Conference objective:

• To promote and develop cooperatives in different countries;
• To identify and introduce social, economic and cultural capabilities of
  cooperatives;
• To encourage healthy competition for the purpose of promoting cooperatives'
  outputs;
• To introduce successful practical models in terms of methods, procedures and
  management tools internationally with the aim of helping other cooperatives
  improve their status.
• To review recent research findings in the field of cooperative to improve knowledge transfer and provide a context for a knowledge-based development

Conference timetable:

• Submission of abstract: 21 March- 15 August 2010
• Notification of abstract acceptance: 6 September 2010
• Submission of full paper: 7 September- 7 November 2010
• Notification of paper acceptance: 21 November 2010
• Start for registration (conference and workshops): 14-15 April 2011

 

The 2010 Cooperative Education and Training Institute will provide a space for cooperative members from all over Canada and the US to connect through the universal language of mapping. Mapping is an emerging process widely used to facilitate communication, share information, and build community--elements that are essential to building cooperation. Using maps as guides for navigating the cooperative movement, we will explore cooperation across geographies, sectors, and movements. Over the last three years, we have explored alternative economies, land rights, and environmental justice, and mapping will serve as a tool to explore the intersections of these and other themes.

Over 400 participants will converge in Ann Arbor, Michigan this November 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 housing cooperatives. The annual NASCO Institute is always a one-of-a-kind opportunity to network with hundreds of cooperative leaders and employers, to caucus about pressing issues, and to work on building an inclusive and accessible cooperative movement.

Join over 750 entrepreneurs, students, activists, and other interested individuals in Boston for the largest Fair Trade conference in North American history!

The conference is hosted by the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Bay Area worker cooperatives, and the Network of Bay Area Worker Cooperatives (NoBAWC), and a local working group is coming together to plan. Please get in touch if you have suggestions or if you’d like to join this working group and you work in a worker cooperative or direct support position.

Online registration will open in March 2010. A call for workshop proposals will go out around the same time. Keynote speaker(s) have yet to be confirmed, but we’ll let you know as soon as we do.
 
Tentative Schedule (of course it’s subject to change):
Thursday, August 5         Arrivals
Bay Area Coop Tours
                                                Bay Area Labor and Cooperative History Tours
                                                Book reading and signing: recently published worker coop authors
                                                Screening of Capitalism: A Love Story
 
Friday, August 6                USFWC Member Meeting
                                                Bay Area Coop Tours
                                                Bay Area Labor and Cooperative History Tours
                                                Opening Reception and Performances
 
Saturday, August 7          Conference: speakers and workshops
                                                Special dinner to honor worker cooperative and cooperator of the year
                                                Party and fundraiser
 
Sunday, August 8             Conference: speakers and workshops
                                                Some sort of social event
 
Monday, August 9           More Bay Area Coop Tours
                                                Intensive Daylong Workshops in selected topics
 
Possible other events (to be confirmed):
Tuesday, August 10 – Friday, August 13 – Weeklong training in worker cooperative technical assistance and/or a Cooperative Work Week