tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.comments2022-03-08T01:26:13.872-08:00<a href="https://votermedia.blogspot.ca">Votermedia Democracy Blog</a>Mark Lathamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-68513446046533522892016-12-12T10:39:36.184-08:002016-12-12T10:39:36.184-08:00Updates: The Globe and Mail has published two arti...Updates: The <i>Globe and Mail</i> has published two articles:<br /><br />2015-10-16 <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/mec-governance-changes-sparks-dissent-among-long-time-loyalists/article26852082/" rel="nofollow">MEC governance changes spark dissent among long-time loyalists</a><br /><br />2016-10-16 <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/mountain-equipment-co-op-eases-board-applicant-rules/article32383675/" rel="nofollow">Mountain Equipment Co-op eases board-applicant rules</a><br /><br />Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-24841944503356504342016-11-21T13:42:50.347-08:002016-11-21T13:42:50.347-08:00Got some feedback elsewhere that I've distille...Got some feedback elsewhere that I've distilled into this Q&A:<br /><br /><b>Q1: How can we expect people to pay in order to replace services that they currently don't pay for?</b><br /><br /><b>>> A:</b> The software bulk-purchase co-op strategy starts with services that users <i>do</i> currently pay for. It bundles software and bundles users to get better deals. That drives membership growth – see next question & answer below.<br /><br /><b>Q2: Isn't your proposal (a software bulk-purchase co-op) different from the #BuyTwitter idea of a co-op that purchases an existing technology platform (like Twitter)?</b><br /><br /><b>>> A:</b> Yes, it's different, but it may be a more feasible step that enables us to then purchase or build a platform like Twitter. If the bulk purchase software co-op works (i.e. delivers a much better deal than users can get otherwise), then membership should grow very large, into the millions. Once a co-op gets to that level of financial strength ($60 million per year flowing through), it will have more options, including buying an existing platform. Or building one. I think the hardest part of the BuyTwitter movement is how to muster the financial resources needed.Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-85074333491456368802016-09-30T16:09:05.397-07:002016-09-30T16:09:05.397-07:00CIRA board election results were published today a...CIRA board election results were published today at <a href="https://cira.ca/election-results" rel="nofollow">cira.ca/election-results</a>:<br /><br />Elected from members' slate: <b>Louise Macdonald</b><br /><br />Elected from nom-com slate:<br />- <b>Rob Villeneuve</b><br />- <b>Rowena Liang</b><br />- <b>Alex Beraskow</b><br /><br />All for 3-year terms through 2019.<br />Congrats; and thank you to all candidates for running!Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-30226802663479379402016-09-28T07:31:42.690-07:002016-09-28T07:31:42.690-07:00Hi Mark.
Thanks for your support and for being so...Hi Mark.<br /><br />Thanks for your support and for being so engaged. The items you've noted on the forum and archived here on your blog are all great points of consideration. I'm looking forward to learning more about the underpinnings of the site and specific structure that's led to some of the fractured, temporary, and difficult to navigate site decisions and membership stipulations to see what we can do to make improvements in these areas. <br /><br />As a practical example you're all too familiar with: my password app shows 8 entries for CIRA. That's not manageable for anyone.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030657934490133243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-68008624894496414632016-09-28T07:26:13.884-07:002016-09-28T07:26:13.884-07:00Thank you for your support!Thank you for your support!Frank Michlickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10630335123293184544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-37103984044615073302016-06-07T11:10:20.106-07:002016-06-07T11:10:20.106-07:00I am especially proud because credit unions are no...I am especially proud because credit unions are not-for-profit organization that exists to serve their membership rather than shareholders (ahem banks) whom seek maximize profit through fees and services. I just love my <a rel="nofollow">local Canada Credit Unions</a>Joshua Sweatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07977839173250710220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-25028417248704738692015-09-29T21:40:03.747-07:002015-09-29T21:40:03.747-07:00.CA Members elected these new directors:
