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CCMA 2024 Coming to Portland, Maine
We are excited to bring CCMA to Maine for the first time in the conference's nearly 70-year history. Maine boasts a vibrant and connected co-op ecosystem that is developing a new generation of cooperative enterprises addressing the needs of Mainers. Our host cooperative, Portland Food Co-op, and other Maine cooperatives are excited to share their stores and communities with CCMA attendees!
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This year’s conference theme, Rising Tides Lifting Communities Through Cooperation, draws inspiration from the metaphor “a rising tide lifts all boats,” emphasizing the idea that as cooperatives flourish, they elevate the overall well-being and prosperity of the communities they serve. It encourages participants to explore and discuss the ways in which cooperatives serve as catalysts for positive change—fostering prosperity, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Food cooperatives contribute to the local economy while embodying values with global significance, creating a unique and interconnected community identity.
Maine is known for its stunning, rugged shores, which contribute to the state’s unique coastal beauty and mirror the resilience of its people. Just as the rocky shores have weathered the elements over time, cooperators have shown a remarkable ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
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CCMA 2024 will feature:
- Engaging keynote speakers highlighting issues impacting food co-ops
- 25 breakout sessions featuring cooperative peers sharing lessons learned and strategies for the future
- Tours highlighting the host co-op stores, community partners dedicated to food access, and organic producers in and around Portland
- Social activities to connect and network with fellow cooperators
- Community boards for groups to gather and connect around topics of interest
- In-app peer to peer networking
For more information and sponsorship opportunities, see the CCMA website.
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UWCC Prepares to Launch Second Wave of
Cooperative Governance Study
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In 2021, UWCC launched the Cooperative Governance Research Initiative (CGRI) with the goal of generating data and insights on cooperative governance practices across sectors and over time. We collected survey data from 500 U.S. cooperatives on topics such as board composition, meeting practices, member engagement, and board compensation.
This spring, we will be launching the next wave of data collection. The 2024 survey will build on the foundational research launched in 2021 and provide valuable data to benchmark and improve governance practices. If you would like to ensure your cooperative receives the 2024 survey, please reach out directly to Courtney Berner at cberner@wisc.edu. You can also sign up for the CGRI e-mail list to receive occasional updates on the Cooperative Governance Research Initiative.
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Directors from Diverse Cooperatives Gather for
Training Series
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In the dynamic world of cooperative businesses, outstanding board leadership is the cornerstone of success. But excellence doesn’t come by chance, it's cultivated through robust governance training. On January 23 and February 28, cooperative directors gathered in Stevens Point, Wisconsin to participate in two of the three sessions in the Governance Training Series for New Directors. The middle session on cooperative finance was held via webinar.
This training series is designed to delve into the vital role of directors in leading their cooperatives by nurturing proactive and effective cooperative boards.
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Cooperative board members listen to a lecture during the training.
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Cooperative board members participating in an icebreaker at the training.
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The training curriculum followed a progression from understanding the roles and responsibilities of directors to finance basics and finished with an overview of common tools used for success when sitting on the board. The trainings used an activities-based approach and encouraged directors to work through common problems in small groups. Designed for new directors across all cooperative sectors, the training emphasized the importance of continuous learning and development.
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The UWCC team was excited to deliver this training for a second time, and is looking forward to continuing this educational opportunity in the future. If you or your cooperative team have any interest or ideas about this training, please contact the UWCC Administrative Specialist, Abby Grott, at agrott@wisc.edu.
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Farmer Cooperatives Conference Ends
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While this chapter comes to a close, UWCC remains committed to serving cooperatives in rural America through ongoing research, education, and development initiatives. We eagerly anticipate new opportunities for collaboration in service of farmer cooperatives.
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In Brief: Resources and Updates
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UWCC Welcomes New Members to Advisory Committee
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Since its founding, UWCC has benefited from the guidance of an advisory committee providing counsel on Center initiatives and perspectives on developments in their cooperative sector. UWCC is pleased to welcome several new members to our advisory committee:
- Frida Ballard, Co-op Developer, Worker Justice Wisconsin and Founder, Zapata Cooperative
- Jason Geils, Founder, Flora Cooperative
- Steph Harrill Kyle, Director of Financial Inclusion and Community Engagement, UW Credit Union
- Alicia Leinberger, Founder, Ethos Green Power Cooperative
- April Stevens, Executive Director, Cooperative Care
- Ray Simpkins, CEO, Outpost Natural Foods
We also want to thank some longtime committee members for their service. Pam Mehnert of Outpost Natural Foods, Jaimes Johnson of UW Credit Union, and Terri Dallas of Genex have all retired over the last year after many years of service to cooperative members in Wisconsin. Additionally, we would like to thank Lizzy Haywood for her service on the committee and best wishes for her new role at UW-La Crosse. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these individuals for their dedication, expertise, and commitment throughout their service. While their presence will be missed, we look forward to welcoming our new members who will bring fresh perspectives and continue the important work of the committee.
