NASCO People of Color Caucus

North American Students of Cooperation

Purpose: NASCO's People of Color Caucus (PoCC) is an alliance of people of color dedicated to the empowerment of all people of color, particularly within the North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) and the larger cooperative movement. We believe that meaningful social change and justice can only be attained when we dismantle all systems of oppression. We seek to unite ourselves, represent our communities, further educate ourselves, inform the larger NASCO community about the issues that affect us, and work for racial justice and anti-oppression with our allies.

People of Color Caucus [PoCC] Chair responsibilities*:

• Serve on the NASCO Board, attending to all Board Member responsibilities from February 2010 through February 2011.
• Attend all Board meetings and teleconferences and provide a caucus update. Meetings: February (in-person meeting), June (in-person meeting), September (conference call), November (Institute, informal meeting), and occasion conference calls. Update the caucus shortly after the meeting/teleconference with special attention to agenda items relevant to PoC.
• Facilitate the PoCC at Institute and collect contact information (member's names, what cooperative/organization they are from, email, phone number), update the PoCC listserv with this information.
• Act as a moderator of the PoCC listserv.
• Hold a training (via phone, email etc.) with the incoming PoCC chair at least one month before the February Board meeting to go over PoCC Chair responsibilities, personal experience on NASCO Board, and to answer questions.
• Work on the NASCO Board Inclusion Committee. Ongoing committee objectives include:
• Promote NASCO's anti-oppression programming.
• Clearly define diversity, inclusivity, and access.
• Promote more trans leadership in NASCO.
• Coordinate 2-3 hour ally trainings for Board meetings.
• Support NASCO Board's internal analysis.
• Set questions for the identity caucuses.
• Offer support and act as a resource for other boards.
• Create specific targets for NASCO.
• Communicate relevant agenda items with the PoCC for feedback and represent concerns and direction from the caucus. Relay relevant decisions and discussion points to the caucus after the meeting.
• Regularly (every 3 months, minimum) check-in with the caucus via email on house culture, progress around anti-racism, needs from the caucus and PoCC chair, possible initiatives etc. Encourage discussion within the caucus by starting discussions on the listserve.
• When available, provide co-op resources around racial justice and anti-oppression work e.g. anti-racist organization assessment, information on anti-racist and anti-oppression trainers and organizations in the region, mission statements/purposes of PoC caucuses in other NASCO co-ops, membershipping issues etc.
• Encourage members of the PoCC to run for PoCC Chair at Institute, to run for seats on the board, and to attend Anti-Oppression Action Camp.
• Work with other active PoCC members to outreach to prospective members and to prepare for PoCC meetings and gatherings at Institute and elsewhere.

*Coordinate work with PoCC co-chair if applicable.

Requirements of NASCO Directors:
NASCO directors are required to attend all Board meetings. There are two face-to-face board meetings per year, once in the spring/summer (usually in June) and once in the winter (January/February). There is one required teleconference meeting in September. Additionally, directors must attend and work at NASCO's Cooperative Education and Training Institute in Ann Arbor (early November). We also usually have an unofficial in-person meeting the day after the Institute. Directors should expect to put in time in between meetings as well.

Activities Board Members perform include:

• Reporting and keeping in touch with your co-op and other NASCO members in your region
• Fundraising
• Recruitment of new members
• Internship recruitment
• Teaching courses at the Institute
• Collecting/writing articles for Co-op Voices
• Regular Board duties such as budget analysis, priority setting, committee work, leadership, etc.

NASCO Board Travel Policy:
NASCO shall reimburse Directors for all travel expenses exceeding $200 in a given year, $150 for individuals who do not have institutional support in funding their deductible. If the $150 deductible will cause financial hardship, the deductible can be waived. Board Members are directed to travel using low-cost excursion fares. Staff is directed to notify Board Members five weeks in advance of a meeting to make travel arrangements and to schedule meetings to minimize travel expenses. A summary of travel expenses shall be distributed at each meeting.