Members&....CA Members elected these new directors:<br /><br />Members' Slate -- <b>Marita Moll</b><br /><br />Nom-Com Slate -- <b>Helen McDonald, Michael Geist, Bill Sandiford</b><br /><br />Thank you all candidates for offering to serve!<br /><br />Vote counts at <a href="http://cira.ca/content/2015-voting-results" rel="nofollow">cira.ca/content/2015-voting-results</a>Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-39194249753821972642015-09-18T16:32:07.284-07:002015-09-18T16:32:07.284-07:00Yay! OpenMedia.ca agrees with me on voting for Mar...Yay! <a href="https://openmedia.ca/blog/voting-cira%E2%80%99s-2015-election-will-help-shape-future-canada%E2%80%99s-internet" rel="nofollow">OpenMedia.ca agrees with me</a> on voting for Marita Moll, Michael Geist, and Bill Sandiford. They don't give a recommendation for the third committee-slate spot, so I guess I'll go with Konrad von Finckelstein.Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-51482876360802011842015-04-10T16:06:02.460-07:002015-04-10T16:06:02.460-07:00MEC sucks now. I have been a member for a very lo...MEC sucks now. I have been a member for a very long time (I still have my original paper member card). I am this close to mailing it back to them and surrendering my membership (if such a thing exists).<br /><br />There is a real cult undertone to MEC now...can anyone confirm if they require their employees to take Landmark Seminars?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-66838420033981604372015-03-21T16:14:16.622-07:002015-03-21T16:14:16.622-07:00Looks like MEC is going private!Looks like MEC is going private!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-5040659224239456582014-04-25T16:31:36.983-07:002014-04-25T16:31:36.983-07:00RELATED LINKS:
- http://www.theguardian.com/busin...<b>RELATED LINKS:</b><br /><br />- <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/apr/23/rochdale-pioneers-paul-flowers-co-operative-debts" rel="nofollow">http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/apr/23/rochdale-pioneers-paul-flowers-co-operative-debts</a><br /><br />- <a href="http://www.mec.ca/AST/ContentPrimary/AboutMEC/Governance/ElectionsandAGM/ElectionResults.jsp" rel="nofollow">Election Results</a><br /><br />- <a href="http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=60055" rel="nofollow">MEC voting discussion on ClubTread</a><br /><br />- <a href="http://www.democraticcoop.ca/2014/candidates" rel="nofollow">Candidate ratings by MEC Members for a Democratic Co-op</a>Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-86067868819529882942014-04-25T10:23:24.588-07:002014-04-25T10:23:24.588-07:00Unfortunately being a co-op is no bar to utter inc...Unfortunately being a co-op is no bar to utter incompetence at board level - as documented in the UK co-op movement here<br /><br />http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/apr/23/rochdale-pioneers-paul-flowers-co-operative-debts Stephen Reeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14557925284157387548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-28291076062661396602014-04-15T10:23:20.768-07:002014-04-15T10:23:20.768-07:00Cutoff time for members to register at the April 3...Cutoff time for members to register at the April 30 AGM is 5:15pm. Members who arrive later can still enter the meeting, but won't be registered to vote.<br /><br />Thank you "Julie from Coast" for this info via twitter @Coast_Capital -- <a href="https://twitter.com/Coast_Capital/status/456118081996070912" rel="nofollow">tweets here</a>.Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-9399117465589772582014-04-14T21:43:35.577-07:002014-04-14T21:43:35.577-07:00Is it possible for a member to enter the AGM AFTER...Is it possible for a member to enter the AGM AFTER 5p and participate in affairs?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-63815213402810766072014-04-09T10:13:49.884-07:002014-04-09T10:13:49.884-07:00Voting ended April 8 at 5pm. Thank you for voting ...<b>Voting ended April 8 at 5pm.</b> Thank you for voting and spreading the word about the Coast Capital members' democratic reform movement!<br /><br /><b>We'll hear the vote counts at the <a href="https://www.coastcapitalsavings.com/About_Coast_Capital_Savings/Corporate_Information/Governance/Annual_General_Meeting/" rel="nofollow">AGM</a>:</b><br /><br />Wednesday, April 30, 2014<br />Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel<br />15269 – 104 Avenue, Surrey<br />Parking is complimentary for Coast Capital members attending the AGM<br />Registration and light refreshments from 4:30pm to 5pm<br />Meeting begins at 5pm<br /><br /><b>See you there!</b><br /><br />Or watch webcast linked <a href="https://www.coastcapitalsavings.com/About_Coast_Capital_Savings/Corporate_Information/Governance/Annual_General_Meeting/" rel="nofollow">here after 4:30pm on April 30</a>.Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-7739965320851399282014-03-22T11:18:03.547-07:002014-03-22T11:18:03.547-07:00LINKS to online discussions of this Coast Capital ...<b>LINKS to online discussions of this Coast Capital vote:</b><br /><br />- <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%22Coast%20Capital%22&src=typd&f=realtime" rel="nofollow">Twitter search "Coast Capital"</a><br /><br />- <a href="http://coastcapitalcompensationwatch.com/2014/03/20/the-coast-capital-vote-and-election-begins-today/" rel="nofollow">Coast Capital Compensation Watch</a><br /><br />- <i>Richmond Review Letters to Editor:</i><br /><br />2014-02-21 Nick Loenen (Coast Capital Member) --<br /><a href="http://www.richmondreview.com/opinion/letters/246605901.html" rel="nofollow">Credit union facing another members’ revolt?</a><br /><br />2014-03-05 Bill Wellburn (Coast Capital Board Chair) --<br /><a href="http://www.richmondreview.com/opinion/letters/248583561.html" rel="nofollow">Coast Capital believes in good governance</a><br /><br />2014-03-14 Nick Loenen (Coast Capital Member) --<br /><a href="http://www.richmondreview.com/opinion/letters/250406321.html" rel="nofollow">Coast Capital directors paid more than Vancity’s</a>Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-36210475031874863132014-01-07T17:37:42.204-08:002014-01-07T17:37:42.204-08:00Thanks for these positive responses on Twitter:
