Limerick Community Grocery hosts

Sowing the Seeds of Co-operation – Limerick International Urban Co-operative Seminar

Keynote Speaker: Ann Herpel, General Co-ordinator, Park Slope Co-op, Brooklyn

Saturday July 12, 2014 Limerick City of Culture Building, Pery Square, Limerick 10.30am – 5pm Free Admission – Simply Register

The Limerick Community Grocery, the urban co-op, in conjunction with the Park Slope Food Co-

op in Brooklyn USA are hosting an urban cooperative seminar & workshop. The seminar will

explore, discuss and hopefully define the most appropriate urban cooperative model for our

circumstances in Limerick.

The Limerick Community Grocery was setup in 2013 to provide wholesome food at affordable

prices in an open, transparent and co-operative environment. Membership is open to the public

and is based on one member one vote. Like other co-operatives worldwide, the co-operative

operates according to the core principles and values - adopted by the International Co-operative

Alliance in 1995.

The Park Slope Food Co-op, turning over $8,000 per square foot (annual turnover $48 millions) is

the single most successful grocery store in the USA. Membership is open to the public and is based

on one member one vote. As their slogan says "Good Food at Low Prices for Working Members

through Cooperation Since 1973".

The seminar will also explore our commitment to generating livelihoods through our urban

agriculture and community gardening initiatives. Join us as we sow the seeds of co-operation on

the weekend of the 12th July, in the Limerick City of Culture 2014 offices, 2 Pery Square Limerick.

Attendance at the seminar and workshops is free but prior registration is essential.

Register at - www.limerickcommunitygrocery.com

For further details e-mail - limerickcommunitygrocery@gmail.com

Watch the Limerick Community Grocery video at - http://youtu.be/X9Trv2I9B3M

Watch the Park Slope Food Co-op video at - http://vimeo.com/70117088

The Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn (NYC), USA – http://www.foodcoop.com/

Saturday, 12 July TIME ITEM SPEAKER

10:30 Welcome & Introductions & Purpose (3-5 mins) Bill Kelly

10:35 General overview of Park Slope Food Co-op (30 mins) Ann Herpel

11:05 - 45 Q & A 930-60 mins)

11:45 Coffee break (15 mins)

12:00 Park Slope’s Legal Co-op Model – Overview (15 mins) Ann Herpel

12:15 Workshop Time: Round 1 (30 mins) - Legal Co-op Models/Defining

Member contributions

4 to 6 tables (groups) discussing various co-operative options, e.g.

Table 1 – Member contributions: Obligatory voluntary unpaid work (e.g. 5 hours p/month)

Table 2 – Members contributions: Optional voluntary unpaid work (e.g. 5 hours p/month)

Table 3 – No member voluntary unpaid work contribution

Table 4 – Membership Rewards via discounts/other options etc (aka, patronage rebates)

Table 5 – Safeguarding the co-operative’s assets (aka, asset locking)

12:45 Work shop Round 1 – Output (30 mins)

Harvesting results: Three minute summary from each table

General discussion with Q & A

1:15 Lunch (60 mins)

2:15 Recap (5 mins)

2:35 Workshop Time – Round 2 – Important Co-op Choices (30 mins)

4 to 6 tables (groups) discussing various topics e.g.

Table 1 – Relations with suppliers & consumer/suppliers

Table 2 – Coordinating paid & unpaid staff, rights & duties etc

Table 3 – Communications & engaging members

Table 4 – Community involvement

Table 5 – Education & defining core values

Table 6 – the business model & financials

3:05 Work shop Round 2 – Output (45 mins)

Harvesting results: Five minute summary from each table

General discussion with Q & A

3:50 Coffee break (15 mins)

4:05 Round up (10 - 30mins) Bill Kelly

Agreement on next steps for the project

Q & A

5:00 Finish