Mr. Favreau^* (in photo) holds the Canada Research Chair in Community Development at the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), and is a member of the International Summit of Cooperatives' program validation committee.

In an interview he granted us, he gave us some context for this new dynamic, which has been in evidence for the past decade and seems to be gaining more momentum this year, the International Year of Cooperatives.

What is the role of cooperatives in the global economy?

Cooperatives are not there to replace what Ricardo Petrella so aptly calls the “capitalist market economy.” However, they can offer an alternative and help contain the influence of the dominant economic model in a number of sectors, as we've seen in the financial and agricultural sectors!

Representing 10% of the labour market, 10% of the financial market and 10% of the GDP in many countries around the world (sometimes even higher, as in the Scandinavian countries), cooperatives as a whole have the potential to seriously alter our economic structure.

Based on the above, cooperatives can significantly help regions (or countries) leverage sustainable development, turning it into a socio-economic priority. This would help prevent the depletion of resources and regional exodus. Although cooperatives cannot survive without making a profit, their profitability has a limit and is more concerned with the common good, both in terms of its structure and its mission. Cooperatives do not outsource; they participate in the development of economies for communities that promote the creation and distribution of wealth.

You say you are sensing a new dynamic from the cooperative movement that multinationals are going to have to reckon with from now on. What do you mean by that?

For far too long, the cooperative world was inward-looking; however, in the last while, it has started to express itself, gain more visibility, and develop a stronger voice in the public sphere. There has been a very obvious shift.

For example, internationally speaking, the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) has become much more democratic and decentralized over the past decade or so by opening four regional offices on four different continents. Europe still maintains its important role, but the other continents now exert greater influence and cooperatives from countries in the southern hemisphere also have a stronger presence.

In addition, the Mont Blanc Meetings (MBM), which have become an international forum relatively recently, help the cooperative movement gain wider recognition of its role alongside international institutions, particularly at the next Earth Summit taking place in Rio this coming June. Although expectations have not been set very high, Rio+20 will be instrumental in finding solutions to help us emerge from this economic and environmental crisis that the dominant economic model has gotten us into.

Quebec is certainly no slouch when it comes to this emerging dynamic. In 2010, the cooperative movement organized a large international conference in Lévis. And this year, Desjardins Group, one of its members, is going even further by organizing an International Summit of Cooperatives in collaboration with ICA and St. Mary's University. A mere five years ago, no one would have believed this was possible!

That said, at the 5th MBM held in the fall of 2011, more than 250 cooperative and mutual leaders from five continents met to lay the foundations for a mobilization that will allow the cooperative movement to keep the momentum building well beyond 2012, especially in terms of sustainable development. The best part is, this group has a wonderful rapport: they talk to one another, run in the same circles, interact and extend invitations to one another. Desjardins Group spoke there, as did the ICA. The International Summit of Cooperatives is a fine example of this new dynamic, which the organization's leadership intends to carry on into the future.

At the end of the 2012 Summit, a joint declaration will be presented to participants. What is the one key element it should include?

The declaration should make it very clear that the cooperative movement has acknowledged the urgent environmental situation and expressed its desire to take strong action in the public sphere.

To do this, cooperatives need to take strong, unified action to ensure that their political weight matches their economic weight.

Together, they need to convey the message that they represent an alternative to the current crisis, which, unlike the crisis of the 1930s, affects both the economy and the environment. A strictly economic response, even one that's committed to sustainable development, is not enough. The response must be backed by political action to influence governments and international institutions.

But that is no easy task. On the one hand, the cooperative movement's limited political recognition stems, in part, from the pressure exerted on governments and international institutions by the capitalist ideology dominant in the free market and by lobbies representing the interests of multinationals. On the other hand, as Hugues Sibille, Vice President of France's Crédit cooperative, has pointed out, the cooperative movement struggles with its ability to present a strong, unified voice.

Achieving greater economic and political influence: this is the big challenge that lies ahead in order to address the need to acknowledge the urgent environmental situation and express a desire to take strong action in the public sphere.

* Louis Favreau is a sociologist and professor at the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO). His research and expertise is focused on cooperatives and collectively-owned enterprises, social movements and community organizations. His most recent work, entitled Économie et société : pistes de sortie de crise (co-written with Ernesto Molina), was published in 2011. He also has a blog (in French only) that can be found at: http://jupiter.uqo.ca/ries2001/carnet/.

Objective

The workshop's main objective is to assemble leaders and representatives of forestry cooperatives from around the world in order to build a solid network and promote a better understanding of the industry, which is a nerve centre of the economy.

Discussion topics

The workshop will be participatory: everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to introduce their forestry cooperative and explain how it works and the issues it is facing.

Participants will also discuss four central themes:

• - How has the forestry cooperative network changed over time?
• - What are the forestry industry's main challenges today?
• - What are the cooperative model's main challenges?
• - How can cooperatives benefit from doing business with other cooperatives around the world?

Contact

To find out more or to register for the workshop, contact Jocelyn Lessard, Managing Director of the Fédération québécoise des coopératives forestières, by email at j.lessard@fqcf.coop.

Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen (in photo) was a leading figure in the development of financial cooperatives, both in Europe and around the world! Here is a brief overview of his life and achievements.

Born in 1818 in Hamm, Germany, Raiffeisen came from a family of small farm operators in the Rheinland. Working as a labourer from a young age, he was confronted early on by the suffering of the rural people, who were often subject to exploitative loan shark practices.

In 1845, after working as a civil servant with the Prussian government in Koblenz, he was appointed mayor of Weyerbusch, which was plagued by a severe economic crisis and famine from 1846 to 1848.

Bread and credit for farmers

In 1846, motivated by his official duties and his Christian beliefs, Raiffeisen founded a “society for grain and bread supply,” which involved building a communal cooperative bakery.

After being transferred to Flammersfeld in 1848, Raiffeisen sought to understand the credit needs of farmers and craftsmen. With the support of the wealthy class, he created a new association that helped small farmers acquire cattle so they wouldn't have to mortgage their assets and go into debt.

From cooperative principles to the first rural credit unions

This association quickly evolved into a credit society where farmers could borrow money at a low rate to buy their cattle directly.

Already back then, the credit society was administered according to principles that many financial cooperatives would later adopt: unlimited liability for members, volunteer directors, limited geographic area, and allocation of surpluses to an indivisible reserve.

In 1852, Raiffeisen was elected mayor of Heddesdorf, a manufacturing town. He founded a charitable association there, which in 1862 became a credit society where members' deposits served to provide loans for other members.

And thus, the first credit union was born!

The initiative gained a following in German-speaking areas and eventually made its way to Alsace, which was under German rule at the time. The credit union idea was copied in western France, spearheaded by Louis Durand in particular. Crédit Mutuel and Crédit Agricole are, in fact, direct descendants of Raiffeisen's initiative.

A work in progress

In 1863, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen retired from public service, but continued his work, visiting rural communities and neighbouring countries of Germany.

In 1869, after inspiring the creation of close to one hundred credit unions in Germany, Raiffeisen set up a central clearing house, and then a federation in 1877.

By the time of his death in 1888, "Raiffeisenverband" (Raiffeisen-inspired initiatives) were beginning to spread to the north-eastern part of France. Raiffeisenbanks still exist to this day in Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria.

Sources:

• - Wikipedia
• - Chambre régionale de l'économie sociale et solidaire de l'Île de France (CRESS IDF)
• - Centre international du Crédit Mutuel
• - Crédit Mutuel, Altkirch Region

“We are thrilled to be able to count on the invaluable support provided to us by Agropur and La Coop fédérée, as well as PwC Canada, which has a wealth of international expertise with agricultural cooperatives,” declared Stéphane Bertrand, Executive Director of the Summit.

Here is a brief profile of these three natural partners of the Summit.

Agropur

Agropur is a Canadian dairy cooperative with a network of 3,349 member organizations located in 15 regions across Quebec.

These organizations produce over three billion litres of milk annually, which is processed in Agropur's 27 plants across Canada, the United States and Argentina. This is how Agropur is able to offer such an impressive array of dairy products to a wide variety of clients across Canada.

Generating annual sales of over $3.6 billion, Agropur has 5,700 employees and many other contract employees responsible for milk collection and distribution who combine their efforts and expertise to ensure that the final product offered meets all expectations.

2013 will mark 75 years of success for Agropur, and it will celebrate by continuing to build on the vision of its founders. By remaining true to its cooperative values, this organization with modest beginnings is now one of the leaders in the Canadian dairy industry.

Visit Agropur's site

La Coop fédérée

La Coop fédérée is the largest agri-food company in Quebec. And 2012 is doubly significant for La Coop, as it marks not only the International Year of Cooperatives, but also its 90th year in business!

La Coop fédérée represents 90,000 members in 103 cooperatives with facilities in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It employs over 10,000 people and generates sales of $4.6 billion.

La Coop fédérée is present throughout the agri-food chain and, as a wholesaler, provides agricultural producers with the goods and services they need to operate their businesses, such as oil products, hardware and agricultural machinery.

Founded in December 1922 following a decree authorizing the merger of three central cooperatives, La Coop fédérée developed into a large organization during the Second World War.

It has continued to expand to present day through various mergers and acquisitions.

