UPCOMING EVENTS

April 11 – 12: California Coop Conference, Berkeley CA

May 2 – 4: Jackson Rising, Jackson MI

May 30 – Worker Cooperative National June 1: Conference, Chicago IL

June 6 – 8: New Economy Coalition Conference, Boston MA

July 13 – 16: Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE) Institute, Austin TX

Sept 9 – 11: National Coop Business Association, annual conference, Minneapolis MN

Oct 6 – 9: 2nd Annual International Cooperatives Summit, Quebec Canada

http://usworker.coop/events

US Federation of Worker Cooperatives PO Box 170701 San Francisco, CA 94117 USFWC NEWS UPDATES, INSPIRATION AND GOINGS-ON FROM THE U.S. FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES Spring 2014 In NYC, Partnerships Help Build a Strong Policy Agenda for Worker Coops By Joe Rinehart, Rural Programs Coordinator, USFWC

n recent months the worker coopera- and testified, the hearing prompted tive business model has achieved sig- follow-up meetings where local govern- nificant recognition by government ment agencies are now actively explor- Iofficials in New York City. What ing opportunities to formally support tipped the scale of interest was the for worker coop development. release of a policy paper by a local coali- But this didn’t just happen tion urging the city to formally support overnight. What’s less visible are the worker cooperatives. The policy paper, conditions created over time that ‘Worker Cooperatives for New York allowed a coalition to create and seize City: A Vision for Addressing Income opportunities to increase awareness Inequality’, became the focus of a half of – and institutional support for – the -day conference with over 100 attend- worker cooperative model. These ees interested in developing a platform conditions include: to scale worker cooperatives in the city. • Local worker cooperatives and This mini-conference sparked interest developers embedded in their from NYC Councilwoman Maria communities, with social ties and a Arroyo, who called for a special hearing history of collaboration of the City Council’s Committee on • Allies embedded inside of larger officials, city agency representatives Community Economic Development • A coop ‘ecosystem’ networked with organizations capable of offering and community organizations to convened on February 24, 2014. As an apex organization (nycworker. support establish foundational support for coop) dozens of supporters filled the room • Intentional outreach to elected the model Continued on page 2 Celebrating 10 Years: A look back to 2004

Did you know the USFWC is officially ten years old this year? To celebrate our origins – and how far we’ve come – what follows is an excerpt from an article in GEO Newsletter reporting on that conference. More than one hundred worker owners from around the country met in Minneapolis May 24-26, 2004 to found the first United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives and Democratic Workplaces. The new national federation is the result of decades of discussion and organizing at local and regional levels. This activ- ity has intensified in the past few years, largely through the increased participation of young cooperators fueled by the vision that “Another world is possible.” Held at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Center for Public Policy, the national federa- tion’s founding event was co-sponsored by The Cheese Board Collective, Chroma Technology, the Cooperative Foundation, Eastern Conference on Workplace Democracy, the National Cooperative Bank’s Development Corporation, and Rainbow Grocery Cooperative. In plenary sessions, the new federation took shape. Participants hammered out the framework for mem- bership, governance, and possible services. They chose a name for the new entity: United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives and Democratic Workplaces. Delegates elected the founding board of directors, which Artist’s rendering of USFWC founding conference included four regional representatives and five at-large members: Lori Burge of People’s Co-op in Portland, OR (photo unavailable) (West); Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo, of GEO collective (East); Bob Cahill of Arise Bookstore & Resource Center in Continued on page 4

