What does co-op mean to you?

[OneGrassRoot]

I post a lot about co-ops and get very little response, which is surprising to me, as the cooperative structure is very progressive, imho, yet the United States lag far behind other countries regarding co-ops.

I'm wondering if the word itself conjures a different image for many here in the States and thus the word itself inhibits further discussion.

For example, if I described a new idea to generate jobs and benefit the local community as a worker-owned enterprise versus a worker-owned co-op, would more have an interest in brainstorming and discussing?

Cooperative enterprises involve so much more than produce co-ops or purchasing co-ops.

Evergreen Cooperatives in Cleveland is a great example.

http://www.evergreencoop.com/

"The Evergreen Cooperatives of Cleveland, Ohio are pioneering innovative models of job creation, wealth building, and sustainability. Evergreen’s employee-owned, for-profit companies are based locally and hire locally. We create meaningful green jobs and keep precious financial resources within our community. Our workers earn a living wage and build equity in their firms as owners of the business."


Since we're rightfully concerned and always complaining about lack of viable or sustainable employment, why don't more have an interest in taking the initiative to at least explore other avenues to create employment ourselves -- with creative ways to finance it -- in a way that has much more integrity than a traditional corporation with all the power at the top?

There are many different ways this could manifest if we're creative and innovative, but there is a lack of interest to even explore it which puzzles me. Hopefully someone can help me understand.

Thanks :hi:

[eShirl]

1. when I was a kid, the only co-op nearby was sort of a customer-run discount health food store

you paid dues and/or worked off your membership, and got to order dark brown whole wheat spaghetti in bulk

:p

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Exactly...

That's primarily how the structure has been used here in the States. But it can be so much more.

:)

[BoWanZi]

46. I remember that. My mom was a member of the Food Coop in Westhaven , ct

This was back around the mid-late '70s or so. I have memories of us going to the food coop and helping out there. Doing things like pricing food, stocking shelves, etc.

I was about 7-9 years old back then. My mom also had joined a commune for a short bit, that was a rather interesting experience back then.

[OneGrassRoot]

50. Wow, that had to be an interesting experience.

I kind of hope newer versions of that commune premise start popping up.

Intentional Communities is what they're called now, I believe. :)

[BoWanZi]

73. I wish I had a better experience but mine was tainted due to issues at bedtime

Nothing bad with the people or anything, just an embarrassing problem that made things like camps and communes not enjoyable for me. Other than that, it was fun. I was only like 7 or 8 if I remember.

[mysuzuki2]

2. I thought it was a place you kept chickens.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. lol...

;)

[DURHAM D]

6. LOL - really. Very funny. nt

[DURHAM D]

5. To me Coop stands for -

the organization of local grain elevators where farmers take the harvested grain.


See link for details: http://coopunion.com/


Note: My great- grandmother was the first female allowed on a Coop Board way back in the prior century.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. Very cool about your great-grandmother...

:thumbsup:

Agricultural co-ops, in various forms, are far more common here in the States. Utility co-ops are making some headway. Beyond that, not much is opening up which surprises me. We're not an overtly cooperative society, unfortunately. Yet.

The UN has established 2012 as "International Year of Cooperatives," so hopefully we'll hear more and more about co-ops here. I'm certainly going to keep hammering away at it.

;)

[NYC_SKP]

8. To me, "employee-owned, for-profit companies" have a much different connotation.

And it may be that "co-op" has been used in so many different situations that it doesn't have a single universal meaning as clear as "employee-owned, for-profit companies".

Also, I'll be people think "hippies" or "long hairs" when they hear "co-op"!

FWIW, I love the business model of employee owned business, I think it's the only way that capitalism and/or enterprise can work fairly.

:toast:

:kick:

[OneGrassRoot]

12. I think the "hippies" thing is part of it, but why that turns DUers off is beyond me...

:rofl:

:hi:

[SpiralHawk]

9. 2012 - International Year of the Co-op

eom

[OneGrassRoot]

13. Yes, I just mentioned that upthread, I think...

That is VERY cool, and I hope to work with NCBA (National Cooperative Business Association), which is leading the way regarding the UN's IYC Initiative here in the States), via Wishadoo.