Visit La Coop fédérée's site

PwC: mapping the world's agricultural cooperatives!

PwC is a network of firms in 158 countries with close to 169,000 people committed to delivering high-quality assurance, tax and consulting services geared to publicly traded and privately held companies and governments operating in a wide variety of industries.

PwC publishes an annual overview of European agricultural cooperatives. This year, in conjunction with the International Summit of Cooperatives, PwC will map out the legal and regulatory constraints weighing on agricultural cooperatives in the world's primary agricultural countries, the impacts they have on access to funding, and consequently on growth strategies. This invaluable document will provide an overarching vision of the fundamental trends associated with current and future challenges.

Operating in Canada for more than 100 years, PwC Canada has over 5,700 partners and employees based in 26 offices nationwide, from St. John's, Newfoundland to Vancouver, British Columbia.

PwC Canada's main areas of expertise include:

• Audit and assurance
• Management of risks and regulatory requirements
• Performance and process improvements
• Corporate finance and transaction services
• Canadian and international tax consulting and compliance
• Estate and succession planning

Visit PwC Canada's website

In addition to publishing several books and working for various newspapers and magazines, Bibby has also undertaken work for the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the International Labour Organization (ILO – Coop branch), Co-operatives UK and the Cooperative Group*.

We asked him to trace the milestones of the cooperative movement and the challenges that lie ahead.

Has the cooperative model undergone any major changes in the last 30 years, and if so, which stand out the most to you?

There's been a welcome renaissance in the global cooperative movement in the past 20 or 30 years, with a renewed commitment to fundamental cooperative principles, including the importance of member control and member democracy.

For me, the 1995 revision of the ICA's cooperative values and principles symbolized the necessary fight-back against the widespread distortion of the cooperative business model into quasi-state-managed enterprise in many parts of the world. The ILO's Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation in 2002 was another step forward, and of course, the 2012 UN Year of Cooperatives is a massive opportunity.

Coupled with these international initiatives, I sense a new determination by many long-established cooperatives to run their businesses more effectively and more “cooperatively.” But there's still a long way to go.

Based on your observations, what are the main challenges facing cooperative enterprises in the years to come?

If cooperatives are to claim – as they should – the ethical high ground in business, then corporate governance is of fundamental importance. There are still too many examples of poor practice within our movement.

The second big challenge for cooperatives to address, I think, relates to capital – of being able to access sufficient capital for business development needs, without having to rely on equity markets. We need to be creative in devising new financial instruments, and in channelling socially responsible investment (SRI) funds into cooperative enterprise. The risk of demutualization remains a real one in some countries.

And how should they prioritize to meet these challenges head on?

The ICA and its sectoral organizations need to give a strong steer in relation to corporate governance. I think we are approaching the time when the values and principles of the movement may need to be reviewed again and strengthened. And there needs to be much more intensive work undertaken around cooperative capital.

One of the goals of the International Summit of Cooperatives is to have participants adopt a common declaration. What is the one key point you would like to see included?

At present there is no commitment in the ICA 1995 values and principles to meeting the International Labour Organization's Decent Work standards for cooperative employees. I think it should be part of cooperative principles that core labour standards (as identified in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work) are respected by all cooperatives.

* In recent years, Andrew Bibby has worked for various organizations, including Co-operatives UK, the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the International Labour Organization (ILO – Coop branch), Co-operatives UK and the Cooperative Group, as well as for international trade union bodies and NGOs. He edits the quarterly magazine of the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF).

In 2012, two international organizations will be holding major events at which they will be presenting scientific papers:

• - The European Association of Co-Operative Banks (EACB) will hold their 5th convention in Belgium in December.
• - The New Zealand Association for the Study of Cooperatives and Mutuals (NZASCM) is organizing a research conference to be held in New Zealand in June.

Call from the European Association of Co-Operative Banks

The call from the EACB is for researchers 35 and under (those born in 1977 or after). Co-authored scientific papers will be accepted, provided all the authors are 35 and under.

Research themes

Papers should focus mainly on cooperative banks, rather than other types of financial cooperatives such as credit unions. They may compare this type of banking organization to other types of financial institutions.

Papers should be written in English and be related to one of the following themes:

• - Regulatory challenges of cooperative banks
• - Cooperative banks and financial stability
• - Cooperative banks and social and environmental responsibility
• - Cooperative banks: innovation and the development of small business
• - Governance aspects of cooperative banks
• - Diversity in banking: the role of cooperative banks

Submission deadline: May 31, 2012

To submit a paper, email eacbawards@eurocoopbanks.coop.

For complete information on the call for papers:

Call for papers from the New Zealand Association for the Study of Cooperatives and Mutuals

The New Zealand Association for the Study of Cooperatives and Mutuals (NZASCM) will be hosting the International Cooperative Research Conference & Professional Development Conference in Wellington, New Zealand, this coming June 21 to 23.

The NZASCM invites cooperative researchers to submit a paper to be presented at the conference. Potential participants are asked to submit a one-page abstract of their conference paper and attach a CV. All submissions are to be uploaded through the NZASCM website. Submissions from graduate students are welcome.

Themes:

• - Cooperative banking in the context of the global finance crisis
• - The sustainability of producer cooperatives in New Zealand and beyond

You can find additional suggested research topics here.

Deadline: May 21

More information on this call for papers.

With 13 league championships since 1929, the Green Bay Packers are the winningest team in the United States' National Football League (NFL). And they're also a co-op!

The Packers were founded in 1919 but faced many financial challenges in the early years. Confronted with the possibility of losing their team, citizens and entrepreneurs rallied together and raised funds to keep the team in their Wisconsin town. In 1923, the Packers were established as a non-profit cooperative enterprise and have remained one of the league's most popular franchises since that time.

To achieve this goal, the team's original Articles of Incorporation stipulate that no shareholder can own over 200 shares. This was their way of safeguarding against any one individual taking absolute control of the team.

An “outlaw” business model

This business model is in direct violation of NFL rules, which limit ownership to 32 owners per team, of which one must have a 30% stake.

These rules were, however, set up well after the Packers were founded, so the team's structure was grandfathered in when the league's current ownership policy was established in the 1980s.

Today, the Packers belong to some 360,000 members who collectively own 744,000 shares of the team.

These shares can only be transferred between immediate family members, they can't appreciate in value, and ownership brings no season ticket privileges—and the waiting list for Packers season tickets is 30 years long!

And just like any cooperative, the Board of Directors is elected by the members.

A hybrid business model

If the Packers bylaws make the team a true cooperative, the laws of the state of Wisconsin have forced the team to adopt a hybrid business model.

Wisconsin prohibits non-profit corporations from issuing stock.

The Packers have held five stock sales to raise money to support the team. In this sense, the team technically operates like a cooperative enterprise. But since no one person or entity can own more than 200 shares, a takeover of the club would be impossible.

The fifth sale, which started in December 2011 and ended in February 2012, raised approximately US$70 million of the more than US$140 million needed to finance renovations to legendary Lambeau Field. 280,000 shares were available for purchase at US$250 each, and they all sold out… in 5 weeks!

Find out more about how the Green Bay Packers operate.

Photo: Courtesy of the Green Bay Packers www.packers.com

This higher education conference on cooperative economics is being organized by Saint Mary's University, a Canadian institution renowned for its post-graduate cooperative management program.

Specially designed as a prelude to the International Summit of Cooperatives, Imagine 2012 will explore a new way of analyzing the economic impact of cooperative enterprises worldwide.

New approaches in academic research

Although cooperatives have been around a relatively long time, very few studies have been done on how they generally conduct themselves.

Similarly, while a great deal of research has been done on enterprises engaged in globalization, very little is known about the habits and characteristics of international cooperatives.

Imagine 2012 has invited professors emeritus and speakers with extensive knowledge in this area to provide much needed insight.

They include:

• Avner Ben-Ner, University of Minnesota (United States)
• Ronald Colman, GPIAtlantic (Canada)
• Thomas Homer-Dixon, Balsillie School of International Affairs, Waterloo (Canada)
• David Erdal (United Kingdom)
• John Fullerton, Capital Institute (United States)
• Neva Goodwin, Tufts University (United States)
• Manfred Max-Neef (United States)
• Elinor Ostrom, Indiana University (United States)
• William Rees, School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), University of British Columbia (Canada)
• Claudia Sanchez Bajo (Belgium)
• Stephen C. Smith, George Washington University (United States)
• Peter A. Victor, Birmingham University (United Kingdom) and University of British Columbia (Canada)
• Richard G. Wilkinson, Nottingham University (United Kingdom)
• Stefano Zamagni, University of Bologna (Italy)
• Vera Negri Zamagni, University of Bologna (Italy)

"Imagine 2012 will be a generator of innovative ideas in the area of sustainable economic development for the decision-makers attending the International Summit of Cooperatives," said Dr. J. Colin Dodds, President of Saint Mary's University.

"Imagine 2012 will provide an opportunity to look at the global economy through a cooperative and mutualist lens in order to better meet the needs of individuals and communities, and ultimately contribute to sustainable prosperity and create a better world," concluded Dr. Dodds.

Learn more about the Imagine 2012 Conference

To sign up

In the picture: Professor Stefano Zamagni, University of Bologna (Italy), will be one of the keynote speakers at the Imagine 2012 conference, the event preceding the International Summit of Cooperatives.

