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CoopZone is a network of co-operative developers and legal professionals that help others start and develop co-operatives. Learn more about their services and how they can be useful to you.
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What Is It, & How Can It Be Useful to You? Presented by: Hazel Corcoran (ED), with members Lynn Hannley (Communitas), & Wendy Keats (CEC-NB)
What is CoopZone? • A network of co-operative developers – individuals and organizations - that help others to start and develop co-operatives, and those interested in learning more about co-opsand development • Includes a network of legal professionals interested in co-operatives & development. • Primarily anglophone, but also bilingual with increasing presence of francophones. • There are about 70 Developer/other members, and nearly 40 Legal Network members. Incorporated in 2009. There is the possibility of starting a co-op accountants’ network too, as exists in the US.
The Vision of the CoopZone Network: To enhance the quality of life in Canada by promoting and supporting the growth and development of co-operatives, through mobilizing co-operative developers committed to the vision and objectives of the co-operative movement.
CoopZone’s Objectives • CoopZone seeks, among other objectives: • A. To identify and develop a self-supporting group of co-op developers that is committed to the vision and objectives of the co-op movement. • B. To increase the interaction among consultants, developers and other professionals (including lawyers and accountants) working with existing or new co-operatives. • C. To provide members of the CZDN with access to co-op development opportunities, where applicable.- including lobbying for resources from the federal government, encouraging the creation of a sector-drive co-op development fund (along with and/or by CWCF).
CoopZone Member Services • Networking among members(listservs, fall Conferences) • Maintaining a bilingual web site re: co-op development: www.coopzone.coop, including listing of members • Holding free tele-learning sessions only for members • Quarterly e-newsletter and providing other relevant information • Providing a distance training and mentoring program each academic year (in English only)
Other Functions (1) • Seeking to ensure that qualified developers are available for co-ops in development • Support the development of a coordinated co-op sector by encouraging developers’ co-op clients to become members of the appropriate sectoral and regional associations
Other Functions (2) • Providing a formal voice for developers within the broader co-op sector, through participating in relevant CMC structures such as the Co-op Development Advisory Group and MOU Committee, Canada’s Emerging Co-operators, Board, etc. • Promoting the Network and its members
More on the Learning Opportunities • The Training program is in 3 levels: Introductory, Foundations, and Advanced. There is interest in offering this in French and an ad-hoc committee, but no resources to develop it so far. • Tele-learning sessions have covered topics such as: Co-op capitalization, Multi-stakeholder co-ops, Crowd-funding, the CWCF’s RRSP program, the CMC Co-op Development Strategy and MOU. Legal session topics have included: Co-ops and charities law, Legal Issues in Housing Co-ops. • Members can suggest topics. Summary notes from the sessions are available on the web site. • The listserv has been a rich source of discussion, on a variety of topics. • The Legal Network is seeking to offer co-op basics courses to lawyers as a form of Continuing Legal Education.
Governance and Management • CoopZone is led by a 9-person Board, 5 representing regions, one a Legal Network member, one a Professional Services Provider member and others at large. Board President: Jill Kelly, BC. Vice President: Pascal Billard. Secretary-Treasurer: Kevin Harding. • CoopZone works closely with, & is managed on contract by CWCF, with approximately 7 hours of staff time per week, divided among the 3 CWCF staff members. The training program is run by a Course Director and mentors. • The relationship between CWCF and CoopZone is strong & mutually beneficial. • CoopZone is mainly virtual – AGM, etc. • CoopZone members do take every opportunity to get together in person, usually at CWCF Conferences.
How to Join the Network Membership is open to interested people in 3 categories: (1) Developer members; (2) Professional Service Providers (members of the new CoopZone Legal Network, accountants, etc.), and (3) Allied members. To become a CoopZone member,you complete the application form, sign the Memorandum of Understanding and send in the annual membership fee. If applying as a “Developer member”, you complete the developer’s self-evaluation questionnaire. The dues: $200 for one person; $100 for each of the 2nd & 3rd person in an organization member; $50 to any additional people; max of $1,000.
Perspective from Developer Member • Why is CoopZone useful to me? • EN: by Lynn Hannley, of the Communitas Group in Edmonton • FR: by Pascal Billard, Consulants Sol-Air, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.
Perspective from a Co-operative Provincial Association • Why is CoopZone useful to us? • by Wendy Keats, Co-operative Enterprise Council of New Brunswick
Some Upcoming Activities • Implementing changes to the Training Program and seeking a new Course Director. • Participating in the CMC Congress in Saskatoon, mid-June 2015 • Next tele-learning session will be on investment share rules in the various provinces (Date TBC) • New web site to be launched soon; sneak preview: http://jessicanlessard.com/coopzone1/ • Next Conference will be held (together with CWCF) in Montreal, Oct. 29-31, 2015 • Participation through the CMC intranet.
