Friday, 13 July 2007
Ontario Co-operative News, July 2007
News and information for - and about - ONTARIO'S CO-OPERATIVE AND CREDIT UNION SECTORS, stakeholders and champions...
from the Ontario Co-operative Association
* Order your co-op week materials. Co-op Week is celebrated October 14-20, with Credit Union Day on October 18th. The deadline to order your co-op materials from CCA is Tuesday July 31, 2007. Materials this year include leaflets, posters and a cotton tote bag. According to CCA, Co-op Week appears to be a uniquely Canadian phenomenon. In the US, October is Co-op Month, and the International Co-operative Alliance and United Nations have an International Day of Co-operatives on the first Saturday in July. Co-op Week celebrations began in Canada in 1981 in the Maritimes and Saskatchewan. In 1982, the celebration went national with the encouragement of the Co-operative Union of Canada, a predecessor of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA). For more on co-op week, or to order materials, visit www.coopscanada.coop/aboutcoop/coopweek/2007coopweek/
* Attention: Credit Unions make plans now for your Directors' Forum. The 23rd annual Credit Union Directors' Forum will be held November 2 and 3, 2007 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The conference starts with a Friday evening keynote session on the effects of climate change on our business, followed by a networking reception. Saturday workshops include strategic growth, managing member relations through technology, and dealing with the changing landscape. The day ends with a session dedicated to the new Central 1. All sessions are interactive and include ample time for discussion and questions. As in past years, CUSOURCE Credit Union Knowledge Network will offer Credit Union Director Achievement (CUDA) courses on November 1 and 2. Directors from credit unions across Canada and internationally are invited to participate. Additional details and the registration form will be released shortly. Visit www.ontario.coop/Directors for draft agenda and session outlines.
* Co-operative Young Leaders Program. CYL camp is up and running for another season. Some updates...
- Over 180 participants are registered for the 7 weeks of camp being held this year in the 3 Junior sessions, 2 Intermediate sessions and 2 Senior sessions. There is still time to apply to attend the Senior sessions - contact Sonja Carrière youth@ontario.coop or 1.888.745.5521 x29 for more information, or visit www.ontario.coop/CYL
- CYL celebrated its 40th anniversary by launching a new video to promote the program. The 4 minute video is a celebration of the energy, youth and magic of the program from participants' and facilitators' perspectives. Visit the CYL pages of the On Co-op website to preview the video. Copies of the video are available on CD for your organization to promote the program to your board, staff, members or youth. Contact Sonja for the details.
- CYL builds young leaders while developing their communication, facilitation and organization skills. Participation in CYL from co-ops, credit unions and our young people is encouraged; your support strengthens our sector and our community, and develops the next generation of co-operative leaders.
You can help by: sponsoring one or more youth to CYL; utilizing the skills of your CYL graduates during the year; sending facilitators or speakers to camp - Learn more: www.ontario.coop/CYL
The Co-operative Young Leaders program and the Ontario Co-operative Association wish to offer our condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Ruth Blackburn, who passed away July 1, 2007. Ruth was COO of Superior Credit Union, and was a strong supporter of the CYL program. Ruth spent many summer weeks nurturing and mentoring young leaders - positively impacting many young lives and hearts. Ruth's spirit (and incredible aim with a water pistol) will be missed by CYL facilitators and participants alike. She will be greatly missed.
* Sitaram re-elected CCA board president. The Board of Directors of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) re-elected Dave Sitaram as president during its Annual General Meeting, held late last month. Vice president Claude Gauthier of GROWMARK, Inc. was also re-elected, as were executive members Norma Tomiczek of Co-op Atlantic, and Jill Kelly of Credit Union Central of British Columbia. Sitaram also serves as a Board member of Credit Union Central of Ontario, and will continue as a Board member of Central 1.
* Second E85 fuelling location operational. E85, the environmentally friendliest gasoline possible, became available to motorists in the Chatham area June 26th. E85 is a premium-quality gasoline, which contains up to 85% ethanol and UPI’s high quality unleaded gasoline. The resulting blend offers the highest octane available in Ontario. The environmental footprint left from E85 is the least significant possible for any gasoline product. E85 benefits the environment by lowering vehicle carbon monoxide emissions, generating less carbon dioxide discharge, and releasing fewer volatile organic compounds and particulate matter than conventional gasolines. This is the second E85 fuelling location that UPI has opened in Ontario. The first location, Guelph, was opened in January, 2007. www.upi.on.ca
* Credit Unions Give ATM Fees to Hamilton Health Care Facilities. Healthcare and Municipal Employees’ Credit Union and McMaster Savings and Credit Union announced a five-year agreement with Hamilton Health Sciences, St. Peter’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton that will see all ATM surcharges from machines at those locations returned to the hospitals. Under the agreement, the two credit unions will give the $1.50 surcharge charged to non-members for ATM withdrawals to the participating hospitals. More than $500,000 was returned to the hospitals under a previous five-year agreement.
* Job Posting: The Ontario Natural Food Co-op (ONFC) seeks a full-time Financial Manager. Visit www.onfc.ca to learn more.
Labels: Co-operatives