What do you think about the contribution of cooperatives to sustainable development initiatives?

Historically, cooperatives have always tried to influence the human and social condition. The environment, however, didn't figure much in cooperative culture before the 80s and 90s. The concern was there, but it was never at the forefront. Then, two trends began to emerge that led cooperatives to become interested in sustainable development issues in a more structured way: eco-cities and new farming.

Eco-cities—sustainable cities that balance urban development with nature—led to the transformation and revitalization of abandoned neighbourhoods and the construction of new urban areas. That's when we saw a large number of eco-housing cooperatives begin to emerge. Another development was the appearance of initiatives to preserve and revive urban ecosystems, especially in shantytowns, where the goal was food self-sufficiency, social reintegration, and the restoration of community conventions.

As for farming cooperatives, a large number of them have become “de-agriculturalized,” meaning that they've returned to a more traditional form of agriculture, with a focus on local food and environmental sustainability. This type of agriculture is known by various names: sustainable farming, organic farming, local farming, the zero km movement. But it's not necessarily an environmental trend. More recently, what's motivating people to create farming co-ops is the desire for access to healthier food—which is a perfectly legitimate and understandable reason—rather than a desire to protect the environment.

So yes, globally, today's co-ops are having a positive impact on sustainable development, even though they weren't necessarily the first or most innovative in this regard. But they can—and should—do more!

What role will cooperatives be asked to play in the future, in particular from an economic and social point of view? Do you think they'll play a larger role?

To give a clear answer to your question, the key is knowing whether the promoters of the cooperative model believe that the prevailing economic system—the capitalist market economy—is really in crisis and has failed in its ability to guarantee a good, fair, equitable and constructive administration of the “house rules” for the “eco”-nomy.

Do they believe that the economic crisis—which isn't the only crisis, currently—is temporary and that it will be resolved by stimulating global growth through the green economy? And do they believe that there really is no alternative to the capitalism/financialization/market-economy equation, and that, in this context, a cooperative must also adhere to an entrepreneurial culture based on objectives of financial performance, effectiveness and efficiency, and on competitive innovation in the local, national, and even international markets?

If that's the case, it seems to me that a cooperative model, following the same paradigms of the capitalist market model, wouldn't be all that different from the private companies that claim—almost unanimously—that their mission is based on humanistic, social and environmental values. Really, the difference co-ops would make would be minimal.

However, if cooperatives realize that the capitalist market system—which is responsible for today's dire human and social situation and the destruction of our planet—is structurally flawed and is no longer meeting the needs of humanity, then we might witness the emergence of a new form of cooperative that would encourage the production of wealth—collective wealth—by promoting common ownership and delivering general-interest public services that are necessary for us to live together.

Cooperation needs to become the real answer to our needs, because the last 40 years have shown that competition is a flawed approach that has caused so many social, economic, and ecological catastrophes.

The capitalist market economy is bankrupt and unable to solve the problems it has created. It's the financialization of this economy and the commodification of life imposed by capitalist logic and the markets that have been the leading causes of the ongoing crises of the past 20 years—not citizens, consumers, the Greeks, government spending, or public debt!

And so the role of cooperatives shouldn't be to bandage the wounds of capitalism or come to the rescue of the market economy: they are common-ownership businesses. We can't get out of the crisis by reinforcing the system that created it.

If cooperatives could deliver a message to the world's economic decision-makers, what should it be?

The vocation of cooperatives is “living together.” Their tool is common ownership, and their objective is collective security and wealth.

At a time when governments are distancing themselves more and more from their social responsibility to share the wealth, and dispossessing citizens in favour of a handful of rich corporations, it's clear that cooperation is more necessary than ever.

Cooperating is giving new life to a concept of “work” (oeuvre) that was abandoned in the 20th century—the concept of producing works through collective action: “to all work together for the benefit of all.”

“Work” in this sense should take the form of a cooperative that works for the good of its members and its community, in the spirit of inter-cooperation and from a humanist perspective—humanity as a whole.

What is the most important aspect to include in the Common Declaration that will be presented at the end of the Summit?

The right to a safe existence is universal. It's either for everyone or it's not.

There can't be inequality in safe existence, because every person is a rightful inhabitant of this planet, and no one can be considered an illegal resident of Earth.

The 3 co-hosts of the International Summit of Cooperatives – Desjardins Group, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and Saint Mary's University – would like to highlight the tremendous work accomplished by ICMIF over the last 90 years in promoting the cooperative and mutualist model in the global insurance market.

ICMIF is a great example of an organization that evolved with the times to remain relevant to all its members.

Congratulations to all who contributed to the growth of ICMIF over the last 90 years.

Learn more about ICMIF's 90^th anniversary celebration.

As authors, academics, cooperative leaders, founding members and workers of cooperatives, they represent a broad spectrum of sectors: insurance, finance, production, retail sales and the environment.

“They will all be sharing their knowledge with participants, while also encouraging them to take an innovative look at the future of the cooperative model and their role as future leaders,” says Stéphanie Guico, who is managing the Future Cooperative Leaders Program.

A profile of the speakers

Emilio Miguel Almada was one of the first young leaders to emerge from the tide of economic recovery in Argentina's manufacturing sector. Now president of his cooperative, he is working to create an alliance of all of the country's metallurgical cooperatives. Coming from an area where job insecurity and lack of employment opportunities are the norm, Mr. Almada is proof that it is possible to create sustainable, dignified and decent jobs through the cooperative model.

Author, social entrepreneur and change-maker Dev Aujla has dedicated the last three years of his life to meeting with and talking about Generation Y entrepreneurs and workers who have turned their values, ideas and principles into meaningful careers. As director of his charitable organization, DreamNow, he has spent the last 10 years helping young people grow their ideas and take action by giving them strategies and tools. He recently published a book, Making Good: Finding Meaning, Money, and Community in a Changing World.

At The Co-operators, Kathy Bardswick developed a strategy to get young people involved in the cooperative movement. In addition to recruiting a new generation of cooperative leaders, The Co-operators has launched various youth programs that encourage youth in all sectors to develop and incorporate cooperative values into their professional lives.

Jean-Emmanuel Bouchard is the president of COOPSCO, the second largest federation of educational cooperatives in the world. It represents cooperatives in schools, cégeps and universities that are run by students, for students. He knows what being an owner-member means and is well aware of the challenges and benefits of representing youth in cooperatives.

As the youth co-operator representative on the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) Americas Board, José Antonio Chávez Villaneuva has an overview of the international cooperative movement that few people of his generation are privileged to have. As an employee of the Federación de Cajas Populares Alianza, a financial cooperative in Mexico, he has launched many projects and brought together regional cooperative representatives to maximize opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Tim McAlpine has found innovative ways to reach young people who may not be familiar with cooperatives as an option for their banking needs. With the Young & Free program, he changed young people's perception of cooperatives through social media and participation of youth representatives (“spokesters”) to reach a new generation of cooperators.

Antoinette C. Roxas is a youth representative on the Board of Directors of the MSU-IIT cooperative in Mindanao, Philippines. She has implemented many projects to increase youth participation and awareness of cooperative initiatives.

Laure Waridel, co-founder of Equiterre, is a pioneer of the Quebec fair trade movement and a leader in environmental, social and economic action. She has been featured in Maclean's magazine as one of 25 young Canadians who are making a difference in the world. As the spokesperson for the Caisse d'économie solidaire Desjardins's Placement à rendement social (social performance investment), she continues to work toward ensuring that this generation's environmental, social and economic ideals translate into concrete action. She is one of several personalities who signed the Manifeste pour un Québec solidaire and is the author of a number of books, including L'envers de l'assiette (the other side of the plate) and Acheter c'est voter (vote with your wallet).

Still some spots available!

There are still a few spots available for the Future Cooperative Leaders Program.

To register, contact Stéphanie Guico, who manages the Future Cooperative Leaders Program: stephanie.guico@sommetinter2012.coop.

Featured in the photomontage (left to right, top to bottom): Kathy Bardswick, Tim McAlpine, José Antonio Chávez Villaneuva and Laure Waridel.

• John Baistow - Bankmecu (Australie)
• Jean-Louis Bancel - Crédit Coopératif (France)
• Debra Da Costa - UNFCU (États-Unis)
• Fortunatas Dirgincius - Lithuanian Central Credit Union (Lituanie)
• Carina Geber-Teir - OP Group (Finlande)
• Hervé Guider - Association européenne des banques coopératives (France)
• Arnold Kuijpers - Rabobank Nederland (Pays-Bas)
• Dominique Lefebvre - Fédération Nationale du Crédit agricole (France)
• Monique F. Leroux - Mouvement Desjardins (Canada)
• Michel Lucas - Crédit Mutuel (France)
• Alpha Ouédraogo - Confédération des institutions financières (Burkina Faso)
• Tracy Redies - Coast Capital Savings Credit Union (Canada)
• Daouda Sawadogo - Réseau des Caisses Populaires du Burkina (Burkina Faso)
• Hugues Sibille - Crédit coopératif (France)
• Tamara Vrooman - Vancity (Canada)
• Laure Waridel – CÉCOSOL (Canada)

“The financial services cooperative model, which is based on democratic governance, participation, proximity and member satisfaction, works,” said Stéphane Bertrand, the Summit's Executive Director. “By focusing primarily on human capital rather than profits at any cost, financial cooperatives have demonstrated their resilience and effectiveness during the financial crisis that began in 2008.”