EDITOR’S NOTE: USFWC NEWS Editor: Melissa Hoover Contributing Writers: Melissa Hoover, Amy Johnson, Joe Rinehart, The Power of Ten Sabiha Basrai, Mary Hoyer, Jane Livingston, Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Steve Herrick, Melissa Young, David appy birthday, USFWC mem- Founding members paid dues Work Institute to expand the promise Morgan bers! Our Federation is officially immediately and enthusiastically. These of worker cooperatives to communities Layout: Design Action ten years old! To celebrate, let’s dues helped the staffer work a weekday most affected by economic inequality, Printing: InkWorks Press Htake a little trip back in time…. in addition to nights and weekends. while rooting that expansion in a Back in May 2004, an intrepid group We answered the phone, planned a member-led movement. This year USFWC STAFF of practical visionaries from around the biannual conference, developed some we’ll debut tools, publish research, and Melissa Hoover, Executive Director country got together under the watchful benefits, and educated the public, train leaders in the field of cooperative Amy Johnson, Membership & eyes of the Hubert Humphrey portrait always recruiting more members. development. Advocacy Director hanging in the student center at the Worker cooperatives and cooperative The USFWC and the Institute are Joe Rinehart, Rural Programs Coordinator University of Minneapolis and decided development started to explode in the now central organisms in an ecosystem to start a national federation. There public consciousness. A visionary group that includes cooperatives, community was significant dispute about whether of worker-owners started the DAWN groups, sustainable small businesses, USFWC BOARD OF we should or could call ourselves a project to train worker cooperative peer and other forms of shared ownership. DIRECTORS movement. Forging ahead through the advisors. More worker cooperatives We are helping shape what people uncertainty, those in the room elected started, at all scales. Local groups are calling a New Economy. We got Anna Boyer C4 Tech a Board. That board built a website. started sprouting up. here with the support and patience New Orleans, LA They hired a staffer. That staffer worked Today, the Federation has over 110 and participation of our members. We nights and weekends to put out a workplace members, and grows at a got here by following our principles. Vanessa Bransburg Center for Family Life charmingly grassroots recruitment rate of about 30% per year. More than We’ll get to the next stage only when Brooklyn, NY brochure. Founding member Collective half of the USFWC’s new members we marry our principles to power, Dana Curtis Copies reminded the staffer that every year are newly formed worker when we come together in coalitions Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery they were available for higher-quality cooperatives. Staff now work way too to increase our impact. We’re serious Austin, TX printed materials. Still more members much full time. We provide high- about this cooperative economy, and Rebecca Kemble contributed in-kind food and coffee to quality technical assistance to members we’re working together to create Union Cab Cooperative the second national conference national and the public alike. We have started the conditions that support it. Let’s Madison, WI conference. Volunteers hand-delivered to advocate for public policy to support see what this principled, powerful Becca Koganer healthy foods to the conference at the broad-based business ownership. In movement can accomplish in the next Equal Exchange corner of Wall Street and Broad Street. 2013, we launched the Democracy at ten years. West Bridgewater, MA

Due to changes in their profes- sional lives, at-large members, David IN NYC... (Continued from page 1) Smathers Moore and Ben Mauer, Who Contacts the USFWC? both stepped down from the Board in • Organizations interested in, and March 2014. capable of, large scale cooperative Being a national organization, we field calls from every corner of the country. development In addition to supporting our members, USFWC staff receives dozens of public OFFICES: inquiries. Recent highlights: 564 Market St., Suite 521 San Francisco, CA 94104 In addition to these conditions, • community organizer in Phoenix, AZ • worker-owners seeking support in a strong advocate from outside the wants to host a ‘Worker Coop 101’ info responding to state workers compen- worker cooperative community, the session sation board MAILING: Federation of Protestant Welfare • graduate student researching sustain- • multiple requests for coop-friendly PO Box 170701 San Francisco, CA 94117 Agencies (FPWA), helped catalyze the ability initiatives of USFWC members accountant referrals drafting of the policy paper. FPWA, a • professor in Maryland requested our • start-ups in various stages seeking coalition of 200 non-profits in NYC, Worker Coop Census dataset basic ‘how-to’ resources from Texas, began to examine the potential of • examples of cooperatively-run media Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, incorporating worker cooperatives into outlets California, Maine, and Ohio their workforce development work. FPWA provided the resources necessary to research and write the policy paper and offered to leverage their connections with local leaders to bring attention to worker cooperatives. Only six months into this work and the coalition has successfully secured (415) 392-7277 the ear of City Council, the economic www.usworker.coop development agency and other key [email protected] decision makers. The next phase will include drafting a long-term strategic Have you been missing out on regular plan to increase in-depth knowledge of news and updates from the US Fed- the model at the city level and secure eration? Want your own copy of the Worker-owners of Fresh Tamales, a new coop in San Diego, CA, contacted the USFWC for start-up support and is now USFWC NEWS? Contact us at info@ tangible institutional support. our newest USFWC member. usworker.coop to be added to our email list, or join our listserve at workercoop@ yahoogroups.com.

