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Co-operative Capital: What It Is and Why Our World Needs It
"Co-operatives need to develop a ‘breed of capital’ – ‘co-operative capital’ – that appeals to their members' values and is consistent with and nurtures the co-operative business model. Millions of co-operative members are looking for investments that do not harm the planet and their children and grand-children. It is time to meet our members' needs.”
Resume de ressources sur la releve de la coopérative
Les ressources sur la relève de la coopérative:
www.coopzone.coop/Transmission_dentreprises
Ce lien vous amènera à un site où vous pourrez télécharger les ressources suivantes sur la relève de la coopérative.
Summary of Succession Planning Resources
This document is a summary of all the documents for the Business Succession Conference October 11-13, 2011 in Quebec City, which are posted below.
Health Co-ops in Canada and Around the World
This paper was written by Jean-Pierre Girard of Université du Québec à Montréal, who has been a member of the International Health Co-operative Organization (IHCO; affiliated with ICA) for the past 10 years.
2011 Spring/Summer Newsletter: Measuring the Co-operative Difference Research Network
In this issue: reflecting on our many accomplishments in the first year,
MCD Research Network Meeting in Fredericton, NB, May 31,
Update on Project: Co-operative Sustainability Reporting & Planning Scorecard, and more.
International Co-operative Association January/February 2011 Digest
Please see January/February 2011 ICA Digest attached below.
Social Media Resources Available Online (from CCA Webinars November 2010)
More than 50 co-op and credit union communicators from across Canada participated in the Canadian Co-operative Association's recent social media webinar.
The webinar, which took place on November 22 and 23, provided an introduction to such social media tools as Facebook and Twitter, as well as sessions on creating social media conversations, legal issues and how to measure social media success.
The webinar presentations, as well as other social media resources, are now available online at http://tinyurl.com/SocialMediaResources.
The Worker Co-operative Movements in Italy, Mondragon and France: Context, Success Factors and Lessons
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to analyze the public policy environment, capitalization environment, availability of federation support, and the context for the worker co-op movements in each of Italy, Mondragon (Spain) and France. These three countries or regions have the largest, most dynamic worker co-op movements in the world. To grow a large worker co-op movement, a system of supports is required to enable the transfer of appropriate knowledge to many people, in addition to having access to worker coop-friendly sources of capital. Although there were some success factors in each region which could not be easily replicated in other places and although there were significant differences among regions, there were many common elements contributing to the success of the worker co-op movement in all three places. These were: (1) sufficient capital accessible to worker co-ops; (2) technical assistance provided to worker co-ops in the start-up phase; (3) a mandatory indivisible reserve, at least for those “mostly mutual” worker co-ops which were able to receive government support; (4) significant federation and consortia structures which support, guide, direct, and help educate the worker co-operatives; (5) significant concentrations by industry; (6) a strong sense of solidarity and inter-cooperation; and (7) scale: having achieved a size and strength to enable the worker co-op movements to be taken seriously by governments, the broader co-operative sector, etc.
The Worker Co-op Sector in Canada: Success Factors, and Planning for Growth
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to provide an analysis of the current state of the worker co-op movement in Canada with a focus on successful worker co-ops. A deepened review of a 2008 survey was conducted. Worker co-operatives which have failed were analyzed, and a full-day workshop with the CWCF Board of Directors was conducted to assess the factors that would lead to faster growth in the sector. The research project also involved surveying 13 worker co-operatives across Canada to identify common factors of success. The survey results indicated that a large majority of founding members in these successful worker co-operatives did not have business experience. Overriding this was the willingness of members to work together and to continuously learn on the job in a working environment that allows them to express their values and social concerns. Through this, successful worker co-operatives were able to carve a niche in their business sector by providing high quality goods and services. Other factors critical to success were access to capital and creative financing, including members’ significant commitment to sweat equity, and available technical and industry resources to assist with the challenges of business and co-operative organizational development. By better understanding the success factors for individual worker co-operatives, the goal of CWCF is to pave the way for more growth and more success for worker co-operatives across Canada.
Co-operatives and Charity Law
This paper examines both types of organization more closely and focuses on the areas of overlap between them. It addresses the questions can a co-op also be a charity, and if so, under what circumstances? It is intended to serve as an accessible reference and general guide to those interested in creating co-operative charities or charitable co-ops.
The Rationale for Worker Co-operatives
Worker co-ops :
- Create Decent-Paying Jobs
- Create Productive Jobs
- Save Jobs
- To find out more, please read the full document, attached below.
CoopZone 2011 Fall Newsletter
Check out the latest CoopZone Newsletter: AGM review, new health care co-op federation, Cindy Coker and Paul Cabaj win awards, and more!
CoopZone 2011 Fall Newsletter
Check out the latest CoopZone Newsletter: AGM review, new health care co-op federation, Cindy Coker and Paul Cabaj win awards, and more!
http://tiny.cc/jheb6
Centre of Excellence in Accounting and Reporting for Co-operatives December 2011 Newsletter
Please see newsletter attached below.
