Network News

CCMA Conference Promises Learning, Leadership, Laughs

“Forward!” is the theme for the 2014 CCMA (Consumer Cooperative Management Association) conference, to be held June 12–14 in Madison, Wis. CCMA brings together several hundred food co-op leaders for presentations, panels and workshops, parties, and peer recognition. The conference’s main events will be held at the downtown Madison Concourse Hotel. For details on registration and conference logistics, see www.ccma.coop/registration-hotel.

Local host Willy Street Co-op is excited to be planning co-op tours and entertainment, including the conference-ending dinner and dance party. Diverse, special interest tours on the first day of the conference will offer visits to a wide variety of local cooperatives, from worker-owned to credit unions, along with food retail and production enterprise.

CCMA is co-sponsored by the National Cooperative Business Association and the UW Urban Co-op Initiative. The 2014 CCMA will also be a landmark in that it marks the final year of UW Prof. Ann Hoyt’s 25 years of CCMA conference planning, an outstanding contribution.

See the CCMA announcement on page 25 for details on the conference sessions, speakers, special events, logistics, and links.

Nominate Co-ops and Co-op Leaders for Excellence Awards

The 2014 Howard Bowers Fund Awards for Cooperative Excellence will recognize outstanding achievement in the food co-op sector. There is still time to submit award nominations with letters of endorsement.

The awards process is managed by the Howard Bowers Fund of the Cooperative Development Foundation. Award winners will be announced at the banquet held during the CCMA conference. Nomination forms and more information about the awards can be found at www.cdf.coop/howard-bowers-awards or by emailing Ellen Quinn: equinn@cdf.coop. 

• Nominate an outstanding retail consumer cooperative organization.
• Nominate a dedicated consumer cooperative leader.
• Nominate an innovative consumer cooperative organization.
• Nominate an outstanding board member.

NCGA Revamps Its Website

National Cooperative Grocers Association—www.ncga.coop—has redesigned its website. It offers numerous resources for NCGA members and the public as well. If you haven’t already been there, check it out.