Hopefully that will raise the profile of different cooperative opportunities.

:thumbsup:

[msongs]

10. we have a local organic veggies co-op run by moms nt

[OneGrassRoot]

16. That's the most common and successful type of co-op...

and it seems to be catching on more and more.

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

11. For example, a cooperative alternative to HuffPo and Patch.com...

I and another DUer are passionate about this co-op (member- and worker-owned) blog network idea. A grassroots independent alternative to AOL's HuffPo and specifically Patch.com. (I love the Patch.com premise but don't like that it's owned by AOL; they're doing much of what I've envisioned for years now, but I would like a much more community-oriented, progressive focus.)

If you're interested in co-ops as this thread evolves (if it evolves...lol), I invite you to check out this blog post, and to join this group to discuss co-ops more.

:)

[Le Taz Hot]

14. I'm attempting to do something akin to a co-op

in my neighborhood. For the last 3 years I've organized something called a Neighborhood Plant Swap wherein people from the neighborhood offer up plants from their own yards (via thinning out/changing landscaping, etc.) and swapping them out for plants from neighbors doing the same thing.

Once a year our city has something called "Operation Clean Up." Basically, you throw out any non-toxic materials (tree trimmings, old wood, even appliances, etc.) onto the curb and the city comes by and picks it all up for free. It saves residents from having to go to the dump and is an incentive to clean up all at the same time. Anyway, this year I've organized a Neighborhood Yard Sale the week after Operation Clean Up. In the flier I passed around to the neighborhood I proposed the idea of sort of a neighborhood alliance wherein we can expand community projects. Here are a few ideas I and others have proposed:

- Re-establishing our Neighborhood Watch Program
- Starting a bartering system wherein people in the neighborhood swap goods and services with one another.
- Craft Fair - Selling our own hand-made items without having to pay Booth Rental Fees.
- Free seminars from neighbors in their areas of expertise. I'll be doing two: Canning/Preserving and Square Foot Gardening.
- Monthly Neighborhood Pot Lucks.

This is all still very new and I'm not sure what kind of participation we'll have at first but I'm hoping it will be a movement that will grow in time.

Maybe not EXACTLY what you were talking about but it's sort of our version of a co-op.

LTH
:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

15. That's very much what I'm talking about!

Cooperation comes in so many forms -- some with legal frameworks, others not (which I prefer). The gist is to simply cooperate and collaborate to help in myriad ways.

We're just not used to thinking that way, let alone acting on it.

:yourock:

Hey, LTH, I'm going to PM you. You're doing exactly what I'd personally love to see replicated in other communities. Maybe you and your neighborhood can be an ambassador "pilot" Wishadoo! Community, and make use of the tools there, such as the Wishlist. I can create a group for your neighborhood, which has tools to include a discussion forum, an events module, your own neighborhood "wishlist," and other features.

And it's free. That's a huge part of how I hope Wishadoo! can be of service: To support exactly what you're doing and show others how it can be done.

And so much more....

PM me if you're interested. :)

:hi:



edit for typo

[janet118]

25. Excellent ideas . . . community-building is the answer

Unfortunately, much has been done to destroy any sense of commonality and community. We all live in our own little space stations.

[Justina For Justice]

52. Great Ideas, We Need to Cooperate in Everything!

Here in Venezuela, the cooperative movement is aided by government recognition and subsidies. Cooperatives don't pay taxes on their profits and the government provides low or no-interest loans to cooperatives for start-up and expansion purposes.

Cooperatives are owned by all the members and it must be run totally democratically. There are farmers cooperatives marketing cooperatives, restaurant cooperatives, and many production cooperatives, such as tee-shirt factories and the like. It is a great way for poor folks to create jobs to sustain themselves in which they can jointly determine what is produced and the conditions of labor and wages.

