I've been in the co-op sector in an intense way for 3.5 years, while also having been a member of various co-ops for 19-27 years [Vancity and MEC, respectively] and I have a membership relationship with CCEC, I stay at Best Western [also a co-op] and shop at Home Hardware [also a co-op] whenever I can.

But in my time being a member of various co-ops and working for them as a consultant, I've noticed a few things about the co-op sector that need some work. And fast!

And after you read this to-do list, read this piece for further inspiration that complements my ideas here, then kick back and watch the 9 minute short film [see the picture above] called Wire Cutters that explores the sanity of cooperation and synergy, and the folly of greed, alienation and competition in a perceived zero-sum context.

Co-ops and co-op members need to have higher expectations of professional behaviour from other co-operators. This is a movement where we have an obligation to create amazing workspaces filled with rich community, deep interdependence, synergy, collaboration, open communication and positive-sum thinking. It's often not. It's often the realm of people who exploit and demean others just like we know soulless corporations do. Stop tolerating this! Demand better! We need to call out people in co-ops, big and small, old and new, who do business as if it didn't matter that they were in a co-op. The movement matters. The principles matter . The community and people matter. We need to--gracefully--challenge the privilege of people in power who have demographic advantages. Often these are older people, white people, male people who don't understand intersectionality, justice, oppression, entitlement or inclusion. And of course, not all __________ ignorantly wield privilege, but many do. We need to stop giving privilege a pass and engage with it. Otherwise there is no hope for equality and democracy. We need to spend far more energy and regard for principle 6, not like it's an afterthought luxury, only if the core business is doing well: it IS the core business. It needs to be built into the fabric of everything we do. Like #4, We need to fix the attitude [is it complacency?] of co-operators having little regard for the necessity of improving member/stakeholder engagement to build the movement and collaborate, instead of competition in a zero-sum context. Without better engagement, democracy and movement building, we may as well all be corporations. We need to do a better job of nurturing new, small, young co-ops. Even if they look verrrrrry different from what we're used to. The new breed/style of co-ops are not amateur, they do not lack credibility or legitimacy, and they are paying their dues every day. They also happen to be the future of the movement in many ways. Instead of being patronizing and condescending to them, we should be learning from their business models and posture. They have many answers to questions many of the rest of us aren't even asking yet.

Some in the co-op movement need to stop putting young people at the organizational kiddies table with colouring books and make-work projects while the grown ups do the real business. Young people who love co-ops for ideological reasons are just as credible as the future of the movement as anyone in established co-ops. Respect and dignity are two-way streets. And they need to be earned and given. Some co-ops need to do a better job of advertising their co-op advantage to people who would choose them over corporations if they only knew they were co-ops. Yes, I'm talking to virtually all credit unions, as well as Best Western and Home Hardware. :) Some progressives in the co-op movement recognize the need to attract millennials to the movement. But that's just step one. They won't succeed if they don't authentically engage with them, expand opportunities for democracy in each co-op and in each co-op sector, and earn the trust, legitimacy and credibility required for millennials [and others!] to join and commit.

I hope you also noticed all the times certain words showed up.

That's intentional. :)

All these points orbit all of my work and discussions with people in co-ops. This sector is massively under-performing, particularly in post-2008 North America. This is a simple prescription for making our sector vibrant, resilient and inspirational to all!

I'm here to help. I'm at ebStrategy.org.