2 U.S. FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES UPDATES

MAY 30 – JUNE 1, 2014 WWW.CONFERENCE.COOP

Top 6 Reasons for Members to Attend #WCNC2014 1. It’s in Chicago – in May – it will be beautiful (and FUN) 2. Members save big on registration! 3. Attend the annual Member Meeting for your Federation 4. Meet – and conspire – with fellow worker-owners in your industry or neighborhood 5. Workshops for every size, stage, and structure of worker coops 6. It’s USFWC’s 10th Birthday – Come Celebrate!

Attend: http://conference.coop/registration/ Vendor Fair: http://conference.coop/vendor-fair/ Sponsors: http://conference.coop/sponsors/ Logistics: http://conference.coop/logistics/ MAYO 30 – JUNIO 1, 2014 WWW.CONFERENCE.COOP

Las seis principales razones que tienen los Miembros para asistir a #WCNC2014 1. Es en Chicago, en mayo, estará precioso (y será divertido) Inscríbase: http://conference.coop/registration/ 2. ¡Los Miembros ahorran en grande en las inscripciones! Patrocinadores: http://conference.coop/sponsors/ 3. Asista a la Reunión Anual de Miembros de su Federación Feria de Vendedores: http://conference.coop/vendor-fair/ 4. Reúnase (y conspire) con otros trabajadores-dueños de su sector o barrio Logística: http://conference.coop/logistics/ 5. Talleres para todos los tamaños, etapas y estructuras de cooperativas de trabajadores 6. Es el décimo cumpleaños de USFWC. ¡ Venga a celebrar!

Celebrating... (Continued from page 1)

Minneapolis, MN (North); Alice Mur- have a golden opportunity to help build phy of Blue Moon Café in Asheville, NC an economy based on equality and justice”, (South); Brahm Ahmadi, People’s Grocery Schluter said, “but if we are going to be in Oakland, CA; Kirsten Marshall, Rain- effective, we have to be heard, and the only bow Grocery in San Francisco and the way to do that is by linking at the local Western Worker Cooperative Conference; level, the national level, and the interna- Omar Freilla of Green Worker Coopera- tional level.” tives in the Bronx, NY; Tom Pierson of Article by Jane Livingston and Jessica Seward Community Café and the Center Gordon Nembhard. Originally published for Prosperity in Minneapolis, MN; and in the Grassroots Economic Organizing Ajamu Nangwaya of the Federation of newsletter, June-July 2004, issue #62, Southern Cooperatives, based in Epes, AL. http://www.geo.coop/archives/usf- Also attending were representatives wcdw704.htm from CICOPA, the worker co-op arm of Thank you to each and every one of the International Co-operative Alliance the individuals, businesses and organi- (ICA), and the Canadian Worker Coop- zations that helped build the USFWC erative Federation. over the last 10 years - providing vision, Rainer Schluter, President of CICOPA, volunteer labor, and bringing your col- delivered a stirring keynote on the final lective wisdom together to advance morning of the conference. “Cooperatives worker ownership in the US.

