Workshops
Warning: This is still 2011 Schedule. Stay tuned for 2012's
Friday, June 17, 2011 - 10:30am
Are you working with a new start-up co-op that is looking to open a store in a suburban area? Or are you a General Manager of an existing co-op who is either concerned that your store is underperforming in a suburban area, or is considering opening a second store in a suburban area? If so, this is a CCMA workshop that you need to attend. There are certain characteristics associated with suburban consumers that differ from the traditional co-op customer. For example, the lifestyles of suburban consumers typically consist of dual-income families with children and busy lifestyles that leave little time for them to educate themselves more about the benefits of shopping at a natural foods co-op store. Nevertheless, these suburban consumers represent a significant pool of co-op shoppers. In fact, they actually desire healthy and nutritious foods but generally have “less healthy” eating habits because it’s easier or more convenient given their hectic lifestyle. As a result, they require more education about the benefits/value of shopping at a co-op, which can be accomplished through a more aggressive and “targeted” marketing approach than has been typically used by co-ops. On Friday, June 17th, I will be facilitating a panel discussion with C.E. Pugh of NCGA Development Cooperative, Susan McGaughey of Valley Natural Foods, George Huntington of Bloomingfoods, and Pete Davis formerly of CDS Consulting Co-op. These panelists will share their experiences regarding how they have achieved success in reaching suburban consumers. Their recommendations for the managers of suburban stores include identifying effective ways to:
- Create a suburban customer-friendly store
- Raise the awareness levels of the new co-op store
- Overcome the effect of “sticker shock” that suburban consumers encounter when they switch from a lower-priced conventional foods store to a co-op food store
- Become a partner in the local community right away.
It’s important to remember that even though suburban consumers do not look like the traditional co-op customer, they still represent a significant and valuable customer segment for a co-op. In fact, there are many successful co-ops that operate stores in suburban areas (e.g., PCC Natural Markets, Valley Natural Foods, The Common Market, Lakewinds, Bloomingfoods East, etc.) and their collective experience can help you to ensure that your suburban store is successful too.
'Small,' 'rural' and 'conservative' may not seem like the best recipe for the creation of a successful food co-op. But through keeping its 'members in the middle,' Friendly City Food Co-op has found ways to turn challenges into advantages as it transitions from grassroots to full-service grocery. Using Friendly City as a case study, Suzi will discuss what we can learn from smaller rural co-ops and the startup process through leveraging traditional media and non-traditional marketing, building cross-sector support and more.
Based on the popular book The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution, this workshop will describe a flexible, responsive approach as an alternative to the 3 and 5 year goals and static nature of traditional strategic plans. Participants will be invited to share their own experiences with strategic planning. The session will cover the challenges of making strategic decisions in a membership organization as it provides a solid framework and practical tools such as the Strategy Screen, which many users have found very helpful.
Does it seem like experienced board members have read an instruction book that you haven't seen? Let me tell you a secret: thinking like a board member is an acquired skill, not an innate talent.
In this highly interactive seminar we will learn how to think like a board member by doing it. After serving 12 years on our Coop board (and advising boards as a lawyer), I have cooked up some scenarios that pose the questions you'll be answering as board members. Naturally, they do not have one right answer, but instead give us the chance as a group to discuss and debate what we should do. Even better, because we discuss these issues outside the confines (and emotions) of a board meeting, we can look at these issues from all angles without worrying about saying the wrong thing.
The key to becoming a great board member is understanding that it is a role. By discussing situations where our role as a board member may conflict with our desire to do something now, I hope show that governing coops requires us to think carefully about what we should do (or not do) and when.
How do systems of governance help (or hinder) cooperatives to innovate in how they serve member or broader social needs? Are there inherent contradictions in the nature of cooperative governance that inhibit good governance? Innovation is typically the outcome of co-operation and exchange of knowledge among diverse actors who are concerned about solving a problem. What is the role of organizational governance in innovation: how do processes involving boards of directors and representation of stakeholders contribute to or inhibit new ideas for service and new directions for the organization.
