Welcome to CCC eNews 9. We report on recent seminars where the role co-operatives play in addressing key social needs from housing to business development and job creation was discussed. As well, we preview some events scheduled for later this year, such as the exciting 4Rs conference in Sydney. Our Commentary questions whether the recently articulated 'Social Inclusion' agenda is receptive to the role of co-ops and other forms of social enterprise that build social capital through business. Three flourishing co-operatives are profiled and there is an update on pending demutualisations, still a worrying trend. As always, we welcome your contributions. Please email your feedback and comments.

Suzanne Henderson
Editor, CCC eNews

Co-operative solution to housing crisis

Co-operatives are a solution to the crisis in affordable housing according to the Living Co-operatively: Affordable Housing, Sustainable Communities Symposium held on 13 and 14 February at the Petersham Town Hall, Sydney.

The NSW State Minister responsible for co-operatives, The Hon. Linda Burney opened the event. Ms Burney urged lateral thinking around the concepts of 'home'and 'housing'in order to meet the challenges of a tight property market, environmental sustainability and urban infrastructure.

The two-day event was presented by the Living Co-operatively Consortium, a partnership between the University of Technology Sydney (Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre), Marrickville Council, Parramatta City Council, the Association to Resource Co-operative Housing, The Mercury Centre, the Co-operative Federation of NSW and CCC eNews.

Keynote speaker, International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) board member and global co-operative housing expert, Gun-Britt Martensson, told an audience of almost 200 that housing co-operatives are a viable and widespread means of providing more affordable and integrated housing around the world. "Housing co-operatives build community and allow residents to address other critical needs such as child care, care of the aged, sustainable living and social isolation," she said.

Leading housing sector researchers, local and state government representatives and co-operative thinkers explored models and options for state provision of affordable housing and alternative financing arrangements for co-operative living in Australia. An opportunity to help set the agenda in housing policy in the new political environment was provided by a breakout session.   MORE

Value of global network - Sydney seminar

"Co-operatives need to plug into the global network and ICA can open the door." This was the message for co-operators at a Co-operative Federation of NSW seminar held on 18 February in Sydney on the benefits of connecting to the wider co-operative world.

ICA board member and international co-operative housing expert, Gun-Britt Martensson, was joined by Trent Bartlett, CEO, Capricorn Society, and Peter Gates, CEO, The Mercury Centre, to discuss the advantages of linking into the worldwide co-operative movement through membership of the International Co-operative Alliance, an independent, non-governmental association, which represents socially responsible co-operatives worldwide. MORE  

Socially inclusive future for Australia

A major international conference to take place at the University of Technology Sydney later this year will examine four main themes: human rights, Indigenous advancement, inter-communal relations and active citizenship. 

Australia remains the only Western democracy without a national human rights framework. Conference convenor, Professor Andrew Jakubowicz said: "The conference organisers see the critical importance of understanding the many ways in which human rights are intertwined with social and political wellbeing. There are many groups moving for change in this area.

"Australia has entered a new political era and, while guarded optimism is appropriate, we are emerging from more than a decade of fear, suppression of debate and destruction of civil society. This conference will foreshadow how we can move forward as a society and call on political commitment."

Speakers include Professor Kevin Dunn, UWS racism project; Professor Hurriyet Babacan, Victoria University Institute for Community Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives; Professor Lucy Taksa, UNSW Centre for Industrial Relations; and many more. Watch this space for updates.

"We are expecting participants from civil society, government, business and academia. The conference will bring both a public and scholarly role to advance debate and research on the interrelated issues of human rights, Indigenous reconciliation, citizenship and inter-communal relations. It is a timely and quintessential endeavour to assist people from a diverse spectrum to open a window of dialogue to decide how to achieve a fair and just society." Maqsood Alshams, conference secretary 

**STOP PRESS**STOP PRESS**STOP PRESS**

The 4 Rs - Rights, Respect, Reconciliation, Responsibility

Planning for a socially inclusive future for Australia
An international conference

UTS City Campus, Broadway, Sydney 30 September - 3 October 2008 

Sponsored by UTS Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre,
SAVE-Australia Inc, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts
and Institute for Cultural Diversity 

Members first at plumbers co-op 

Plumbers' Supplies Co-operative prides itself on being member-focused and member-driven. This growing co-op has over 5000 members serviced by an expanding branch network in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Customers are shareholders and, by electing fellow members to the board of directors, they control the company. The co-op returns all profits to members and provides additional benefits to improve members'lifestyles. CCC eNews spoke to Richard Adamiak, the Co-op's Chief Financial Officer.