Financial cooperatives: economic pillars in many countries

A report recently published by the Worldwatch Institute supports Mr. Bertrand's view.

According to the report, financial cooperatives account for 23% of all bank branches worldwide and serve 870 million people, making them the second-largest financial services network in the world.

They also account for 26% of the entire cooperative movement worldwide. In 2008, they generated US$430 billion in gross revenue.

According to the report's author, Gary Gardner, cooperatives in the financial sector are valuable because they offer access to savings, loans, and other financial services for small and medium enterprises, particularly in rural areas.

In fact, the report shows that 45% of the branches of financial coops are located in rural areas, compared with 26% of branches of commercial banks.

Gardner's report concludes that cooperatives lower a key barrier to economic development in the poorest sectors of many economies.

Featured in the photomontage (left to right, top to bottom): Carina Geber-Teir (OP Group – Finland), Hervé Guider (European Association of Co-operative Banks – France), Dominique Lefebvre (Fédération Nationale du Crédit Agricole – France), Hugues Sibille (Crédit coopératif – France), Tamara Vrooman (Vancity – Canada) and Laure Waridel (CÉCOSOL – Canada).

This is the gist of the message delivered by Charles Gould (in photo), the Director-General of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) in an interview on ICMIFTV – the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation television station.

In this video interview, Gould describes the economic and financial challenges that will be addressed by the international cooperative and mutualist community at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec City, Canada, from October 8 to 11, 2012.

According to Gould, the International Year of Cooperatives is an opportunity for the cooperative and mutualist movement to position itself as a sustainable economic model capable of competing with other economic models in use today "which have reached their limits."

"People want to work together to build a better world, with greater respect for people and their environment," said Charles Gould. They are temperamentally predisposed to cooperate and our movement must seize this opportunity."

To see the entire interview

Proxfin members will gather at their annual general meeting on October 8, held alongside the International Summit of Cooperatives.

Proxfin¹ is an international network organized for analysis and discussion, bringing together some thirty Développement international Desjardins (DID) partner community finance institutions. Its members provide accessible financial services to nearly 8.5 million individuals and small businesses around the world.

Proxfin's member institutions and organizations incorporate the principles of the cooperative model, namely governance based on transparency and representation of client and member interests, local empowerment and deep-rooted community engagement.

A video offering a preview of the Summit

When they got together in Quebec for their semi-annual meeting, the members of Proxfin's management committee had the opportunity to take part in Desjardins Group's 2012 annual general meetings.

They gave participants a preview of the 2012 Summit by showing them a video in which 12 managers and executives from Proxfin member organizations invite their peers from around the world to join them for this major cooperative event.

Among these executives are two members of the Proxfin management committee: Sylvia Okinlay-Paraguya (in photo), Chief Executive Officer of the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), Philippines; and Alpha Ouédraogo, Director of the Confédération des institutions financières (CIF), West Africa. They will both be speaking at the Summit.

Watch the video

1. Find out more about Proxfin

• - How to communicate effectively with members and non-members
• - What definitions and missions to promote
• - How to integrate Web 2.0 and the cooperative spirit
• - What roles communications can play in the future of cooperatives
• - How to position the cooperative movement as a model for the future

The Forum has three specific objectives:

• - To give cooperative communications professionals from around the world an opportunity to share their concerns and thoughts on their practices
• - To identify strategic communications perspectives for the cooperative movement based on existing public expectations and opposition, as well as on the prevailing socio-economic crisis and mistrust of traditional models
• - To initiate a dialogue between cooperative communications professionals and researchers

Communications professionals and researchers interested in registering or obtaining more information are invited to contact Emmanuelle Lussiez at lussiez.emmanuelle@courrier.uqam.ca or at 514 987-3000, ext. 1226.

About the Chaire

Founded in 2002, the Chaire de relations publiques et communication marketing de l'Université du Québec à Montréal serves to build knowledge, train students and foster public debate on all issues related to the communications profession and its role in society. It conducts research on issues related to public relations and marketing communications conditions and practices and the development of the communications field. Click here to learn more about the Chaire.

• Eckhard Ott, Chair of the Board of the DGRV, who gave the opening address at the conference.
• Özgür Öner, head of the GdW Federal Union of German Housing and Real Estate Associations (federation of housing cooperatives).
• Kati Grossmann, from the marketing team of Volksbank Halle, one of the 1,138 cooperative member banks of the BVR – the central organization of the cooperative banking group in Germany.
• Adam Jenkins, member of the Nuffield Australia study group that sets up bursary programs for the Australian agricultural community to promote excellence in all aspects of agricultural production, distribution and management.
• Michael L. Cook, from the University of Missouri-Columbia's Applied Social Sciences division, who specializes in governance. Mr. Cook is a 2012 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductee.
• Dr. Hans-H. Münkner, Cooperative Development Consultant, Germany, who is the author of many books.

Towards a cooperative world bank?

Ms. Lechasseur also met with Jomo Kwame Sundaram, the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development in the United Nations' Department of Economics and Social Affairs (DESA).

In his speech, he expressed the hope that a cooperative world bank would be set up one day. Ms. Lechasseur believes the Summit provides a perfect opportunity to promote the idea to the many presidents and executives of cooperative financial institutions who will be attending the Summit.

Stay tuned!

In the picture (from left to right): Dr. Peter Frei, CEO, Solar Valley GmbH, Josef Sanktjohanser, member of the executive board, REWE-Zentral-AG, Dr. Inga Michler, economist/journalist, Ernst Burgbacher, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and Hans-Theo Macke, member of the executive board, DZ-Bank. Missing: Dr. Carsten Emde, CEO Osadl eG.

• Won-Byong Choi - National Agricultural Cooperative Federation – NACF (South Korea)
• Leonardo Delgado - FEDECOVERA (Guatemala)
• Patrice Gollier - InVivo (France)
• Claude Lafleur - La Coop fédérée (Canada)
• José Hugo Lares Sierra - Triunfo Verde (Mexico)
• Yves Le Morvan - Coop de France (France)
• David Moroney - Co-operative Bulk Handling - CBH Group (Australia)
• Denis Richard - La Coop fédérée (Canada)
• Serge Riendeau - Agropur (Canada)
• Svend Erik Sørensen - Danish Crown (Denmark)

“Cooperatives have demonstrated their resilience in the face of numerous financial, social and environmental challenges,” says Stéphane Bertrand, the Summit's Executive Director. “The speakers we are announcing today will demonstrate this extraordinary capacity of cooperatives – from the biggest to the smallest.”

Featured in the photomontage (left to right, top to bottom): Won Byong-Choi, Patrice Golli, Denis Richard and Svend Erik Sørensen.

To mark the International Year of Cooperatives, Desjardins Group is launching a book containing some of the thoughts that fuelled its founder, Alphonse Desjardins.

Entitled Alphonse Desjardins: le pouvoir d'agir, this book is the work of Monique F. Leroux (in photo), President and CEO of Desjardins Group, one of the three co-hosts of the 2012 Summit.

Throughout the book's almost one hundred pages, structured around select quotes, Ms. Leroux takes readers through the thoughts of Alphonse Desjardins who, along with his wife Dorimène, founded the first caisse populaire in Lévis, Quebec, Canada, in 1900.

Even though these thoughts may date back to another era, they are remarkably still applicable today. Ms. Leroux uses them to show how the cooperative model remains relevant and how it can prove invaluable in addressing the challenges we face in 2012.

The thoughts of an altruistic visionary

Early in the book, Ms. Leroux informs us that Alphonse Desjardins made his living as a writer. He never earned a cent from starting the caisses!

Alphonse Desjardins was firmly committed to the development of his community and cared deeply about improving the particularly difficult living conditions of his fellow citizens.

In 1897, while working as a French-language stenographer in Canada's House of Commons, Desjardins was profoundly moved by the story of a minister called to justify the adoption of a bill against usurious practices. This minister gave the example of a man who was ordered by the court to pay $5,000 in interest fees—a fortune at that time—on an initial loan of… $150!

That was the moment Alphonse Desjardins realized that the credit system was severely lacking. Small borrowers had almost no access to ordinary banks.

He felt the pressing need to prevent people who needed loans from having to turn to usurious lenders. It was then that he began designing the cooperative system that ultimately led to the creation of the numerous caisses populaires in Quebec.

Cooperatives and the importance of international collaboration

Prior to even dreaming about starting his first caisse, Alphonse Desjardins sought advice from authors around the world on how to design a cooperative financial system specifically suited to Quebec's needs at the time.

After discovering the book People's Banks, A Record of Social and Economic Success by the Englishman Henry William Wolff, Desjardins began corresponding with several French, Belgian, Italian and Swiss heads of rural savings and credit cooperatives.

Ms. Leroux reports that Desjardins spent months poring over the materials people sent him, evaluating the merits of the various credit cooperative models. Conscious of the economic, social, and cultural differences between Canada and Europe, he came up with a new model that combined the rules of European credit cooperatives with the experience of North American savings banks.