An emerging trend is for groups to develop income-generating activities to support the organizing stage of a new food co-op. Jake Schlachter of Food Co-op Initiative and Laura Hanson of Stone's Throw Market will discuss the advantages these activities confer as well as the challenges of implementing them successfully. They will share examples of several co-ops around the country, including the online grocery they started at Stone's Throw Market. Jake will also have details about the Food Co-op Initiative pilot program to roll out online grocery software to participating start-ups later this summer.
Is ‘Buy Local’ a marketing strategy or a principle? You told us, and the results are in! Using information gathered with a national survey of Co-op General Managers, this workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about other cooperatives’ perspectives and practices on procuring and marketing local foods.
Friday, June 17, 2011 - 1:30pm
Join Mari for an informal conversation based on the ideas in her keynote, her thinking about co-ops and food deserts, her thoughts on the importance of cooperative values in the current marketplace, and how you can apply her information to your home town. It’s your opportunity to meet one of the country’s foremost experts on food deserts!
This workshop, co-presented with Bill Gessner and Jeanie Wells includes building a shared vision, assessing feasibility, developing and managing a timeline and budget, clarifying roles and key ingredients for success.
One of the most perplexing questions in cooperative business is directly tied to growth and success. Success can turn a cooperative gathering place where members all know each other into a large, less personal store where few customers recognize each other. Members who associate "small" and "convivial" with "cooperative" are certain that large impersonal stores are no longer cooperative. Hear how several cooperatives have developed membership programs that keep the co-op in touch with its members and the members engaged with the co-op.
When you become a leader, life changes. It changes for you, your organization and the people who work there. Leaders exchange commitments with their organizations. You get a salary and benefits, opportunities and (hopefully) mentoring and fellowship. But you have commitments to fulfill to the organization as well. To do that successfully you have to understand all of the concomitant commitments--and how to fulfill them in way that brings joy to the job.
One commitmant you have is to clear communications--but communications are two way. You have to send clearly, and the receiver has to hear it clearly. Different people--and different situations--call for different messages. Sometimes the same situation calls for a variety of messages.
We'll look at organizational frames to find understanding about how to think through the messages needed. And you'll learn from each other in this interactive workshop. You'll take away ideas and resources, and very possibly a new tool for your next challenge.
The simplest definition of a fierce conversation is one in which we come out from behind ourselves into the conversation and make it real. The central function of any team member is to engineer productive, spirited dialogue that reveals we are capable of original thought and provides clarity and impetus for change. At Fierce, we believe careers and companies succeed or fail, one conversation at a time. What does that mean for when we are participating in meetings or in teams? How can conversations make our work with others more effective or make us a sought out team player? Learn new skills you can start using right away!
NOTE: Contact me if you are being send as "scout" to this session to look into how Fierce Conversations could assist your co-op with your workplace culture or leadership development. I'll be sure to have some extra materials for you including a retail industry white paper and the Fierce Factor Analysis Tool which helps you to determine the 'fierceness' of your organization. The first 20 organizations to contact me will also get a complimentary copy of the book Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life - One Conversation at a Time, by Susan Scott.
While no single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a company, a relationship or a life - any single conversation can. ~Susan Scott, author Fierce Conversations.
This workshop will provide an overview of the challenges facing coop boards (and management) and of the various approaches to governance. It will include a description of the traditional board model, John Carver’s Policy Governance model, and the more recent thinking about boards such as Dick Chait’s Governance as Leadership model. There will be plenty of discussion as participants describe their own approaches to governance.
There are no right answers here and participants will have an opportunity to think through the pros and cons of different approaches.
How big should a new co-op be? Can you afford to start out as a medium or large store? Can you afford not to? Many new co-ops struggle to decide whether they should start small on a modest budget or try to build the commitment necessary to open a full-service grocery store. We will discuss the impact of size on sales potential, viability, capital raising, labor and meeting the needs of the communities you serve. Learn how to use feasibility research to fine-tune your plans.
Excel is a widely-used financial tool for business forecasting, financial planning and valuation. Practitioners are often trained in business or accounting but have not approached model design and financial forecasting as a technique. This seminar will focus on the principles that characterize models made by professionals in corporate finance. Participants will see and use different models to test these principles. The goal of the seminar is to encourage financial modeling as a process, an analytical tool, a framework for analyzing a business, and a lever for changing organizational behavior.