Health Care Co-operatives, in Canada & globally - Tele-learning Session Notes
TELE-LEARNING SESSION: Presented by Vanessa Hammond & Jean-Pierre Girard: Health Care Co-operatives, in Canada & globally, (Introduced by David Daughton)
Revue de littérature 2011 - Relève de l’entreprise faisant appel aux coopératives dans les communautés de langue officiell
Recherche menée en 2011 par ORION coopérative de recherche et de conseil. sous l’égide de la Fédération canadienne des coopératives de travail, avec la collaboration du CCA et du CCCM, pour le compte du Secrétariat rural et aux coopératives (Ministère de l’Agriculture, gouvernement du Canada)
Succession Planning Using the Worker Co-op Option
A business owner is retiring from a small or medium sized business. He or she has explored the options for succession and has decided to sell the business to his/her employees and managers. They have made a commitment to own and manage the business as a worker co-op.
Excerpts from: Business Succession Using Co‑operatives in Official Language Minority Communities
The research analysed dealt with the financing of the purchase of the business by an individual buyer, i.e. the transfer of assets, and then with the transfer process:
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The importance of educating potential sellers about planning several years in advance before selling their businesses to limit the risk of failure;
Buy-Out Steps Outline - Ohio Employee Ownership Centre
(1) Educate the supporters of the buyout.
(2) Establish a buyout association.
(3) Do a pre-feasibility assessment.
(4) Conduct a feasibility study.
(5) Develop a Business Plan.
Union-Led Buy-Outs 1 of 4 - A Co-operative Solution to the Jobs Crisis
In recent years a growing number of working families have been threatened by workplace closures. Stress factors in the forestry, manufacturing, and food processing industries in particular have accelerated the rate of job loss in rural communities in Western Canada. The Western Labour - Worker Co-operative Council ("WLWCC" or the "Council") was formed in 2006 to support worker-driven interventions in situations of plant closure and threatened jobs.
Union-Led Buy-Outs 4 of 4 - Success Stories
Case Studies:
Nanaimo Forest Products
Ambulance Sector in Quebec
Maumee Authority Stamping
Tower Colliery
Sharpsville Quality Products
Business-owner's Guide to Selling a Business to a Co-operative
As a business owner, you have spent many years and significant dollars in building your business, and you are proud of your accomplishments. As time moves on, you have started to think about retirement or stepping down to hand the business to someone else.
The Co-operative Alternative: A guide for co-operative entrepreneurs
You have come together with a common goal in mind: to create a co-operative so you can buy a business. Not just any business, but a specific business that you have worked with for years. Your collective decision is probably based on a few key observations:
1. you know the business is about to be sold so its operator can retire. Even if he or she is not quite ready to sell the business, they may have no choice but to do so in the next few years because of age or a medical condition;
Companion Guide for Transferring a Business to a Co-operative
The role of an advisor is especially important for transferring a business to a co-operative. The advisor’s role is three-fold:
-advising the owner,
-advising the co-operative’s steering committee, and
Co-operative Steering Committee Guide to Buying Out a Business
Whether it involves a co-operative being created from scratch or a business being bought out by a co-operative, the process of creating the co-operative is the same from a legal standpoint. First off, you will have to hold a meeting to designate a steering committee in charge of administering the pre co-operative until the initial meeting, when the first board of directors will be elected.
The Co-operative Alternative: A guidebook for successfully transferring a business to a co-operative
This guidebook is a framework to guide the process of transferring a private company to a co-operative corporation. It brings together all the expertise needed to guide a win/win transfer of ownership from a private company to a co-operative in an orderly manner that will benefit the owner that wants to hand over a business to a group that is committed to maintaining and developing the business’ activities.
Tip Sheet: The 20 Steps of the Business Transfer Process
Tips include:
Phase I: Before the Start of the Transfer Process
Phase II: During the transfer process
Phase III: After the Business is Transferred
Tip Sheet: Checklist for a Business-to-Co-operative Succession Plan
This checklist identifies the key success factors and milestones that should be met in order to ensure that there is a successful transition between the original owner of the business and the new co-operative structure. It reflects that both the new co-operative structure and the original owner have needs that must be met in order to have a successful transition.
Tip Sheet: Valuing a Business
Tips included:
A. Initial qualitative assessment
B. Second in-depth assessment
C. Information That Should Be Provided by the Seller
D. Assessing Whether the Business Can Be Transferred to a Co-operative
Careforce Home Care - Business Succession in Rural Communities Case Study
Careforce Home Care Worker Co-operative Ltd. Was formed by the workers of Care Force Home Health Care Services Ltd. (Corporation) to purchase the Corporation (a share purchase) from the owner, Lay Yong Tan.
