Registration
is now open for NASCO Institute 2014, which will take place November 7-9 in Ann
Arbor, Michigan. NASCO Institute is an exciting opportunity to meet and network
with hundreds of co-opers from all over the U.S. and Canada, to deepen
understandings of our movements, and to learn new cooperative skills.
The
deadline for the discounted early-bird rate is Friday, October 10, so register
now on our website. Scholarship applications are due on Friday, September 26
- you can read more about our Low Income Scholarship Fund here.
This
year's conference theme "Co-ops for Life: Owning our Future," focuses
on the importance of individual and organizational development as strategies
for cross-sectoral movement building. This theme provides a space for you to
reflect on your co-op's position in our broader movement, gain tools to support
the sustainability of your organization in the long-term, and envision your own
future as a cooperative leader and change agent.
Check
out this year's schedule, course listings, and presenter bios -
2014 programming features seven course blocks filled with workshops on a
wide variety of topics organized into six different course
tracks (co-op skills, co-op development, anti-oppressive skills, the cooperative
movement, large co-op specific tools, and topics for co-op staff and managers).
Rather
than showcasing only one keynote speaker this year, we'll be featuring two
impressive speakers - Nikki MarÃn Baena, Co-Director of Cooperation Texas, will
lead the keynote on Saturday and Rachel Plattus, Director of Youth and
Student Organizing for the New Economy Coalition, will lead a plenary session
on Sunday.
Register
on our website today! Our web registration system can accommodate group
registration of up to 10 people at a time - if you require assistance with
registration, particularly for larger groups, please email Rek Kwawer at
rek@nasco.coop. If you have any questions about Institute in general, please
email Morgan Crawford at morgan@nasco.coop.
In
cooperation,
The
NASCO Staff
--
**
PROGRAMMING & LOGISTICS **
*COOPERATIVE
SKILLS ROUNDTABLES*
The
Cooperative Skills Roundtables are designed as open, participatory spaces to
build knowledge in areas that are key to running your co-op. Knowledgeable
facilitators will guide the discussion, but more than anything roundtables will
give participants a chance to hear how folks in the room have dealt with
challenges at their own co-ops. Everyone will go home with a packet of
resources which will also be available on the NASCO website.
*COOPERATIVE
GAME NIGHT*
Join
Brian Van Slyke (Toolbox for Education & Social Action) & Charlie DeTar
(NASCO Board) for a fun-filled evening as they share the games that they’ve
created (Co-opoly, Moon Talk, and Flame War). Make a new friend, learn how
Charlie and Brian created their games, and sharpen your cooperative skills all
at once! This is guaranteed to be a good time.
*BANQUET
& HALL OF FAME*
Every
year, the Banquet is a time for all participants of Institute to share the same
space in reflection, over a hearty meal. We welcome new members to the movement
and, in the Hall of Fame Ceremony, recognize individuals who have shown
outstanding commitment to the cooperative movement through their hard work and
tireless enthusiasm for cooperation. Those wishing to run for Active Member
Representative will give brief speeches before members have the opportunity to
vote for them.
*NASCO
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING*
The
Annual General Meeting (AGM) is where NASCO members can voice their opinions
and engage in NASCO’s governance. This get-together gives delegates a chance to
think and speak together as a broad and diverse membership about the future we
envision for NASCO's co-op education, development, and organizing. It is also
the forum for active members to nominate and elect an Active Member
Representative (AMR). The AMR is elected by active member co-ops at Institute
and serves a one-year term on the NASCO board of directors.
AGM
delegates will receive a reduction in their registration fees (1 per co-op).
The AGM will take place on Sunday morning, during Course Blocks 5 & 6.
Breakfast will be served for participants. All are welcome to attend the AGM.
Voting privileges will be limited to one delegate per NASCO active member
co-op. If your co-op would like to join NASCO or renew your membership, or if
you have questions about participating in the AGM, please contact Rek at
rek@nasco.coop.
*GUERRILLA
WORKSHOP SPACES*
Is
there something that you’ve always wanted to share or teach? Do you have a rad
skill that you’d like to showcase in a skillshare? Would you like to present a
workshop for your co-op, but need feedback from other cooperators first? Well,
we clearly had you in mind when we chose to host a Guerrilla Workshop this year
at the Institute. At any point on Saturday or Sunday, presenters are welcome to
self-organize and use either of two rooms that are designated solely for
Guerrilla Workshops. Bring a note or flyer to the Registration Desk, and we can
even advertise it for you!
*INTER-COOPERATIVE
COUNCIL TOURS*
The
ICC Ann Arbor is made up of 19 houses with unique personalities and rich
history. Born during the Great Depression, growing by leaps and bounds in
the sixties and seventies, and still going strong in 2011, the ICC has a long
history of student cooperation. Join us on a tour led by ICC Ann Arbor members
to hear (and see) the dirt on the ICC.
*DETROIT
TOUR*
Folks
had so much fun on the Detroit Tour last year that we’re bringing it back
again! Departing the University of Michigan Student Union in Ann Arbor at 11:00
am and returning around 5:00 pm, tour participants will visit and learn about
cooperative and community-based organizations that are serving the Detroit
community and changing the local economy. More information will be posted on
our website as the tour schedule is finalized. An additional fee of $20 per
person, payable on-site or with registration, covers round trip transportation
with local tour guides.
