Fwd: ☀️ FREE ☀️ Co-op Month Webinars - Register today!

[Emmy Andersson]

Do you get our newsletter? SUBSCRIBE HERE to get regular updates throughout Co-op Month and beyond! View this email in your browser Happy Co-op Month! Scan the email below for FREE Co-op Month learning sessions and Maine-focused Co-op Month resources. Psst… Maine Co-ops, let us know if you’re doing anything exciting for your member-owners, workers, or community in October. We can help advertise and spread the word! CO-OP MONTH WEBINARS MAINE CO-OP MONTH WEBINAR SERIES GROWING THE COOPERATIVE ECONOMY: TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE COOPERATIVE EXPANSION IN MAINE DATE: October 2023 TIME: Wednesdays 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM LOCATION: Zoom Webinar LANGUAGE / LENGUA: English & Spanish / inglés y español Please join Bernstein Shur and the Cooperative Maine Business Alliance for a joint webinar series to celebrate “Co-op Month” in October. This webinar series is geared towards business owners, employees, community members, and others considering a co-op structure for their business or community, as well as those who currently operate a co-op. Session 1: Wednesday, October 11 Session 2: Wednesday, October 18 Session 3: Wednesday, October 25 REGISTER FOR ONE OR ALL OF THEM TODAY: Session 1 | Human Resources Best Practices for Your Growing Co-Op Business Wednesday, October 11 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM During this session, the panelists will discuss best practices and policies in human resources for cooperative employees, managers, directors, and others as the cooperative business expands and adds more employees, with a focus on Maine law. Panelists:  Tara Walker – Shareholder, Bernstein Shur, Labor & Employment John Crane – General Manager, Portland Food Co-op   Session 2 | Strategies for New Co-Ops: Financing, Business Planning, and Growth Wednesday, October 18 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM During this session, the panelists will discuss issues relevant to start-up co-ops, including issues related to business planning, entity formation, financing, and early growth. Panelists:  Helen Coburn – Shareholder, Bernstein Shur, Business Law Sarah Speare – Co-Founder/CEO, Tootie’s Tempeh, Inc.   Session 3 | Strategies for Planning and Financing Cooperative Expansions Wednesday, October 25 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM During this session, the panelists will address strategies for existing cooperatives looking to plan and finance the expansion and growth of the business and their facilities, including examples from recent Maine co-ops that have completed their own expansion projects. Panelists:  Chris Linder – Loan & Outreach Officer, Cooperative Fund of the NE Adam Prescott – Shareholder, Bernstein Shur, Business Restructuring & Insolvency Doug Johnson – General Manager, Belfast Community Co-op Co-op Month Webinar Series Co-op Month USFWC Worker Benefit Program Webinars Become a USFWC member to access benefits! Health Insurance (in select states), HRA/HSA/FSA benefits, and Vivana perks are available on a rolling basis. Open Enrollment for benefits beginning January 1, 2024 will run from October 2, 2023 to December 7, 2023 October 17 Worker Benefits Overview (English) 4:00 PM ET October 24 Worker Benefits Overview (Spanish) 5:00 PM ET November 15 Worker Benefits Office Hours (English/Spanish) 2:00 PM ET CO-OP MONTH OUTREACH SUPPORT SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGES & SAMPLE TEXT, PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATES, AND OTHER RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AT MAINE.COOP Please use and share Maine Co-op Month resources provided at maine.coop/co-op-month. Contact em...@maine.coop with specific co-op month needs and inquiries. 2023 Co-op Month Resources RESOURCES CMBA Resources: CO-OP MONTH 2022 Webinar Series Playlist CMBA P6 2022 Playlist CMBA P6 2020 Playlist CMBA P5 Learning Series 2021 Playlist CMBA Membership Owning Maine’s Future Report from 2019 - Opportunities and Policies for Growing a Cooperative Economy in Maine Other Resources General Resources 2023 Artists and Makers: I Want to Open a… -How the co-op business structure can be beneficial for artists and makers - starting at 36:42. Common Signs of Financial Distress for Co-ops Guide to creating an Agrarian Commons - Farmland Access What is Participatory Democracy? Future Horizons: Visons Toward Democratizing our Economy How Employee Ownership can Address the Racial Wealth Gap Legal Tool for Land Return Become a member of the CMBA network of cooperatives! Cooperative Maine Business Alliance will help your co-op with exposure and marketing, education, and with leveraging the potential to network and collaborate for greater impact. CMBA offers workshops, trainings, opportunities for peer mentoring and shared services. We also provide a platform for co-op advocacy and increased involvement in future development of the cooperative economy in Maine. Member benefits extend to all staff persons, board members and volunteers within your organization. You can join as an Individual for as little as $25 Become a Member Today! Copyright (C) 2023 Cooperative Maine Business Alliance. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Cooperative Maine Business Alliance PO Box 1051 Northampton, MA 01061-1051 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe SUBSCRIBE HERE

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Emmy Andersson

Cooperative Business Developer &

CMBA Network Coordinator

Cooperative Development Institute

Cooperative Maine Business Alliance

eande...@cdi.coop, em...@maine.coop

Phone: 207-576-3690

Pronouns: She, Her

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CDI is a nationally recognized leader in democratic member-owned business development, with over 25 years of outstanding cooperative training experience, please support our work and donate today! Interested in staying in touch with us? Join our newsletter mailing list here.