Cooperative Development Institute: Northeast Center for Cooperative Business

Everybody celebrates Co-op Month differently. Watch a fun 3-minute YouTube video made by the members of the Faire Band a' Part Housing Co-op of Lewiston, Maine, on why they want to live and invest in Lewiston and how the co-op helps them do that.

An article by Kristie Snyder in GreenLeaf, the GreenStar Market newsletter, encourages members to celebrate co-op month in all the different ways available to them, including food, health products, housing, banking, childcare, restaurants, and crafts.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities is holding a Relocalization Conference Sunday, October 18, 2009, 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. in Roxbury, MA. The conference will include information, sharing, speakers, panel discussions, workshops, tabling, great local food, music,

Calling all Artist & Artisan Cooperative members -- The Cooperative Development Institute is launching an online Artist & Artisan Cooperative Gallery (artgallery.cdi.coop) to feature the work of co-op members around the country. An auction of selected pieces will be held in October for Co-op Month. Artists are encouraged to sign up at gallery.cdi.coop/signup. Participation is free; CDI receives a portion of all sales made through the site.

The Kennebec Journal reports on the members of the KV Federal Credit Union's decision not to merge with the Kennebec Savings Bank last month. The Maine Credit Union League supported those members who campaigned against the merger.

Date: Wednesday October 14, 2009
Location: Royal Botanical Gardens
680 Plains Road West
Burlington, ON Canada
Co-op Conference 9am - 5.30pm. Spirit Awards Gala 5.30 - 9pm
Participants in the conference can choose from 12 workshops and plenaries - all supporting the theme of Co-ops Work: Exceptional Solutions for Exceptional Times.

Cooperative Development Institute will help owners of manufactured homes buy and operate their communities in three states.

South Deerfield, MA (September 17, 2009) — Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) today announced it has been named one of eleven Certified Technical Assistance Providers (CTAPs) to join the national affordable housing partnership, ROC USA™ Network. The group has also been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) to support the operations of its technical assistance program. CDI will serve homeowners in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

October is the month to celebrate cooperatives and credit unions. NCBA has some tools and tips on the Co-op Month website. What is your co-op doing to celebrate this month?

A cooperative buzzes in Chicago -- a 100-hive apiary owned by members has been selling gourmet sweet honey and other bee products since the winter of 2003. Read about the Chicago Honey Co-op in this short Orion magazine piece by founder Michael Thompson. Then donate $5 to help them raise their own queen bees.

Michael Moore's new film, "Capitalism: A Love Story," opens Monday, October 12th, at Amherst Cinema. There will be a pre-film short introduction to an alternative to the traditional economy--worker cooperatives--as well as a panel discussion session led by local members of Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives following the film.
-- Thanks to Mary Hoyer for the info.