What Is It, & How Can It Be Useful to You? Presented by: Hazel Corcoran (ED), with members Lynn Hannley (Communitas), & Wendy Keats (CEC-NB)

What is CoopZone? A network of co-operative developers – individuals and organizations - that help others to start and develop co-operatives, and those interested in learning more about co-ops and development Includes a network of legal professionals interested in co-operatives & development. Primarily anglophone, but also bilingual with increasing presence of francophones. There are about 70 Developer/other members, and nearly 40 Legal Network members. Incorporated in There is the possibility of starting a co-op accountants’ network too, as exists in the US.

The Vision of the CoopZone Network: To enhance the quality of life in Canada by promoting and supporting the growth and development of co-operatives, through mobilizing co-operative developers committed to the vision and objectives of the co-operative movement.

CoopZone’s Objectives CoopZone seeks, among other objectives: A. To identify and develop a self-supporting group of co-op developers that is committed to the vision and objectives of the co- op movement. B. To increase the interaction among consultants, developers and other professionals (including lawyers and accountants) working with existing or new co-operatives. C. To provide members of the CZDN with access to co-op development opportunities, where applicable.- including lobbying for resources from the federal government, encouraging the creation of a sector-drive co-op development fund (along with and/or by CWCF).

CoopZone Member Services Networking among members (listservs, fall Conferences) Maintaining a bilingual web site re: co-op development: including listing of memberswww.coopzone.coop Holding free tele-learning sessions only for members Quarterly e-newsletter and providing other relevant information Providing a distance training and mentoring program each academic year (in English only)

Other Functions (1) Seeking to ensure that qualified developers are available for co-ops in development Support the development of a coordinated co- op sector by encouraging developers’ co-op clients to become members of the appropriate sectoral and regional associations

Other Functions (2) Providing a formal voice for developers within the broader co-op sector, through participating in relevant CMC structures such as the Co-op Development Advisory Group and MOU Committee, Canada’s Emerging Co- operators, Board, etc. Promoting the Network and its members

More on the Learning Opportunities The Training program is in 3 levels: Introductory, Foundations, and Advanced. There is interest in offering this in French and an ad-hoc committee, but no resources to develop it so far. Tele-learning sessions have covered topics such as: Co-op capitalization, Multi-stakeholder co-ops, Crowd-funding, the CWCF’s RRSP program, the CMC Co-op Development Strategy and MOU. Legal session topics have included: Co-ops and charities law, Legal Issues in Housing Co-ops. Members can suggest topics. Summary notes from the sessions are available on the web site. The listserv has been a rich source of discussion, on a variety of topics. The Legal Network is seeking to offer co-op basics courses to lawyers as a form of Continuing Legal Education.

Governance and Management CoopZone is led by a 9-person Board, 5 representing regions, one a Legal Network member, one a Professional Services Provider member and others at large. Board President: Jill Kelly, BC. Vice President: Pascal Billard. Secretary-Treasurer: Kevin Harding. CoopZone works closely with, & is managed on contract by CWCF, with approximately 7 hours of staff time per week, divided among the 3 CWCF staff members. The training program is run by a Course Director and mentors. The relationship between CWCF and CoopZone is strong & mutually beneficial. CoopZone is mainly virtual – AGM, etc. CoopZone members do take every opportunity to get together in person, usually at CWCF Conferences.

10 How to Join the Network Membership is open to interested people in 3 categories: (1) Developer members; (2) Professional Service Providers (members of the new CoopZone Legal Network, accountants, etc.), and (3) Allied members. To become a CoopZone member, you complete the application form, sign the Memorandum of Understanding and send in the annual membership fee. If applying as a “Developer member”, you complete the developer’s self-evaluation questionnaire. The dues: $200 for one person; $100 for each of the 2 nd & 3 rd person in an organization member; $50 to any additional people; max of $1,000.

Perspective from Developer Member Why is CoopZone useful to me? EN: by Lynn Hannley, of the Communitas Group in Edmonton FR: by Pascal Billard, Consulants Sol-Air, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.

Perspective from a Co-operative Provincial Association Why is CoopZone useful to us? by Wendy Keats, Co-operative Enterprise Council of New Brunswick

Some Upcoming Activities Implementing changes to the Training Program and seeking a new Course Director. Participating in the CMC Congress in Saskatoon, mid- June 2015 Next tele-learning session will be on investment share rules in the various provinces (Date TBC) New web site to be launched soon; sneak preview: Next Conference will be held (together with CWCF) in Montreal, Oct , 2015 Participation through the CMC intranet.

Questions and discussion?