Given the U.S.'s current economic situation, cooperatives could be very important in helping communities to survive and prosper.

I was wondering if it would be possible to establish neighborhood wi-fi coops, through which internet access could be shared in neighborhoods, thus insuring that neighbors would always be able to communicate with each other and share survival information.

[99th_Monkey]

56. Wow, government subsidies for cooperatives, not Mega-Corporate Frankensteins. what a concept. nt

[OneGrassRoot]

60. Exactly. There are Community Development Funds....

and the NCBA has a nonprofit arm that helps finance cooperative ventures and find financing from government resource for the same.

I'm just starting to connect with them, but given my lifelong zeal for co-ops, I expect to have an ongoing working relationships with them, and plan to be a strong, visible advocate for co-ops, both via Wishadoo! and personally.

The more people I can find who share this passion for co-ops -- or at least have a genuine interest -- to gather at Wishadoo!, NCBA could help us a lot, imho.

:hi:

[99th_Monkey]

75. I love this stuff.

In fact it was my primary focus in graduate school. I did a comparison of plywood mills, breaking them down into 3 classes of ownership: 1) Absentee-owned, 2) locally-owned (conventional local family-owned - resides w/in 50 radius of plant), and 3) worker-owned. This was right before most all the plywood mills in Oregon went under, and there were about 6-7 worker-owned mills still operating that were mostly started during the 40s & 50s. I identified indicators for "Employment Stability" and "profit retention" i.e. how much of the profit gets plowed back into the local economy v. how much gets "disappeared" to absentee owners in NYCity, Chicago, et.al. to corporate owners & shareholders.

The findings were pretty much as expected, e.g. that employee owned mills offered much more stable employment and profit retention to the community.

For my internship I worked for a State Senator to pass SB 666 making it an Oregon state policy to encourage worker-ownership.

But then once I graduated, there were no real JOBS doing this stuff, so I defaulted doing other local community development work, affordable housing mostly.

[OneGrassRoot]

76. Well then, you're a wealth of information!

Cool. :)

That's awesome, though unfortunate there were no jobs at the time for you to pursue. Maybe that will change, if it's something you'd be interested in. Ya never know...there are more organizations popping up for co-ops, and with the UN 2012 Initiative, more legislators will be contacted about giving co-ops more attention.

It really makes so much sense to me: The more people have a truly vested interest in something, the more rewarding and successful a venture is likely to be. A feeling of ownership (but not in a greedy way) and thus responsibility, is priceless.

[99th_Monkey]

79. I couldn't agree more ...

... that a sense of ownership is the key to participatory awakening to a more sane and humane way to "do business" i.e. economic democracy.

This is the cure, the detox from our toxic & absurdly out of control income-disparity, anchoring capital and jobs into local communities with enough
smarts to encourage and promote worker-ownership. This much is pretty much guaranteed, the closer the locus of ownership & control is to the
worker, the more stable, productive and profitable the business will be, both for workers and for the host community.

[OneGrassRoot]

80. Wow, may I use that description?

That is such a brilliant description of why working cooperatively is not only preferable, it's truly necessary.

:applause:

[99th_Monkey]

91. Sure. I don't have it copyrighted, so have at it. I feel honored to have you ask. nt

[OneGrassRoot]

59. Ooooh, I'd love for you to join in ongoing discussion about this!

If you don't mind and have a chance, please join Wishadoo! and this Group where we can brainstorm!

Your input would be invaluable. You can be Venezuela's Wishadoo! Ambassador!

:bounce:

:hi:

[Hannah Bell]

90. "wi-fi coops" = great idea.

[KittyWampus]

55. Dear LeTazHot, you inadvertently point to an experience I"ve had with co-ops. They often involve the

time, energy, resources of one person who has to do most of the work.

When that one person gets tired or fed up, very often others can't be bothered.

I am so glad you have the energy to do the organizing in your neighborhood. I'd like to have more neighbors here like you.

[OneGrassRoot]

61. That's a shame.

But I don't doubt it whatsoever, KittyWampus. :(

I hope that can change.

