Monday, October 31, 2005
Leadership Ed / Skills
Community Leadership Program
ELIST, Sep. 14, 2005 (GoodWork) - There is a need to provide space for new voices to be heard and for emerging social activists and leaders to contribute to shaping our civic future. Maytree aims to proactively accelerate the development and impact of emerging leadership across the GTA and Canada… Maytree's Leaders for Change (LFC) program gives social activists and community leaders the opportunity to build leadership skills, to identify and reflect on critical issues facing our society and to apply new knowledge and insights in small group work with community partners. The program, now in its seventh year, is enriched by a network of more than 90 alumni. http://www.maytree.com/MaytreeInitiatives/LeadershipTraining/LeadersForChange.htm.
Community Leadership Program
ELIST, Sep. 14, 2005 (GoodWork) - There is a need to provide space for new voices to be heard and for emerging social activists and leaders to contribute to shaping our civic future. Maytree aims to proactively accelerate the development and impact of emerging leadership across the GTA and Canada… Maytree's Leaders for Change (LFC) program gives social activists and community leaders the opportunity to build leadership skills, to identify and reflect on critical issues facing our society and to apply new knowledge and insights in small group work with community partners. The program, now in its seventh year, is enriched by a network of more than 90 alumni. http://www.maytree.com/MaytreeInitiatives/LeadershipTraining/LeadersForChange.htm.
Community Ownership / Utilities
Countryside Community Co-operative Inc.
MILVERTON, ON, Oct. 31, 2005 (www.countrysideenergyco-op.ca) - We're building the first large Community-owned windfarm in Ontario. We're a co-operative, enabling ordinary people to own the key commodity of electricity. Want to participate ? It's quite easy ! Read on. http://countrysideenergyco-op.ca.
Countryside Community Co-operative Inc.
MILVERTON, ON, Oct. 31, 2005 (www.countrysideenergyco-op.ca) - We're building the first large Community-owned windfarm in Ontario. We're a co-operative, enabling ordinary people to own the key commodity of electricity. Want to participate ? It's quite easy ! Read on. http://countrysideenergyco-op.ca.
Hybrid Cooperatives / Hybrid cars
Community Cooperation Makes Things Happen
ELIST, Sep. 15, 2005 (PIRG Calgary) - Simply put, Citizens' Bank is a bank that not only cares about its customers but also the communities they come from. Their bank is built on the premise that all companies have a responsibility to use their resources in ways that can make a positive difference to individuals, the community, and the world around us. They support those in Canada and abroad who believe in respect and fair treatment, environmental leadership, healthy lifestyles, ethical business practices, and peaceful communities. In Calgary, Citizens' Bank has donated a brand new 2005 Toyota Prius to the Calgary Alternative Transportation Co-op, which will be on display attheir grand re-opening Friday, Sep. 16, at noon at 505 3rd Street S.W. (corner of 5th Ave. & Barclay Parade). CATCO has made this car available at Mountain Equipment Co-op for rental for short inner-city trips or longer outer-city excursions. This car isavailable as an alternative to car ownership and benefits those who have learned to live without a vehicle and only need one on occasion. For more infoon CATCO, go to www.catco-op.org, e-mail info@catco-op.org or call 270-8002.
Community Cooperation Makes Things Happen
ELIST, Sep. 15, 2005 (PIRG Calgary) - Simply put, Citizens' Bank is a bank that not only cares about its customers but also the communities they come from. Their bank is built on the premise that all companies have a responsibility to use their resources in ways that can make a positive difference to individuals, the community, and the world around us. They support those in Canada and abroad who believe in respect and fair treatment, environmental leadership, healthy lifestyles, ethical business practices, and peaceful communities. In Calgary, Citizens' Bank has donated a brand new 2005 Toyota Prius to the Calgary Alternative Transportation Co-op, which will be on display attheir grand re-opening Friday, Sep. 16, at noon at 505 3rd Street S.W. (corner of 5th Ave. & Barclay Parade). CATCO has made this car available at Mountain Equipment Co-op for rental for short inner-city trips or longer outer-city excursions. This car isavailable as an alternative to car ownership and benefits those who have learned to live without a vehicle and only need one on occasion. For more infoon CATCO, go to www.catco-op.org, e-mail info@catco-op.org or call 270-8002.
Empowerment / Business Solutions
Market-Based Strategies that Benefit Low-Income Communities
WEB Reference, Oct. 31, 2005 (Changemakers) - View the Finalists in the Changemakers Innovation Award Competition: http://www.changemakers.net/journal/300508/finalists.cfm.
