1. Native Co-op Exploration
Rez’ Café
Native Co-op Exploration

2. Flow of the Session 1 2 3 4 5 What brings us together today?
What is a cooperative organization? 3
Bismarck Downtown Artist’s Coop 4
Bis/Man Community Food Coop 5
Rez’ Café Discussion

3. What Brings Us Together Today?
Exploratory Meeting
What is the Need
What is the Opportunity
What is the Vision

4. Native American Talent Pool
Cooperative Marketing
Native Artworks
Native Events
Native Experiences

5. What Is a Cooperative? 1 2 3 4 5 Member Owned Member Controlled
Members Benefit from Using the Co-op 4
Working Together for Mutual Needs 5
A Distinct Legal Structure

6. Cooperative Principles
Voluntary and Open Membership
Democratic Member Control
Member Economic Participation
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Education, Training & Information
Autonomy & Independence
Concern for Community

7. How Cooperatives Benefit Communities
Goods and services are provided according to what people need and want
Profits go back to the member-owners
Co-ops understand and respond to local needs
Decisions are made to benefit people locally
Co-ops support & stimulate community connections

8. Challenges to Overcome
Co-ops require frequent communication with members
Members can have unrealistic expectations
Members must be invested
Co-ops require strong Board leadership
They can have limited economies of scale
Co-op structure can make access to capital more difficult
May face competition with investor-owned businesses
The co-op must have adequate market potential
You must attract and retain highly qualified management
NOTE: #5-9 are challenges for most small business. #8-9 are true for any business.

9. Critical Requirements1
Communication 2
Commitment 3
Common vision and goals 4
Capital 5
Leadership 6
Planning

10. Co-op Development Model
Three Stages of Development
Organize
Plan
Implement

11. Four Cornerstones Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
You will require the strong foundation of these cornerstones throughout your organizing process
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
VISION
TALENT
CAPITAL
SYSTEMS

12. BDAC Different levels of membership ownership Patron members
Supporting members
Full Gallery member

13. BisMan Community Food Co-op
Consumer-owned Co-op
$200 lifetime membership
10% off once a month
Once profitable, patronage dividends are issued to owners

14. Rez’ Café Questions Question 1 Question 2 Question 3
How can a Native Cooperative organization preserve culture and not commercialize it?
Question 2
In what ways does a cooperative model of business fit with Native American values?
Question 3
Is there value in pursuing this idea and, if so, what will it take to succeed?

15. ?
Do you have any questions? ? ?