| ACCORD Newsletter 17 - February 2004 | |
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Welcome to the first ACCORD News for 2004.We always appreciate your comments and contributions. Please email any suggestions or news items to the editor of ACCORD NEWS, Suzanne Henderson at suzanne.henderson@uts.edu.au. Contents in this issue
ACCORD ProjectsACCORD secures research contracts with CUSCAL and the Australian Stock ExchangeCredit Union Services Corporation (Australia) Limited (CUSCAL) has commissioned ACCORD to undertake a major industry research project in 2004. "The intention is to look at activities that could be done to freshen up mutuality and to have a look at some of the features of successful mutuals around the world" Cuscal's General Manager, Adrain Lovney, said the future role of credit unions was being assessed and revamped as several participated in the project with ACCORD. "The intention is to look at activities that could be done to freshen up mutuality and to have a look at some of the features of successful mutuals around the world," he said. (The Australian Financial Review, Tuesday 27 January 2004: http://www.afr.com.au) Read more about CUSCAL on the ACCORD website. ACCORD reviews capital-raising options for the Australian Stock ExchangeThe Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) has commissioned ACCORD to review options for capital raising for Co-operatives throughout Australia. Readers may be aware that the issue of capital raising especially for larger co-ops has been a considerable problem, often leading to demutualisation, and in a few cases, the listing of the demutualised co-operative on the ASX. What they may not be aware of, is that the ASX has the legal capacity to trade in Co-operative Capital Units, Debentures and other instruments other than share capital. ACCORD will commence the project in partnerships with the exchange in March 2004. Email: paul.fitzgerald@uts.edu.au for further information. Credit unions address social needs
By Chris Franks, A Director of Australian National Credit Union (ANCU).
A perfect example is that of my own Credit Union, Australian National, which established First Nations Australian Credit Union in 1999, an initiative to create an independent credit union owned and operated by Aboriginal people, explains Chris Franks, Director of Australian National Credit Union (ANCU). First Nations has over 3600 members in some of the most remote regions in Australia. It has been extremely successful in addressing the specific financial needs of Indigenous Australians. First Nations has had the support of various government agencies and Indigenous sporting personalities. Chris highlights the benefits and some of the barriers facing credit unions today. Benefits of maintaining mutual statusUK's Liverpool Victoria, the giant mutual, has out-performed many of its demutualised rivals such as Norwich Union and Scottish Widows, suggesting the benefit of mutuality is partly in the payouts. Against the backdrop of Standard Life considering shedding its mutual status, Liverpool Victoria's move may demonstrate how an insurer's corporate structure can influence payouts to policyholders. Read the Telegraph's article on its website. ACCORD Associates NetworkACCORD Associates are a network of twenty-nine leading co-operative researchers and consultants from around Australia. Members of the network regularly contribute opinion pieces and other newsworthy items to ACCORD News.ACCORD Associate Anthony Esposito comments on his vision of A Co-operative Future
"Coops need to get back to core values and become reformist, creative and dynamic as opposed to defenders of conservative positions." Anthony describes coops as a set of values that can apply to a range of different settings rather than a limited form of organisation. Coops need to get back to core values and become reformist, creative and dynamic as opposed to defenders of conservative positions, he says. It's about being relevant addressing an issue, problem or need and asking how do we solve it? And what are our values for dealing with it? Read the full article here.
For information on the ACCORD Associates Network, contact the editor of ACCORD News: suzanne.henderson@uts.edu.au
Social Capital and substance abuse New Law to Regulate Co-operative Societies in NairobiCo-operative societies in Nairobi (Saccos) handle over Sh70 billion annually and provide financial services to a large part of the population. Chairman of Kenya Bankers Savings and Co-operative Societies (KBSCS), Mr Ntoitha M'Mithiaru, said regulation was necessary since Saccos were fast replacing commercial banks as the principal providers of financial services in rural areas. http://allafrica.com/stories/200401220172.html Best practice grounded in frontline workersCo-operative Trust Company of Canada pays more than lip service to the importance of frontline workers. The company, which had revenue of $114.2-million in 2002 and manages assets worth $10-billion, actively supports research into management best practice. It is an approach that has paid off, resulting in such innovative practices as an employee-led survey and the decision to include all employees in the company's strategic planning. http://www.co-operativetrust.ca/news.html News from the ICABy Garry Cronan, Communications Manager, International Co-operative Alliance Over 900 co-operators from around the world attended the ICA's biennial General Assembly in Oslo, Norway, last September. The General Assembly is the ICA's global policy making forum and is hosted every two years by a member organisation. Last years' event was hosted by the Norwegian co-operative movement. The ICA's role in development was a the central theme of the conference. Copies of the keynote presentations can be found on the ICA's website. ICA President promotes co-operative development in AfricaChanges to accounting standards threaten co-operatives ILO and World Bank in joint co-operative activities ICA and AIDs crisis Proposed changes to international accounting standards The ICA met recently with the President of the European Union and information on the proposed changes has been widely circulated. Members and relevant organisations have also been involved in the campaign to stop these changes. Press release (PDF).