Friday, June 17, 2011 - 3:30pm
This workshop will focus on the national healthy food financing initative to improve access to healthy foods in food deserts. There will be information presented on the new California initiative and efforts in other parts of the country. Learn how co-ops can access the financing and grant programs.
Riding the Growing Wave continues featuring critical issues, lessons learned, and PPPP (proper practices for pitfall prevention) drawn from actual expansion projects.
How five successful co-ops continue to be themselves and stay on top of the wave of consumer trends and preferences. A lively panel featuring unique ways to differentiate our stores within an ever-changing competitive landscape.
A bottom up process to include staff, management and Board in the business planning process and what a finished business plan should include.
Open discussion facilitated by Don Kreis.
This workshop is the first opportunity, at least in recent memory, for board members to gather at CCMA for a completely self-governed and self-facilitated discussion about issues of mutual concern. Do we want to create a national network of board members beyond the CGIN-board listserve? What would such a network or organization look like? What issues would we like to address at the national level, either as to governance or as to matters of substance? Help formulate answers to those questions -- and do bring some questions of your own.
Open discussion facilitated by Don Kreis.
This workshop is the first opportunity, at least in recent memory, for board members to gather at CCMA for a completely self-governed and self-facilitated discussion about issues of mutual concern. Do we want to create a national network of board members beyond the CGIN-board listserve? What would such a network or organization look like? What issues would we like to address at the national level, either as to governance or as to matters of substance? Help formulate answers to those questions -- and do bring some questions of your own.
The thrill and excitement of opening a new co-op can only carry you so far. As you struggle to keep up with all the details, equipment, money, customers, employees, contractors—and maybe even your family—how do you keep your head above water? Our panelists will discuss their own experiences and the methods they found that helped them get the job done and continue to enjoy it.
Excel is a widely-used financial tool. This seminar will focus on the principles that characterize models made by professionals in corporate finance. Participants will see and use different models to test these principles. The goal of the seminar is to encourage financial modeling as a process, an analytical tool, a framework for analyzing a business, and a lever for changing organizational behavior.
Saturday, June 18, 2011 - 10:30am
Many people use the terms sustainable and sustainability, but what do these words really mean? How do they relate to our families, co-ops and communities, states and country? Jim will discuss how co-ops can adopt leadership rolls regarding life-support sustaining store operations. He will also talk about what co-ops can do to help the communities they serve, become more life-support sustaining.
Surfing is about harnessing energy in the form of a wave and navigating it with talent, precision, and grace. In this workshop we discuss the board's role in co-op expansions and what it means to take a leadership position in the process. We’ll consider key questions for a board to ask around such items as internal readiness and risk, and think about strategic communication and engagement outward. Leaders from the award winning Wheatsville co-op will be present to share stories and perspective from their recent experience with this topic.
Join Brett for an informal conversation based on the ideas in his keynote, his thoughts on the future of cooperatives, what level of participation co-ops should expect of their members and the importance of cooperative values in a globalized economy. A conversation with Brett is guaranteed to be stimulating, enlightening, and challenging. In short it’s an opportunity not to be missed!
Today we discuss the most important commitment you make when you become a leader--the one you make to yourself. We look at four types of stress and three strategies for dealing with each of them. We'll dive deep into strategies for one of the stressors--never enough time. You'll leave with a better understanding of why you feel stressed and, most importantly, how to use that when you want and lose it when you don't.
Knowing what the financials are really showing, and how to figure out what to pay attention to, is a key for directors wanting to meet their basic financial responsibility. We'll provide an overview of the basic financial statements being presented to boards, especially geared to those new to the board or new to financials (grommets, in surfing slang). We'll help you identify a few key things to monitor and watch on your financials so you can shred (execute an analysis crisply and with confidence) them.
This workshop asks the question, 'Are our efforts having an impact? Are they having the impact we desire?' Participants will be introduced to a variety of approaches to evaluating the impact of co-operative business strategies - both economic and social. The purpose of this session is to lay the groundwork for developing a customized measurement instrument and index to measure impact on the community in which the retails are located.
