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Member Profile: SF Green Cab

September 28, 2009. San Francisco, CA-SF Green Cab, LLC is a brand-new organizational member.  They are an eco-friendly taxi service based out of San Francisco, California.  They primarily drive Toyota Prius hybrids and they donate money to carbonfund.org, where their money goes toward reforestation in Nicaragua and other places, to offset their carbon emissions. 

They are currently a fairly small worker cooperative, but are growing rapidly.  They started with only eight founding members and one cab in 2005. They now have 21 members and expect to have 12 cabs by December. 

When asked about the co-op’s strengths, Joe Mirabile, one of the original founding members of SF Green Cab, said that there is very little turnover compared to other taxi services.  One reason for this, he suggests, is the focus the co-op has on its members.  Since the co-op is member-run, drivers have an equal voice in how the co-op works, which they wouldn’t have at any other taxi company in San Francisco. 

He gave one specific example of how the co-op values its members.  In San Francisco, there is a common practice amongst taxi companies called “tipping,” where a taxi driver must “tip” the taxi company to get better vehicles.  This practice is very costly to taxi drivers.  Because the driver-members decide how the co-op is run, this practice is strictly forbidden at SF Green Cab. 

Joe also discussed a highlight for him during his time at SF Green Cab.  Recently, they began renting a more centrally located parking lot.  It is adjacent to their office, which makes it easier and safer to collect gates (cab rental fees) and it is close to public transportation, which makes it easier for drivers to get there.

This is just one more example of SF Green Cab’s dedication to its members and the environment wrapped up into one successful project.  The new parking lot makes it easier for drivers to get to work, and- because it is close to public transportation- it is better for the environment.  It is apparent, as Joe said, “[SF Green Cab’s] degree of integrity is pretty high… our mission statement is not just words to us, it’s what we’re all about.”

New Cooperative Apartments for Sale in Minneapolis

August 27, 2009. Minneapolis, MN-Northcountry Cooperative Federal Credit Union is ready to sell an apartment at 2615 Park Avenue Associates. Stay tuned for new apartment availability. Click here for more details.

NCF Announces Appointment of Warren Kramer to the post of Executive Director

Minneapolis, MN. June 24th, 2009.
Northcountry Cooperative Foundation announces the appointment of Warren Kramer as Executive Director.  Kramer will focus on strategic program development and direction, budgeting and partnerships with others in the upper Midwest in support of the cooperative development and training activities of the organization.

This change in leadership is designed to build upon NCF’s leading position in the cooperative sector.  NCF has been raising awareness and visibility of the cooperative model’s potential to bring efficient solutions through its manufactured home park conversion program.   “We are very happy to have Warren assume this responsibility. His experience and knowledge in affordable housing development and finance coupled with his experience in the cooperative business model will continue to prove to be an appreciated asset of this organization,” said Joelyn Malone, NCF Board President. “We will leverage Warren’s experience to help shape the future direction of the organization.”

Kramer has almost 20 years of experience in public, for profit and non profit affordable housing development and finance, organizational development and capacity building, as well as a long history of volunteerism in community affairs.  He has been with NCF as Director of Housing for the past 7 years.

Northcountry Cooperative Foundation (NCF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created in 1999 by Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF), a Minneapolis-based 30-year-old community development loan fund.  NCF’s purpose is to provide training, technical assistance and development services to cooperatives. These initiatives include a variety of activities supporting such things as: affordable housing development, environmental stewardship, locally-based economic development, community self-help, and workplace democracy. NCF and NCDF share the mission of: “investing in economic democracy through cooperative enterprise.”

Swanson holding Ace Award

NCDF Board Vice President Receives ACE Award

July 22, 2009. Minneapolis, MN- A quarter of a century working on behalf of cooperatives has made lawyer David P. Swanson special as a legal professional. Add to that his work as an educator in cooperatives, he becomes rare.

Swanson, chair of the Agribusiness, Rural Electric and Cooperatives practice group at the global law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Minneapolis, received the Professional Contribution by an ACE Member award at The Depot Minneapolis on July 29.
Swanson also serves as Vice-President of Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF) after six years as President. He is Second Vice Chair of the National Cooperative Business Association and a director of the Northcountry Cooperative and Ralph K. Morris foundations. He has been actively involved in cooperative education, including as the chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Joint Ventures Subcommittee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Legal Tax and Accounting Committee, as an active member of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives, and is a frequent speaker and commenter on matters relating to cooperatives. 

“Dave Swanson is the consummate cooperator -- always willing to listen, look forward, take the lead or assist when necessary; he makes connections and is passionate about the cooperative way of doing business,” says cooperative consultant Louis Doering. 

Scott Jax of SPIRE Federal Credit Union adds that Swanson’s support of cooperative organizations and the education they provide was particularly evident in his recent NCDF leadership at a critical period: “He was instrumental in the development of a preferred stock offering, reorganization, and new strategic positioning.”