Market-Based Strategies that Benefit Low-Income Communities
WEB Reference, Oct. 31, 2005 (Changemakers) - View the Finalists in the Changemakers Innovation Award Competition: http://www.changemakers.net/journal/300508/finalists.cfm.
NFPs / NGOs
Nonprofits and Weblogs
SEATTLE, WA, Oct. 2005 (Nonprofit Online News, by Michael Gilbert) - I continue to be baffled by how long it's taken nonprofits to catch on to blogging. In 1998, I was teaching web strategy workshops in which I described a number of strategies for failure on the web. The main advice that I offered was for nonprofits to adopt a news page format, with reverse chronological entries linking to deeper content on site and elsewhere online. It's such a simple concept, but very few nonprofits adopted it. In my communication workshops, I still find that nearly every nonprofit organization is rather afraid of the idea of blogging. It's threatening to them to have their staff blogging, it's too much work to have their leaders blogging, and it seems irrelevant to have their stakeholders blogging. Obviously, I support all three of these blogging strategies and I think that together they represent a resurgence of a community based form of organizing, whether in support of social service or social change. http://news.gilbert.org/clickThru/redir/5801/54657/rms.
Nonprofits and Weblogs
SEATTLE, WA, Oct. 2005 (Nonprofit Online News, by Michael Gilbert) - I continue to be baffled by how long it's taken nonprofits to catch on to blogging. In 1998, I was teaching web strategy workshops in which I described a number of strategies for failure on the web. The main advice that I offered was for nonprofits to adopt a news page format, with reverse chronological entries linking to deeper content on site and elsewhere online. It's such a simple concept, but very few nonprofits adopted it. In my communication workshops, I still find that nearly every nonprofit organization is rather afraid of the idea of blogging. It's threatening to them to have their staff blogging, it's too much work to have their leaders blogging, and it seems irrelevant to have their stakeholders blogging. Obviously, I support all three of these blogging strategies and I think that together they represent a resurgence of a community based form of organizing, whether in support of social service or social change. http://news.gilbert.org/clickThru/redir/5801/54657/rms.
Events / Local Living Economies – Speaker Burke – Victoria, BC - Nov. 2
Values-based Business Network Annual General Meeting - November 2nd
VICTORIA, BC, Oct. 2005 (Left Coast News) - Be sure to mark your calendars for The VBN's Annual General Meeting. We are very pleased to have Anita M. Burke as a quest speaker. You won' t want to miss it ... Ms. Burke is internationally recognized as a thought leader in the area of sustainable development. With 20 years of environmental and social action experience from within the established infrastructure of the world' s leading oil companies, she has emerged with a conviction that sustainable development is clearly about entrepreneurship for local living economies. She is practical and passionate about local living economies and the processes that will contribute to the evolution of our relationship with the planet and each other. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of how to deliver change and profits by reducing and eliminating the negative ecological and social footprints of existing industrial infrastructures. With light refreshments and a Cash Bar. When: 6:00pm to 9:00pm, November 2, 2005. Where: Laurel Point Inn. Admission: $15.00 members and $20.00 non-members. Contact: Paul Senez, 858-1550 or by email vbn@telus.net.
Values-based Business Network Annual General Meeting - November 2nd
VICTORIA, BC, Oct. 2005 (Left Coast News) - Be sure to mark your calendars for The VBN's Annual General Meeting. We are very pleased to have Anita M. Burke as a quest speaker. You won' t want to miss it ... Ms. Burke is internationally recognized as a thought leader in the area of sustainable development. With 20 years of environmental and social action experience from within the established infrastructure of the world' s leading oil companies, she has emerged with a conviction that sustainable development is clearly about entrepreneurship for local living economies. She is practical and passionate about local living economies and the processes that will contribute to the evolution of our relationship with the planet and each other. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of how to deliver change and profits by reducing and eliminating the negative ecological and social footprints of existing industrial infrastructures. With light refreshments and a Cash Bar. When: 6:00pm to 9:00pm, November 2, 2005. Where: Laurel Point Inn. Admission: $15.00 members and $20.00 non-members. Contact: Paul Senez, 858-1550 or by email vbn@telus.net.
Citizen Empowerment
Break the Chains!
FINLAND, MN, Oct. 24, 2005 (Organic Consumer Association) - The time has come to Break the Chains! The Organic Consumers Association is launching the next stage of our most ambitious campaign to date, Breaking the Chains: Buy Local, Organic, and Fair Made. Between November 13 and December 31 the OCA will mobilize from Alaska to Argentina, working with a critical mass of global citizens to regain control of our communities, our food and commerce, and our future. Dozens of leading activists, organizations and networks have already endorsed OCA's International Call to Action. Find independently owned businesses near you and sign the Breaking the Chains pledge: http://www.organicconsumers.org/btc.htm.