I hope Wishadoo! can be an itsy-bitsy step toward a change in this direction. Joining is free, it requires no commitment (unlike volunteer opportunities), and you don't have to qualify to get help or to offer it. Via the Wishlist people can ask, offer, give, receive and pay it forward, with a direct connection.

It's a bit of a social experiment, I suppose.

From there, once people get their feet wet, I'm hoping that they'll expand their involvement to neighbors and rest of the community.

I'm trying to engage all aspects of community at Wishadoo: individuals, families, neighborhoods, businesses, schools, organizations.

I can't stand how life is so fragmented, as I feel we waste so many resources, including time, which is precious.

I want so very much to help connect the puzzle pieces, but understand that starting with baby steps is often needed.

That's the framework I'm trying to create there.

:hi:

[Le Taz Hot]

86. That may end up being the case, but

I'm also a pretty good manager and I can be VERY persuasive when I have to be. ;-) It's amazing how far fresh, homemade cookies can get you.

[socialist_n_TN]

17. I use co-op when I'm talking about DIRECT worker

ownership of the means of production via shares of profit in a market economy. It would work best at small scale plants that produce something for a specialty market. They would take the base expenses, including living wages for employees, and then, if there was profit, share those on a per share basis to the workers. If a worker had more responsibility he could get a double share. The workers would decide the share split.

I believe that a REAL socialist government would give a priority to low or no cost loans for these kinds of industries. In addition, I'd love to see no cost or low cost government loans to unions when the owners have shut down an operation because it's "not profitable enough." You know the type. The plant is making a profit, but they can make MORE profit by outsourcing to India or wherever. There's a plant in Sparta, TN. that fits that description.

This model wouldn't be nearly as costly as bailing out banks and the auto industry and lining the pockets of the major shareholders and CEOs in a major industry. AND it would keep the workers working and producing.

Of course, for a major, interstate industry and ESPECIALLY a major "general welfare" type industry, I favor nationalization. Some will call that government control. I like to think of it as the PEOPLE controlling it.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. It's most viable on a truly grassroots local level, imho...

The laws and regulations here in the States make legal co-ops versus more informal setups more challenging, but I hope that changes. I'm working on it here in NC.

But I agree with what you said in that the most fundamental worker-owned enterprise is best achieved at a local level, like the Evergreen Cooperatives example in Cleveland.

I'd like to introduce different cooperative enterprises to kind of open the door to new ways of doing business and providing produces and services, even if they're not the type I'm most fond of, which is indeed the type you describe.

We have to start somewhere.....

I agree that some things are best nationalized and shouldn't be for a profit and should be STRICTLY about The Common Good. Healthcare and education, for example.

Cooperative approaches, combined with legislative efforts, may be a bridge to take us closer to such a system.

It's common sense, for cryin' out loud. People can decry all the isms they want, but it's a matter of common sense and humanity.

[OneGrassRoot]

19. But my dream is to implement local grassroots cooperative ventures...

that can be replicated throughout other communities, making use of each region's unique offerings and resources -- and people -- but the basic premise being able to be replicated.

I'm not a big fan of reinventing the wheel, so if something works in one area, it seems like a good use of time and energy to replicate what works in order for something to more easily and quickly be implemented elsewhere.

Time does seem to be of the essence...

[socialist_n_TN]

20. RE: your last sentence, yes, it's common sense, but

the concept of "private" property (NOT personal property) and profit (the basis for the system itself) will always interfere with common sense.

That's why we need a SYSTEM change, not just tinkering on the edges.

[OneGrassRoot]

24. I agree....

Yet I'm of the mindset that we can take steps to implement change as we actively work to reform/revamp the system itself.

I respect other viewpoints that a full-on systemic change is the only way to shift things, but I believe (hope) we can multitask and work toward the same end goal.

:hi:

[socialist_n_TN]

26. Well, I've studied and read a lot of Leon Trotsky

in my life and there are two interelated things that he said that are salient to the multitasking.

