The cooperative movement in 2017: Building stronger networks

Come celebrate the adventures of last year and the challenges of the new year. We will review the cooperative highlights of 2016 and would love to hear about your year in retrospective. Come and share information about the exciting people, projects and the tools that are being built right now - cooperatively.

2016

At the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec last November, there were 3000 people from 117 countries representing cooperatives. The International Co-operative Alliance announced that its member cooperatives represented close to one billion individual members. The coop movement is large but could use some much needed visibility by building a stronger network with its existing members and allies.

One aspect of the cooperative movement that has gotten an outsize share of publicity in the past year is Platform Cooperativism (http://www.shareable.net/blog/a-shareable-explainer-what-is-a-platform-co-op).

And here in Massachusetts, the Boston Chamber of Cooperatives made great progress introducing city government to the value of cooperatives, culminating in a successful city council hearing on January 24.

2017

Looking to the future, we'll be talking about networking: How are you making meaningful connections with people doing things you wish to be a part of? In what ways can we be more successful?

Possible topics:

• How does the worker cooperative movement fit into the larger worker cooperative movement? What can it bring, what can it gain?

• How cooperatives align with the current Human Rights movement?

• Where/how did you find events related to cooperatives?

• How many cooperative businesses are in your community?

• How do you get recommendations on where to shop?

• Do schools in your town have a course on Cooperatives?

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED RIGHT NOW?

Food

Pot-luck dishes are welcome, without obligation. Agaric will provide some snacks and beverages. If you would like to bring your favorite dish, or suggest one. Diversity in food:) Vegan and Gluten-free foods are great too!