June 30th 17:00 to 18:00 [GMT (London) Time]

TIMERAISERS - CANADA
Kate Browning, Timeraiser Program Manager, will outline Timeraiser events that see participants bid their volunteer time on art, purchased from emerging Canadian artists, to support great causes. At Timeraiser, artists get paid, nonprofits connect with skilled volunteers, and skilled people put their time to good use. Amongst the wide range of nonprofits supported are theatres, arts festivals, museums, and art galleries.

L.A. WORKS, LOS ANGELES, USA
Debbie Brutchey, Executive Director of LA Works, outlines how the organization encourages corporate citizenship through hands on community service experiences as well as sponsorships, volunteer days, and pro-bono experiences. This sustainable model decreases their organization's dependence on traditional fundraising from individuals and foundations. Beneficiary organizations of the corporate service include parks, schools, community centers and non-profits.

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

[ read more ]

Welcome! Boozhoo! to the Connecting Peoples and Lands Conference

The Common Ground Research Forum is a Community-University Research Alliance project funded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada that has been running in the Kenora, Ontario area since 2009. The project has brought together citizens, community groups, and university researchers to engage in action research projects around the themes of cross-cultural collaboration, social learning, and regional sustainably.

Connecting Peoples and Lands will be the final conference for the Common Ground Research Forum project, and it is aimed at community people, academics, and community researchers from Northwestern Ontario, Canada, and abroad.

The conference follows three themes:

• Resource Management & Governance
• Learning & Sustainability
• Connections

Registration:

Your conference registration fee covers: Tuesday evening mixer, all Plenary Lectures and Roundtable Session, Presentation and Poster Sessions, coffee breaks, continental breakfasts, lunch on Wednesday and Thursday and closing feast on Friday, Thursday evening entertainment, and Friday’s guided excursions on the Tunnel Island Common Ground.

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Co-operatives – Capital Idea(s)!

Conference Theme

Co-operatives have different ideas about how to do business. These ideas are reflected in co-operative principles, practice and theory. They extend to all aspects of business and economic activity – including to capital in its various financial, human, social and natural forms. Co-operative ideas challenge our common assumptions about business as usual and inspire us to envision and implement more just, participatory and sustainable business practices.

Co-operative ideas, however, are also challenged by the often harsh realities in which practitioners attempt to implement them – situations of abject poverty, depleted communities, dwindling resource bases, environmental degradation, oligopolistic market structures, discriminatory policy regimes, geographic and social isolation, etc. Can we develop ideas and theories that can inform co-operatives when they are confronted with such deficits of financial, human, social and natural capital?

The theme of this year’s annual conference highlights the power of co-operative ideas to inspire and guide the development of a more just, participatory and sustainable economy. In particular it focuses on the distinct approach of co-operatives to developing and using key resources – capital bases – and the challenges involved in such an endeavour.

Conference Topics

We invite potential participants to submit proposals on any of the topics listed below under the four sub-themes of the conference. Proposals on other topics are also welcome, if they fall within one of the given sub-themes.

Co-operatives and Financial Capital

• Co-operative Ownership and Finance Models
• Financial Regulation and Reporting Practices of Co-operatives
• The Role of Co-operatives in Financing Business Development
• The Changing Environment of Financial Service Co-operatives

Co-operatives and Human Capital

• Co-operative Management Structures/Practices and Human Capital
• Co-operative Education and Human Capital
• Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Co-operatives
• Developing Human Capital in and through Youth and Student Co-operatives

Co-operatives and Social Capital

• Co-operative Principles and Social Capital
• Social Capital and Inter-cooperation among Co-operatives
• Social Capital and Co-operative-Community Relationships
• Social Capital and the Role of Co-operatives in Community Economic Development
• The Relationship between Service Co-operatives, Social Capital and Social Solidarity
• Social Capital and Alliances between Co-operatives and Social Movements
• The Role of Social Capital in Co-operative Business and Marketing Strategies

Co-operatives and Natural Capital

• Is Sustainability the New Co-operative Value for the 21st Century?
• Co-operatives and Green Production
• Co-operatives and Food–Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability
• Co-operatives and Renewable Energy
• Co-operatives and the Solidarity Economy

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May 28th 21:00 to 22:00 [GMT (London) Time]

SAN JOSÉ PUBLIC LIBRARY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH EBAY, CALIFORNIA, USA
Jill Bourne, City Librarian, outlines how the Library worked with international corporation eBay to design a new online and app tool for public participation in the traditional Summer Reading Program, and increased involvement to record levels. Jill will describe the process of securing highly skilled volunteers, positioning an organization to attract partners, and the internal assets that are needed to manage these relationships effectively. The app is now being adopted by other U.S. libraries.

BERRIMA HISTORICAL MUSEUM, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
Harlan Hall, a recently-retired engineer and former General Manager of the Sydney Maritime Museum, initiated and project managed the building of a newly-opened exhibition hall attached to a local historical Museum. Harlan details his own volunteering expertise and impact - as well as that of the 50 or so other volunteers involved, including local professionals and tradespeople. He gives his tips on finding and persuading volunteers and the importance of: using volunteers within a clear business process; freedom for volunteer project managers; understanding what volunteers can/cannot do; measuring and reporting donated time; and training volunteers.

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

[ read more ]

June 2nd 17:00 to 18:00 [GMT (London) Time]

JOY OF THE PEOPLE, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, USA
Joy of the People was one of 12 organizations to take on older City of St. Paul-owned neighborhood recreation centers several years ago. Ted Kroeten, Founder and Director, outlines the innovative ‘express yourself’ soccer program that draws kids of all income ranges from across the city – fees are charged but these cover bursaries for poorer kids.

TYBURN COMMUNITY LIBRARY/CASTLE VALE SWIMMING POOL, BIRMINGHAM, UK
Like many UK local authorities, Birmingham City Council, has had to make substantial spending cuts. The city’s Castle Vale area has recently seen both the library and swimming pools adopted by social enterprises to keep them open – both ‘firsts’ in the city. A local social enterprise, the Castle Vale Tenants and Residents Alliance, has adopted the library and plays a key role in the non-profit established to manage the pool. Judy Tullett, Head of Enterprise and Development at the Alliance, will reflect on lessons from the two transfers and the business plans being put in place to sustain (and improve) the two assets.

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

[ read more ]