Negotiating contracts for your Co-op can be intimidating… Where should you begin? Who do you ask for what? And how much should you pay? Which services typically require a contract, and which ones don’t? Unnecessary contracts or unreasonable rates can get in the way of your Co-op’s financial success. New contracts, annual contract review and renewal are important pieces to consider in building a successful food co-op. Jeanette Hamilton, general manager of Main Market Co-op in Spokane Washington shares what she has learned along the way as a new general manager at a new food co-op.
The Cooperative Group (Britain), Co-op Italia and Eroski (Spain) are each one of the largest retailers in their respective countries. Like other parts of the world, Europe’s economy and people’s spending power has declined during the present recession. Given their specific conditions each took a different approach during the recession. Compare their approaches as US Co-ops ”Catch the Co-op Wave.”
Saturday, June 18, 2011 - 1:30pm
David Waisman and Lynn Olson of Willy Street Grocery Co-op in Madison, WI will present their Co-op's path to achieving a record-breaking Million Bond Drive in just 34 days. Preparing for the opening of their second retail site, WSGC chose to fund 1/3 of their expansion through the sale of owner bonds, harpooning hundreds of current and new owners who were interested in supporting the Co-op while earning interest on 3, 5 or 7 year bonds.
Co-ops as Community Leaders: A School Garden Approach. In 2010 Community Mercantile Coop and Community Mercantile Education Foundation partnered on a multi-faceted school garden project that employed 14 year-old students to tend to a 4,000 square foot garden. The garden produced over 1/2 ton of produce in its first year, raised 00 from the sale of produce at a student-run Farmers Market, and helped grow vibrant community relationships. This year the project, 'Growing Food, Growing Health' has three school gardens, an educational display garden in front of the Merc, and is growing for the Merc's Produce Department. We'll share pictures, info, stories of successes and challenges, and hopefully inspire your coop to grow a similar project.
Jimbo brings nearly 40 years' experience in the natural foods industry to this conversation. Today will focus on a little bit of his history in the industry, some of the secrets he has learned, some of the key components to having a successful retail operation and where Jimbo sees the industry going. He will also talk about how to compete with the big boxes and how perhaps independents and coops can work together. Come enjoy an informal conversation with some videos and discussion!
How many times have you wanted to ask someone, anyone, a question about being on your board or working with a board? Here’s your opportunity to get some of those questions answered. Marilyn and Ann will facilitate will facilitate a discussion on any question related to governance from board responsibilities to strategic planning, from policy governance to what you really need to know about the co-op’s finances. Come prepared with three or four questions. See Marilyn and Ann in action together!
Each year we receive many reports from co-op boards that they have instituted a new process that has improved the quality of governance for the co-op. This year is no exception. Join this fast-paced conversation when at least 15 new ideas for the boardroom are presented. There will be time for questions and an opportunity for you to share your best new governance idea.
Multi-stakeholder cooperatives are co-ops that formally allow for governance by representatives of two or more “stakeholder” groups within the same organization, including consumers, producers, workers, volunteers or general community supporters. Discover the benefits and risks of organizing to meet the needs of multiple member classes and find out why this is the fastest growing type of co-op in Quebec.
On May 13, 2011, members from three Austin co-ops got together in response to one simple question: “Would someone from your co-op like to join some co-workers from my credit union to discuss the seven cooperative principles?” One year later we have a thriving Austin Co-op Think Tank: a veritable party wave including credit unions, housing co-ops, a radio station, and even a vegan donut bakery. Where once we felt isolated as ‘the only food co-op in Texas’ we now find ourselves engaged in a thrilling attempt to transform the Austin economy—Cowabunga! Please join think-tank members from Wheatsville (and Black Star Co-op!), including Dan Gillotte, Theron Beaudreau, Kitten Holloway, Kate Vickery, and Mark Wochner, as we share the glide and unfold designs for our stellar aerial barrel roll.
Saturday, June 18, 2011 - 3:30pm
What can be done to “seed” cooperatives within our communities? This session will examine what cooperatives can do to serve the needs of our members and neighbors by laying the groundwork for the ignition of new co-operatives in all sectors. Particular attention will be paid to SLICE, an innovative two-day annual conference which has engaged cooperative enterprises and cooperative community in Seattle to spur a revitalized cooperative movement, with the aim of building a cooperative society.
