Tools, Resources & Strategies for Co-op Advocates Advocating for co-ops can be challenging. Where do you start? Whom do you contact? What do you say? In this complimentary webinar, co-produced by the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) and the Campaign for Cooperation, you’ll get insights and strategies you can use immediately — from contacting and engaging with elected officials and staff to following up for maximum effect. Participants will receive: - A comprehensive overview of the advocacy process - Talking points for discussing co-ops with legislators - Insights into the National Cooperative Development Act and its impact on jobs and the economy - A Public Policy Toolkit for the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives - The opportunity to interact with experts Moderator - Peter Frank, Cooperation Works! Presenters - R.L. Condra, NCBA - Amy Johnson, US Federation of Worker Cooperatives - Andrew McLeod, Cooperation Works! Urban Circle - Bob Noble, Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance - Lisa Stolarski, NCBA Who Should Participate? - Cooperative developers, representatives and volunteers - Members of community service organizations - All who want to support the co-op movement

1. Advocacy 101 for Co-ops
Peter Frank
Advocacy Coordinator, Cooperation Works - Urban Circle
R.L. Condra – Director of Public Policy, NCBA
Lisa Stolarski – Chair – Cooperation Works - Urban Circle
Executive Director – Co-ops USA
Amy Johnson – US Federation of Worker Cooperatives
Bob Noble – Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance
Andrew McLeod – Cooperation Works – Urban Circle
July 31, 2012

2. Why Advocate?
• What do we mean by advocacy?
• What advocacy work is being done for co-ops?

3. Why Advocate?
• Beyond the Beltway - local governments and co-ops
• Pass the National Cooperative Development Act!

4. How to Advocate
• Goal is to motivate your elected official to act
– co-sponsor a bill, appropriations request, rule change, etc.
• How do we get co-ops on their radar?
– They are very busy people

5. How to advocate
• We need to deliver the right message at the right
time, delivered the right way
• Methods of communication
– Email - Fax - Letter - Phone - In-person meeting

6. How to advocate
• Prepare for your meeting
– Messages, paperwork
– Organize a delegation, practice
• What’s the right message?
– Relate to issues important to your Member of Congress:
– Growing the middle class
– Giving consumers affordable options
– Sustaining small, locally owned businesses
– Growing local economies & community development

7. How to advocate
• The actual meeting
– Short amount of time
– Co-op 101
– Relevance to their district
– Ask for requested action (become a co-sponsor, etc.)
• After the meeting
– Report back
– Follow-up

8. Real advocacy experience
• Congressman Fattah
– Lisa Stolarski
• Congressman Brady
– Peter Frank
• Congressman Meehan
– Bob Noble

9. National Cooperative
Development Act

10. “Create jobs and increase economic
development in underserved communities by
promoting cooperative business development”
•Loans and seed capital to groups forming co-ops;
•Grants to centers to provide technical assistance
to co-ops;
•Funding for professional development training
for technical assistance providers; and
•Establish cooperative development centers
•$25 Million maximum yearly appropriation

11. National Center
Local Centers
Local Cooperative Businesses

12. HUD will:
• select a National Center to administer the Program
• develop a strategic plan outlining Program guidelines, operating
budget, and work plan
• produce an annual progress report

13. The National Center will:
• be selected by a competitive process
• disperse funds to eligible Local Centers
• create a Revolving Loan Fund
• incubate development of new Local Centers
• provide training and support to professional cooperative developers
• monitor and evaluate recipients of funds

14. The Local Centers will:
• be selected by a competitive process – funding agreement up to 3 years
• provide technical assistance to local cooperative businesses in
underserved areas
• provide training and instruction for the purpose of cooperative
development
• will meet performance targets approved by the National Center

15. Definition of underserved:
1. within a low to moderate income area as defined by US Census; or
2. within a low-income community as defined by IRS; or
3. adjacent to 1 or 2 (limited); or
4. an area given approval by the National Center (limited)

16. The Urban Circle
• Advocacy for the National Cooperative Development
Act
• Sustainable sources of funds for urban co-op
development
• Professional development training
• We need support to continue moving forward with
our work

17. Questions?
Peter Frank – info@campaign.coop
(215) 680-9195
R.L. Condra - rcondra@ncba.coop
(202) 383-5480
Lisa Stolarski - lstolarski@ncba.coop
(202) 383-5448
Amy Johnson - amy.johnson@presidioedu.org
(215) 292-2281
Bob Noble – bobnoble@philadelphia.coop
(267) 973-6619
Andrew McLeod - coopgus@gmail.com
www.campaign.coop