ICA encourages young people on the Board Testing time for NZ co-operatives!The cohesion and commitment of NZ co-operatives will be tested with the imminent release of the International Accounting Standards Board's new standards, says Ian Reid, Executive Director of the NZ Co-operatives Association. Article: www.accord.org.au. Third sector politics - the changing landscape
Labor recognises nonprofit sector
POLITICS The Third Way may be good for Latham Not Just an Economic Contribution Professor Mark Lyons, author of Third Sector: the contribution of nonprofit and co-operative enterprises in Australia (Allen & Unwin, 2001), says: "Nonprofit organisations make an even more important contribution to society through their demonstration of, and thus encouragement for, collective action. They play a central role in the regeneration of social capital. Nonprofit organisations also sustain and shape a democratic political system. They are the "elementary schools of democracy". While the vast number of nonprofit organisations that do not employ people may not contribute greatly to the economy, they contribute greatly to the nonprofit sectors social and economic impact." - The Nonprofit Sector in Australia: A Fact Sheet, from the National Round Table.
Current Status of Aboriginal Management Model New Co-operatives
- Junee Alive Youth & Community Development Co-operative Ltd Junee News in briefNo corporatisation for United FarmersTony Usher, Chief Executive of United Farmers Co-operative, Western Australia, says the co-op does not intend to corporatise. He made the statement following the resignation of three board members, who were concerned the co-op has changed its focus to business growth. From transcript of the ABC National Rural News, broadcast daily to all states on ABC Regional Radio's Country Hour and in the city on ABC News Radio. New policy to transform the co-operative movement in Kuala LumpurThe co-op sector has assets of RM21bil and the Government wants to use it as a catalyst for economic growth and development. More on the story here. Ramahyuck Aboriginal Co-operative launches youth leadership programBased in southeast Victoria, the co-operative says it has already come a long way in filling the vacuum of mainstream services that are not always culturally sensitive, like health, education and community jobs programs. Full story on the ABC website. Soaring Kiwi dollar threatens dairy industryThe soaring Kiwi dollar has slashed $650 million from dairy giant Fonterra's half-year sales. The severity of the fall has inflamed fears of a dairy industry meltdown. From transcripts sourced from the University of Wisconsin Center for Co-operatives (UWCC) http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2799429a13,00.html Family Welfare Co-operative PakistanFamily Welfare Co-operative began in 1954, as a vocational training home for destitute women in Pakistan. It operates on an annual budget of Rs 16 mil, has 60 membersalmost all womenand 196 employees. "The strength of the society is its members...they do most of the fund-raising, often contributing from their own pockets and take a personal interest in a lot of the girls here", said Director General Khalida Malik. Read the story on the dailytimes website. Cancellation of Banking Licence IndiaThe Supreme Court has turned down a review petition filed by the Apex Urban Co-operative Bank of Maharashtra and Goa against cancellation of its banking licence. "Our licence has been cancelled on technical grounds," said K Raj Kumar, general manager of Apex Bank. "We are committed to the 209 member banks. In the event our revival as a bank is not possible, we will function as a multi-state co-operative society," he said. Read the story on the Business Standard website. Health co-op pushed Medicare bill CanadaAs the Rural Wisconsin Health Co-operative celebrates its 25th year of advocating for rural hospitals, executive director Tim Size, says the co-operative just got an anniversary present - the Medicare bill. Size said it means $400 million more for Wisconsin hospitals during the next 10 years. He said the bill was driven by the need for prescription drugs for seniors, Medicare reform and providing fair reimbursement to rural hospitals. http://speagle.scwn.com/articles/2004/01/21/news/news06.txt Phone Co-op rings in year of record profits UKAt the Gloucestershire-based Societys recent annual