During the 2006 CW annual meeting, proposals were presented and members approved reorganization as a member-owned service cooperative. Committees worked with the board and attorneys to draft articles of incorporation, bylaws and financial projections for the new organization. These documents were unanimously approved by the CW members and articles of incorporation were filed during December 2006.
This transformation into a member-owned services cooperative took place after almost 17 years of working together—first through the National Network of Rural Cooperative Development Centers and then as the unincorporated CooperationWorks. Priorities, however, remain the same. In addition to continuing as a professional peer network for practitioners engaged in the development of new cooperative businesses, CW program priorities include:
- Delivery of CW’s annual Professional Development Training Program for new co-op development practitioners.
- Organize and hold up to three CW face-to-face meetings.
- Schedule and hold topic conference calls on issues relevant to the development of new cooperative enterprises.
- Publish CW’s newsletter NetWorks and relevant articles for other publications.
- Maintain a Listserv to enable members to seek and share information readily.
- Continue public education and advocacy for the development of new cooperative enterprises as an effective economic development strategy.
Audrey Malan, the executive director of CW for many years, agreed to remain in her position through 2007 to facilitate the transition of the organization to a service cooperative. After that time, CW members agreed to eliminate the executive director position. Instead, the cooperative will be managed by the members through their work and involvement on Service Circles.