2 U.S. FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES Spring 2014 3 UPDATES

Worker Ownership Finds A Friendly Union Co-ops Gather in Cincinnati Audience in DC By Mary Hoyer, Union Co-ops Council of the USFWC (Unedited version originally published in GEO, www.geo.coop) By Joe Rinehart The Cincinnati Union Co-ops Symposium, held on December th9 and USFWC staff member Joe Representatives from Rep. Fattah’s 10th, 2013, hosted over ninety attendees from seventeen states. Fifteen union Rinehart and Union Cab member office strategized with participants locals from the United Steelworkers (USW), United Electrical (UE), United John MacNamara participated in the on how to increase his support for Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), and International Brotherhood of American Sustainable Businesses cooperatives beyond his sponsor- Electrical Workers (IBEW) were represented. Many community activists, Council (ASBC) Worker Ownership ship of the Creating Jobs Through worker cooperators, co-op developers, and co-op funders also attended. Lobby Day, along with representatives Cooperatives Act, and the senator’s from New Belgium Brewery, other staffers offered to work with partici- Current Union-Worker Co-op Projects ESOPs, The Evergreen Cooperatives, pants to address cooperative concerns In Pennsylvania, the USW is currently working on several worker co-op NCBA and Mondragon Cooperative with the Department of Labor and projects based on the anchor institution model developed by the Evergreen Corporation. This visit marked the first Small Business Administration (SBA). Cooperatives in Cleveland several years ago. One major project is a “green” time the USFWC used their new mem- In the next month the USFWC will industrial strength laundry in Pittsburgh that may evolve into a national bership in the ASBC to lobby for worker be participating in meetings with the network of unionized laundries, as well as potential manufacture of equipment. cooperatives. Participants visited with the USDA and the SBA to discuss coop- In Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Union Coop Initiative (CUCI) is developing Assistant Secretary Phyllis Borzi from erative and sustainable business issues. a multi-layered food hub. The first component, a worker coop farm – Our the Department of Labor, staffers from This work is laying the foundation for Harvest Cooperative – is up and running. CUCI plans to expand to food 5 senators’ offices, including Senators the release of the US Federation of preparation and distribution. Warren, Franken and Harkin and with Worker Cooperatives’ policy agenda In Chicago, United Electrical Workers (UE) and The Working World staffers of Representative Fattah. later in 2014. (USFWC member), helped laid-off, unionized workers purchased the business, create a worker cooperative, and keep it running as New Era Windows. The Vision and the Long-term The union co-op effort isn’t just about one or two co-ops, but about a vision of a new economy which will be accountable, sustainable, replicable, and of benefit to all rather than simply to a small minority of wealthy people at the top. This is a democratic, wealth-building model that involves worker ownership and equity. Efforts are going on around the world to implement such a new economy. For example, a new development in the US is the creation of www.1worker1vote.org, which will be a national network of unionized worker-owned cooperative businesses. Visit www.unioncoops.org for regular updates from the USFWC Union Co-ops Council.

John McNamera, USFWC member Union Cab, Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Phyllis Borzi, and USFWC staffer Joe Rinehart

In the News…

A few of the best press pieces circulating the internet: “Who Needs a Boss?” By The Media Coop,http://www. By Shaila Dewan, New York Times mediacoop.ca Magazine, http://www.nytimes. com/2014/03/30/magazine/who-needs- “Why Your Employees Should Own a-boss.html Your Business” By John Abrams, USFWC member “Latina-Run Co-op Empowers Its South Mountain Company Members” http://asbcouncil.org/node/1476 Latino USA on NPR, http://www.npr. org/2014/02/28/280773943/latina-run- “Why Just Workers? Why Not co-op-empowers-its-members Owners? Cooperatives as a Wealth Building Tool in Communities of “Where profit is subordinate to Color” labour: voices from US worker co-op By Angie Brown, Nexus Community movement” Partners, http://nexuscp.org

4 U.S. FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES UPDATES MEMBER NEWS

Industry Collaboration Raises Profile of Worker Coop Model

By Sabiha Basrai, Design Action Collective

Design Action Collective, AORTA, amongst communities who have been — an alternative through which C4Tech and Design, and Palante systematically disenfranchised. Many we can reflect our values in the way Technology Cooperative are heading to sessions are lead by youth and people we work with our clients and each the Allied Media Conference (AMC) of color. other. As ambassadors of the worker Worker-Owned Webmaking” coops panel at the Allied Media Conference, Detroit, 2012. Left to right: Drew in Detroit in June. This conference There is a wide range of tracks at coop model, this type of industry- Stephan, C4Tech and Design; Ben Maur, Quilted; is a space for people interested in this year’s AMC including Creative specific outreach supports an industry Sabiha Basrai, Design Action Collective; Jack Aponte, media-based organizing projects and Placemaking/Placekeeping, Racial organizing strategy being developed by Palente Technology Cooperative; Lydia Pelot-Hobbs, innovative strategies for social change, Justice and Surveillance, I love Print the USFWC. AORTA. Photo courtesy of Sabiha Basrai to come together to share skills and Media, Research Justice, Resourcing We’ll get into the nitty-gritty learn about the issues facing our diverse and Sustaining Our Movements, and of running a coop, including democratic face economic exploitation. The communities. The AMC is deeply Liberation Technologies for World decision-making, financial planning, goal is for participants to leave with rooted in Detroit and helps participants Building & Survival. and meeting facilitation. We will tangible resources and tools to help coming from all over the country to We are proposing a workshop that highlight leadership of color within the them develop cooperatives in their connect and learn from transformative explores the worker coop model as worker coop sector and share how we own cities and communities. Learn work happening in that city. There is an alternative to 501c3 nonprofits experience coops as tools for economic more about the AMC at http://amc. an intention to build collective power and purely-for-profit structures empowerment in communities that alliedmedia.org.

