Global Co-operative Development Network News

Cooperatives Answers to Covid 19 - Special Edition

Terry MacDonald — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 18:33:32 GMT

The latest issue of the ICA’s Coop Insider newsletter, which looks at cooperative answers to COVID-19, is now available in three languages. Click the link following to read multiple sources: ICA Insiders Special Edition

Covid 19 and Co-operatives - Why am I Not Surprised!

Terry MacDonald — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 05:00:00 GMT

As is the tradition within cooperative systems around the world, when the going gets tough, then the tough get going. So why was I not surprised to find things happening just below the surface in the co-operative world, that confirm what I had hoped and I suspected might be the case, all along.

Many Co-operatives Around the World Are Shining!

Sure like many others enterprises some are struggling to survive. However the survey by ICA illustrates that co-operatives are leaning in, learning, and doing their part in caring fo, and supporting their members, and their communities, just as much as they are able, all around the globe. Could there really be a better time to use some of the financial and social capital, accumulated over the years, to support those who contributed, and who at this time also need it most.

So please see for yourself what many co-operatives around the world are up to in dealing with covid19 and its fall out: https://www.ica.coop/en/ica-member-response

Please stay safe!

For the Latest Co-operative News...

Terry MacDonald — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 01:58:18 GMT

For the latest co-operative happenings click on this link to visit the International Co-operative Alliance news page: https://www.ica.coop/en/newsroom/news .

GCDG Inc is Winding Up After 5 Years of Co-operative Enterprise Development

Terry MacDonald — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 19:56:34 GMT

At our annual meeting in the summer of 2017, the Board of Directors felt that the work of the co-operative had been achieved. While individual members still intend to be involved in various ways in international co-operative development, we concluded that the need to do so within a formal co-operative entity no longer was needed.

A resolution to wind-up the co-operative as soon as might be practical was passed at the 2017 annual meeting. We are now in the process of doing so, and have submitted our resolution to wind-up the co-operative to the appropriate government authority indicating our intentions.

Accordingly effective March 31, 2018 we have ended operating as a federally registered co-operative. We will undertake to provide further details to all supporters and to others interested in our work by email as soon as possible.

Celebrate the UN International Day of Co-operatives - July 2nd 2016

Terry MacDonald — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 19:11:11 GMT

Around the world co-operative enterprises gather to celebrate their achievements every July 2nd, as International Credit Union Day.

This year the International Co-operative Alliance is inviting all co-operatives from around the world to celebrate by pledging individual efforts towards the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

You may see the July 2nd video announcement here and read about how as a co-operative your organization can take action towards the achievement of specific goals here.

Happy International Credit Union Day!

Terry

York University Co-operative Management Masters Alumnus Reunion - Reconnect

Terry MacDonald — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 20:57:21 GMT

A 35 YEARS Plus RE-UNION and RE-CONNECT EVENT OF York University (Faculty of Environmental Studies) - Co-operative Management Students and Friends from 1979 thru 1987 was held on Sunday June 12, 2016 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm CST at the Twisted Vine Restaurant, Regina, SK Canada and live on the internet via Skype.

York Re-Union Re-connect FES Co-op Alumni June 12 2016 Password Protected.pdf

Master of the Environment (ME): The Honorable William Dinu, MES

Attendees included:

Brain Smith and guest, Bill Dinu and guest, Jo-Anne Ferguson and guest, Sandi Bergen, Duane Bristow, and Terry MacDonald and guest. Anita McBride, Murray Gardiner and Jack Craig joined in via Skype.

Written updates and greetings were also received from:

Fred Clark, Fred Carden, Sherill Carden, Simon Owens, Bob Luker, Janice Cannon (Shahsavar), Suleman Chambo, Bonnie Rose, John Jordan, and Glen Taylor

The evening began with an informal reception complete with finger food and refreshments, followed by a delicious meal. This was a chance for those present to renew old friendships and rekindle past memories.