In other words, at the dawn of the 20th century, Alphonse Desjardins was already well aware of the importance of international collaboration between cooperatives.

In 1902, he saw fit to inform the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) that he had founded a caisse populaire in Lévis two years earlier. In the report he sent to the ICA, he noted that the cooperative model was finding fertile ground in North America.

This was the beginning of a valuable relationship that, this October, will be celebrated with the International Summit of Cooperatives.

Tomorrow's leaders will be doing more than just attending the Summit: they'll be getting a unique experience that will help prepare them for the day they take over the reins.

The Future Cooperative Leaders Program, intended for young cooperators between the ages of 20 and 35, will give them the opportunity to meet with senior executives, experts and major players from the international cooperative community, and attend exciting and exclusive events that will provide high added value.

The theme of the program is “Future leaders in the cooperative world – their participation, actions and involvement.” A special forum will be held, where young cooperative leaders with extensive experience in their activity sector will speak.

“The 2012 Summit's Future Cooperative Leaders Program will be an opportunity for tomorrow's cooperative leaders to connect with other young cooperators from around the world and build a network that will serve them all their lives,” promises Stéphanie Guico, Program Manager (in photo).

A “cooperative state of mind”

And that's no empty promise. Stéphanie Guico knows what she's talking about when it comes to building strong connections. It's no coincidence that she was put in charge of this program.

Stéphanie's desire to change the world led her to study International Development, Middle Eastern Languages and Political Science at Montreal's McGill University.

Convinced that building a stronger civil society “is a crucial driver for socio-economic development,” she then went on to work for a federation of farming cooperatives in Honduras… after teaching English in Japan!

It was while Stéphanie was living in Honduras that cooperative values really began to make sense to her.

“Only cooperatives allow communities to reap the full benefits of their efforts,” she says.

Coming out of this experience in a “cooperative state of mind,” Stéphanie then became involved with Coop la Maison verte¹ and recently became their marketing manager.

At the same time, she also enrolled in the Co-operative Management Masters program at Halifax's St. Mary's University, one of the three hosts of the 2012 Summit. It was there that she met Tom Webb, the Masters Program Manager and coordinator of the pre-Summit event, Imagine 2012.

Tom introduced Stéphanie to Joanne Lechasseur, who is responsible for developing the programming for the Summit and future cooperative leaders.

“The idea of getting tomorrow's leaders involved stemmed from the issues of cooperative sustainability and continuity,” she explains. “We didn't want to just invite them to attend, we also wanted to help prepare them, so one day they'll be ready to take over the reins.”

A global and long-term vision

This is why Stéphanie Guico is convinced the participants in the Future Cooperative Leaders Program will leave the Summit “with a greater awareness of the company they work for and the cooperative movement as a whole.”

She sees the Future Cooperative Leaders Program “as a chance to take a step back and see beyond the computer screen, and to take part in an exchange and cross-pollination of stimulating ideas.”

The program's 250 participants will help draft the Summit's final declaration. “This is a unique opportunity for young employees, managers and elected officers from around the world to connect with their peers and solidify their interest in the cooperative movement and its development,” concludes Stéphanie Guico.

1. Coop la Maison verte is a community-based cooperative in Montreal that offers ecological solutions for the home

• 1) adopt an effective principle of proportionality for these new standards
• 2) exempt cooperative banks from the requirements that do not conform to their business model
• 3) before the introduction of a measure, evaluate its impact on different types of banks and enterprises
• 4) revise the timing of the introduction of the new directives, keeping in consideration their effect on different industrial structures at a national level and the consequences on the process of recovery from the economic crisis.

1. The conference “Promoting the understanding of cooperatives for a better world” was organized by Euricse, the International Co-operatives Alliance (ICA) and the Alliance of Italian Cooperatives for the UN International Year of Cooperatives.

2. To read the appeal of Euricse (PDF).

Source: Euricse

According to a new report by the Worldwatch Institute, approximately 1 billion people in 96 countries now belong to a cooperative.

The report's author, Gary Gardner, writes that cooperatives are low-profile but powerful economic actors, with the world's 300 largest ones generating revenues in 2008 of more than $1.6 trillion. If these businesses were a national economy, they would rank ninth in the world—ahead of the economy of Spain.

The report also reveals that 99% of cooperative businesses operate primarily within seven economic sectors:

More cooperative members than shareholders

The report also notes that the cooperative model surpasses the shareholder model in at least one area: the 1 billion member-owners of cooperatives worldwide exceed the 893 million direct and indirect shareholders of corporations.

If direct shareholders, who own stock as individuals, are considered alone, they are outnumbered three to one by cooperative member-owners.

In fact, 13.8% of the world population is a member of at least one cooperative, in contrast to the 5% who are direct shareholders.

Looking at national figures, some countries have a very high proportion of cooperative membership, for example: Ireland (approximately 70% of the population), Finland (60%), Austria (58%), Singapore (50%), Switzerland (46%), Sweden (45%), Norway (44%), and Canada (40%).

Financial cooperatives: economic pillars in many countries

The report notes that cooperatives are particularly strongly represented in the financial realm. A 2010 World Bank report found that credit union branches account for 23 percent of bank branches worldwide and serve 870 million people, making them the second largest financial services network in the world.

The report goes on to say that cooperatives in the financial sector are valuable because they offer access to savings, loans, and other financial services to small and medium enterprises, particularly in rural areas, which lowers a key barrier to economic development in the poorest sectors of many economies.

In fact, the report shows that 45% of the branches of financial coops are located in rural areas, compared with 26% of branches of commercial banks.

2012: the dawn of a new economic era

By designating 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives, the United Nations (UN) has placed a spotlight on the cooperative model.

The report concludes by saying that governments and the civil sectors of many countries are active in promoting the cooperative model. In the United States, for example, the National Cooperative Development Act was introduced in Congress in late 2011 to stimulate further development of the cooperative sector by providing it with seed capital, training, and resources.

For a free copy of the full report, contact Supria Kumar at skumar@worldwatch.org.

• - Kathy Bardswick, president and chief executive officer, The Co-operators (Canada);
• - Dame Pauline Green, president, International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) (Switzerland);
• - Rachel Griffiths, co-founder, Reputation Consultancy (Great Britain);
• - Geneva Guerin, director, Sustainability Solutions Group (Canada);
• - Rebecca Kemble, president, US Federation of Worker Cooperatives (United States);
• - Monique F. Leroux, chair of the board, president and chief executive officer, Desjardins Group (Canada);
• - Judy Lipp, executive director, TREC Renewable Energy Co-op and TREC Education (Canada);
• - Sylvia Okinlay-Paraguya, chief executive officer, National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), (Philippines);
• - Tracy Redies, president and chief executive officer, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union (Canada);
• - Antoinette C. Roxas, youth sector representative, MSU-IIT Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Philippines);
• - Robynn Shrader, chief executive officer, National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), United States;
• - Hélène Simard, president and chief executive officer, Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité (CQCM) (Canada).

For more information about 2012 Summit speakers.

Imagine 2012 – Official pre-summit event

The following speakers have been confirmed for the official pre-summit event Imagine 2012:

• - Claudia Sanchez Bajo, freelance researcher and consultant and chief editor of the Chine Actuelle review (Belgium);
• - Neva Goodwin, Co-Director of the Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University (United States);
• - Elinor Ostrom, Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences – 2009 (United States);
• - Vera Negri Zamagni, Senior adjunct professor of International Economics and Chair and professor of economic history, University of Bologna (Italy).

For more information about Imagine 2012 speakers.

More than 130 speakers expected

The addition of these presenters will enhance the already prestigious list of international speakers from the political, economic and social sectors, including Nobel Prize recipients.

In total, more than 130 speakers are expected to come and share their expertise, accomplishments and vision for the future of the cooperative and mutualist model. They will discuss how the cooperative approach can solve the challenges presented by the major economic upheavals in the world.

Featured in the photomontage (left to right, top to bottom): Dame Pauline Green, Rachel Griffiths, Monique F. Leroux, Robynn Shrader, Tracy Redies and Sylvia Okinlay-Paraguya.

• - Québec City “welcome aboard” tour
• - Explore Île d'Orléans – a gourmet tasting experience
• - Charlevoix discovery tour
• - Huron-Wendat First Nations discovery tour

To help you make your selection, below is a brief description of each of the tours.

Québec City “welcome aboard” tour

Not only will you get a taste of Québec City's French charm on this tour, you will also discover its varied architecture and joie de vivre.

Come learn about the history of the city by visiting some of its major sites, including the Plains of Abraham, the Parliament Hill and National Assembly, the fortifications (walls and gates) and the Citadel, along with the winding streets and romantic Latin Quarter.

Explore Île d'Orléans - a gourmet tasting experience

Come visit this little corner of paradise only minutes from the heart of Québec City, offering a bounty of fresh and specialized products, and set out on the Route des saveurs (taste trail), named because of the rich history and culture that can be discovered and explored along the way. A delicious lunch in the country setting of Les Ancêtres restaurant will further enhance your experience.

Charlevoix discovery tour

Discover the beautiful Charlevoix region, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. You will tour two mills, meet a renowned watercolourist (Jacques Hébert) in Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, visit various farmers and producers (snails, sheep, produce, cheese), stroll in a lovely park, and have lunch in a restaurant overlooking the St. Lawrence River or simply enjoy a cup of tea.

