<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Sponsored by BASEN, as part of the National Worker Coop Conference:<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;text-align:center'><b><u><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>Co-op Development Models: Lessons for Boston</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>On Friday, June 22nd, 2012, at 10:45 AM to 12:30 PM, at the MIT CoLab, the Boston-Area Solidarity Economy Network (BASEN) will host a workshop on "Co-op Development Models: Lessons for Boston".</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The workshop is part of the <u>Cooperative Development Intensive</u>, a training conference for co-op developers (see below for details and links to more information) held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology CoLab on Friday June 22nd, from 8 AM to 5 PM. The Development conference opens with a welcome and introductions @ 8:30, followed by an Opening Plenary on "DIVERSITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, FUNDING" by the Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives, MadWORC, and the MIT/CoLab, among others.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The BASEN workshop follows the Plenary session where we will reflect on the speakers at the Plenary and what we hope to do in Boston. [Please see below for links and details.]</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>These workshops are leading up to the national conference of the U.S. Federation of Worker Co-operatives on Saturday and Sunday (June 23rd - 24th) at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. This conference will bring together members of worker co-ops from around the country to talk about ways to develop and expand our movement. [Please see below for links and details.]</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Details on <u>Co-op Development Models: Lessons for Boston</u></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Friday, June 22nd, 2012, 10:45 AM - 12:30 PM</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT CoLab, Room 3-270 (???)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Co-sponsored by BASEN and Democracy at Work Network</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This session will be a space for local people to reflect on the morning's plenary presenting various styles of large-scale co-op development efforts.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Community leaders who are involved in creating new cooperatives, as well as those interested in co-op development, will discuss the possibilities for building a movement and infrastructure for the advancement of worker ownership in our region.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>We will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, and the particular cultural, economic, and historic characteristics of the Boston area in order to start developing a local strategy for<span style='color:#1F497D'> </span>co-op building.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Confirmed participants:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fred Rose, Wellspring Initiative and Public Policy Program, University of Massachusetts at Amherst</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Juan Leyton, Neighbor to Neighbor</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Aaron Tanaka, Boston Workers Alliance</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Stacey Cordeiro, Democracy at Work Network</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Julie Matthaei, Boston-Area Solidarity Economy Network (BASEN) & USSEN Board Member</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The workshop will be structured to allow each "headlining" participant to give about 5 minutes of response/analysis to the morning's session, and then basically open it up for discussion.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The conference organizers are also providing a "listener" as well as a facilitator for each session, and maybe our designated "listener" can use a flip chart to capture the important issues, debates, cultural &<span style='color:#1F497D'> </span>economic factors, etc.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For more information, <a href="http://conference2012.usworker.coop/sessions/daylong-intensive-cooperative-development-massachusetts-institute-technology-register-separ">http://conference2012.usworker.coop/sessions/daylong-intensive-cooperative-development-massachusetts-institute-technology-register-separ</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Details on the <u>Cooperative Development Intensive</u>:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>New Directions in Worker Cooperative Development</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Friday, June 22, 2012, 8am-5pm</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sponsored and hosted by MIT CoLab</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Co-produced by USFWC and Grassroots Economic Organizing (GEO)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>With interest in worker cooperatives coming from all directions - community groups, cooperative developers, immigrant communities, unions, cities, community economic development organizations, and everyday people wanting to own and control their own businesses - now is the time to continue the national conversation on worker cooperative development. Our aim is a multifaceted and critically appreciative conversation that addresses the deeper issues both animating and challenging worker cooperative development in 2012. Participants will emerge with a richer understanding of the landscape of worker cooperative development and a critical analysis of some development models. We are bringing together cooperative developers, organizers, academics, policymakers, and people who work in worker cooperatives to advance a conversation on “how to move boldly, effectively, and coherently toward establishing a cooperative economy.” </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This daylong intensive continues the ongoing development discussion started by GEO at the Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy in 2011. It will pick up on five major themes emerging from that discussion: (1) Growth (2) Accountability (3) Funding (4) Diversity (5) Documenting Successful Practices</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For more information, <a href="http://conference2012.usworker.coop/coop-dev-intensive">http://conference2012.usworker.coop/coop-dev-intensive</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Details on the <u>USFWC National Conference</u>:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fourth National Worker Cooperative Conference</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Saturday, June 23, 2012, 9 AM - 7 PM (or whenever everyone falls asleep)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sunday, June 23, 2012, 9 AM - 4 PM</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sponsored by the U.S. Federation of Worker Co-operatives and Co-sponsored by Equal Exchange, Fund 4 Democratic Communities, the Co-operative Foundation, Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy, among others.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This fourth national worker cooperative conference is a CELEBRATION of worker cooperatives, an INVITATION to the public, and a place of CONGREGATION for worker cooperative members and supporters....and it's happening in 2012, the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>We're creating a big tent for worker cooperatives, cooperative developers, policymakers, community organizers, academics, and others to come together to learn and be inspired by the powerful possibilities of cooperatives, worker ownership and workplace democracy.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The conference is open to the public. It is also a time for members of the US Federation to come together, share stories and skills, make friends and connections, and find ways to do business together. Conference attendees will find a variety of hands-on practical workshops, opportunities for thinking about the bigger picture, several stimulating speakers, and of course -- always -- a good party!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Please join us in Boston to continue building this dynamic, powerful and pluralistic movement of worker-owners from around the country and the world.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>We will provide Spanish translation as well as childcare.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For more information, <a href="http://conference2012.usworker.coop/">http://conference2012.usworker.coop/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>