We also spent time toasting Fred Carden on his birthday today, and even managed a Happy Birthday chorus for Murray Gardiner whilst he was connected online from the Toronto area. At the same time, we were also able to link in Anita McBride, and a little later on with Jack Craig via Skype.

Just prior to the meal we remembered with a moment of silence those faculty friends and alumnus who had passed and were no longer with us. They included:

Ramadhan Megjhi, Moshi, Tanznaia

Dick Hatlelid, Kelowna, BC

Al MacIntosh, Ottawa, ON

Prof. Michel Chevalier, Montreal, QC and

Stephan Haley, Atlantic Canada

As we began our meal, the ME asked the question as to how our experiences at York FES had influenced our lives. There were many different responses. While some had moved into related fields of study and work, everyone agreed that being in the Faculty of Environmental Studies and the Co-operative Module had significantly affected each of our lives in important ways. It also had long term impacts on our respective organizations and across the Canadian and African co-operative movements. Incidentally this theme pervades many of the updates we have received from many of our alumnus.

During dinner, after a glass of wine or two our round table touched discussion touched on our personal lives, but then turned to a group discussion of global economic issues, the state of the US political systems & democracy, radicalism and terrorism, the life-long pleasure of learning, and the applicability of systems thinking to understanding conditions today, to name but a few. Given our co-operative backgrounds and our interests we also discussed the importance and the value of co-operatives in the world today. The question was asked (but perhaps not fully answered) – “What, if anything, might be done to help change the fact that an ever smaller percentage of the world’s population is controlling more and more of the world's wealth?” We also talked about the social economy and changing attitudes especially on the part of those in younger than ourselves.

As we were wrapping up, the concept of a one world credit union was tossed around. Please see the link to an interesting video by one of our alumni, Murray Gardiner, explaining the concept.

The idea of meeting again in the not too distant future was posited to the group. Perhaps annually. Some members of the group agreed that they would like to stay in connect with other group members. I agreed and indicated we could use our co-operative’s (Global Co-operative Development Group Inc.) website blog

(www.co-operativeenterprise.coop) as one way of doing so. The idea of meeting again in a year (instead of every 10 - 15 years) to carry on around some of the same topics received some interest. I’ve included everyone’s email address in the personal updates provided, in case you wish to contact particular persons directly. There even seemed to be interest in holding a gathering in Mexico this coming winter!

Anyway after a couple of glasses of red wine... it turned out to be quite a 'hoot' as one might alumni and friend I know used to say!

Our gathering ended around 8:00 pm with best wishes shared by everyone, and a promise on my part to send final complete set of materials to everyone. This is being done via private email to all participants. An open “York University Co-operative Alumnus Discussion” thread has also been included within our website blog so that folks who may wish to can add further comments or discussion.

My sincere thanks to everyone for contributing and for making the event the success that it was.

Terry MacDonald, MES

terry.macdonald@co-operativeenterprise.coop

Quick Update - Co-operative Coaching and Mentoring Program

Terry MacDonald — Mon, 09 May 2016 22:22:27 GMT

Work is continuing on defining particulars for an new and exciting global co-operative coaching and mentoring program.

We are seeking partnerships with co-operative organizations as well as with persons may already be providing such similar or ancillary services.

You will notice a new SERVICES menu item has been added to our existing website. Most of the items required for the coaching and mentoring program are under construction at this time. You can download an early draft of our coaching / mentoring profile application form from the Services menu -> Coaching and Mentoring - > Becoming Involved page.

Please check back within the next month for further details. Or if you are prefer drop us an email or leave us a phone message using our Contact Menu item.

MacDonald Address Members of the Rotary Club of Ajijic

Terry MacDonald — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 17:30:00 GMT

On April 5th Terry MacDonald, Managing Director of GCDG, gave a short presentation followed by questions and answers to members of the Rotary Club of Ajijic. The Rotary Club of Ajijic is one of only a few English speaking Rotary clubs in Mexico.

