We're very pleased to announce that Ed Whitfield, Co-Managing Director of the Fund for Democratic Communities, will be joining us November 11-13th to keynote this year's Cooperative Education and Training Institute. Ed's speech, titled "Changing the World in a World that is Changing," will explore how we go about changing the world for the better, recognizing the motion and counter-motion all around us. In particular, Ed will talk about how access to tools and resources is the key to the power to direct change along the path we care about, toward a wholesome, equitable, sustainable and just world.
Ed's keynote speech will build on this year's overall conference theme, "Cooperative Resilience," focusing on the innovative and resilient nature of cooperatives, and how these qualities are essential to adapt in a changing world as we build the next economic systems. We're excited to explore this theme with you, investigating the role of cooperatives as a driving force for grassroots democracy and community stability.
The NASCO Cooperative Hall of Fame, created in 1989, honors the best of our movement. Our hope is to use the Hall of Fame as a means for NASCO member co-ops to provide broader recognition to individuals who have had a truly significant impact.
As a member of the NASCO community, you may have knowledge of someone past or present who is deserving of recognition. Nominations can honor people that perhaps should have been recognized long ago: a co-op founder, a long-time member or employee or any other significant contributor. We are also eager to show that current members and staff can have a similar impact on their cooperatives, so we make a special effort to induct some individuals who are current or recent 'movers and shakers'.
A committee of NASCO board members, advisors, and former honorees will select inductees to the Hall of Fame for 2016. The induction ceremony will take place on the Saturday evening of NASCO Institute, November 12, 2016.
Nomination forms must be returned by August 25, 2016 via email to morgan@nasco.coop or to the NASCO Office at: 330 S. Wells St, Suite 618-F, Chicago, IL 60606 USA.
The NASCO Family boards took a major step toward renewing a strategic vision at our planning retreat the weekend of June 17-19, 2016. The three boards met to affirm their united intentions for the NASCO Family. NASCO aims to grow and serve more co-ops through increased member engagement. We will more proactively pursue cooperative development opportunities in partnership with historically marginalized communities, continue to develop more robust cooperative leadership and social/economic justice education opportunities, and reassume a prominent position among cooperative social justice organizations. NASCO also resolves to be a focal point for pro-cooperative advocacy.
The retreat brought members of all three NASCO Family boards, our advisory committee, and our staff together from across North America to a beautiful, wooded Michigan campus for a three-day planning session, meetings, and training led by the phenomenal facilitators Kristin Schwab and Jean-Jacques Gabriel of Philadelphia. The NASCO Family plans to present a draft strategic plan at our Annual General Meeting in November at NASCO Institute for member comment and feedback.
Waterloo Co-operative Residence, Inc. (WCRI) is hiring a full-time Executive Director. WCRI has provided co‐operative student housing and programming for postsecondary students attending University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario for over fifty years. They are currently seeking an exceptional candidate to fulfill this role and further enhance their non‐profit co‐operative.
Job posting is linked here. Please apply with cover letter and resume to: hrcom@wcri.coop. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
The Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) in Oberlin, OH, is currently hiring for two staff positions. They are seeking a Business Coordinator (June 2016-June 2017, 35 hours/week) and a Financial Manager Intern (June 2016-December 2016, 32 hours/week), both with potential for longer term employment. Applications are due March 23, 2016.
We’re pleased to announce that our 2015 Annual Report has been sent to print and will soon be mailed out. We’re excited to share this report with you.
The Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) in Oberlin, OH, is currently hiring a Financial Manager Intern (June 2016-December 2016, 32 hours/week), with potential for longer term employment. Applications are due April 11, 2016.