All USFWC members – workplaces and individuals, voting and non-voting – are encouraged to RSVP to attend (in-person or virtually) our annual Member Meeting. This year, we have a two-part member meeting with a special strategy session on Saturday, July 30 followed by a more traditional business meeting on Sunday, July 31.
Hosted during the Worker Cooperative National Conference, this is our once-a-year opportunity to gather together to hear important organizational updates and create space to strategize together as a national, grassroots membership organization.
This year, we are hosting two meetings – a strategy session and a traditional business meeting. Members are encouraged to send a representative to participate.
USFWC Member Strategy Session: Saturday, July 30, 2016, 4:45 – 6:00 pm (central time)
RSVP FOR VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION
All USFWC Members are welcome and encouraged to join our special strategy session where we will think through research and development of major co-op benefits and discuss a proposal to adopt THREE NEW principles for the US worker co-op sector. The newly minted USFWC Racial and Economic Justice Council, will report on its founding and solicit input on the vision for their work. This council will guide a conversation about adding new principles, inspired by the solidarity economy movement and cooperatives in Mondragón:
#8 Equity in All Dimensions
#9 Subordinate Nature of Capital
#10 Social Transformation
The last portion of our meeting we will focus on member technical assistance and the USFWC’s efforts to establish a 401k retirement plan, a business insurance service, and health care for member workplaces. Given the significant progress we’ve made on a retirement benefit, the member meeting will be an opportunity for co-ops to “pledge” their intentions to join a Federation-led plan, and if so, how many workers they might project would enroll, and a ballpark figure of how much the annual contributions would be from their co-ops. Its your Federation, we can only built it with your input and participation!
USFWC Business Meeting: Sunday, July 31, 2016, 10:45 am – 12:15 pm (central time)
RSVP FOR VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION
USFWC members are highly encouraged to send at least one representative to participate and represent your workplace.
The Board of Directors and staff will present a finance report, membership report, program updates and upcoming work.
Additionally, we will hear a report-back from the member Strategy Session held Saturday and create space for member feedback and discussion on the strategy topics.
— AGENDA —
10:45 – 10:50: Welcome
10:50 – 11:05: Business Presentation (finance report, membership report, staffing update, Democracy at Work Institute Update)
11:05 – 11:15: Program Updates & Upcoming Work
(5 minutes to move to small groups)
11:20 – 11: 40: Small Group ‘Info’ Sessions – Learn more about program updates and upcoming work
11:40 – 11:55: USFWC Member Strategy Session Report-Back
11:55 – 12:00: Board of Directors Elections
12:00 – 12:10: Award Ceremony
12:10 – 12:15: Close & Next Meeting Date