SHIFT CHANGE PBS Debut April 6 In Arizmendiarrieta’s Own Words

SHIFT CHANGE, a documentary will inspire more people to patronize By Steve Herrick, Interpreters Cooperative of Madison film that features several USFWC worker coops around the country, and to members, as well as the Mondragon consider participating in a worker coop The following paragraphs are brief contributions Corporation in Spain, will broadcast on themselves.” excerpts from the introduction to The are in this vein. Seattle PBS station KCTS9 on April 6 Broadcast on other PBS stations is Cooperative Man: Arizmendiarrieta’s Before he was at 5:00pm PST. expected throughout Summer 2014. Thought,by Joxe Azurmendi. There is a cooperativist, According to producers Melissa Check www.shiftchange.org for up to no shortage of material in English on Arizmendiarrieta Young and Mark Dworkin, the main date broadcast information. the Mondragon cooperatives, but there was a Personalist; goal of the documentary is is very little on the man who orga- before he had to raise awareness about the nized and inspired them. This effort formulas for worker coop model and PBS aspires to correct that. The Interpreters’ business, he had a broadcast will reach many Jon Purintun and Mike Krause of Isthmus Engineering & Cooperative of Madison expects to philosophy of the new viewers. “We hope this Manufacturing in Madison, WI, a worker-coop featured in Shift Change publish a full English translation in person. Not only early 2015. in a logical, suc- “José María Arizmendiarrieta is con- cessive, foundational social order, but even sidered the founder, or inspiration, of the during his life. His concept of business, for Opportunity Threads Leads Development of cooperative movement of Mondragon. which he has gained fame, is no more than “Arizmendiarrieta, whose writings the consequence of that philosophy, and New Industry Coalition in N. Carolina fill 15 volumes, never published a single without it, is reduced to a mere business book during his life. The overwhelming formula, lacking its principal theoretical USFWC member, Opportunity and heritage.” majority of the 727 writings of his that we support.” Threads, has been a leader in the Engaging in partnerships that bring posses are brief texts. Full text of the first chapter from The creation of Carolina Textile District, together the many players within “Arizmendiarrieta’s thought doesn’t Cooperative Man is available at: http:// a new network of textile related a supply chains is an increasingly begin or end with the topic of coop- level.interpreters.coop companies that formed in 2013 to important strategy to consider when erativism, though his most noteworthy connect clients to a one-stop-shop of we think about scaling our work and textile resources from development increasing our impact in developing to production to distribution. The a new economy that roots capital companies involved in the network locally and with people. Learn New & Improved Online Coop Courses have shared mission “to revitalize the more about the development of the textile industry in the Carolinas in a Carolina Textile District: http://www. By David Morgan, Toolbox for Education & Social Action way that builds on local people, assets, carolinatextiledistrict.com In collaboration with the North resources, and elevate their collective American Students of Cooperation impact. This enables TESA to offer (NASCO), TESA received a grant online courses ‘Intro to Coops’, ‘Worker from the CHS Foundation to further Coops 101’, and ‘Creating a Coopera- help develop our online course pro- tive Food Economy’ on a sliding scale gram through the TESA Academy. ($20-$80). TESA Academy offers other In partnering with NASCO (who is courses as well, including ‘Popular Edu- also working on educating the next cation Methods & Practices’. generation of cooperators), the organi- To register: http://toolboxfored.org/ zations are able to work together, pool academy