CCC eNews: What are the real benefits of membership?

Richard: "Our focus is to build members'wealth. The buying power of the Co-op allows us to negotiate discount prices from suppliers which are passed on to members. Members have the opportunity to influence company direction by electing board members and through face-to-face contact with management and staff."

CCC eNews: How is the co-op different from a corporate company and how are the profits distributed?

Richard: "A co-operative's customers are its members (shareholders) and, as such, its operations are geared to maximise the services that members receive.  Profits are returned annually to members either as dividends or rebates. Members receive part of their entitlement as a cash dividend and part as shares in the co-op. Members are also entitled to a settlement discount when paying their monthly account within terms."  MORE

Connecting farmers and community

The food is ethically grown and sourced within a five-hour radius of Brisbane. The Project is able to support small, local farmers as well as those involved in local producers'associations. Fresh food is delivered to the city where people volunteer to be the distribution point for their local area. MORE 

Socially responsive credit co-op

The Fitzroy and Carlton Community Credit Co-operative is an independent, community-managed credit union providing vital financial services to people on low incomes who live in the Victorian cities of Yarra, Darebin, Melbourne and Moreland and in the suburb of Heidelberg West. It grew out of the Action Resource Centre Project under the auspice of the Brotherhood of St Laurence in 1977.

The purpose of the co-op is to assist members to gain the skills to manage their own finances. They are able to access small loans, financial counselling, a budget service, special savings accounts such as the Christmas Club, and services aimed at avoiding problematic debt. MORE

Macleay CO-OP, 103-years strong

Richard O'Leary, CEO Macleay Regional Cooperative Ltd, defined the co-operative difference in an interview with CCC eNews.

"Our co-operative, like many along the NSW mid-North Coast, was created to support the dairy farmer in the early 19th century. Farm families formed the co-operative to reduce supply input costs and to increase markets and viability of the farm business. These same farm families made sure that the whole community was getting a benefit from the co-operative model.

"Essential factors, key to success are local-to-local trade within the community, each member with one vote and an equal say in direction and management of the co-operative.

"This concept is just as important today and this is why our co-operative is still relevant. We are now a retail co-operative with community assets that are used every day. We are 103-years old and still going strong. We supply food and basics at lower prices and we have local supply inputs such as meat, bread, fruit and vegetables as well as an IGA independent supermarket brand. Our wellbeing fitness centre and our central retail shoppers arcade give us substantial strength within our community". 

Bega Cheese to become privately-owned

© ABC, posted Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:47am AEDT 

After more than a century, NSW's far south coast's big dairy cooperative is being restructured. Bega Cheese's 91 dairy farmer shareholders have voted for the century-old co-operative to become a privately-owned company. MORE 

UK warning about Fonterra demutualisation

© Australia.coop, posted Nov 30, 2007 - 3:32:00 PM

A former Chairman of a UK dairy co-operative has warned members of the New Zealand co-operative Fonterra about demutualisation. MORE

Members to vote on $2.4b MBF merger

© ABC, posted Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:04pm AEDT

Australia's biggest private health insurer MBF says another key milestone has been reached as it prepares to merge with the local arm of the global healthcare group BUPA. MORE

The Rudd Summit ... Is there a Third Way?

By Mark Latham

"The 1,000 brains invited to the Australia 2020 Summit at Parliament House from 19 - 20 April by Kevin Rudd will achieve at least one positive thing. They will remind us that houses of parliament were once intended to be places of discussion among the people's representatives. Of course, the modern party system prevents parliamentarians from voicing ideas or debating them, but Kevin Rudd has been clever enough to bypass this little structural hiccup and import some thinkers from outside. So far, so good - the innovative ideas of social democracy are emerging in other forums, in the networks of creative small business and social entrepreneurs." MORE

PM Apologises to the Stolen Generation

At the 42nd opening of Federal Parliament, Kevin Rudd took a long awaited step forward in acknowledging the ill-treatment of the Stolen Generation and their descendants with an historic national apology. MORE 