Terry's presentation explained why co-operatives exist, how they are unique, and included many examples of successful co-operative enterprise around the world and in Mexico. The presentation was well received with many good questions asked following the presentation, and also following the meeting.

Terry wishes to thank the club executive for giving him the opportunity to address club members on the topic of Co-operative Enterprise. A copy of his presentation may be download here:

GCDG to Explore Global Co-operative Coaching anf Mentorship Program

Terry MacDonald — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 16:24:58 GMT

After contacting more than 2 dozen persons involved in credit union and co-operative development the Board of Directors of GCDG have agreed to continue exploring the potential for such a program, including what could be its major elements as well as how it might best be organized and delivered to be sustainable over time.

You may read the preliminary report describing the project and some initial thoughts on going forward using this link: Report on Coaching and Mentoring.pdf

Please check back in the next month or two for further updates.

GCDG Doing Story on Large Mexican Worker Co-operative

Terry MacDonald — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 16:31:44 GMT

On Feb 22, 2016 Terry MacDonald, Greg Wallace, Alfredo Molina, Patrick O'Connor and Sandra Wallace met with the President Jesus Torres Nuno of TRADOC at the tire factory in El Salto Mexico to discuss the history and current state of this rather unique worker co-operative.

The meeting lasted for almost two hours during which President Jesus Torres described the struggle roughly 1,000 workers went thru in a 4 year battle with the Germany multinational company - Continental Tire. You can read a little of their earlier story here:

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/14833/mexican_workers_win_ownership_of_tire_plant_with_three_year_strike

Update - April 2, 2016 The story is in the final stages of editing and being translated into Spanish for review by Sr. Torres. We hope the story can be posted on our website and on the ICA stories website early in May.

Download Free Book "Concern for Community: The Relevance of Co-operatives to Peace"

Terry MacDonald — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 05:33:57 GMT

                                               Press Release
       Concern for Community: The Relevance of Co-operatives to Peace

By Ian MacPherson & Yehudah Paz
Edited by Joy Emmanuel
Release Date – December 10, 2015

A new e-book on the history, theory, and practice of co-operatives and peace by the late Dr Ian MacPherson and the late Dr Yehudah Paz will be published in early December.

As part of several initiatives focused on co-operatives and peace, Ian and Yehudah were working on this publication at the time of their unfortunate passings in November 2013. Concern for Community: The Relevance of Co-operatives to Peace contains the distillation of the authors’ convictions on how peace building is at the core of the co-operative model of enterprise and how co-operatives can make a fundamental contribution to peace making initiatives.

Drawing on their many years of direct experience in the co-operative sector and their contributions to the field of Co-operative Studies, the authors lay out their insights on the subject of co-operatives and peace. From a review of the historical record to the development of the Co-operative Identity Statement in 1995, the authors illustrate how peace has been a significant theme in the life of the international co-operative movement. From an examination of how co-operatives empower their members to address inequalities and social tensions in local communities, to defining the role co-operatives can play in building relationships among all parties in war-torn regions, they explain how the co-operative movement has developed a set of values and practices that build on a concern for community and form a natural bridge to building a more just, peaceful world.

“Peace building happens in communities not on battlefields,” claims Dr Ian MacPherson. “And it is in this context that co-operatives can make their greatest contribution to building a more peaceful world.”

“Peacemaking is central to the growth of the co-operative movement,” asserts Dr Yehudah Paz, “and co-operatives are relevant to matters of peacemaking and conflict resolution at the level of neighbour-to-neighbour within and across communities, regions, and nations.”

The writings of the authors are complimented by nine case studies illustrating how co-operatives embody practices of peace building from employment creation for marginalized groups of people and establishing savings plans in impoverished communities; to addressing discriminatory practices around race, ethnicity, gender, and religion; to engaging in sensitive practices of peace building in communities affected by outright violent conflict. “This book is part of the legacy of two men who deeply believed in co-operatives as a value-based tool for development, as well as the role of the co-operative movement in brokering peace,” states Vivian Silver, Former Co-Executive Director, AJEEC-NISPED, Israel.