For all general managers, board members and cooperative movement evangelists. After launching a pilot training last summer and garnering support from luminaries such as Michael Pollan and Bill McKibben, the Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive (CoFed) has grown to five regions and plans to train over 20 campuses this summer. CoFed tends to take an inspire and conquer approach by giving students the energy and direction to create their values in the world. In this presentation we'll follow this model and explore some of the inspiring new developments between community food cooperatives and campus groups, talk about why connecting inter-generationally is critical and then share specifics around messaging and actions that can effectively bridge the divide for your work with cooperatives, whether you're in a college town or not. 2012 is the International Year of Cooperatives and CoFed has big plans to make a splash with a new generation of leadership - come learn more and leave with inspiration to share.
Join leaders from the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) for an inclusive and participatory session focused on one of the biggest opportunities cooperatives will experience in our lifetimes: The International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). As point-organization for the U.S., NCBA is collaborating with the International Co-operative Alliance and co-op leaders around the world to re-launch the cooperative brand and spread the word: Cooperative enterprises build a better world. Join the conversation.
The simplest definition of a fierce conversation is one in which we come out from behind ourselves into the conversation and make it real. While many fear real, it is the unreal conversations that ought to concern us because they are incredibly expensive. In order to be effective in this economy, supervisors and team leaders need to be able to harness the workhorses of organizations - conversations! Learn practical skills you can take home with you and start using immediately.
NOTE: Contact me if you are being send as "scout" to this session to look into how Fierce Conversations could assist your co-op with your workplace culture or leadership development. I'll be sure to have some extra materials for you including a retail industry white paper and the Fierce Factor Analysis Tool which helps you to determine the 'fierceness' of your organization. The first 20 organizations to contact me will also get a complimentary copy of the book Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life - One Conversation at a Time, by Susan Scott.
While no single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a company, a relationship or a life - any single conversation can. ~Susan Scott, author Fierce Conversations.
The board's relationship with its general manager is the foundation of the retail cooperative's success. This workshop for board members will focus on the keys to successful board/GM relations: understanding and respecting the different roles the board and general manager play; putting the golden rule into practice (do unto your employee as you would have your employer do unto you); and keeping the board's own process clear, intentional and effective. Excellent boards have excellent managers for a reason! The workshop is suitable for all levels, and will offer opportunity for dialogue and sharing between participants and the presenters.
Cooperative Strategic Leadership (CSL) is a tool newly introduced to food cooperative boards that represents an evolution in strategic thinking at the organizational level that engages co-op leadership at all levels during the process. Described by some as the “missing link” in governance, CSL is comprised of six components that address how boards can have a strategic conversation about the future while involving critical stakeholders, like the co-op’s management team and others. The purpose of CSL is to feed the wisdom of the board’s decisions and tie together strategic thinking at all levels of co-op leadership. The CSL approach helps address one of the potential pitfalls Policy Governance in that the specificity of roles can sometimes lead to independent silos of thought or activities. The CSL model encourages building on and sharing knowledge that informs decision making and planning at all levels (thus, this workshop is appropriate for BOARD and MANAGERIAL leaders- see http://www.cdsconsulting.coop/newsletter/article/821).
This presentation will show you how to work through the process of developing a strong and enduring Marketing and Member-Owner Services system, using the "4 Cornerstones in 3 Stages" food co-op start up model as a guide. Identify your strategies for building four concurrent M&M cornerstones: Vision/Talent/Systems/Capital (Costs). Then use the three stages to carry specific initiatives through the Vision/Plan/Implementation process. Think through your strategies for everything from planning an owner brochure to conducting an ongoing member drive. Evaluate a range of media and communications options, and learn how to use outreach, community engagement, and customer service as the drivers for advertising, capital development, and public relations.
This workshop will explore the benefits of cooperation among cooperatives, by examining the activities of two regional alliances of food co-ops: the Mid-Atlantic Food Co-op Alliance (MAFCA) and the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA). A regional alliance of local food cooperatives can strengthen individual stores and local economies, and benefit co-op members as well as members of the community at large. We will discuss the processes we have engaged in to work toward our objectives including the bumps in the road that we have encountered along the way and share our models with co-ops interested in launching similar efforts in their areas. Intended for a general audience.