*THE
COMMONS / COFFEE HOUSE*
Introduced
in 2006, the Commons is the caffeinated haven of Institute. It serves as a
space for networking, hanging out with friends, participating in skillshares,
holding informal caucuses and meetings, relaxing, browsing the bookstores, and
drinking coffee & tea. Open from early morning to late at night, this will
be the place to take a break from the packed weekend and connect with other
co-opers.
*FILM
SCREENING: SHIFT CHANGE*
The
Friday Night Film Festival has become an Institute tradition. This year, we’re
screening SHIFT CHANGE to explore the ways that worker-owned cooperatives can
combat economic inequality and create new economic realities.
SHIFT
CHANGE is an inspiring documentary film produced by award-winning Northwest
filmmakers Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin. At a time when many are
disillusioned with big banks, big business, and growing inequality in the
United States, employee ownership offers one of the solutions for workers and
communities. SHIFT CHANGE visits thriving cooperative businesses in the U.S.
and Spain, sharing on-the-ground experiences from the worker-owners on the
front lines of the new economy.
*DAY-LONG
INTENSIVE: ANTI-RACISM FOR COLLECTIVE LIBERATION*
In
this interactive day-long intensive training on Saturday, the Catalyst Project
will lead participants through developing visions for social change, exploring
how institutional racism functions, and examining how white privilege
undermines social justice efforts. We'll develop tools to build powerful
multiracial movements for collective liberation. This workshop is geared
towards white people; folks of all racial and ethnic identities are welcome to
attend. In order to create a productive and interactive learning environment,
participation will be limited to 30 people.
*CAUCUSES*
Caucuses
are spaces for participants from similar identities to share experiences,
strategize, and build power, as well as plan actions and draft proposals to
bring to the AGM. Caucus participants elect a caucus chair to keep each
caucus active throughout the year and ti be an official representative to
NASCO’s Diversity Congress. This year, the following caucuses will be
organized: Women's Caucus; People of Color Caucus; Working Class Caucus;
Queer/Trans Caucus; People with Disabilities Caucus; and the Collective
Liberation Caucus.
*COLLECTIVE
LIBERATION CAUCUS*
The
Collective Liberation Caucus is a forum to examine how our movements for
liberation intersect with each other and to build our work based in a common vision
of a liberated world. How do our social justice efforts--fighting racism,
working for gender justice or economic justice, creating collective access, and
creating economic alternatives to capitalism--support each other? What
roles can we play to create more just institutions and a cooperative sector
committed to justice?
*DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES LUNCHEON*
Members
of NASCO Development Services (NDS) investing member cooperatives, supporting
members, potential members, former NDS clients, and former members will have
the opportunity to learn about NDS's advocacy and development work. The
luncheon is open to anyone interested in NDS's work.
*HOUSING*
Some
free housing is available in local community homes and student housing co-ops.
If you are interested in this option, you must fill out the application for
community housing on the registration form. These spaces are limited, so please
apply early. Rooms have also been reserved at local hotels for Institute participants
and faculty. For more information about how to reserve these rooms at a
discounted conference rate, please see our website.
*CHILDCARE*
In
order to make Institute accessible for parents of young children, we provide
referrals to experienced childcare providers who have agreed to be available
during Saturday & Sunday of Institute on a sliding scale of $15-$30 per
day. If you need childcare during Institute, please fill out the childcare
section during registration. For more information, email Rek at rek@nasco.coop.
*RIDESHARE*
In
order to keep transportation costs low, we encourage our participants to use
low-cost travel alternatives (buses, trains, carpools) whenever possible. In an
effort to facilitate the formation of carpools between different attendees,
we've created a rideshare board using a third-party website. To use this board,
please follow this link to post a ride or join a waitlist for future rides.
*ACCESSIBILITY*
We
actively strive to create an event that is fully accessible for all who wish to
participate. We aim to avoid replicating the barriers in society that exclude
and marginalize people. We are doing the following to ensure that the 2014
NASCO Institute is accessible:
+Offering
need-based scholarships
+Making
affordable childcare available
+Taking
care to house participants in co-ops where they will feel safe and affirmed
+Assuring
that conference sites, including all restrooms, are wheelchair accessible
+Asking
about personal access needs in our registration form
+Displaying
ingredients lists for all meals; including vegan, vegetarian and meat options
+Encouraging
and supporting the participation of people identifying with historically
marginalized groups within NASCO's membership
+Providing
gender neutral restroom facilities as well as education on their necessity
+Asking
that participants refrain from wearing strong smelling lotions, perfumes, or
other chemically-scented body products (such as shampoo, body wash, and
deodorant)
+Requesting
that presenters speak loudly and clearly, respecting the needs of those who
have impaired hearing
+Designating
a quiet room where participants can take a break and rest
+Creating
safer spaces for people of similar identities to caucus
+Providing
materials in a variety of formats
+All
of our attempts to equalize access are made within the limits of current
resources and therefore are not perfect. However, we welcome suggestions for
improvement and will do our best to implement them.
For
accessibility requests, please list them when you register or contact Rek at
rek@nasco.coop. We appreciate your help in making the 2014 NASCO Institute an
event that is welcoming and accessible to all who attend.