Trotskyists ALWAYS work to improve conditions for the working class. If it means a coalition with "reformists" on a particular issue that WILL improve conditions for the working class, we'll work in coalitions. The other thing that he said that would relate to this (in 1939 the year before his assassination) was that he, and he hoped his followers, would be on the side of the oppressed, even if the OPPRESORS were Marxists or claimed to be Marxists.

What this means for me is, if it's going to improve the plight of the worker class/poor, I'm for it. I think that this type of thing would improve the life of the working class. So while working for system change, I would support this reform.

[OneGrassRoot]

27. ...

:thumbsup:

Thanks for contributing. :)

[patrice]

21. Sharing the work/investment on/in any consensually agreed upon (identifiable) objective/mission.

[OneGrassRoot]

35. Yes, thank you. :) n/t

[patrice]

43. ! OneGrassRoot . . .

:hi:

[patrice]

44. Implemented by means of mutually agreed upon tools for accountability and planning. nt

[patrice]

53. a la Paulo Freire!

http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-freir.htm

:hi:

[patrice]

54. via W. Edwards Deming

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/w._edwards_deming/

[InvisibleTouch]

22. I think about food co-ops.

I've been part of them in order to get cheap meat for my dogs, but I wish there were more organic food-buying co-ops in the area too.

I don't usually think of the term in any other context except for buying food. Maybe that's just my own limitation, as it sounds like you're using it to stand for a broader range of cooperative associations.

[OneGrassRoot]

36. Yes, I'm trying to expand the possibilities as it concerns co-ops....

beyond consumer co-ops.

:hi:

[janet118]

23. Two come to mind . . .

A food coop where people pool resources and time to get fresh produce at a reasonable price. In Maine, there was a "farmer's union" store which sold feed, tools, household products, etc. Each member got an annual dividend on profits made over the year.

I really believe it's the way to go. If a group of self-employed people formed a health coop to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical, medical and hospital corporations, we would have our "public" option. The old housing "co-ops" in New York City are beautiful and high rent now, but in the beginning they were mostly left-wing people pooling their money to buy a building and manage it.

Imagine if we could really share and cooperate in this country. . . immigrants do it all the time. Unfortunately, we have trust, class and independence issues to deal with because of our cultural myths.

[OneGrassRoot]

37. I couldn't agree more....

:hi:

[Armstead]

28. An honest answer -- It's not the kind of subject that ever gets much response on DU

Much as I love DU, usually things that are substantial but not sexy don't get a lot of response here.

I don't think the lack of reaponse means lack of support for the idea -- or even a lack of interest. But it's the political scorecards, the scandal du jour, or pro-Obama and anti-Obama battles that tend to generate response.

[OneGrassRoot]

31. I hear you....

I'm trying desperately to make compassion and cooperation sexy, but I'm failing miserably!

:rofl:

;)

:hi:

[PotatoChip]

66. No you are not-

(failing miserably), I mean. :-)

You've got my attention, but I'm still trying to figure out exactly how it works. I went to that Cleveland Coop link you provided. From what I gather, people are pooling services? Is there a sharing of profit somehow? Or is a non-profit type venture? And the purpose is for what end exactly? Less cost for the people using the services and or/product? :shrug:

I feel a bit foolish for asking since everyone else here seems to know, but curiosity is getting the best of me. I've heard of co-op's before, but that is just about the extent of my knowledge on the subject.

[OneGrassRoot]

69. Here are two good links:

There are many ways it can be structured, and I think we can create new ways as well.

While there are nonprofit co-ops, I am more focused on revenue-generating co-ops which benefit the workers and the community in different ways, rather than a successful venture primarily benefiting upper management and stockholders as with traditional corporations. Since unemployment is a critical issue, this is my focus.

Taking basic services each community needs and communitizing it (how's what for an alternative to "privatizing"?) feels like the way to go.

But here's the gist of co-ops, as detailed at these two links:

http://www.ncba.coop/ncba/about-co-ops/co-op-types/worker-cooperatives

http://www.ncdf.coop/about_coops_new.html#Differentkinds


Just getting people interested enough to explore it further could open many doors and opportunities, imho. Seeing co-ops as more than agricultural or purchasing co-ops is the first step.

