Co-op Education

Posted in: Co-op Education
CCC eNews February 2009
By CCC eNews
Mar 14, 2009 - 11:34:00 AM

Co-operative greetings from the CCC team. Welcome to the first eBulletin for 2009. In spite of the financial crisis afflicting businesses around the globe, co-operatives and social enterprises of all forms are weathering the storm and, in some cases, even expanding. Here’s our round-up of some of the exciting and uplifting news from the third sector.

Co-ops weather economic storm (ABC 7.30 Report)
Mainstream media is at last taking notice of the strong performance of co-operative enterprise in times of financial downturn. In fact, some quarters are now touting co-operative business and a return to mutualism as the way forward for many ailing sectors.

Australia’s co-operative movement came under the spotlight following the Co-operative Progress conference hosted by the Co-operative Federation of NSW in Sydney last November. ABC  journalist, Matt Peacock’s, excellent story on flourishing co-operative businesses in Australia
and worldwide aired on 2 January 2009. Transcript and podcast of the program can be found
here on the ABC web site.

The answer my friends …
The co-operative business model got a £70m boost when innovative co-op futurists, The  Co-operative Group UK, officially launched its new brand with an advertising campaign featuring a soundtrack of the timeless classic, Blowin’ in the Wind. A long time supporter of the co-op, the
icon of social change himself, Bob Dylan, agreed, for the first time ever, to license his song to  the Co-operative Group for their advertising campaign. Dylan’s first UK tour in years will coincidewith the launch of the campaign.

The 2:30 minute advert was broadcast on ITV (UK) and features the http://www.co-operative.coop/  domain name*. See the ad on the The Co-operative Group website

*Promote your co-operative difference
.coop is the global domain created specifically for use by co-operative organisations. 5877  organisations currently use the domain name, including the global co-operative peak body,  the International Co-operative Alliance (ica.coop). To find out about the .coop advantage,
visit NZ Cooperatives Association , the registered reseller of .coop domain for the Pacific region.

Credit Unions show the right way
Reportedly, no credit union worldwide has required a government financial bail out to continue  trading. To find out more about why credit unions and mutuals survive, even thrive, in times  of economic downturn, read “Co-ops are top survivors in global financial meltdown: The financial crisis and its impact on financial co-operatives”, feature article in the last issue of
ICA Digest, the newsletter of the peak body for co-operatives worldwide.

Other articles of note

Co-ops, way forward for Scottish economy

Role of co-ops in building a sustainable future

Declining role of self help and mutualism

School for Social Entrepreneurs opens in Sydney
Do you have an idea for setting up an organisation or business that will benefit your community?  The School for Social Entrepreneurs Australia (SSE) launches in March 2009. SSE is dedicated to identifying, developing and supporting social entrepreneurs and raising awareness of social
entrepreneurship. To find out whether you could be part of the first cohort of students visit SSE 

Co-operatives Australia, formerly the Co-operative Council of Australia, is the new name for  the peak national body representing all state co-operative federations in Australia. More

Australia’s Top 100
http://www.australia.coop/ is updating its listing of Australia's top co-operatives and mutuals, and is  calling for any new additions to the Top 100. Contact David Griffiths if you have a suggestion.

Members, Missions & Boards
Not for Profit Network is hosting a workshop series in Australian capital cities and New Zealand  from February through April 2009. The workshops are designed to better equip people for the  turbulent times ahead. Seminars cover; mission-based management; mission-based marketing;
fundraising & the nonprofit board; build a better board in 30 days. More information

The 2009 Westpac Foundation Public Lecture, “Recasting our thinking?  Social enterprise and social value creation in a network era” will be held on Wednesday 11 March 2009 in Brisbane.  To register by email or visit the website

Women & Civil Society in Uzbekistan
19 March 2009, 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM, Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre University  of Technology Sydney. Website

Editor
Suzanne Henderson

Suzanne Henderson
E-mail Address(es):
  sommerson1@optusnet.com.au

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