Others that received ACE awards at the association’s annual institute were William J. Nelson, president of the CHS Foundation, Tanya Gracie of the Canadian Co-operative Association in Ottawa; Amy Fredregill, vice president of the Cooperative Network committed to building cooperative businesses in Wisconsin and Minnesota; Minnesota pioneer Wedge Community Co-op, and La Coop fédérée, based in Montreal, Canada, which is recognized for its director education program.

ACE is a membership organization that links educators, researchers, cooperative members, and cooperative developers across cooperative sectors and national borders to enhance cooperative development, strengthen cooperatives, promote professionalism and improve public understanding.

Contacts:
Sarah Pike, grants manager, pike@ace.coop, 763-432-2032
Cathy L. Chamberlain, communication director,
chamberlain@ace.coop, 905-814-8705

Winners selected at the 2009 Cooperative Awards

April 23, 2009. Minneapolis, MN- The 2009 NCDF Cooperative Awards were held at Pracna on Main in Minneapolis on April 23, 2009 during the Annual Meeting. An unprecedented four Cooperative Awards were awarded to co-op members and NCDF partners for Innovation, Spirit, and Service.

While most of us love the sweet sticky stuff we spread on our pancakes, we probably know little about the complexities of organic maple syrup production and distribution. But one NCDF borrower, Organic Maple Cooperative, producer of Maple Valley syrup knows quite a lot.

After many years of operating as a conventional business, Maple Valley transformed into a co-op in 2007. Prior to becoming a co-op, they were already a pioneer in organic and fair practices in maple production. Organic Maple Co-op developed a hybrid structure to bring together its many stakeholders, with principal representation from organic syrup producers throughout the US and Canada (who have 4 of 7 board seats) – but also representing the workers, consumers and investors (who each have one seat on the board).

NCDF is pleased to present the 2009 COOPERATIVE INNOVATION AWARD to Organic Maple Cooperative of Cashton, Wisconsin in recognition of its innovative hybrid structure and its commitment to family farms, environmental stewardship and fair trade practices.

COOPERATIVE SPIRIT AWARD

Cooperative Spirit is about being a consistent and tireless advocate for the cooperative community at large and living the cooperative principle of “cooperation among cooperatives.” While Lindy Bannister may be a relative newcomer to the Twin Cities co-op community full of long-time stalwarts, her 4 years at GM of the Wedge Co-op have clear demonstrated her cooperative spirit. NCDF has been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of her vocal commitment to cooperation. In 2008 numerous times she spoke up on NCDF’s behalf calling on members and investors to stand behind our organization. And we have seen her demonstrate this spririt over and over again with her work in the cooperative community.

NCDF is pleased to present the 2009 COOPERATIVE SPIRIT AWARD to Lindy Bannister, of the Wedge Commmunity Co-op, Minneapolis in recognition for her passionate and vocal commitment to the principles of cooperation.

COOPERATIVE SERVICE AWARD (1)

Margaret Bau has been described by those who know her as a champion for cooperatives.  Her position as Cooperative Development Specialist at the Stevens Point Office of the USDA requires Margaret to assist many new rural cooperatives. Someone might think, “Well that is her job.” But anyone who has worked with Margaret or seen her in action knows that her commitment and effort goes well beyond her job description and a 40 hour work week.

NCDF has had the fortune to collaborate with Margaret on numerous projects over the years. She was a critical ally for NCDF in our initiative to help launch rural health care cooperatives. We have had many occasions to see her in action - helping cooperatives build strong and healthy governance practices, solidify their business management skills and helping them look beyond the day to day operational challenges to remember the fundamental value of the cooperative model. Somehow, Margaret finds a balance between being an advocate and champion and also holding the co-op to the highest standards and practices.

NCDF is pleased to present the 2009 COOPERATIVE SERVICE AWARD to Margaret Bau, Cooperative Development Specialist with USDA Rural Development in Wisconsin in recognition of her profound commitment and tireless efforts to help rural cooperatives not just survive but succeed and excel.

COOPERATIVE SERVICE AWARD (2)

Over the years, George Huntington and his team at Bloomingfoods Market and Deli have developed a reputation for always being willing to step up and lend a helping hand to their colleagues at other natural foods co-ops around the Midwest. Bloomingfoods Market and Deli was founded in 1975 and over the years it has grown and expanded to serve its community. Now with three successful stores, Bloomingfoods GM and staff clearly know how to make a co-op successful, and they regularly take their knowledge and experience to the aide of other cooperatives. Whether it is an expansion, a relocation, staffing challenges, investory questions or general merchandizing advice, other general managers know they can turn to George for advise and assistance. The efforts of George and his team demonstrate the principle of service and of cooperation among cooperatives.

NCDF is pleased to present the 2009 COOPERATIVE SERVICE AWARD to George Huntington, of Bloomingfoods Market and Deli in Bloomington, Indiana.