Launched in conjunction with NCBA CLUSA’s 2023 Cooperative IMPACT Conference, “Co-operative Governance: Democratic, People-Centred, and Transformational Practice” will take place exclusively in person on Tuesday, October 3 from 9 am – 4:30 pm EDT in the National Cooperative Bank’s Innovation Room at 2011 Crystal Dr., Arlington, Virginia 22202.
Add the course when you register for IMPACT 2023
This course is designed for seasoned decision-makers and emerging leaders alike from any sector or type of cooperative—all will benefit from this knowledge-rich course. As a participant, you’ll:
- Understand the critical features of co-operative governance at the conceptual, systems, and applied levels.
- Connect strategic governance to solving complex social, economic, and environmental problems.
- Learn about specific examples of governance excellence in practice.
Governance is core to all cooperatives, relevant to all members, and applied in a diversity of ways based on the cooperative type, size and stage in lifecycle. Whether you are new to cooperatives or an experienced professional, this session will stretch your thinking on governance as a system fit for values-based, member owned, and democratically controlled organizations. You will leave the room with a renewed sense of the importance of governance structures and processes being consistent with the organization’s purpose while fulfilling goals, meeting objectives and protecting member and community interests. This session highlights the critical importance of governance as a tool to set transformational purpose and visioning for cooperatives to meet complex social, economic and environmental agendas. Naturally, this includes all types of cooperatives across all sectors of the economy and society as we collectively seek to grow a strong cooperative economy.
This session highlights the critical importance of governance as a tool to set transformational purpose and visioning for cooperatives to meet complex social, economic and environmental agendas.
Case study examples will be used to illustrate best governance practices, highlighting how strategic governance enables organizations to lead deeply on social justice, economic resilience and the climate emergency, to name just a few challenges facing cooperatives today. To do all of this while staying true to a people-centered enterprise model, governance systems must maintain member ownership and control while being democratic and responding to external and internal factors influencing members’ evolving needs and goals. Notably, individual cooperatives cannot do this alone; working together and across sectors is key to our collective future.
Course Facilitators and Presenters
Cathy Statz: Co-operative Educator and Outreach Specialist with the International Centre for Co-operative Management
Karen Miner: Managing Director of the International Centre for Co-operative Management and Vice-Chair of Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada
Dr. Sonja Novkovic: Co-operative Economist, Academic Director of the International Centre for Co-operative Management and Vice Chair of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)’s International Committee of Co-operative Identity
Key presentations by cooperative experts will include:
- Erbin Crowell: Executive Director of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association; member of NCBA CLUSA’s Board of Directors; and Saint Mary’s master’s graduate
- Courtney Berner: Executive Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives
- Stephen Gill: Founder and CEO of VME Coop; CEO and CTO at Co-op Exchange; and Saint Mary’s master’s graduate