Search

Session 2 of this five-part series is “The Cooperative Development Process.”

This session will focus on development of cooperative businesses, a complex process that requires equal attention to forging an authentically democratic association that meets member needs, while establishing a business that can compete and thrive in the marketplace. In this session, you will learn about a time-tested approach to cooperative development that attends to both dimensions. Participants will have a chance to reflect on their development experience to date and to share lessons learned with one another.

Session 2 Presenter: Kevin Edberg

Cooperative Development Services (CDS) is offering this free virtual training series for startup producer co-ops. The program will also be useful to directors and managers of co-ops that are already operating. Co-ops are encouraged to send multiple participants.

The training is made possible through the Minnesota Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, which is funded by a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The contents of the training and other program materials are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA or MDA.

Session 3 of this five-part series is “Ownership Model Canvas.”

This session will dive into why ownership is a key part of cooperative development. Getting clarity around the purpose of the co-op and the benefits of being a co-op member-owner is important. Thinking through the rights, duties, obligations and roles of owners is a critical early-stage discussion, as it deals with how key decisions are made and who gets to make them. The Owner Model Canvas is a tool to channel thoughts and energies around this topic.

Session 3 Presenters: Char Vrieze and Kevin Edberg

Cooperative Development Services (CDS) is offering this free virtual training series for startup producer co-ops. The program will also be useful to directors and managers of co-ops that are already operating. Co-ops are encouraged to send multiple participants.

The training is made possible through the Minnesota Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, which is funded by a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The contents of the training and other program materials are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA or MDA.

Session 4 of this five-part series is “Business Model Canvas.”

Session 4 will address cooperative business planning. Co-ops consist of a democratic association of member-owners who collectively use a business enterprise to achieve shared outcomes. Before anyone is asked to make significant investments in a business, it is wise for leaders early on to understand the kind of business they want to own, how that business will deliver needed results, what capital is needed to achieve success and where it will come from, and how this business will relate to allies and competitors. The Business Model Canvas is a tool to help co-op leaders surface these kinds of conversations.

Session 4 Presenters: Char Vrieze and Kevin Edberg

Cooperative Development Services (CDS) is offering this free virtual training series for startup producer co-ops. The program will also be useful to directors and managers of co-ops that are already operating. Co-ops are encouraged to send multiple participants.

The training is made possible through the Minnesota Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, which is funded by a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The contents of the training and other program materials are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA or MDA.

Session 5 of this five-part series is “Governance Essentials for Startup Co-ops.”

Session 5 will look at the kinds of "infrastructure" needed to support good governance in a startup co-op, including effective meetings, straightforward governing policies, and attention to fostering a healthy working culture. Amid the flurry of all-hands-on-deck activity required to launch a new co-op, good governance can sometimes be the last thing anyone is thinking about. Yet anytime a group comes together to meet, discuss, and decide it inevitably engages in some form of governance, and the quality of that governance can significantly impact how effective and enjoyable that work will be.

Session 5 Presenter: Leslie Watson

Cooperative Development Services (CDS) is offering this free virtual training series for startup producer co-ops. The program will also be useful to directors and managers of co-ops that are already operating. Co-ops are encouraged to send multiple participants.

The training is made possible through the Minnesota Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, which is funded by a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The contents of the training and other program materials are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA or MDA.