Break the Chains!
FINLAND, MN, Oct. 24, 2005 (Organic Consumer Association) - The time has come to Break the Chains! The Organic Consumers Association is launching the next stage of our most ambitious campaign to date, Breaking the Chains: Buy Local, Organic, and Fair Made. Between November 13 and December 31 the OCA will mobilize from Alaska to Argentina, working with a critical mass of global citizens to regain control of our communities, our food and commerce, and our future. Dozens of leading activists, organizations and networks have already endorsed OCA's International Call to Action. Find independently owned businesses near you and sign the Breaking the Chains pledge: http://www.organicconsumers.org/btc.htm.
Local Living Communities / Cooperatives
A Study of the Mondragon Cooperatives and Others
WEB Reference, Oct. 30, 2005 (Manfred Davidmann works at www.solbaram.org) - Mondragon co-operatives created for their members a good way of life and a high degree of job and social security. The study looks at the extent to which these co-ops serve their members and the extent to which they co-operate with each other. This study is one of a series of eight studies of co-operatives and mutual societies which were undertaken to determine causes of failure and reasons for success, to see how these enterprises were controlled and managed, to learn from the mistakes of others. What is taking place is fascinating and often unexpected (See 'Relevant Current and Associated Works'). The main report 'Co-operatives: Causes of Failure, Guidelines for Success' is based on these studies. Its conclusions and recommendations are entirely relevant and cover fundamental and practical problems of co-ops and mutual societies, of members, of direction, management and control. Scroll down to see also: Associated Co-op Studies. http://www.solbaram.org/articles/mondra.html.
A Study of the Mondragon Cooperatives and Others
WEB Reference, Oct. 30, 2005 (Manfred Davidmann works at www.solbaram.org) - Mondragon co-operatives created for their members a good way of life and a high degree of job and social security. The study looks at the extent to which these co-ops serve their members and the extent to which they co-operate with each other. This study is one of a series of eight studies of co-operatives and mutual societies which were undertaken to determine causes of failure and reasons for success, to see how these enterprises were controlled and managed, to learn from the mistakes of others. What is taking place is fascinating and often unexpected (See 'Relevant Current and Associated Works'). The main report 'Co-operatives: Causes of Failure, Guidelines for Success' is based on these studies. Its conclusions and recommendations are entirely relevant and cover fundamental and practical problems of co-ops and mutual societies, of members, of direction, management and control. Scroll down to see also: Associated Co-op Studies. http://www.solbaram.org/articles/mondra.html.
EcoCities / Politics / Smart Growth
All-Candidates Forums to Showcase Local Growth Issues
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 26, 2005 (SCARP Forum, Eric Doherty post) - Smart Growth BC, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, the BC Sustainable Energy Association, and the Tenants Rights Action Coalition are teaming up to co-host Community Livability All-Candidates Forums in Vancouver and Surrey. The events are FREE but you must REGISTER. For the Vancouver Forum email nov2@smartgrowth.bc.ca. For the Surrey Forum email nov9@smartgrowth.bc.ca or call Ione Smith at 604-915-5234. For more information visit the Smart Growth BC website. November 19 is Election Day! Let’s get smart… about the kind of growth we want!
All-Candidates Forums to Showcase Local Growth Issues
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 26, 2005 (SCARP Forum, Eric Doherty post) - Smart Growth BC, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, the BC Sustainable Energy Association, and the Tenants Rights Action Coalition are teaming up to co-host Community Livability All-Candidates Forums in Vancouver and Surrey. The events are FREE but you must REGISTER. For the Vancouver Forum email nov2@smartgrowth.bc.ca. For the Surrey Forum email nov9@smartgrowth.bc.ca or call Ione Smith at 604-915-5234. For more information visit the Smart Growth BC website. November 19 is Election Day! Let’s get smart… about the kind of growth we want!
Community Building
Responsibilities of Community Organizing
EDMONTON, AB, Oct. 28, 2005 (APIRG) - North Central Edmonton’s Community Action Project is in the process of filling a new Coordinator position for: Undertaking one-to-one individual meetings and door-knocking campaigns with residents to identify neighbourhood pressures and to build community capacity; Identifying and developing leaders in the neighbourhoods of North Central Edmonton; Working with residents and local institutions (including churches, schools, and various other community organizations) to build grassroots citizen power; Supporting leaders in community action and in working with city departments to improve the neighbourhoods of North Central Edmonton; and Organizing leadership reflection groups and training workshops. Contact Pieter de Vosl: pieter@communityactionproject.ca.