general meeting, members heard that turnover increased by more than £1 million to £3.4 million for the year ended 31st August 2003, while profit before distributions increased more than three-fold. The board recommended an increased members dividend equivalent to two per cent of the value of their purchases. http://www.thenews.coop/details.php?id=290 Workers locked out MaltaEleven employees of the Central Co-operative for Farmers were locked-out from their place of work following a dispute, since the Co-operative wanted these workers to work four days a week instead of five. Read the full story on the di-ve.com website. Salt Lake picket backs Co-Op strike - USAA dozen Co-Op miners, their families and 100 supporters picketed Standard Restaurant Supply Company, one of 46 businesses owned by the Kingston family in the Salt Lake area. The Kingstons own the Co-Op coal mine in Huntington, Utah, where 75 mostly Mexican-born workers were fired en masse September 22 because of union activity. http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6804/680454.html2004 International Co-operative Trade Fair ChinaThe 2004 International Co-operative Trade Fair will be held in Beijing from April 26 to 28, 2004. This event is hosted by the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Co-operatives and co-sponsored by Co-Op Atlantic of Canada, the Co-operative Group of the United Kingdom and the NTUC Fairprice of Singapore under the support of International Co-operative Alliance and the ICA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. http://www.coopexpo.com.cn. What's onIn AustraliaFebruary, 2004 The Sustainable Living Festival. 13 - 15 February Melbourne 03 March, 2004 Australian Community Foundation Forum Bendigo Friday 5 March: Environmental Enterprises and Partnerships Sydney. Expressions of interest in participating in this forum should be directed to Vern Hughes International Women's Day 8 March 2004 Seniors Week 14 - 21 March 2004 - NSW
Thursday 25 March: Re-use and Re-cycling Social Enterprises Melbourne, Enquiries: Vern Hughes May, 2004
Wrestling
wicked problems: a new approach
2-4 May - Canberra July, 2004
Ethics,
leadership and corporate governance in a global economy
14-17 July - Melbourne Overseas31 March - ICA European Council, Budapest, Hungary. Further information: Gabriella Sozanski 1-2 April - ICA Europe-ILO Joint Conference on the Implementation of ILO Recommendation 193. Further information: Gabriella Sozanski 26-28 April - ICA Board Meeting, Beijing, China Further information: Iain Macdonald 26 April - Opening of the International Trade Fair jointly organised by ICA ROAP and ACFSM, Beijing, China. Further information: www.expo.coop 8-10 July - (IAFEP 2004) International Association For the Economics of Participation Biennial conference: Mending the Global Economy http://www.stmarys.ca/academic/commerce/economic/IAFEP/IAFEP_main_area.htm 19-20 September - ICA Board Meeting, Warsaw Poland. Further information: Iain Macdonald AnnouncementsACCORD Seminar - 24 March: Blair Government embraces third sector: will Australia?ACCORD seminar on the growth and transformation of the UK third sector and analysis of what's happening in Australia. Enquiries: Suzanne Henderson Email: Suzanne.Henderson@uts.edu.au SEP replaces SENSEN, the social entrepreneurs network, ran into financial difficulties late last year. It is understood that it is likely to be likely to close down. Meanwhile, a new organisation has emerged in Victoria to pursue some of the goals of the SEN. It is the Social Enterprise Partnerships (SEP). The next meeting of SEP is Tuesday 24 February at UTS, Haymarket, Sydney from 6- 8pm. Enquiries: Robyn Allcock, Email: ppcc@bigpond.net.au SEP continues the work of SEN across Australia, with a focus on peer-generated strategic development of the social enterprise sector. Its mission is:
Enquiries: Vern Hughes, Social Enterprise Partnerships, Email: hotham@sub.net.au. We welcome your comments on our newsletter and any suggested topics or items for inclusion in the next issue, due for publication in April. If you have any items of interest please ensure that these are forwarded to suzanne.henderson@uts.edu.au by 20th March 2004. To refer a friend or to unsubscribe, please e-mail: accord@uts.edu.au. All contact information provided will be kept strictly confidential. |
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