Australia 2020 Summit Participants

Hub accelerates social enterprises

Social Enterprise Hubs Australia supports the development of the social enterprise sector by providing access to resources that would not otherwise be available or affordable such as mentoring, consulting, pro bono services, management tools and business skills. Social Enterprise Hubs Australia is an organisation initiated and run by Social Ventures Australia (SVA). MORE 

Young Brit is library entrepreneur

Kresse Wesling is the British Library's new advisor for social entrepreneurs. The young entrepreneur succeeds the late Dame Anita Roddick. MORE

Co-ops tackle poverty through job creation

Paul Hazen, president and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association, addressed a United Nations panel at the 46th Session for the Commission on Social Development in New York City, on Monday, February 11, 2008, on the role of co-operatives in reducing poverty through employment generation. "At NCBA, we have a consistent track record of showcasing why cooperatives are a better business model; one obvious benefit is the amount of jobs they create in local communities to allow people to improve the quality of their lives," said Hazen. MORE

AUSTRALIA

Co-operatives Act Amendments (Victoria)

The Victorian Government has introduced a Bill to amend the Co-operatives Act 1996. The Bill enables co-operatives to issue co-operative capital units (CCUs), facilitates recognition of interstate co-operatives, and allows the Registrar to exempt smaller co-operatives from auditing requirements. MORE

Snapshot of Australia in 2020 - Get Ready for the Summit

In the lead-up to the Australia 2020 Summit in April, and the Future Forum in May, social demographer and researcher Mark McCrindle has prepared an analysis of Australia in 2020. MORE

Dairy Farmers weigh buyers or partners

© 2008 AAP, SMH: March 28, 2008

Australia's biggest dairy co-operative, Dairy Farmers, is weighing up expressions of interest that could involve a potential merger, acquisition or joint venture opportunity for the group. MORE

Kirin lodges Dairy Farmers offer

© Reuters, SMH: March 31, 2008

Australian dairy and juice producer National Foods, owned by Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings, has lodged an indicative offer for milk and cheese producer Dairy Farmers. MORE

Co-op Federation of NSW hosts Chinese delegation

INTERNATIONAL 

Geneva - ICA

The fifth weekly blog by Garry Cronan, ICA Director of Communications and Intelligence at the International Co-operative Alliance includes global stories on: Kenya, where the Co-operative Bank plans to go public with an initial public offer (IPO) later this year; China's new policy on specialised farmer co-operatives; India's economy, where the success of Amul, a popular brand created by a farmers'co-operative is given as an example of sustainable business practice; Vietnam where HCM City boosts bus subsidies to transport co-operatives; Thailand where a study has shown savings co-operatives are profitable and efficient; Saudi Arabia where a new law targets co-operatives; Scotland where a development agency has been created to support and encourage Scotland's hundreds of co-operative businesses, and Canada where three Credit Unions are closer to a 'blockbuster'merger. MORE

Building a New World

New pro-peace, pro-economic co-operative organisation hosts international conference - The World Prout Assembly based in Kentucky will hold its first international conference at Radford University, Virginia from 22-25 May 2008. The theme of the conference is Building A New World. The World Prout Assembly is committed to ending imperialist wars and affirming models of co-operative, community-based economies and political activism. The Prout name is derived from PROgressive Utilization Theory. MORE

Here are some links to co-operative and social enterprise websites. Please email Suzanne Henderson, editor, if you know any more.

• Australia.coop
• Centre for Civil Society
• Co-operative Development Services Victorian based co-operative development service  
• Co-operative Federation of NSW Ltd
• Co-operative News Briefs published by the Canadian Co-operative Association.  
• The Mercury Centre Australian centre specialising in building collaborative enterprises
• ICA Digest International Co-operative Alliance
• Not-For-Profit News
• NSW Registry of Co-operatives and Associations

The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.

• Voluntary and open membership
• Democratic member control
• Member economic participation
• Autonomy and independence
• Education, training and information
• Cooperation among co-operatives
• Concern for community

Want to know more?   

