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The global voice of co-operatives www.2012.coop

June 2011

Stronger, together – ICA members unite behind common message

Nicola Kelly

"Together we can tell the whole world what we do," says ICA Board member, Anne Santamaki, of the opportunity unleashed by the UN International Year of Co-operatives. It's why her employer, SOK Corporation “ Finland's leading retailing co-operative with more than a 40 per cent share of the national market “ was the first to support the ICA's IYC 2012 global appeal fund.

IYC 2012 Co-ordinator Nicola Kelly says funds have begun to roll in for the appeal, which will enable the ICA to deliver the IYC campaign.

"Having launched the global appeal in January, members have to date generously donated CHF 300,000, setting us well on the way to our CHF1.5 million target ¦ We have now entered stage two of the appeal campaign. We now have our campaign objectives in place as well as a host of benefits for sponsors". More story and list of contributors

Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World
Trophy

Global Co-op Awards deadline extended

Multi-lingual entries are now being accepted until August 1, 2011, for the coveted 2011 dotCoop Global Awards for Cooperative Excellence. The awards recognise the application of co-operative values and principles to drive co-operative and business success. Read more

Americas Advocacy Network

Americas Advocacy Network

An ICA-Americas initiative will create a Network of Co-operative Parliamentarians in the Americas. Member organisations are also developing strategies to influence government and place co-operative issues on national agendas. In the US, the National Cooperative Business Association has asked members to lobby senators so that Congress and the Obama administration can understand the importance of 2012. Read more

Nicola Kelly

IYC Co-ordinator's new blog

Read updates on ICA's global appeal, the free offer for an IYC domain from dotcoop and extended deadline for the global awards. Plus links and likes from the blog of Nicola Kelly, ICA's Coordinator for IYC 2012. Read more

 Canadian Co-operative Association

Canada's co-op week promotes IYC 2012

The UN IYC slogan – Co-operative Enterprises Build a Better World – will be the theme of Canada's Co-op Week (Oct 16–22). The 2012 slogan will also be used as the theme for Co-op Month in the United States in October. The UN official launch of the International Year is scheduled for the end of October. Read more

Sustainable employment gets spotlight

Sustainable employment gets spotlight

CECOP – CICOPA Europe has launched a campaign highlighting the fact that enterprises owned by their workers create more sustainable employment. Why? Find out in the May issue of Work Together magazine. Case studies and testimonies are presented on the campaign website.

ICA Expo 2012

ICA Expo 2012

ICA Expo 2012 – the world co-operative exhibition – will be held in Manchester UK from 31 October to 2 November 2011. The global co-op trade fair is a key event in the official closing of IYC 2012 and a unique opportunity to connect to co-operative businesses with decision makers and trading partners across the globe. Read more

ICA Africa

Job vacancy ICA Africa

ICA Africa is currently recruiting a Regional Director, reporting to the Director General of the ICA and the Regional Board of ICA Africa. Read the job description Adobe PDF

South African National Apex Co-operative (SANACO)

New member

South African National Apex Co-operative (SANACO) is a new ICA Member. It advocates on behalf of co-operatives in South Africa and helps them to develop. SANACO has 23 member societies throughout South Africa and in various sectors and represents 600 individual member societies. Find out more information

Consejo Nacional de Coopeartivas (CONACOOP) of Costa Rica

New member

Consejo Nacional de Coopeartivas (CONACOOP) of Costa Rica joins the ICA. CONACOOP is the apex organisation for the co-operative movement in Costa Rica, representing, uniting and defending the movement. CONACOOP develops policies and strategies to promote the co-operative sector in Costa Rica. Find out more information

Edgar Parnell

Co-operation – the beautiful idea

Co-operatives and mutuals are a better form of business, according to a new 80 page report based on author Edgar Parnell's lifetime experiences working in and supporting the development of co-operatives and mutuals worldwide. Parnell says co-operation needs to be recognised as 'the key' to human progress. Read more

As seen in the news...

Seen recently in the press

On 15 April, The Financial Times reported on how co-ops are leading the effort to contain food costs in China – the article was titled "Co-ops on Front Line of Food Cost Battle". The May 21 issue of The Economist writes on FC Barcelona and its business success with a mention about its co-operative structure.

Australia's Secretariat for IYC 2012 has successfully campaigned for a commemorative IYC 2012 pre-stamped envelope

Shout it out – Share your 2012 celebration activity

Australia's Secretariat for IYC 2012 has successfully campaigned for a commemorative IYC 2012 pre-stamped envelope – do you have a 2012 event or activity to share? Add your celebration activity to the IYC 2012 Calendar

Calendar

The ICA calendar has a list of ICA events and related co-operative activities for the whole year.
Visit the calendar

This Month

16

ICA Americas Board meeting

Columbia (16–17 June)

24

Co-operative Congress 2011, Co-operatives UK, Birmingham

Marking the start of the 2nd UK Co-operatives Fortnight (24–26 June)

"Our Time to Shine"

“Our Time to Shine” is Canada’s promotional video for IYC 2012.
Watch it here...

Out Time to Shine

2012: International Year of Co-operatives

Find out more on the co-operative movement and the plans for 2012. Now also in French and Spanish.

2012: International Year of Co-operatives Presentation