4 U.S. FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES Spring 2014 5 MEMBER NEWS

SPECIAL OFFER: Collective Courage weaves history of Visit Spain & Tour the Mondragon cooperatives and civil rights Cooperatives Summer 2014 Jessica Gordon Economic Co-operation Nembhard, one of the Among Negro The USFWC has teamed up founders and long- Americans has there with California-based non-profit, time supporters of the been a full-length, Human Agenda, to offer an affordable USFWC, has released nationwide study of opportunity to visit Spain and learn a long-anticipated – African American about the Mondragon model directly and groundbreaking cooperatives. Collective from the source. Reserve your spot by April 25 – new book, Collective Courage extends that Tour Dates: June 29 – July 5, 2014 http://usworker.coop/ Courage: A History story into the twenty- Cost: $1,600 (+ airfare) news/2014-mondragon-tour of African American first century.” (from Cooperative Economic the publisher) Thought and Practice. Published by The “In Collective Pennsylvania State Cooperative Principles Front and Center Courage, Jessica University Press, Gordon Nembhard the book is available Do the walls at your workplace need chronicles African May 2014. Place a some new art?! This 7-poster set high- American cooperative pre-sale order today lights each of the cooperative principles business ownership or get a signed copy with quality design work. and its place in the movements for at the Worker Cooperative National Order a copy for your workplace Black civil rights and economic equal- Conference. http://www.psupress.org/ and the proceeds support Cooperation ity. Not since W. E. B. Du Bois’s 1907 books/titles/978-0-271-06216-7.html Texas, an Austin-based non-profit com- mitted to the creation of sustainable jobs through the development, support and promotion of worker-owned Movement Resources cooperatives. Place Your Order: http://cooperationtexas.coop/posters/ All resources are also available at www.usworker.coop/news

Policies for Shareable Cities Worker Cooperatives for New York City: Sustainable Economies Law Center A Vision for Addressing Income Inequality Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies

Coop News, No. 4, 2013 Cooperative Farming: Frameworks for Farming Together International Labour Organization A Greenhorns Guide

6 U.S. FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES MEMBER NEWS Member Corner

WELCOME, New Members! Dear Members, It’s only fitting that we celebrate the USFWC’s 10th anniversary A record number of new members LVWORCS (NV) have joined the USFWC since we wrote New Moon Cooperative (OR) with a record number of new members in these first months of to your last (21 members in 3 months!). Pacific Electric (CA) 2014. With 21 new members, we grew 20% in just three months! We We look forward to meeting many of our Sassafras Tech Collective (MI) new members at the national conference: Electric Slides (LA) now have 130 members and continue to receive new applications Simple Diaper & Linen (MA) A Bookkeeping Cooperative (NY) Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (CO) weekly. Given the energy this movement has been building the last The Blissful Bite (KS) Three Mouse Technology (FL) Build With Prospect (NY) several years, this rapid growth in new start-up members doesn’t Tunnels & Tobio (WI) California Council of Churches (CA) Whole Sun Designs (IN) surprise me – but instead reinforces that we are doing something Camas Partners (WA) Wegner CPAs CoFed (CA) important, offering an invaluable resource for new worker-owners Jefferson People’s House (MN) Fund for Democratic Communities to plug into as they start their journey. (NC) Full member list: http://usworker.coop/ Great Sky Solar (MA) At the same time as many new start-up members join, member-directory Green Mountain Spinnery (VT) longtime members are also increasing their engagement with the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund Not yet a member? Join today! http:// USFWC. From submitting workshop proposals for the upcoming (MA) usworker.coop/join Chicago conference, to taking advantage of member’s four free hours of technical assistance; from donating documents to the to this work, which provides THANK YOU! a reliable, grassroots fund- resource library to signing up to tour the Mondragon cooperatives ing stream to con- tinue this summer – USFWC members are active from coast to coast ‘Sustainer’ Love doing our work. If you missed and everywhere in-between. Big thanks to the 75 folks that sup- the campaign, Here’s to celebrating 10 years of steady growth – and working ported our ‘2013 Sustainer Drive’! We you can still join at any time: www. are deeply grateful for your commitment usworker.coop/join/sustainers together to advance our vision for a cooperative economy over the next decade.

In cooperation, Amy, USFWC Membership & Advocacy Director

PARTICIPATE: 2014 SCHEDULE: Info Member Meeting Session at your

Who: USFWC Members Workplace Where: Chicago, IL Personal connections are better When: Sunday, June 1 than emails - agree? Schedule a quick Why: Not to be missed, this is our meeting with USFWC staff to learn once-a-year opportunity to meet in more about benefits of membership and person, get an update from Board how to get involved. and staff, and inform organizational priorities for the year. Submit Agenda Item: www.usworker. coop/2014-member-meeting UPDATE: New Dues Formula RUN & VOTE: Board After a lot of brainstorming, deliberating, and soliciting feedback, of Directors Election the USFWC Board of Directors has updated the dues formula in order Nominate a candidate by April to create a more equitable and easy- 28. This year we’re electing Regional to-navigate structure. Read the full Representatives, one for each region update www.usworker.coop/memos/ – North, South, East and West www. updated-dues-formula usworker.coop/board-elections-2014

6 U.S. FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES Spring 2014 7