Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives
Supporting the Success of Worker Co-operation in the Valley & Beyond
Report from the Executive Director
for VAWC Member Meeting, November 30, 2016
Adam Trott
Executive Director
Introduction
Cong ratu lat ions to VAWCMember Co-ops for an excitingNational Co-op Month! VAWCsponsored a "lm screening andeducational radio spots. We alsorepresented VAWC Members ona panel of co-ops and took part ina shared full page ad in twonewspapers.
New Political Context
It would be dif"cult to ignore therecent presidential election here inthe United States. The resultsrelate to us as a secondary co-op.Co-operatives of all stripes mightrecognize a continued invisibilityin political dialog yet this is anespecially mournful moment as ano r g a n i z a t i o n r e l i a n t o nincorporation and legislation.
We want our incorporationstatutes and current regulations tocontinue to protect our co-opidentities and co-op members.After all we recommend co-opincorporation for all co-ops. Ih o p e r e g i o n a l e c o n o m i cdevelopment recognizes the co-opadvantage of rooting jobs andwealth in communities over thelong term instead of models basedon pro"t extraction.
Donald Trump's campaign is seenby both support and opposition asone that blames communities ofcolor and immigrants anddenigrates women and workingpeople.
Stefano Zagmani, author of Co-operative Enterprise, Facing theChallenge of Globalization tells us
that lack of economic democracythreatens our political democracy.He cites the stated rationale of theEuropean Union re jec t ingd e m o c r a t i c p r o p o s a l s f o reconomic stability because theymight threaten t rad i t iona linvestment.
“Lack of economic democracythreatens political democracy.”
-Stefano Zagmani
Professor of Economics University of Bologna, Italy
It is more important than ever tos u p p o r t c o - o p s t r u c t u r e sthroughout our economy. We havean opportunity to vocalize oursupport for legislation sympatheticto co-ops, like incorporation law,and to build relationships withleg i s lator s to educate andcollaborate with them for furtheractivity.
Aggregate organizations andsecondary co-operatives likeVAWC have a unique ability to
advocate on behalf of all ourmembers, express our Concernfor Community and spread themessage about the co-operativeadvantage to decision makers.
Recognition of Co-op Month:Governors of Massachusetts
and Vermont
As members of the Valley Co-operative Business Association,VAWC was part of a successfulstrategy to have MassachusettsGovernor Charlie Baker recognizeCo-op Month 2016 as well as co-op incorporation statutes. Withthe Proclamation (pictured above)w e s e e k t o s e c u r e c o - o pincorporation to protect ourunique structure as well asestablish communication forfurther collaboration. “Whereasco-operatives are recognized inthe laws and statutes of theCommonwealth of Massachusettsas member-owned enterprises...”
Vermont legislature signed asimilar proclamation that citedtheir particular statutes, too, so allVAWC membership can celebrateour political engagement.
Visionaries Screening
Despite a storm laying snow andice throughout the valley the showwent on for our screening. Over40 people saw co-ops from aroundthe world featured, including RealPickles, in In the Spirit of Co-operation, the one-hour episode ofThe Visionaries produced for PBSin celebration of NCBA CLUSA’s100th anniversary. Thanks to theGarden Theater in Green"eld asw e l l a s VC B A , Fr a n k l i nCommunity Co-operative andN e i g h b o r i n g Fo o d C o - o pAssociation for their partnership.
11th Anniversary Celebration
and Visioning
Thanks to everyone for coming toour 11th Anniversary Meeting!The visioning exercise, awardsand trivia made for a productive,and enjoyable meeting.
The winners of the 2016 VAWCAwards are:
Jesse Owens Dues and FundPayment Award: Pioneer ValleyPhotovoltaics Co-op
Julie Graham Spirit of Co-operation Award: Pedal People Co-operative
Emilia Romagna Principle 6Cross Sector CollaborationA w a r d : Neighboring Food Co-operatives
Jose Arizmendi VAWC EconomyBui lder Award: Pioneer ValleyPhotovoltaics Co-op
Yes, we had our "rst double awardwinner! After the ceremony and around of co-op trivia everyattendee took a moment toexpress their needs and goalslooking ahead to the next elevenyears. It was inspiring to see
overwhelming excitement aboutgoals of development VAWCM e m b e r s h i p , e d u c a t i o n a lprogramming and communityrelations. See details pictured tothe right.
It is exciting to be part of asecondary co-operative to carryout non-revenue generating butcrucial work. Combining memberservice with long term education
and development has beensuccessful for VAWC MemberCo-ops on many fronts. Don't seeyour contribution in there? Haveother ideas? Contact me and I'llrevise this version.
Upcoming Events
Next VAWC Board Meeting
December 14, 2016,6:30pm.Location to be determined.
First time reading this Report?
VAWC is itself an expression of co-operative principles — a co-op of worker co-ops that have come together as a means of strengthening the efforts of our individual co-ops to develop their businesses, serve their members, and contribute to the wider co-operative economy. Our core goal is to provide ourselves with the resources and support we need to advance our co-operatives, empower our members, and bene"t more people in our communities. VAWC Representatives attend meetings, direct resources while de"ning the goals of our organization. Interested in being a Representative or on the Board? Contact [email protected]. Here's some of our core activities:
• Ad/PR campaign through area food co-op newsletters, local and movement media; • Maintain your VAWC Owners' Manual aimed at educating, training, and empowering current andespecially new members; • Measures of economic and environmental impact and a shared identity among VAWC members; and • Developing our co-operative economy especially with inter-VAWC purchasing and cross sectorcollaboration. • Education of many sorts including directing the UMass, Amherst Co-operative EnterpriseCollaborative (on Facebook) and the Certi"cate in Co-operative Enterprise we co-created.• Operating the VAWC Interco-operative Development Fund made from 5% of VAWC Member surplus, owned and controlled by VAWC Members.
Worker co-operatives and our movement are made stronger through sharedidentity, statutes and structural provisions that preserve our individualautonomy while clearly identifying our organizations as co-operatives unitedin the common cause of developing a co-operative economy.
De"nition
A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily tomeet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirationsthrough a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
Values
Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility,democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders,co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness,social responsibility and caring for others.
Principles
The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put theirvalues into practice.
Voluntary and Open Membership
Democratic Member Control
Member Economic Participation
Autonomy and Independence
Education, Information and Training
Co-operation among Co-operatives
Concern for Community
The worker co-operative identity is further detailed by the WorldDeclaration on Co-operative Worker Ownership established by CICOPA(The International Organisation of Industrial, Artisan and ServiceProducers’ Co-operatives) in 2004.
The Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives (VAWC) is rooted in the idealsof co-operation, mutuality and solidarity. VAWC is itself an expression ofco-operative principles — a “co-op of co-ops” that have come together as ameans of strengthening the efforts of our individual co-ops to develop theirbusinesses, serve their members, and contribute to the wider co-operativeeconomy. Our core goal is to provide ourselves with the resources andsupport we need to advance our co-operatives, empower our members, andbene"t more people in our communities.
VAWCMember Co-ops
Brattleboro Holistic Health Co-op
Broadfork Permaculture Co-op
Collective Copies
Co-op 108
Green Mountain Spinnery Co-op
Mindel and Morse Builders Co-op
Pedal People Co-operative
Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics
VAWCBoard of Directors
Randy Zucco
Collective Copies – Chair
Philippe Rigollaud
Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics (PV2) – Secretary
Anasuya Weil
Co-op 108 – Treasurer
Deirdre Kelley
Brattleboro Holistic Health Co-op - Director
Suzette Snow-Cobb
Franklin Community Co-op– Stakeholder Director
www.valleyworker.coop