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

70. Also, here's an online newspaper of sorts where I'm gathering info...

for All Things Co-op. For your reading pleasure.

:)

[PotatoChip]

72. I have yet to check out the 2nd link

But the first was very informative. I'm loving the concept as I understand it. I wish you much luck with this!

[KitSileya]

29. One of the largest grocery chains in Norway

is COOP - it's a cooperative, the owners are the members, and the members get the profits divided amongst them according to how much they have shopped at the stores. I remember my mother keeping the receipts and sending them in at the end of the year when I was a kid - now all is registered electronically, of course.

[OneGrassRoot]

34. So many ways this could be beneficial, to so many. Thanks. :) n/t

[KitSileya]

42. Yeah, in Norway, grocery shops are concentrated in very few chains

and unfortunately, the chains own the major supplyers too, so independent grocery stores are few and far between. Norwegians are very peculiar in their buying patters when it comes to groceries - foreign chains simply don't survive here. Lidl went belly-up a few years ago - Norwegians are very sceptical to trying foreign cheap brands, but accept generics from the national chains. It has created a few multi-millionnaire grocery chain owners, and that makes it even more delicious to shop at Coop - which has 1.2 million 'owners' in a country of 4.5 million people.

[OneGrassRoot]

49. Interesting. I think neighborhood grocery co-ops, especially....

where there's a concentration of citizens struggling with poverty, is one way to revitalize neighborhoods. Plus there are tons of really awesome sustainable food initiatives, especially in urban areas, which incorporate these ideas as well.

Getting local businesses involved. Keep it Main Street, no huge chains involved at all.

Turning empty public areas into gardens, hydroponic setups, etc.

Very cool stuff going on, if we could just harness it and help it take hold even more.

:hi:

[Odin2005]

30. Worker-run businesses, they are common in my neck of the woods.

They are True Socialism.

The main gas station in my little hometown is a co-op (Cenex).

[OneGrassRoot]

32. Yep, my searches often turn up Minnesota and Wisconsin....

New England leads the way with some as well.

:yourock:

:hi:

[Odin2005]

40. Thanks!

[Canuckistanian]

33. I once lived in a Co-op building

Actually, it was a collection of 6 apartment buildings.

We met twice a year for General meetings and we had a Coodinator who acted as a manager. Everyone was expected to do SOME work such as cleaning, gardening, painting, etc. Usually a couple of hours a month. We also had block parties and barbecues and a Xmas party.

I served on the Board of Directors and was once Vice President. We dealt with things like approving new members, maintenance and bylaw enforcement.

And in return, we paid CHEAP rents and got a real sense of community. There are times when I miss it.

[OneGrassRoot]

38. Awesome. Cooperation. So much could be done with more of it. n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

39. Sharing costs to the common good of those involved in an enterprise. I have direct

experience with 2 kinds of co-ops. I owned a co-op apartment where all running costs of the property were split up between shareholders of the building based on the size of their unit. I currently participate in purchasing co-ops for e-cigarette supplies. This saves a bit of money due to combined purchasing power and buying either at cost or to split up high shipping costs/and or both.

[OneGrassRoot]

41. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THIS FURTHER.....

I wish you'd join me at Wishadoo. I created an ongoing thread about co-ops in the small business section here at DU about a year ago, but that forum has little activity.

Cooperation/Co-ops are a HUGE aspect of Wishadoo, along with Compassion and Community. Wishadoo! is about putting all of these things into action in myriad ways, at a grassroots level. But gathering those who are not only interested, but are interested enough to discuss them in a meaningful way, is like pulling teeth.

:(

If you're interested, there is a Group already set up at Wishadoo! by the NCBA (National Cooperative Business Association), which is the organization most responsible for promoting the UN's "2012 International Year of Cooperatives" here in the States.

Or, there is a general "think tank" group set up as well. We can brainstorm in either or both.

