At our 2017 Annual Meeting, there was unanimous approval among the nearly 27 attendees to transition CoMinnesota to a dues paying membership organization. This was necessary to establish a membership base from which we could draw governance, financial, and volunteer support.
So far, we have nearly 30 members and $1,500 in member dues have been raised so far.
Join us and build help build a cooperative community.
2016-17 Steering Committee
- Scott Cole – Collectivity Cooperative
- Kevin Edberg – Cooperative Development Services (incumbent)
- Bahea Mansara – Riverton Cooperative Housing
- Dan Nordley – Triangle Park Creative (incumbent)
- Julia Poznik – Masters economist
Aspirations for 2016-17
Our visioning brainstorm generated a windfall of ideas to work on:
- More cross-sector pollination between co-ops!
- Recruit support from larger established cooperatives.
- Raise consumer awareness of cooperatives.
- Co-op directory and job board
- Do more education about co-op model in community, how it relates to economic vitality along the lines of Marjorie Kelly’s Owning our Future.
- Connect, collaborate, and show solidarity with allied organizations to promote shared agendas.
- Look at other state/metro co-op networks like Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance for ideas on how to develop.
- Dream of large convention center like event showcasing/celebrating cooperatives.
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CoMN on a Stick: Co-op presence at the Minneapolis State Fair.
- Lobby city, county, state support for co-op development. How it creates positive, sustainable, local economic impact.
- Support efforts such as Mpls. Cooperative Technical Assistance Program
- Engage with Cooperative Network’s Co-op Day during legislative session.
- Promote cooperatives as economic equity bridge and solution to food access, security
- Organize co-op campout gathering at Mesaba Cooperative Park in Hibbing
- Get more diverse. Reflect more ethnic, racial, and age diversity in membership.
- CoMingle explosion! More CoMingles, more attendees, larger events that appeal to a broader audience.
- Lets explore different co-op sectors! More attention to co-operative farms in the suburbs, food co-ops, housing co-ops, credit unions, worker co-ops.
- Engage with organizations such as Rotarians and do speaking engagements. Speaker bureau?
- Engage with young professional organizations.