Responsibilities of Community Organizing
EDMONTON, AB, Oct. 28, 2005 (APIRG) - North Central Edmonton’s Community Action Project is in the process of filling a new Coordinator position for: Undertaking one-to-one individual meetings and door-knocking campaigns with residents to identify neighbourhood pressures and to build community capacity; Identifying and developing leaders in the neighbourhoods of North Central Edmonton; Working with residents and local institutions (including churches, schools, and various other community organizations) to build grassroots citizen power; Supporting leaders in community action and in working with city departments to improve the neighbourhoods of North Central Edmonton; and Organizing leadership reflection groups and training workshops. Contact Pieter de Vosl: pieter@communityactionproject.ca.
Events / Social Change / Empowerment – Nov. 19, Calgary, AB
Fairly Traded Holiday Festival
CALGARY, AB, Nov. 3, 2005 (PIRG-Calgary, Cody Torgeson post) - Hard to believe it, but time for holiday shopping is here. You can do it the hard way.or you can come to our Fairly Traded Holiday Festival. This year we're holding the festival in conjunction with Hillhurst Sunnyside's 24th Annual Christmas Craft Sale so that you're sure to find something for everyone on your list. As an added bonus you'll be supporting either local artisans, farmers and green businesses or farmers and artisans from the global south. If you know of a small local farmer, artist, or green business who might want a table that day, both the Fairly Traded Holiday Festival and the Craft Sale have room for a few more tables at this point. We also have a few time slots open for musicians to busk that day. Traci Dunlop, Outreach Leader, CUSO, Western/Yukon Office, 205B, 227-10th Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1V5; Ph: (403) 283-2871 ; http://www.cuso.org. Our strength is people working together.
Fairly Traded Holiday Festival
CALGARY, AB, Nov. 3, 2005 (PIRG-Calgary, Cody Torgeson post) - Hard to believe it, but time for holiday shopping is here. You can do it the hard way.or you can come to our Fairly Traded Holiday Festival. This year we're holding the festival in conjunction with Hillhurst Sunnyside's 24th Annual Christmas Craft Sale so that you're sure to find something for everyone on your list. As an added bonus you'll be supporting either local artisans, farmers and green businesses or farmers and artisans from the global south. If you know of a small local farmer, artist, or green business who might want a table that day, both the Fairly Traded Holiday Festival and the Craft Sale have room for a few more tables at this point. We also have a few time slots open for musicians to busk that day. Traci Dunlop, Outreach Leader, CUSO, Western/Yukon Office, 205B, 227-10th Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1V5; Ph: (403) 283-2871 ; http://www.cuso.org. Our strength is people working together.
Sustainable Neighbourhoods
East Van Garden Threatened
WEB Reference, Oct. 27, 2005 (Georgia Straight) - When you walk into Salsbury Garden, the first thing you notice is the quiet. Surrounded by trees—cypress, Norwegian maple, and mountain ash, to name a few—some a century old, the property is buffered against the buzz of Commercial Drive, a block to the west. This time of year, there’s an earthy smell to the space as the scent of the garden’s jasmine, forsythias, camellias, and rose bushes gives way to one of fallen leaves and damp evergreen boughs. A tiny cob house—built with clay, sand, and straw by more than 70 volunteers—rests in the corner of the yard. At the entrance to the garden, two 100-year-old workers’ cottages sit side by side. Located at the southwest corner of Salsbury Drive and Napier Street, the garden has been used by thousands of locals, from school groups that come to learn about earthen construction to neighbours who plant vegetables and drop off their compost. http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=13786.
East Van Garden Threatened
WEB Reference, Oct. 27, 2005 (Georgia Straight) - When you walk into Salsbury Garden, the first thing you notice is the quiet. Surrounded by trees—cypress, Norwegian maple, and mountain ash, to name a few—some a century old, the property is buffered against the buzz of Commercial Drive, a block to the west. This time of year, there’s an earthy smell to the space as the scent of the garden’s jasmine, forsythias, camellias, and rose bushes gives way to one of fallen leaves and damp evergreen boughs. A tiny cob house—built with clay, sand, and straw by more than 70 volunteers—rests in the corner of the yard. At the entrance to the garden, two 100-year-old workers’ cottages sit side by side. Located at the southwest corner of Salsbury Drive and Napier Street, the garden has been used by thousands of locals, from school groups that come to learn about earthen construction to neighbours who plant vegetables and drop off their compost. http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=13786.
