From mhoyer22 at comcast.net Tue Sep 4 11:20:49 2007 From: mhoyer22 at comcast.net (Mary Hoyer) Date: Tue Sep 4 11:44:28 2007 Subject: [vawcnews] VAWC Study Comments Message-ID: Michael-- Sorry I didn't get these comments to you yesterday as promised. I must have overlooked the fact that it was Labor Day and thought I'd actually get to my desk rather than relaxing as all workers deserve to do on their special day..... I'm really delighted that you're interested in undertaking a study of cooperatives in western Massachusetts, and think it would be very valuable to those of us who are working here as well as others. I have four suggestions/questions. 1- There is lack of clarity in your Beginning Ideas paper about whether you want to study cooperatives in general, or worker co-ops in particular in western MA. Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops is, of course, a network of worker co-ops. There are also a number of other types of co-ops (consumer, producer) in the Valley which are thriving but don't function together in a network. There's a group of food cooperatives up in southern Vermont who are beginning to work together but nothing that I'm aware of in MA. I suggest that you clarify your language in this regard. This especially caught my attention on page 3 in the paragraph beginning "From this perspective..." 2- It seems like you'll also be speaking with the WORC'N network of worker co-ops in Boston, although that too is unclear to me. One of the outcomes of the paper might be to create some kind of a regular/ formal hook-up between VAWC and WORC'N to create a statewide worker co-op network which may (or may not) be necessary/good. 3- No matter which group of co-ops your focus will be on, one of the groups you should definitely include in your study is support organizations which I think make a huge difference in western MA. These include the Cooperative Development Institute (Jen Gutshall; South Deerfield); Cooperative Fund of New England (myself); Center for Popular Economics (Emily Kawano; UMass Amherst); and University of Massachusetts itself (I learned about worker co-ops while pursuing a doctorate in Education there; the labor program, economics department, geography, and business/accounting all I think have an interest in alternative economics and may provide a starting point for at least some of the folks involved in our movement). There may be other support orgs that I'm missing here; for example Janelle Cornwall's org at the university. 4- Funding is an issue. Asking for VAWC to use its funding from USFWC to support this effort is audacious if not brilliant. This would have to be taken up with the group, of course. I wonder if there might be some grants for which you could apply. From charles at gaiahost.coop Thu Sep 20 13:37:48 2007 From: charles at gaiahost.coop (Charles Uchu Strader) Date: Thu Sep 20 13:38:43 2007 Subject: [vawcnews] VAWC Meeting and Fabulous Dinner at Sirius, in 1 week! Message-ID: <46F2AFEC.8010903@gaiahost.coop> Hey VAWCers, Coming up in 6 days is our next monthly VAWC meeting. Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6pm - 7pm-ish wonderful dinner 7pm - 8pm-ish meeting It will be taking place at Sirius Community in Shutesbury, MA, where I where my other hat of aspiring ecovillage member. Link to directions at end of email. That Wednesday evening there is also a neighborhood meal (there's a large cooperative neighborhood called Hearthstone Village that surrounds Sirius) that should be especially yummy! I need people to RSVP to me if they will be coming for the dinner, which starts at 6pm. Please let me know by Monday afternoon (charles@gaiahost.coop). The word is out to the neighborhood that VAWC will be having its meeting here and that if anyone is interested in learning more about worker coops, they should meet us at the dinner or come to the meeting. If there is a decent amount of interested folks in the meeting, I would like to put a chunk of time just for an informal question/answer session before agenda item.s And for the menu!!!! "Nourishing Local Cooperation" :) Sep. 26, 2007 Hearthstone Kitchen by Sarah Mitzel and The Wooden Spoon Menu: The menu will be all organic, primarily local, and vegetarian with vegan options. ~Three mushroom stew with root veggies ~Semolina Dumplings ~Cous-cous with Herbs and pine nuts ~Green Salad with Fennel (Mustard Vinegarette ) ~Sauteed Garlic Kale ~Dessert, Blueberry Galette ... Ok, now that you're appetite is whetted, make sure you email me back to RSVP. Directions: Sirius "Community Center" driveway and building 72 Baker Rd. Shutesbury, MA 01072 directions link: http://www.siriuscommunity.org/directions.html Thanks, Charles Uchu Strader ---------------------------- GAIA Host Collective http://www.gaiahost.coop