Huron-Wendat First Nations discovery tour

Located in the heart of Québec City, the Wendake territory belongs to a fascinating First Nations community, the Huron-Wendat. Well known for their hospitality, they will take you on a very special heritage tour, where you will learn about their unique culture and customs.

Find out more and reserve

To find out more about these excursions, including costs, visit the guided tours page.

To reserve a spot for you and your companions, all you have to do is select the guided tours you are interested in when you register for the Summit.

• - Agriculture and agri-food
• - Production (forestry, fishing, manufacturing, energy)
• - Public services (health, childcare, homecare, education, housing)
• - Consumption (food services, school services, cable television, funeral services)
• - Financial (cooperative banks, credit unions, caisses populaires)
• - Insurance (mutual personal insurance and general insurance companies)

These sector-based workshops will be the perfect place for cooperatives active in the same sector to forge high-level strategic alliances around economic and financial issues unique to them.

They will also give participants a chance to look at major international trends and adopt a common vision of their particular cooperative sector and its potential.

Expert speakers and case studies

In addition to discussing best practices and sharing their experiences and concerns, participants will hear from speakers from the ranks of management and boards of directors of cooperatives from around the world.

These presentations are intended to stimulate discussion and debate thanks to the various perspectives these speakers will provide on the cooperative and mutualist movement and related economic and social issues.

A round table, « Doing business our way - Winning strategies for doing business differently, » will launch the debates, presenting case studies of cooperatives that have managed to remain agile and innovative while ensuring optimal development.

• Jean-Louis Bancel, President, Groupe Crédit Coopératif (France)
• Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO, The Co-operators Group (Canada)
• Leonardo Delgado, General Manager, FEDECOVERA (Guatemala)
• Dr. Eudes de Freitas Aquino, President, Unimed do Brasil (Brazil)
• Fortunatas Dirgincius, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Lithuanian Central Credit Union (Lithuania)
• Paul W. Hazen, Executive Director, U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (United States) and former President and CEO, National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA)
• Colin Heavyside, Director - Chairman, Capricorn Society Limited (Australia)
• Martin Lowery, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (United States)
• Peter Marks, Chief Executive, The Co-Operative Group, (Great Britain)
• Alpha Ouédraogo, General Manager, Confédération des institutions financières (CIF) – West Africa (Burkina Faso)
• Antoinette C. Roxas, Youth Sector Representative, MSU-IIT Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Philippines

Each speaker, in their own unique way, will address the Summit’s ambitious goal: to identify the major business issues facing cooperatives and mutuals and offer solutions that will promote their development and performance, while propelling the cooperative and mutualist business model onto the world stage.

Click here to visit the speakers page.

Imagine 2012 Conference: official pre-Summit event
And last but not least, IMAGINE 2012, the international conference on co-operative economics and the official pre-Summit event, will also be hosting a number of world-renowned figures, including:

• Elinor Ostrom, the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (in 2009) for her analysis of economic governance and the collective management of common property, will be one of the Imagine 2012 speakers. An economist and political scientist, Ms. Ostrom is also a Distinguished Professor at Indiana University and Arthur F. Bentley Professor Emeritus of Political Sciences (United States)
• Thomas Homer-Dixon, Centre for International Governance Innovation Chair of Global Systems, Balsilie School of International Affairs (Canada)
• Manfred Max-Neef, recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, Professor of Economics (Chile)
• Richard G. Wilkinson, Professor Emeritus, University of Nottingham Medical School and Honorary Professor, University College of London (Great Britain)
• Stefano Zamagni, Vice-Director, Bologna Center (Italy)

Presented by St. Mary’s University, IMAGINE 2012 will bring together the leadership of the world’s major cooperatives and leading economic thinkers from around the world. It will provide a forum in which they can explore a new approach to economic analysis and thought that offers people around the world renewed hope for an economy that meets people’s needs.

Featured in the photomontage (clockwise): Jacques Attali, Michael Spence, Riccardo Petrella, Dominic Barton, Elinor Ostrom and Felice Scalvini.

• History and heritage
• Nature and adventure
• Relaxation activities
• Shopping
• Tips on visiting Québec City in October

Let us help you make the most of your trip and Explore Québec!

(Photo: Québec City Tourism)

Ms. Leroux also took advantage of this opportunity to promote the International Summit of Cooperatives, which is being co-hosted by Desjardins in Quebec City and Lévis next October.

Founded in 1971, the World Economic Forum is an international organization that brings together the world's top business and political leaders to discuss the planet's major economic options.

• English: @SummitCoop2012
• French: @SommetCoop2012

You can also read through our "following" list to discover many of the cooperative enterprises already on Twitter.

Stay connected and follow us on Twitter!

• The role of cooperatives and mutuals in the global economy
• The performance of the cooperative and mutualist business model
• The evolution of the cooperative and mutualist business model
• The global sociopolitical influence of cooperatives and mutuals

In addition to stimulating discussion and debate among participants, the papers must help identify solutions to the development and performance challenges of cooperatives and mutuals.

Priority will be given to research produced in the past year. The committee is looking primarily for unpublished papers but will also consider papers that have already been published in journals with a circulation limited to a specific country.

The volume to be published will contain papers in English, French and Spanish.

Conditions for publication
A committee of international experts will evaluate the proposals, and researchers will receive notice of acceptance or rejection by April 27, 2012 at the latest.

The complete papers must be sent by July 27, 2012 at the latest.

Submission of proposals and deadline
Paper proposals must be submitted at the latest by March 26, 2012, at 10:00 p.m. (Quebec time - EST), and must be sent to Mr. Ernesto Molina: ernestomolina@coopquebec.coop.

See the Call for scientific papers document.

One of the objectives of the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives is to discuss the current and future business issues of cooperatives and mutuals, and define initiatives that will promote their sustainable prosperity and that of their communities.

One of the objectives of the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives is to discuss the current and future business issues of cooperatives and mutuals, and define initiatives that will promote their sustainable prosperity and that of their communities.

Cooperatives as an alternative to the prevailing model
Cooperatives and mutuals are often perceived by the public as not being overly concerned about performance. Yet, they've proven how financially viable and resilient they are throughout our recent global crises. They've also been very successful at maintaining the delicate balance between meeting members' needs and remaining true to their governance principles, on the one hand, and remaining competitive on the other.

The 2012 Summit intends to show that the cooperative and mutualist model is a serious alternative to the prevailing capitalist business model. The aim of the Summit is not to suggest replacing the capitalist model by the cooperative model, but allow the cooperative model to do what it does best and contribute to global economic balance.

The results of an as-yet-unpublished study on cooperative growth strategies conducted by McKinsey in conjunction with the Summit will be released to contribute to the debates. The objective of this study is to identify cooperative growth strategies and compare them with those of capital stock companies over a five-year period in order to select the practices with the most potential for cooperatives.

Doing business differently
Traditional business models are in transition. In the wake of our multiple global crises, the trend is to recognize the human values of businesses.

Even if members don't participate much in the life of their association – participation being the cornerstone of the cooperative model – ironically they continue to seek appreciation, attention and a close rapport in their business dealings with their service provider.

In view of all this, the Summit will be asking participants to reflect on the way cooperatives can deal with their members' disengagement while they continue to meet their needs and provide them with dynamic association activities.

The Summit will then try to identify the levers that cooperatives and mutuals can use to achieve this goal by presenting four case studies of cooperative enterprises that have been able to evolve and adapt to their markets.

This major theme will help us determine how cooperatives can remain agile and innovative, and become leaders in constantly changing markets.

To find out more about the key themes of the Summit program, click here.

The report, which illustrates the contributions of all cooperatives to the sustainable development of communities, also examines the impact of financial cooperatives worldwide.

According to the report, cooperatives are present in all countries, an estimated 1 billion individuals are members of cooperatives worldwide, and cooperative activities account for between 3 and 10 per cent of national gross domestic product (GDP), depending on the country.

Financial cooperative industry: 41% of worldwide cooperative economic activity
Most cooperatives are located in developed countries, such as Germany, the United States, France, Japan, the Netherlands and Canada.

They operate in a variety of sectors:

• 30% in agriculture and food
• 23% in retailing
• 22% in insurance (property and casualty, life and health)
• 19% in banking

These numbers show that 41% of worldwide cooperative economic activity is carried out by the financial cooperative industry (the banking and insurance sectors combined).

The UN report emphasizes the fact that financial cooperatives provide members with low-cost and readily accessible financial services, including reliable savings facilities tailored to members’ needs, credit or microfinance for small-scale start-up enterprises, and more affordable remittance networks.

Financial cooperatives also offer financial services to populations underserved by the mainstream commercial sector and play an important role in achieving a more inclusive financial sector.

Growth in the financial sector
According to the report, “the recent financial crisis has generated renewed interest in alternative financial institutions, as financial cooperatives and credit unions have demonstrated a noteworthy resilience and even growth.”

It goes on to say that some financial cooperatives and credit unions experienced an influx of deposit funds as members sought a safer location for their savings or lower fees, and these institutions sustained or increased their rates of lending when many other commercial institutions were retrenching.

The report continues: “these outcomes indicate the importance of institutional diversity in the financial sector, demonstrate the advantages of alternative business models such as cooperatives, and point to how cooperatives can contribute to the stability of the broader financial system.”