“The co-operative movement has not yet been awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, but this book makes one hopeful that it might one day be more fully acknowledged for its role in promoting an ideal longed for with more urgency in recent days.” Charles Gould, Director General of the ICA

Concern for Community: The Relevance of Co-operatives to Peace will be available as of December 10, 2015 as a free e-book. See: www.peace.coop.

Thanks to the Co-operative News for assistance in distribution and promotion of the publication and other co-operative organizations for support in promoting the publication, including: the ICA Research Committee (ccr.ica.coop), Negeva Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (http://en.ajeec-nisped.org.il/), the Co-operative Development Foundation (www.cdfcanada.coop) the Canadian Co-operative Association (www.coopscanada.coop), Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) (http://canada.coop/), the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation
(CASC) (http://www.coopresearch.coop/), and the Co-op College, UK (http://www.co-op.ac.uk/).

-30-

Dr Yehudah Paz was founder and Chair of the Negva Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED). Yehudah served as director of the ICA Board from 1993-2005, he was chair of the ICA Human Resource Development Committee from many years, and also served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Asia-Pacific region. He was Chairperson of the Department of International Relations of the Central Union of Co-operative Societies in Israel and academic Director of the Israel Co-operative College. In 2005, he was award the Rochdale Pioneers Award from the ICA and in 2006 he received the Golden Dove of Peace prize from the Institute for International Research Disarmament Archives (IRIAD) in Italy. Dr Paz was a member of Kibbutz Kissufim from 1951 until his death in 2013. Throughout his life, he worked for peace, political justice, and the cause of international co-operation.

Ian MacPherson was a leading figure in both the Canadian and International Co-operative Movement. He was an historian, a scholar, a co-operative activist and a strong promoter of the
field of Co-operative Studies. For many years, Ian was the Director of the British Columbia Institute for Co-operative Studies a research center he founder at the University of Victoria in 1999 to promote Co-operative Studies. He served as Chairperson of the ICA Research Committee at the time of the revision of the 1995 Principles and the development of the Co-operative Identity Statement for the Twenty-First Century. He played a leading role in the founding of the Canadian Co-operative Association and the Canadian Association for the Study of Co-operation.
For over forty years, Ian served on the board of many co-operatives including serving as president of Credit Union Central of British Columbia, and on the boards of consumer, financial, and health care co-operatives. Along with teaching, Ian contributed to the field of Co-operative Studies through his prolific writing. He wrote and co-edited over 20 books, 150 articles and gave over 300 conference presentations.

Joy Emmanuel,
Editor, Concern for Community: The Relevance of Co-operatives to Peace
Turning Times Research and Consulting
Joy.turningtimes@gmail.com

Summary of Key Initiatives of the Global Co-operative Group during 2014-15

Terry MacDonald — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:15:49 GMT

- Completed a research project for the International Co-operative Alliance regarding leadership and management education and development of struggling apex and federation co-operative globally.

- Prepared and presented a policy paper for a number of larger Canadian credit unions concerning legislative changes that may necessitate major structural changes across the Canadian system.

- Provided management advisory services to the Malawi Unions of Savings and Credit Co-operatives and to FinCoop the largest financial co-operative in Malawi.

- Drafted and circulated ‘Systems Thinking for Co-operatives – A Primer’ as a discussion paper which illustrates why and how systems thinking (a change of mindset) is essential for longer term success across all of the co-operative world.

- Continued active involvement in the social media website LinkedIn within various co-operative groups, and discussed such wide ranging topics as co-operative failures, management capture, and reforming the co-operative movement.

- Delivered local training session (2 days) concerning the co-operative enterprise model followed up by a four day workshop on formation of a women’s’ savings and credit co-operative in central Mexico.