Editorial

Special Feature

Flourishing Cooperative Enterprises

Demutualisation Watch

Civil Society in Action

Social Enterprise in Action

Business Innovation

Global News Roundup

Co-op Connections

Cooperative Principles

Disclaimer

Trent Bartlett, CEO Capricorn Society Ltd and leading co-operative advocate spoke at the Sydney seminar about the benefits of ICA membership. Trent is the feature interviewee in the latest ICA Digest, Issue 60 

Independent Liquor Group Co-operative (ILG) is a major player in the business of wholesaling and distribution of wine and spirits in NSW and Queensland. The co-operative has 750 member shareholders servicing 1200 outlets. In the last financial year the sales turnover was close to 1/4 billion AUD.  "The welfare of our members is our top priority," says Bob Bourne, Chairman of the Board. "We share the profits, and provide significant buying power and enhanced marketing opportunities to our members."  "ILG was delighted to have the opportunity to join the Co-operative Federation of NSW in hosting the delegation of co-operators from China. " MORE

Associations Incorporation Bill 2008 - Exposure Draft Submissions close 11 April 2008

Proposed changes to the laws regulating incorporated associations will make them easier to run and provide increased protection for their members. The reforms will simplify many of the rules for small associations as well as ensuring greater financial transparency for associations whose annual turnover exceeds $200,000. MORE

Brand new television show
for SBS
Do you know any Sydney families whose adult children live at home?

Refugee Week Small Grants Applications 

Australian Journal on Volunteering, vol 12, no 2, now available

14th April

3pm - 4.30pm:

Learning and Action about Water Resources Development - The Role of Civil Society

Free Registration: UTS Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre

14 April, Newcastle

The First National Indigenous Family & Community
Strengths Conference

14 - 30 April, Brisbane, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth

Building a Compelling Advocacy Campaign

Tips and Tools for Building Strong Relations with the Media and Others

23 April, Brisbane

Forum: Global Perspectives
on Social Enterprise

Speaker: Cheryl Kernot

13 - 23 May, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane

CPA Australia Not-for-profit Conference 

12 - 18 May  

How you can celebrate National Volunteer Week              

June, Sydney  

One World Social Movements Conference, UTS Sydney MORE                                  

1 - 4 July 2008 Byron Bay

Conference hosted by Centre for Peace and Social Justice, Southern Cross University.  

"It is easy to talk about human rights and peace.  Forests of trees are destroyed in the documentation dealing with these subjects.  However, activating them and translating aspirations into reality is the real challenge for our species and our world.  A meeting devoted to translating ideas into action will be well-timed in mid-2008.  I hope that there will be a strong attendance with many notions to challenge the mind and to inspire action." Justice Michael Kirby, Patron, Centre for Peace and Social Justice. MORE 

18 - 20 August, Albury

Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia Conference SEGRA

3 - 5 September, Gold Coast

12th National Conference on Volunteering MORE    

30 September - 3 October, UTS Sydney  

4Rs Conference - Rights, Respect, Reconciliation, and Responsibility Conference Website      

5 October, NSW

Mental Health Week NSW 2008

The Citizen's Handbook: A Guide to Building Community
in Vancouver states that active citizens are a great untapped resource.

Wherever I Lay My Debt, That's My Home is published by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), University of Canberra. The 19th NATSEM Income & Wealth Report focuses on housing affordability in Australia over the last 20 years.

Ethical Guide to Supermarket Shopping free download at ethical.org.au. 

The No-fibbing Guide to Social Entrepreneurship is published by social enterprise ambassador Craig Dearden-Phillips and is aimed at people who want to set up a social enterprise and need practical advice and inspiration. It contains anecdotes, tips and real-life stories.

The Economics of Social Inclusion 

Current debate in the social enterprise sector is revolving around whether the  'community building'approach to social inclusion is encouraging social enterprises in Australia to concentrate on a narrow band of social ventures, primarily on the social welfare of their participants, rather than the economic empowerment of their participants. The debate is attempting to link the policy issues arising from Julia Gillard's speech on social inclusion to what can be delivered by for-profit, community-owned or employee-owned social enterprises. Alan Greig, The Mercury Centre, analyses the social inclusion agenda being developed by the Australian Government and suggests that those involved in social enterprise development in Australia may need to focus on broadening 'ownership and participation'as an important new means for building social capital.

MORE

The website of the Brotherhood of St Laurence provides news, resources and links to support those involved in the development of community enterprises.

Australian Co-operative Links A-Z guides people to existing co-ops through their websites. A valuable resource for co-operative development.

Brisbane based social enterprise "Food Connect".

Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising Actions & Strategies.

We appreciate your comments on the topics we cover in CCC eNews. Please email them to the Editor.

Want to be a Case Study? If your co-op or social enterprise is interested in being a case study for the CCC eNews, please email Suzanne Henderson, editor.

Why not forward friends this issue of CCC eNews today.