Co-ops 101

“Cooperative education is relevant to all employees of cooperatives. Every employee represents the cooperative to members and to the community. The impression the general public has of the cooperative will be based to a large degree on the quality of interaction with cooperative employees. It is important for every employee to know the basic facts about that cooperative and cooperatives in general.” Bob Cohen


Led by Dr. Bob Cohen (Bio)

MAC-Ed's award-winning cooperative education session is a must for tenured and new employees. The session describes the history, culture and nuances of the cooperative business model. Each employee with leave this program with a solid understanding of cooperatives, the ownership, equity-patronage, and member representation structure of their cooperatives. Plus the participant will be able to explain your cooperative's advantage to your members and general public.

Providing a systematic and progressive cooperative education to employees at every level of the organization is the trademark of every accomplished cooperative leader. It is a highly-publicized fact that the foundation of every organization is based on the aptitude and knowledge of its employees. In the cooperative world, a thorough understanding of cooperative history and the unique business model provides employees the tools necessary to conduct their daily transactions resourcefully, with every member/owner/customers. They need to recognize and communicate the value of being a member/owner/customers with every interaction. Keeping the Cooperative Legacy well-established in the minds of your employees, keeps member/owner/customers aware of the benefits of doing business as a cooperative.

By helping participants develop a broader vision for co-op success, MAC-Ed helps your co-op groom the next generation of high potential leaders. Young professionals reap extraordinary personal and professional growth, and everyone benefits from the sustained co-op advantage. Consider These Questions and Register Today

• Does your cooperative have new employees who are unfamiliar with cooperative principles and practices?
• Do your members and employees understand the responsibilities of the individual manager, the directors, the members and all employees?
• Do they know how a cooperative differs from an individually owned business, a partnership or other types of corporations?
• Could they benefit from information about the many types of cooperatives in their community, the benefits of cooperation or an explanation of basic cooperative equity management and taxation?

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Co-op Custom Programs
Assisting Co-op Leaders Chart the Course to Higher Ground

Custom Co-op Curriculum

MAC-Ed recognizes that every co-op is unique, relative to its personal culture, the tenure and expertise of its employees, and the internal and relational dynamics of its board, management and staff. That is why we offer Custom Co-op Curriculum. MAC-Ed creates training on demand, at our members' request. We facilitate training, discussions, roundtables and strategic leadership sessions with a neutral approach. Fresh perspectives evolve, co-ops forge new paths and internal communication bridges are improved.

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Director Education
Understanding the director's role and how to govern cooperatives is not intuitive. It is one of the most difficult roles in the cooperative system. Navigating the conflicting interests of being a member/customer and a neutral and effective board director is challenging. All co-op directors want to perform their duties well, yet many are seldom provided with guidelines and education to do so. This unfortunately positions them for failure. When this happens, co-ops are is in for avoidable headaches.

MAC-Ed delivers life-long learning courses targeted and specific to member needs. Both management and new & existing board members require core education that thoroughly explains their roles, duties & responsibilities. MAC-Ed's course curriculum is diverse, flexible and tailored for each session, each year. Sessions expound upon strategy, financial oversight, governance and succession planning (sustainability plan) specific to member cooperatives.

Core Co-op Director Education Curriculum

• Co-op Governance
• Legal Ramifications
• Did you know co-op directors can be held liable for losses occurring through inattention to the business or willful violation of their duty to protect the cooperative? Today’s global business climate is becoming increasingly more complex with new regulations coming down the pike at a rapid pace. Courts have held that, as a matter of law, directors must be informed of reasonably available information needed to make sound business decisions.
• Co-op Strategic Thinking
• Keys to Co-op Finance
• Succession Planning for Senior Management & Directors

CEOs need to partner with trained directors to lead cooperatives successfully. MAC-Ed experts understand the compelling forces that hold co-op leadership teams captive in their current thinking, emotions and behaviors. They know that lack of change results in predictable, less than optimal actions and decisions. MAC-Ed is armed to infuse new thinking to dissolve unproductive patterns and get your team marching in step toward the common goals that brings fruitful rewards to the co-op.