:)

This online newspaper I'm experimenting with may be of interest as well.

Thanks!

[patrice]

45. FB'd. nt

[OneGrassRoot]

48. Gracias! :)

edited to add:

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[jwirr]

47. I am most familiar with co-ops as seen in Iowa. The old electric co-ops

that go back to the days of FDR are still there. Everyone who is hooked up to their services is a member and receives dividends. However, the dividends were not enough to live on. I think possibly the profits went to keeping the system running affordable.

The other co-op I was familiar with was at the gas station. Same member idea and cheaper gas for members. I think this was probably started to help farmers buy gas cheaper for farming.

Neither one paid members enough to live on. However, I am sure that the workers were paid well.

When I moved to MN I found another co-op. A grocery store. I do not know what went wrong but it is no longer in existence.

I am very much in favor of co-ops because they are usually answers to problem areas that the government does not address or is more trouble than help. FDR rural electrification program is an exception.

In the last chapter of Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine she lays out a very good argument for this. She talks about the Thai people who did not want to take help from IMF after the tsunami. They decided that they could not wait around for help from the government so they started working together reclaiming their land and rebuilding their homes. I think co-ops can help us solve our problem (not just joblessness) where the government cannot because it is in way over its head.

Problem in my area of Minnesota is that we are doing pretty good yet. No one sees the need. On the other hand we have unions up here that more or less act like co-ops. Your ideas are sound. The problem is you are talking to the future when problems are so bad there is no help. And then it may be too late.

[OneGrassRoot]

51. You raise excellent points.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights.

:)

I've had people ask the difference between a union and co-op -- the concept of having a vote is something people can understand more than actual ownership, which unions don't offer. Although, there are unionized worker co-ops, of course. Long-term caregiver unions, for example.

I think co-ops can help us solve our problem (not just joblessness) where the government cannot because it is in way over its head.

Exactly!

I think I've literally always been swimming against the tide because 1) I've always been an entrepreneur and 2) I've specifically been a social entrepreneur. I saw in my teens the lack of loyalty on the part of the big corporations and how everything was about the bottom line, and it turned me off from Corporate America forever.

So, to me, co-ops are just an extension of entrepreneurship done with integrity.

I've always been one to see the need and try to think of a viable way to fill that need (entrepreneur), in a way that benefits as many people as possible. Profit hasn't been my motive (which probably explains why I've always struggled so...:rofl:), though finding responsible ways to enable me to support myself and offer the same opportunity to others when possible, as well as benefit The Common Good, has always been the priority.

It's getting better, but I'm still greeted with a deer-in-the-headlights look when I share my philosophy. I never realized how odd I was until recently. Now I realize how VERY odd I must have seemed 25 years ago when the term social entrepreneur didn't even exist.

;)

[99th_Monkey]

57. I think of Mondragon Spain

The MONDRAGON Corporation is a federation of worker cooperatives based in the Basque region of Spain. Founded in the town of Mondragón in 1956, its origin is linked to the activity of a modest technical college and a small workshop producing paraffin heaters. Currently it is the seventh largest Spanish company in terms of turnover and the leading business group in the Basque Country. At the end of 2009 it was providing employment for 85,066 people working in 256 companies in four areas of activity: Finance, Industry, Retail and Knowledge. The MONDRAGON Co-operatives operate in accordance with a business model based on People and the Sovereignty of Labour, which has made it possible to develop highly participative companies rooted in solidarity, with a strong social dimension but without neglecting business excellence. The Co-operatives are owned by their worker-members and power is based on the principle of one person, one vote.<1>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation

[OneGrassRoot]

58. That's the Holy Grail of examples. They "mentored" Evergreen...

the example in Cleveland, if I recall correctly.

:thumbsup:

[canetoad]

62. I managed a co-op for a number of years

as well as doing a stint as director of the peak body, Co-ops Federation of Victoria (the Australian state).

The co-op I ran was a non-profit to provide Professional Indemnity insurance to small/sole practitioners in architecture and was established in 1990.