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Pictured from left to right: Frida Ballard, Steph Harrill Kyle, Alicia Leinberger, and Ray Simpkins.
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Meet our 2024 Scholarship Awardee, Leo Kin-Chong Chao!
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Leo Kin-Chong Chao's research focuses on the intersection of consumer activism, environmental movements, gender, and citizenship. With a background in philosophy and sociology, Chao is now pursuing a PhD in Civil Society & Community Studies at UW-Madison. Their research will examine the growth of cooperative organizations in East Asia, particularly examining how new cooperatives have emerged out of the environmental justice movement in Hong Kong.
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The scholarship honors Dr. Ann Hoyt and Barbara and Thomas Lyon. Dr. Hoyt is internationally recognized for her innovative research and contributions to co-op education. Thomas Lyon was an agriculturalist, a cooperator, and a former University of Wisconsin Board of Regents president. Established in 2013, the Barbara and Thomas Lyon Scholarship Fund supports graduate students with an expressed interest in cooperative business.
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2023 Annual Report Available
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The 2023 Annual Report highlights UWCC’s recent achievements serving cooperatives in Wisconsin and beyond. Packed with insights, achievements, and reflections, this report encapsulates the essence of our journey over the past year. Some quick highlights include:
- Move to Extension: In January 2023, UWCC transitioned from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to the UW-Madison Division of Extension. This move has been mutually beneficial, providing UWCC with a secure home in a division aligned with its values. Likewise, Extension has gained a valuable center with robust stakeholder support and a demonstrated history of delivering valuable research, outreach, and education to cooperatives across the nation.
- Cooperative Governance Research Initiative: UWCC analyzed data from the 2021 governance survey to produce sector-specific findings for agricultural and food cooperatives.
- Cooperative Incorporations: Our co-op development team helped incorporate five new cooperatives. Spread across urban and rural parts of the state, these new co-ops represent a diverse array of industries, from veterinary care and independent media to legal services, forest products, and food service.
- Cooperative Education: Our team provided education on cooperative governance, management, finance, and development best practices to over 1,000 cooperators.
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Broadband Webinar Recording Now Available
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On February 1, University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension cooperative and local government specialists hosted a webinar to describe how cooperatives are created, how broadband services might be successfully deployed by developing member-owned broadband distribution cooperatives, and discussed potential financial partnerships with local units of government. The webinar recording is available now.
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Food Entrepreneurship Ecosystems Development (FEED) Virtual Spring 2024 Workshop Series
April 1 - April 29, 2024
Webinar Series
Learn tips for running and growing a successful food business from specialists and entrepreneurs! This no-cost series of online trainings is for food entrepreneurs and farm-based food businesses.
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CCMA 2024
May 30 - June 1, 2024
Portland, Maine
We are excited to bring CCMA to Maine for the first time in its nearly 70 year history! Food cooperators can expect engaging keynote speakers highlighting issues impacting the cooperative movement, breakout sessions featuring cooperative peers sharing their lessons learned and strategies for the future, co-op tours highlights the local gems that Portland has to offer, and social activities to connect and network with food cooperative peers.
Early bird registration is open now!
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WEBINAR: Worker Co-op Findings from the 2021 Cooperative Governance Research Initiative
May 9, 2024, 12:00p.m. - 1:00p.m.
Zoom
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Join us for a deep dive into worker-owned cooperatives and the governance practices and trends that are shaping them. This 60-minute webinar will feature findings from the soon to be released report, 2021 Cooperative Governance Research Initiative: Worker Co-op Findings, which was produced with input and generous financial support from the Democracy at Work Institute and the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives.
This event is free, but registration is required.
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Roots4Change Cooperative's Latina Maternal Child Health Conference
May 17-19, 2024
Edgewood College
This conference is for anyone working with and for the well-being of Latina/e/x women, children and their families. Roots4Change is confident that by sharing stories and knowledge, they can break the silos that separate people and can find people-centered and systems-driven pathways to create better well-being outcomes for immigrant families.
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Wisconsin Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference
May 30-31, 2024
Platteville, WI
Come to Platteville this spring and explore how local entrepreneurship drives the Driftless Region’s development. Network with fellow community champions from around the state. And gain new technical skills for promoting entrepreneurship in your own small town.
An annual event in other Midwestern states, the CEC Conference is coming to Wisconsin for the first time in 2024. Business leaders, economic development professionals, local leaders, and community champions will gather in Platteville for two days of programming about strategies for supporting entrepreneurship in Wisconsin’s small towns.
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