Workers.coop Autumn Assembly - input needed

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Hi all, a few of us are working on the programme for the Autumn Assembly which will be in Glasgow on 20, 21, and 22 November (main Assembly on 21st).

We are looking for input on some of the content of the main day - 21st - which runs for a whole day. We have several spaces to run sessions. A draft outline is below. We are looking for:

  • Ideas for other sessions
  • Input into planned sessions
  • Is there something you would like to lead on ? Or who do you think should be leading it?

Many thanks!

—-

AA Overview-c 10-5.30 pm

Welcome bit

*Welcome to AA

*Scene setting

*Intro to worker co-ops in Scotland and in Glasgow

**workers.coop-**New member induction

How to get involved in workers.coop

Inside co-ops

Dynamic governance - decision-making and consensus

Dealing with redundancies, co-operatively

Finance session

Mental health and well-being in co-ops

Themed sessions

Co-ops & permaculture: what can community gardens and permaculture teach worker co-ops? With WashHouse Garden, Laurison AgroEcology Farm, etc (Gill, Elaina, Clem)

Research on worker co-ops - Kiri/Owen

What’s going on and who’s doing what / any interesting projects?

The worker co-operative census

Worker co-ops in Scotland: what does the future hold?

The policy landscape in Scotland and recent developments (with a better title!)

Facilitator: Gloria with CUK, SES, AN Other.

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Have you thought about including Co-operate Scotland in the session on Worker co-ops in Scotland?

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Me and @martinfaherty were discussing a Palestine solidarity session. there’s lots to build on from the worker coop weekend and other advancements that have come about since then, e.g. worker coops twinning with palestine coops through unions.

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I’m not clear on what the purpose of the event is, but if it is aligned I’d be pushing for a session focussing on the mission of workers.coop and what it needs to do to deliver that.

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I’d like to do a live episode recording of Punchcard again. Went down really well last year.

I haven’t got a guest in mind yet atm. I will start looking into it now, but if the event organising group wants to suggest someone lmk

(when will we know if our proposed sessions have been accepted?)

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I think some people might be interested in a discussion regarding co-ops and Your Party, @natasha has mentioned that one of our members, Jarrow Insights, might be working on the project so perhaps they could be invited to participate in a session on this?

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Hi all, thanks everyone for input, really appreciate that. We’re pulling together ideas in one place to share and get input on - in the meantime please do send more ideas / proposals

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Hi there Gloria! I am consdering whether to go to this, Glasgow is a long way…

If so, we can contribute to a session on governance, especially talking about consent based decision making (and why its sometimes superior to consensus. More here Power Up with Consent) and other tools of Sociocratic governance.

Will there be a cost to attending?

Thanks

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Yes there is, (but I’m not sure that this is the case if you are running a session), the sessions for the event are being sorted out next week and I think you offer is a great one and I hope it can be scheduled and that we will see you in Glasgow!

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It feels like there are some nice sessions, but sort of following @Graham point, I agree on coming back to the mission, but also that there’s a wider fundamental issue that needs discussing, workshopping maybe. The largest worker coops aren’t really growing, if anything taking decisions to not do so, there also isn’t really cooperation amongst them (not in a horrible way, just practically). I know, historically, its a waste of time to get worker coops together, certainly in food, and saying how they can work together, because it goes nowhere, but it’d be interesting to explore what could merge the movement more. Would a central federation of food co-ops draw them together, maybe united they’re a bigger force, what can be learned from other countries, from CoTech maybe. I’d be interested at least to hear peoples thoughts on it at the event, as it’s something I am keen to explore, even if its not a session. I think its critical to the future of the movement and workers.coop (as they largely fund it too).

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yes, we’re actively pursuing this

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yes, we are working on something like this

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A bit late to the party, but I am happy to help with mental health and well-being in coops session if you need people for that. I could also looking at putting on a morning stretches and gentle exercise session as I did at the summer gathering? I don’t know if there would be space for this, considering it’s more indoor due to weather.

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Hi Ross,
Thanks for your input on this. We are planning to run at least two sessions which touchon this, though coming from slightly different directions. One will be a showcase and discussion of the coordinated community food growing in Glasgow and beyond and the other and a session focused more on permaculture philosophy and practice. We’re also making a space to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the Federation as well.

Looking forward to hearing more thoughts from you at the assembly!

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Hello, @gloria_d did message me about doing a workshop or maybe doing the panel (it wasn’t clear which). I’m just wondering if this is confirmed or not and what I need to plan for? I can definitely also plan my own session if necessary but I wouldn’t want it to be a repeat of anything.

I would also like to mention my proposed research on women in worker coops in the Research on worker coops session if possible!

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Hello! I am sorry, I don’t know what happened with these messages, I find the forum quite glitchy (and also have had loads on so it could be human error)

So - Louise and I agreed to keep some time for actual practical activities and doing nice things together, so if you could lead a relaxation/somatics type session after lunch that would be great. The slot we currently have you in is for an hour but please feel free to do less.

I didn’t see the proposed research on women in worker coops! We haven’t actually managed to schedule a session on research but if this is something you’d like to share less formally I think we could find space in the cafe/breakout areas. Let me know.

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I don’t really do somatics, that’s more Jane’s thing, but I can definitely do some good stretching and breathing for perhaps half an hour for people who may want to do that after lunch.

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That sounds great, sorry I got mixed up there