On a broader note, the report concludes: “institutionalized cooperation raised the scale of economic activity to a level that allowed for reduced operational cost and created enough pooled resources to accommodate technological expansion and shared marketing and quality control services (...). These cooperative networks provide an institutional response to increasing global competition and the need to accelerate the pace of innovation.”

1. Cooperatives in social development and implementation of the International Year of Cooperatives, Report of the Secretary-General, 66th session of the General Assembly, July 13, 2011 (PDF).
2. The UK co-operative economy 2011 – Britain’s return to co-operation, Co-operatives UK, 2011 (PDF).

Ms. Green is the President of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and Ms. Leroux is Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Desjardins Group – two of the three organizations that will host the International Summit of Cooperatives to be held in Quebec City in October 2012.

The role of this group will be to advise members of the Coordinating Committee set up by the UN to implement IYC activities. It will mainly provide support for the advancement of the cooperative model and take action to mobilize major international players throughout 2012.

The UN advisory group is made up of 20 members of the international cooperative community, including cooperative leaders from various economic sectors, as well as government representatives and research institution officials.

The advisory group has already taken action to ensure that the role of cooperatives in developing a sustainable economy is recognized at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in June 2012 in Brazil.

The committee will also address various issues of importance, including food security, inclusion, youth engagement and diversification of the economy.

Chaired by Dame Pauline Green
At their first meeting, held on November 1 at UN headquarters, the advisory group unanimously elected Dame Pauline Green as advisory group chair.

“I am honoured that such a prestigious group of leaders has selected me to chair this most important group,” said the ICA President.

She said that the International Year of Cooperatives was an opportunity to show the power of cooperatives, as well as their role as agents of change in “creating a more equitable society.”

Monique F. Leroux said, “Now more than ever, cooperative values are the answer to our global economic and social challenges.”

She concluded by saying, “If recent events have taught us anything, it’s that the pursuit of financial gain at the expense of people is a dangerous path for our economies to take. We must now emphasize human capital over financial capital.”

Photo: United Nations

What role does St. Mary’s University play in the development and advancement of the cooperative and mutualist model?

For over a decade, the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s has provided a unique Master of Management - Co-operatives and Credit Unions program, offering a graduate degree for managers of cooperative and mutual businesses designed to help them run successful enterprises. Every area of business knowledge and skills is approached from the unique perspective of the purpose, values and principles of cooperatives. We have become leaders in the development of cooperative business solutions.

What does the International Year of Cooperatives mean for you?

Many people around the world do not appreciate the success of cooperatives in meeting human need. Cooperatives serve more than a billion people around the world. The output of the 300 largest cooperatives is close to that of the tenth largest economy on our planet. Cooperatives were stable—and many even grew—during the recession of 2008. Cooperative financial institutions played no role in creating the securities that triggered the recession; they kept lending during the recession and foreclosed on fewer families’ mortgages. The International Year of Cooperatives is an amazing opportunity for them to celebrate that record and let people and governments know that they offer a stable alternative.

What will be the cooperative and mutualist model's main challenges in the future?

Cooperatives and mutuals must adapt to survive in the faltering global economy and be innovative in offering people an alternative. They are well suited to create economic solutions that are consistent with their cooperative identity. We believe they can do this, but it will take a concerted effort if they are to contribute to a better world.

In this context, what role should the cooperative and mutualist movement play?

Cooperatives must focus on meeting real human need and abiding by their values. There is virtually no need not met by some cooperative business somewhere, but country by country there are gaps. Cooperatives need to look at creating a form of capital that has characteristics and behaviours consistent with their identity and experiment with new models like the solidarity cooperatives we find in Quebec, Italy, and other places.

What are your expectations of the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives and the Imagine 2012 conference? How do these two events complement each other?

Imagine 2012 and the Summit are important to each other; they are wonderful companion events. Imagine 2012 will explore alternatives to the economic analysis that has been faltering in explaining our world and how it works—alternatives consistent with the cooperative business identity. The Summit will look at the actions that cooperatives need to take to make a better world in which human needs are better met. Thinking needs to inform action. As one of the founders of our Masters program, Sid Pobihushchy, to whom we awarded an honorary degree, was fond of saying, “If you do not know where you are going, any road will do.”

Cooperatives and mutuals in the global economy

The opening theme of the Summit debates will be the role that cooperatives and mutuals play in the global economy. It will set the stage by providing an overview of the situation and highlighting the challenges and issues that the cooperative and mutualist movement faces today.

Using the economy's current state of transition and vulnerability as a starting point, this key theme will look at why cooperatives and mutuals have weathered these recent periods of turbulence much better than other business models and why they are part of the solutions that will get us out of the current economic crisis.

It will also explore why, despite its resilience during times of crisis, the cooperative and mutualist business model remains relatively unknown and seldom researched or studied. Speakers and participants will be asked to discuss the role that cooperatives and mutuals currently play in today's world and the role they ought to play.

Presidents and CEOs of the world's 300 largest cooperatives, which represent an economic power equal to the world's 10th largest economy, will share their strategies and visions of the future of the cooperative and mutualist business model in relation to our global challenges.

Three studies

The role of cooperatives and mutuals in the global economy will also be covered in three groundbreaking and as-yet-unpublished studies on cooperatives and mutuals conducted in conjunction with the 2012 Summit.

These studies will explore:

• The cooperative business model and its socio-economic influence (IRECUS)
• Major global trends and their impact on cooperatives and mutuals (McKinsey)
• Member and public perception of cooperatives and mutuals (IPSOS/Université du Québec à Montréal)

You can also view the entire preliminary program of the 2012 Summit by clicking here.

Ms. Lechasseur pointed out how well the cooperative business model has withstood the worldwide ecological, food, financial and economic crises, and how relevant it is. She explained that because of their economic, social and environmental characteristics, cooperatives are part of the solution to the many global challenges we currently face.

Ms. Lechasseur said that cooperative businesses have what it takes to deal with today’s challenges with regard to social cohesion, job creation and sustainable development.

On this point, she said that the 2012 Summit will help "promote and gain recognition for the cooperative and mutual model as a sustainable solution to the current crises and develop a global network of cooperatives and mutuals to create a powerful source of influence in economic and political arenas in order to ensure sustainable development."

Since 2004, the Mont Blanc Meetings have been bringing together social economy leaders from every continent to give this sector more international visibility and recognition.

The theme of the 5^th Mont Blanc meetings was "The social economy: a new development model?". The purpose of the meetings was to develop a common position for the social economy to bring to the second Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, which most heads of state will attend in Rio in spring 2012.

While here, the International Co-operative Alliance President met with officials from the Co-operatives Secretariat, within the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, as well as executives from the Canadian Co-operative Association.

Ms. Green also gave media interviews in which she explained what makes the cooperative and mutualist business model different, and talked about their underlying values.

A key role
In her interview on the CBC’s The Current¹, Ms. Green said that cooperatives can play a role in resolving the current crisis, because they are member-based and led by people who come together because there is a need for a service in their community.

In this in-depth interview, Dame Pauline Green explained that the Occupy movement that has made headlines around the world can be partly explained by individuals’ lack of influence on economic and financial decisions.

She says that the cooperative economic model is a solution to the current crisis because of its democratic values and because the business decisions rest with the members and the communities they belong to.

A list of the 300 largest cooperatives in the world
In conjunction with the launch of the International Year of Cooperatives, the ICA unveiled the Global 300 project, a list of the top 300 cooperatives, to show how important cooperatives are in today’s global economy.²

The Global 300 list includes some of the biggest business names in the world.

At least 62 of these businesses are located in the United States, representing 20% of the Global 300 list. France is next with 45 cooperatives, then Germany with 33, and Italy with 28. More than 50% of the Global 300 come from these four countries alone.

Eight of the cooperatives on the list are Canadian, including Desjardins Group – the largest cooperative in the country – which ranks 36th on the Global 300 list, and Federated Cooperatives, which is 52nd.

1. To listen to Dame Pauline Green’s interview on The Current
2. To access the Global 300 Report: (DOCUMENT PDF)

As participants of the Future Cooperative Leaders Program, they will be able to attend the Summit and take part in interesting and exclusive events, including breakfast seminars and discussion sessions on topics related to the themes of the Summit.

Through this program, future cooperative leaders will have an opportunity to take their rightful place in the cooperative community and help draft a declaration that reflects their vision and whose impact will be felt for many years to come. This declaration will be presented at the close of the event.

As they prepare to assume their roles as elected officers and managers of the cooperative movement, the Summit offers these future leaders a unique opportunity to share their ideas and voice their opinions on cooperative and sustainable development issues.

Looking for future leaders
Cooperatives interested in nominating individuals for the Future Cooperative Leaders' Program are invited to send the names of the candidates who meet the criteria to the Summit secretariat.

To find out more about the nomination process, please refer to the Recruitment Guide on the Summit's website. For more information, contact Stéphanie Guico at stephanie.guico@2012intlsummit.coop.

