues.
OUR AGENDA:
8:30- 9:00 am Arrival:
Check-in, explore the resources tables and enjoy baked goods and coffee service
provided by Good Tern Co-op and Rock City Employee Cooperative
9:00- 9:30 am Welcome:
We will open the day with a short update on the growth and activities of the Cooperative Maine Business Alliance
9:30-10:50 am Workshop Block One
3 sessions:
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Marketing Maine Co-ops: Tackling Communications Together
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Building Company-wide Financial Literacy
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Community Challenges: A Foundation for Identifying Community Partnerships
10:50-11:00 am Break
11:00 am-12:00 pm Keynote: World Cafe
A participatory Keynote session will include a sequence of round table discussions organized to help share learning and build connections among co-op and community attendees
12:00- 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00- 2:20 pm Workshop Block Two
3 sessions:
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Strategies for Sustained Growth
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Equity and Inclusion in our Co-ops
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Governance and Management in Cooperatives
2:20- 2:30 pm Break
2:30-3:30 pm Membership Benefits Conversation
We will end the day with a discussion on Member Benefits. How can Cooperative Maine Business Alliance best support the work of your co-op? We will report on how we are growing and ask you to help inform where we focus our efforts next!
3:30-3:45 pm Closing, Reflections
Invitation to Join us at Rock City Employee Cooperative for our Post-Conference Reception!
This year's conference will focus on being as participatory as possible. We have designed the day so that you will leave with:
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Concrete skills that you can utilize for the development of your business, membership and board
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Productive new connections to resources, fellow co-ops and community allies
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Creative new ideas to apply to your own co-op, taken from stories shared and lessons learned
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Increased confidence in and connection to the cooperative community network of support
Lunch will be provided by Good Tern Co-op. Coffee service and Post Reception refreshments by Rock City Employee Cooperative. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options will be available.
We hope you will join us for a Post Conference Reception from 4-6pm at Rock City Employee Cooperative (Rock City Coffee) on Main Street in Rockland. Snacks and beverages will be provided. A cash bar is available.
We look forward to seeing you!
Questions?
Contact: Bria White, Network Coordinator
bria@maine.coop
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), Portland Food Co-op, Blue Hill Co-op, Belfast Co-op, Rising Tide Co-op, US Federation of Worker Co-ops, Good Tern Co-op, Fare Share Co-op, Cooperative Fund of New England, Genesis Community Loan Fund, Democracy at Work Institute, Rock City Employee Cooperative, Equal Exchange, The Island Employee Cooperative, Maine Community Foundation, Elmina Sewall Foundation, Broad Reach Fund
Organizer Cooperative Development Institute
Organizer of Principle 6 Conference, 2018: "Learning Through Cooperative Connections"
We envision a democratically-owned and just economy where everyone can fulfill their needs and aspirations.
Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) is the source for cooperative business development in the Northeast. Our mission is to work with people in the Northeast to create cooperative businesses and networks that grow a prosperous, equitable economy.
