In the spring of 1968, participants in a conference sponsored by the University of Michigan Inter-Cooperative Council proposed the organization of a group "for the purpose of expanding the cooperative movement across college campuses." That fall, a group gathered in Chicago to organize NASCO. NASCO's creation in 1968 meant that, for the first time in 20 years, student co-ops began working together towards their common interests.
NASCO is the successor of the North American Student Cooperative League (NASCL). NASCL was founded in 1946 with the assistance of the Cooperative League of the USA, now known as the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA). Although there was a need for NASCL, it was never a strong organization and after the mid-1950’s existed largely in print. The needs for communication, assistance, education, lobbying, and other services did not end, however, and NASCL remained as a concept, particularly in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
We're pleased to announce that registration is open for this year's Staff & Managers Conference, which will be held in Montréal, Québec on Tuesday May 23rd and Wednesday May 24th.
Voting is now open for the four open seats on NASCO's board. Each Active Member and Individual Member will receive a ballot by mail. We encourage you to read the candidate statements here. All of the seats are for three-year terms.
A meet-the-candidates forum will be held at NASCO Institute on Saturday, November 12, from 2:30-4pm.
Ballots are due on January 5, 2017.
There are also several board seats that will be filled at Institute.
NASCO Institute is in just over a week, and we've sent out an email to everyone who is registered. If you didn't receive this email, that means you are not registered. Please register by tomorrow, November 3rd, for guaranteed meals and to be on the housing waitlist.
The Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) is hiring a Business Coordinator, based in Oberlin, OH.
The Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) is hiring a Financial Manager, based in Oberlin, OH. The Financial Manager is responsible for managing OSCA's finances, advising its board officers, and empowering student leaders with financial the expertise necessary to run their co-op. This position is 28 hours per week, $30 per hour, with a competitive benefits package.
NASCO makes funding available to Institute participants through its Low Income Scholarship Fund. Individuals who are eligible to receive funding are experiencing financial need that would make paying registration fees and travel expenses a significant hardship, living in a NASCO Properties co-op, or working to develop a new housing co-op.
Over 400 participants will converge on Ann Arbor, Michigan from November 11th through 13th, 2016 to share ideas, learn new skills, and look at issues affecting the cooperative movement worldwide.
Since 1977, NASCO's Cooperative Education & Training Institute has been widely recognized as one of the most important training and networking opportunities available to members, directors, staff and managers of group-equity cooperatives.