- Initiated a project to create a co-operative government relations program working with one of Canada’s largest consumer co-operative.

- Delivered technology management advisory services to a large credit union in Ecuador.

- Drafted and circulated a concept paper concerning the feasibility of the creation of a global lender of last resort facility for financial co-operatives, to interested co-operative leaders around the globe.

- Promoted the growth and expansion of Global Co-operative Development Group’s voluntary network of co-operative leaders and developers around the world, as well as the co-operative enterprise website.

- Served as an invited keynote speaker by the Kenya Institute of Management and speaking on co-operative leadership at an international savings and credit co-operative conference in Mombasa Kenya.

- Continued the ongoing promotion and sharing of the flagship product of the co-operative, the text entitled “Co-operative Enterprise Building a Better World”, available in print and e formats online.

Thanks to everyone for the good works done!

GCDG Managing Director in East Africa from June thru August 2015

Terry MacDonald — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 14:27:51 GMT

Terry MacDonald will be traveling to Kampala Uganda to renew friendships and maintain contact with various co-operative organizations, and to promote the book Co-operative Enterprise Building a Better World" book which he helped co-author.

During this time Terry also plans to visit Tanzania and Kenya to discuss future development initiatives with co-operative leaders and government officials.

Please See Our Blog - Quick Update on Directors' Activities During First Half of 2015

Terry MacDonald — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 14:23:50 GMT

Thank you for your interest!

International Co-operative Summit - Mombasa, Kenya Oct. 28 - 31, 2014

Terry MacDonald — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 14:33:08 GMT

Kenyan and Africa SACCO and Co-operative leaders will be attending the International Co-operative Summit in Kenya. Managing Director Terry MacDonald will be attending and speaking at this event.

The theme is ...

"Transformative Development: Harnessing the Cooperative Entrepreneurship in Realizing a Sustainable Economy"

ACCOSCA 15th Annual International SACCA Congress - Maseru Lesotho

Terry MacDonald — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 14:17:53 GMT

African SACCO leaders are attending this conference between Oct 27 thru to the 31, 2014.

The theme is...

“ADOPTING INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR SUSTAINABLE

CO - OPERATIVE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS" Click here for details

International Summit of Cooperatives - 6 Oct. 2014 to 9 Oct. 2014 Quebec City, Canada

Terry MacDonald — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 19:45:07 GMT

In case you missed it here are some of the highlights from the most recent summit. Each video is only a few minutes long and highlights topics covered during each day of the event. Some 3,000 co-operators from around the world attended.

Oct 7, 2014 - Co-operatives employee 250 million people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnfUgMvRqck&list=UUZqmK4rzlspKDlS895_yo6w&index=4

Oct 8, 2014 - In areas such as health care – co-operative can play and are playing an important roles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyeLrvdb31E&list=UUZqmK4rzlspKDlS895_yo6w&index=3

Oct 9, 2014 - Co-operatives are innovators, active in solving many of the world’s social and economic problems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6TVtRCyOrM&index=2&list=UUZqmK4rzlspKDlS895_yo6w

Kenya Institute of Management - Internation Co-operative Summit - Oct 29 - 31, 2014

Terry MacDonald — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 14:10:14 GMT

Theme:

Transformative Development:

Harnessing Cooperative Entrepreneurship in Realizing a Sustainable Economy

During this event I will be speaking on "Secrets of Leadership and Management Effectiveness in Co-operatives", as well as "How You Can Use Technology to Connect to Co-operators Around the World".

http://www.kim.ac.ke/news/international-cooperative-summit-2014

Terry MacDonald

Denyse Guy and Dame Pauline Green

Terry MacDonald — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 18:48:28 GMT

Canadian Co-operative Association Executive Director Denyse Guy presenting a copy of Co-operative Enterprise Building a Better World to International Co-operative Alliance President Dame Pauline Green during the November 2013 ICA Global Summit in Cape Town, South Africa.