All architects and many other professionals must carry compulsory PI insurance to cover claims against their work. The cost of this can be crippling for a small or part-time operator. Our co-op model was to purchase a large group policy that covered the 300-400 members. The committment was to keeping the number of claims against the policy down, therefore the cost of the policy. This was done by providing CPD (Continuing Professional Development) for members, access to claims/policy advice and a general support network.

Around half the members were women, many had children and/or ran their practices from home offices. Many members were semi-retired; they were generally happy to mentor younger members and newly registered architects. There were even a couple of sub-collectives of young architects in the co-op.

I've never had close contact with a for-profit co-op but if legislation is adhered to, regulatory and fincial rules are followed, it's a great business model that could be applied to numerous fields.

[OneGrassRoot]

77. Thanks for sharing your experience, canetoad...

Much appreciated.

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[mmonk]

63. I'm glad to see this and the responses.

If there is no way or only a slow way by ballot box, other models have to come into play through iniatives.

[Liberal_in_LA]

64. I belonged to a co-op for a short time in the 80s. It was grocery store where members

paid a fee and were expected to work a few hours. Other type I'm familiar with - Co-op dorms in colleges

[stevenleser]

65. Sounds great to me!

I'd like to hear more about them.

[OneGrassRoot]

78. Awesome! I shall add you to the list of those interested in exploring this more. :)

Also, if you see my reply #66 above, I include two links with more information to start learning more.

:hi:

[Taverner]

67. A Co-operative, that is strength in numbers

I also remember a Berkeley chain of supermarkets in the 70's called 'Co-Op'

I wonder what ever happened to them

[Taverner]

68. I would love to start an IT Co-operative

A company owned IT service, with public/private cloud and everything

Problem is no one wants to co-operate with me :(

[OneGrassRoot]

71. You guys have NO IDEA how happy this thread has made me...

No idea. I am just so happy to have people interacting about this subject, which is -- imho -- a very empowering path we can take to shape the course of things, as we also actively seek legislative changes.

So many things feel out of our control, and all are worthy of our attention, but this is something we can act on, in our individual communities and as online communities.

I have to leave but wanted to thank you all so much, and warn you that I'm gonna bug anyone who has expressed an interest with a PM soon, to invite you to gather to discuss this topic, at your leisure.

;)

Thanks so much!

:grouphug:

[InvisibleTouch]

74. Please do bug us. :)

I'd love to read and discuss the topic further in the future.

[divvy]

81. Co-op means extraordinarily high prices.

At least it does at our largest co-op's. The funny thing is that almost everyone who shops there looks sick for some reason. I used to support them but I got tired of paying extremely high prices for sub-standard products.

[OneGrassRoot]

83. Where and what type of co-op, may I ask? n/t

[divvy]

84. It is a health / natural food co-op

Members can work at the store for their memberships. It was established in the 70's. Their produce is bad and their prices are high. They do have a nice color-coded allergy notification system, but the exact same product (when available) at Meijer's will usually be half price.

[OneGrassRoot]

85. Any type of venture can be a failure if not done right...

even co-ops. Higher prices/poor quality is the antithesis of what I've experienced with co-ops.

That's a shame. :(

[OneGrassRoot]

82. The Google LOVES DU.

I get Google Alerts for "co-ops" and "cooperative enterprises."

Today's "hit"?

This thread.

I can't tell you how many times I've searched a topic and DU threads are at the top of the results list.

:thumbsup:

[JCMach1]

87. In Florida we were members of a rural electric co-op

In fact, every few years we would get dividend checks.

[OneGrassRoot]

88. I don't have personal experience with utility co-ops...

I imagine the experience varies from region to region but, if I stay where I am (NC), I want to investigate the local electric co-op.

I'd love to hear others' experiences and overall impression of this particular type of co-op.

Thanks. :)

[JCMach1]

89. Pretty much like a regular utility company with the exception that the profits

eventually go back to you based on how much you had consumed. The checks are usually several years behind though.