• Video of the Financial Crisis and Cooperative Banks press conference - October 31, 2011: watch
• Video of Dame Pauline Green’s statement during the 45th plenary meeting of the United Nations' General Assembly – October 31, 2011: watch
• Official UN video of the launch of the International Year of Cooperatives: watch

Photo: Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Desjardins Group, Dame Pauline Green, President of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), Zha Zukang, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and Piet Moerland, Chairman of the Executive Board of Rabobank.Nederland (Photo: UN)

- Video of the conference - In English, with segments in Spanish (29:32 min)
- PowerPoint presentation from the conference (in -English and -Spanish )
- Conference transcript (in English and Spanish)

What is the ICA and what are its main purposes?

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is a body that represents, unites and serves cooperatives across the globe.

Essentially, the ICA has 3 main objectives. First, we seek to be a centre of excellence for information and knowledge about the global cooperative sector.

Second, we seek to represent the cooperative movement with international decision-makers, whether they are global (United Nations), regional (European Union), national governments, or media. Together, we discuss the need for changes to create a level regulatory playing field and to help the growth of the cooperative family. The ICA is a promoter of the global cooperative brand. Both decision-makers and the global market need an organization that represents the unique specificities of the cooperative business model.

Third, the ICA promotes best industry practices that include guidelines for innovation, best business practices, structure, accounting, and sustainability, which has been part of our DNA since our inception. We learn from each other and maximize our impact throughout the world, wherever cooperatives do business.

Globally, our mission is to grow the cooperative sector in the global economy.


How important is the International Year of Cooperatives for the ICA?

It is incredibly important and we have to make the most out of this gift from the United Nations. The ICA will do 1 thing and we will do it well: we will promote public awareness about the scope, size and reach of the cooperative movement. 

Today, the movement doesn’t have a global brand, which is logical since inherently, it is a local phenomenon. In 2012, we have to look beyond local possibilities and try to make an impact on global decision-makers by showing our strength and our distinctiveness across the world. We want the public to see that the cooperative movement is present in every village, town, city, and corner of the globe. This campaign should increase our visibility and influence, and enable us to gain support to foster cooperative enterprise.

What are the main challenges the cooperative movement is facing today?

Internally, our challenge is to continue building both the movement and confidence, as well as making people understand that we have to work together to have a successful 2012.

Externally, we’ve been working in a very difficult economic context for 3 or 4 years. We need to build on the general public’s very strong sense of confidence and trust in our businesses that has been prevalent over the last 3 or 4 years. We continued to support not just individuals but also small businesses and businesses in general, in a way that the profit sector couldn’t do during the financial collapse.

Of course, there is no question that cooperatives, like all other businesses, will be affected by the recession. But over the last 4 years, the cooperative movement has grown. We can hold our heads up and take pride in our movement that has come through this period with success. The main reason for that is that we have a different concept of business. Our business is about people and cooperatives are owned and operated by nearly 1 billion people worldwide, which is very different from the corporate sector.

The cooperative business model is about meeting human needs, not human greed. Yes, we want to make a profit (or surplus), but we promote sustainable enterprise through community ownership. We believe in a more diversified economy, and at this time in the global economic context, this belief is in tune with the political and public climate. 

Our main challenge is to demonstrate that the cooperative movement can offer sustainable alternatives and creative solutions not only in an economic sense, but also on a social, environmental and democratic level.

What does the ICA expect from the 2012 International Cooperative Summit?

This is a really important initiative. The movement needs to tap into our intellectual, financial, commercial and philosophical resources across the world to help determine how to grow and strengthen during the coming decades. The Summit will bring together many of the personalities who can do just that. Under Desjardins`s leadership, a thought-provoking agenda is already in place and some key research will give the Summit a sound basis for discussion. The Summit has generated interest all over the world.

The Summit will be a compelling event that will bring together a large group of successful cooperatives in a way that has never been done before. It’s just the sort of initiative that the International Year needs to give it, not just a celebratory flavour, but a serious intellectual basis for change for the future.

The ICA is proud and pleased to partner with Desjardins in supporting this event.  I hope it will be the first of many. And, I hope that the Summit will bring a new sense of direction and leadership to the wider movement, and will support the ICA’s global strategy development beyond 2012.
 

Quebec City, the only fortified city in North America, is set against a spectacular historic backdrop: the district of Old Quebec and Place Royale, where Samuel de Champlain founded the first French settlement in North America in 1608; the Plains of Abraham, the site of the epic 1759 battle between the French and the English; and the famous Château Frontenac, overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

Quebec City is also home to the Musée de la civilisation, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, and the Parliament Building, where the National Assembly sits. This historic and cultural location features bustling city streets filled with fine restaurants, world-class hotels, art galleries, buskers and more.

At the heart of all these attractions is the Quebec City Convention Centre, where the much anticipated 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives will be held from October 8 to 11, 2012.

To find out more about the host city, visit the Quebec City Tourism website at www.quebecregion.com.

Q: How would you describe Desjardins Group?

A: Desjardins Group has a rich history: founded more than 110 years ago, it is now the largest cooperative financial group in Canada and the 6th largest in the world!

Our financial group has 5.8 million members and clients who use the services of more than 450 caisses in Quebec and Ontario, the 2 most populous provinces in Canada.

With 68,000 direct and indirect employees, Desjardins Group is also the largest private employer in Quebec. And, thanks to our subsidiary Développement international Desjardins, we are active in some 30 developing countries and provide more than 7 million families with access to secure financial services.

Q: Where does Desjardins Group rank internationally?

A: Our institution enjoys high credibility. According to the American magazine Global Finance, we are the 25th most secure financial institution in the world and the 4th most secure in North America.

Desjardins Group’s various achievements were recognized by many organizations in 2010. For example, the British magazine The Banker named us Bank of the Year 2010─Canada for our overall financial and cooperative performance. This is the first time that a Canadian cooperative financial institution has won this award.

Waterstone Human Capital ranked Desjardins as one of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures for its cooperative business culture. These results demonstrate the great work that our employees do. And they motivate us to do even better.

Q: What are the main challenges of the cooperative and mutualist model?

A: It’s clear that a new economic world order is emerging. Economic growth and power are shifting from industrialized nations to emerging countries. These countries play an increasingly important role in influencing the global agenda and have become extremely fierce competitors in all our markets. And then there's the race for supplies of raw materials, energy, food, and increasingly, drinking water, that's also creating social and environmental pressure.

Europe's sovereign debt problem is another area of concern, as is America’s debt and high deficit. All of this is creating tension and instability between developing countries and those growing at a more moderate pace. And because we live in a very volatile world, one event can quickly spread like a shockwave throughout the world and, as we recently saw, trigger a global crisis.

Q: What is the role of the cooperative and mutualist movement in this context?

A: In this changing world, we must take action to ensure the continued growth of our economic model. We need to expand its presence, broaden its action and enhance its relevance for our current and future generations. This means that we must place special emphasis on developing partnerships between cooperative groups in Canada and abroad.

We must act in this spirit of cooperation and intercooperation, in keeping with our mission and values that encourage cooperation and mutualism.

Q: What do you expect from the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives?

A: We see 2012 as an exceptional opportunity for the cooperative model to gain greater visibility and get the recognition it deserves for its contribution to the well-being of individuals and communities. As Summit co-hosts, we can already count on the support of the International Co-operative Alliance, which unites and represents cooperatives worldwide, as well as that of Saint Mary’s University, a Canadian teaching institution that offers a world-renowned masters degree in cooperative management. We also have the support of Quebec, Canadian and European organizations.

We believe that the cooperative model creates sustainable prosperity. Together, we want to extend the action of a cooperative movement that inspires confidence–it’s about being responsible and making a lasting difference.

The theme clearly reflects the 2 objectives of the Summit:

• Generate innovative solutions to help cooperative and mutual leaders meet their economic and financial challenges
• Raise public awareness about the power of the cooperative and mutualist movement around the world

The theme of the Summit is also an invitation to "revisit" or "rediscover" the cooperative business model which, despite the huge impact it has on the planet's economic and social development, remains relatively unknown.

"The Amazing Power of Cooperatives" is meant to remind us that half of the world's population draws its livelihood from cooperative activities and that cooperatives generate annual sales comparable to those of the 10th largest economic power in the world.

2012 was named the International Year of Cooperatives by the United Nations (UN) to highlight the major contribution that the cooperative business model has made to our socioeconomic development.

In his speech, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon rightly declared that the cooperative business model is a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility.

Cooperatives and mutuals have clearly demonstrated that they are a long-term solution that can help build a stronger and more equitable financial system. They proved it again recently by coming out of the last financial and economic crisis better than anyone else.

In fact, cooperation is expected to become the fastest growing business model between now and 2020.

That's why more and more communities and regions around the world will want to tap into the amazing power of cooperatives.

This event, organized in partnership with the Conseil coopératif acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse and the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council, will bring together leaders from all Canadian cooperatives and mutuals.

Stéphane Bertrand, Executive Director of the Summit, will speak to Congress attendees about the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives and its uniqueness.

Unlike other events that will take place to mark the International Year of Cooperatives, the Summit features a program focused primarily on the economic and financial issues faced by cooperative and mutual leaders around the world in all activity sectors combined.

The Summit will also highlight the "amazing power of cooperatives" globally, while also providing an opportunity for networking and international intercooperation.

Mr. Bertrand says that the joint CCCM/CCA Congress will be the perfect opportunity to "create cooperative connections."