Loss of Canadian Author Educator Historian and Friend - Dr. Ian MacPherson

Terry MacDonald — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 21:49:44 GMT

We are greatly saddened by the loss of our friend and fellow co-operator. He has worked tirelessly with us for almost three years on our "Co-operative Enterprise - Building a Better World" book project - which was just completed last month. He also served as as the president of our small development co-operative know as the Global Co-operative Development Group Inc.

In Ian's spirit we are proceeding with the formal global webinar book launch which he helped to plan on the morning of November 20, 2013.

We felt it appropriate to include a message sent by the Executive Director of the Canadian Co-operative Association to all its members concerning Ian's passing. Also below please find a link to the memorial blog which CCA has set up in Ian's memory.

Terry MacDonald and Greg Wallace

====

Please see the email below from Denyse Guy, Executive Director, CCA:

Dear Members,

It is with profound sadness that I am letting you know that Ian MacPherson, Canada’s foremost co-operative historian and former president of CCA, died suddenly on the weekend at age 74. Ian was one of the Canadian co-operative movement’s leading lights, a scholar, a teacher, a friend and a passionate co-operator. He had a close relationship with CCA, having served as its first president following the 1987 merger of the Co-operative Union of Canada and the Co-operative College. He also was the author of A Century of Co-operation, the commemorative book published by CCA in 2009.

Ian touched the lives of many co-operators from across Canada and around the world. He chaired the ICA committee which revised the co-operative principles in 1995, and most recently was promoting an international initiative linking co-operative to peace and social cohesion. On a personal level, he served as an inspiration to many, many individual co-operators; he was a mentor to me for more than 15 years and provided wonderful and insightful guidance that I will always cherish.

I have sent a message of condolence to Ian’s son Andrew on behalf of the CCA board and staff. The family is thinking of having a celebration of Ian’s life in Victoria early in the new year, and I will keep you informed. In my office, we are assembling your thoughts and condolences that will send to the family.

I will also be talking to the Board of Directors and staff about developing a proposal for a scholarship fund in Ian’s name, in recognition of his enormous contribution to co-operative education.

Ian will be truly missed by all of us.

Co-operatively yours,

Denyse Guy

Executive Director /Directrice Générale

Canadian Co-operative Association/

Association des cooperatives du Canada

====

Memorial Blog for Ian MacPherson
www.ianmacphersonmemorial.blogspot.ca

A new book entitled CO-OPERATIVE ENTERPRISE - BUILDING A BETTER WORLD is now available!

Terry MacDonald — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 15:36:07 GMT

Please take a moment to check out this new book... which many of you over the past two years have helped to create. We have not yet had time to organize a formal launch party... so only a few people know about it! We'd appreciate you sharing the news with your colleagues and friends.

You can explore topics covered and read reviews by clicking the link below

Co-operative Enterprise Book Covers with Table of Contents.pdf

You can find this book in both printed and electronic form on various vendor websites such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. We tried to price the book as low as possible and in the end hopefully recover our investment into it. Prices are less than 20 dollars for the printed version (8.5" x 11" with 220 pages), and less than 10 dollars for the ~385 pages epub version. Be sure to also watch for vendor discounts and special shipping offers.

If you have read the book please provide an online review.

Readers are also invited to share their views and ideas on the topics presented within the book in our blog or within our forums area.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kenya Women Dares Maasai Culture

Terry MacDonald — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 17:59:37 GMT

News
http://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2013/07/26/young_woman_dares_maasai_culture_with_big_bold_dreams.html

Selected Credit Union and Co-operative Bank Statistics

Terry MacDonald — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:10:55 GMT

WOCCU Plus European and Japanese Co-op Banks Key-_statistics-_2011_-_financial_indicators.pdf

UN Declares 2012 International Year of Co-operatives

Terry MacDonald — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:17:28 GMT

http://social.un.org/coopsyear/about-iyc.html