Art & Science of Cooperative Business Development

The CooperationWorks! Cooperative Business Development Training Program is a rigorous course for professionals to develop their skills to assist groups to start new cooperative enterprises.

The curriculum includes:

•The key steps of effective cooperative business development
•The unique attributes of cooperative finance, law, governance and management
•The essential tools for group ownership in building long-term success
This program has been designed to deliver the best of what has been learned in the field of cooperative business development to new practitioners. It consists of two intensive five-day sessions emphasizing the practical application of cooperative business development skills.
More information is listed under the “Services” tab on the CooperationWork! website.

CooperationWorks!
The Art and Science of Starting a Cooperative Business
Session Two: Practitioners as Facilitators for Emerging Cooperative Businesses
May 17-21, 2010
Madison, Wisconsin

Program Curriculum

Monday, May 17
History of Cooperatives
Cooperatives Today
Key Steps to Start a Co-op
Role of the Cooperative Development Practitioner
Forming the Steering Committee
Project/Practitioner assessment/evaluation

Tuesday, May 18
Feasibility Analysis
Business/Organization Plans
Co-op Legal Structures and Taxation
Co-op Finance, Equity & Capitalization
Co-op Management Oversight
Working Effectively with Groups I

Wednesday, May 19
Case studies of existing cooperatives with emphasis on start-ups, business structure, finance, management, governance and member communications. – Social Cooperative – Renewable Energy Cooperative – Local Foods Cooperative – Specialty Agricultural Cooperative

Thursday, May 20
Lessons Learned from Case Studies
Working Effectively with Groups II
Tours to local cooperatives to meet with members & staff: – Food cooperative – Worker cooperative – Business purchasing cooperative – Healthcare insurance pool cooperatives

Friday, May 20
Lessons Learned from Co-op Tours
Keys to Achieving Operational Success
Resources for Cooperative Development Practitioners
CooperationWorks!
The Art and Science of Starting a Co-op
Session Two: The Steps of Effective Cooperative Business Development
May 17 – 21, 2010

REGISTRATION FORM
To register for the program, send the completed registration form with payment to:
Sarah M. Pike
29630 – 109th Avenue North
Hanover, MN 55341
Tel: 763.432.2032; Fx: 307-655-3785; sarah@cedc.coop

Please make checks payable to CooperationWorks!
The registration deadline for Session Two is Monday, May 3, 2010.

REGISTRANT FORM BELOW (Copy and paste)
Name:

Organization:
Title:
Address:

Telephone & Cell:
Email Address:
Contact in Case of Emergency:
Special Requirements (e.g. dietary):

Session Two Tuition, May 17-21, 2010 Sub-total CW Member Tuition $ 900 Non-Member Tuition $1,300
Room & Board Single Room & Board $ 650 Double Room & Board $ 400
TOTAL REGISTRATION PAYMENT ENCLOSED:

I am seeking certification: yes__ no __

(Please fill out the following so we can better understand your goals and experience.)
REGISTRANT INFORMATION

Name:

Current work situation:

Educational background:

Work experience background:

Current and long-term goals in the area of cooperative business development:

What are your key areas of interest in the field of cooperative business development?