MAC-Ed experts are skillful and step in to offer solid solutions:

• Integrating dynamic and challenging members in the meetings
• Shifting the practices, rituals and relationships
• Accelerated integration for new directors
• Board alignment

         °   MACC's Strategic Planning & Succession Planning - August 22, 2011...

         °   MACC's Strategic Planning Process - December 9, 2011...

Co-op Financial Programs
MAC-Ed Partners with NSAC to Offer CPE Credits on Our Co-op Financial Conference

         °   Cooperative Financial Professionals Conference...

         °   Co-op CFO Essentials Program...

         °   Co-op Credit Conference...

The Co-op Intern Workshop

MAC-Ed launched the Co-op Intern Workshop to augment your co-op's approach in screening and developing prospective new hires. Whether your co-op has a well-developed, in-house, intern program or you rely on a mentor to "show the new kid the ropes"; this program enhances the process. MAC-Ed sees the value of this multi-faceted approach. We help cooperatives broaden and develop a richer talent pool of co-op leader candidates.

The Co-op Intern Workshop Focuses on Three Core Aspects

EDUCATION

Educating interns about the co-op business model is the workshops key objective. Co-ops are different than other investor owned companies. Every customer is also an owner and may serve on the board of directors. It is important that prospective employees understand the nuances of this model. The co-op and the intern need to be a good fit.

MEMORABLE CO-OP EXPERIENCE
Strong co-op relationships are built through networking. The second workshop objective is to create a climate that is fast-paced, fun and inviting that promises a valuable experience. Multiple opportunities are embedded in the program that necessitate working together, collaborating, learning and sharing, all while having fun. Attendees will spend time in small and large groups, and one-on-one; with education as the primary focus.
THE INTERN PROJECT
Today's interns are the most technologically advanced segment of our society. New technologies and social media options appear on the market at breakneck speed, often perplexing seasoned managers who are engrossed in the daily operational challenges of your co-op. This session is designed to allow your co-op to capture your intern's fresh perspectives about technology, social media or general marketing and communications ideas. You choose!

As a session pre-requisite, you can equip your intern with a project topic to explore or process improvement task. Perhaps you prefer that they evaluate your co-op and choose their own project idea. They will return to your co-op equipped to channel their feedback and ideas into an effective presentation. Today's young professionals are proficient users of technology so get their input on how your cooperative can be more effective in employing new communication technologies. Your employees and member/owners of all generations will appreciate a fresh perspective.

Successful cooperative leaders invest in the future by developing the next generation of cooperative leaders who are in college today. The Co-op Intern Workshop is designed to generate excitement about the cooperative business model while delivering a solid education on cooperatives.

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CLF - Cooperative Leadership Forum for Emerging Leaders

For current and emerging leaders, employees & directors. This co-op emersion workshop emphasizes co-op education, and leadership development/managing across generations and also includes tours of four local cooperatives representing a variety of industries and structures. It is key for emerging leaders to quickly understand the unique coop model, the importance of cooperative relationship with each of their member/owners; and what managing in the cooperative world is about. It is not the same as the investor owned world that was developed solely to make a profit. All co-ops were started to serve a unique need of their member/owners that was not served by the market for a variety of reasons.

The conference is a multi-day, dynamic, hands-on learning experience that provides opportunities to interact with others who have similar interests and goals. Participants form teams and work together to develop a "mock" cooperative business plan. They experience exercised that simulate creating a cooperative, selling shares of stock, selecting a governance structure and develop a business plan for their cooperative. This group project will clarify the subtle differences and advantages of cooperatives when compared to private or investor owned companies.

Attendees experience day-to-day operations while visiting agricultural, food, credit union, housing and rural electric co-ops. These tours will add value to the overall learning experience, helping to create a more valuable and knowledgeable employee that excels in a broad based cooperative system. New and prospective directors will emerge much better prepared to make informed decisions and understand their fiduciary role to the members they represent. New employees will appreciate a clear understanding of their unique cooperative and how truly different their relationship is with the co-op's member-owner-customer.

The Cooperative Leadership Forum will equip your employee or director with a solid foundation of leadership skills and cooperative knowledge for these dynamic times. It's an investment in your people that you can't find anywhere else.

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