2...Thanks for these positive responses on Twitter:<br /><br /><b><a href="https://twitter.com/modo_carcoop/status/420320424950784000" rel="nofollow">2014-01-06</a> Modo The Car Co-op <a href="http://twitter.com/modo_carcoop" rel="nofollow">@modo_carcoop</a>:</b><br />@votermedia That's a great idea to have a candidates forum, Mark. Let's explore the options once we get thru this 1st electronic election!<br /><br /><b><a href="https://twitter.com/arcwoodland/status/420362171936043009" rel="nofollow">2014-01-07</a> Alan Woodland <a href="http://twitter.com/arcwoodland" rel="nofollow">@arcwoodland</a> [Modo Director]:</b><br />@votermedia Thanks. We will definitely take this under advisement @joeldeyMark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-57055067007777026202013-09-27T15:37:15.235-07:002013-09-27T15:37:15.235-07:00Speaking of transparency and openness, I'd lik...Speaking of transparency and openness, I'd like to thank Modo Board Chair Joel DeYoung for linking to this blog post from his report on the SGM, in the September issue of <b><a href="http://www.modo.coop/news" rel="nofollow">Multi-Modo</a></b>, our newsletter. Joel's report also links to <a href="http://www.modo.coop/modo-special-general-meeting-2013" rel="nofollow">this summary of the SGM</a>, which in turn links to the newly amended <b><a href="http://www.modo.coop/index.php/download_file/view/280/147/" rel="nofollow">Rules of Modo</a></b> and the <a href="http://www.modo.coop/index.php/download_file/view/279/147/" rel="nofollow">SGM-approved Rule Changes</a>. So we are now sharing these governance docs publicly -- yay! :-)Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-50786114847825918942013-09-27T15:17:41.166-07:002013-09-27T15:17:41.166-07:00Thanks Anon for participating in the SGM and raisi...Thanks Anon for participating in the SGM and raising an important issue. It's hard to find the best way to divide power between a board of directors and the voters who elect them. If the election process works very well, then there should rarely be any need for voters to question a board's decisions.<br /><br />However, democracy is far from a perfect system, and election processes in most large democratic organizations are quite flawed. So we need to work on improving our election systems, while maintaining some checks and balances on the power of elected leaders.<br /><br />I agree that Modo's board and management are clearly good at building a successful car co-op, and that this doesn't necessarily mean they'll be good at investments. But one could counter that Modo's voting members may not be any better than the board at investments, and are likely to be too busy to work on it. We should elect some directors with investment skills -- back to the election process.<br /><br />That said however, among the checks and balances we should have on the Modo board's discretionary power, a member approval vote on future changes to our investment policy could be a wise precaution. So you and I raised the issue at the SGM. We had a good discussion of the pros and cons, and the majority decided not to require member ratification. Nonetheless, we encouraged the board to be transparent about changes in the policy, and alerted members to the issue, which will improve future accountability.<br /><br />Next we can look forward to how Modo's director election system will evolve now that it can include internet voting. As I discussed in <a href="http://votermedia.blogspot.ca/2013/08/modocarcoop-meeting-sept-23-to-vote-on.html" rel="nofollow">this previous post</a>, much depends on what kind of online voter information system we develop.Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-58358366465007464812013-09-26T16:30:25.343-07:002013-09-26T16:30:25.343-07:00Thank you for being so active. I was the one that ...Thank you for being so active. I was the one that asked the accountability question on investment which you had already anticipated. The Boards response was interesting and, in part, justified the very accountability I was requesting. If I read it right it was, "You have elected use to lead and we have worked hard on this. Why should we then give you the chance to change/refuse our work?" Is that a fair summary do you think?<br />In my mind was the thought, "These guys obviously know how to run a successful car co-op. Are those the same skills as knowing how to recognize a good investment?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-41566014027844595262013-09-24T13:39:07.848-07:002013-09-24T13:39:07.848-07:00Election results have just been announced -- see c...Election results have just been announced -- see <a href="http://cira.ca/elections/en/results.html" rel="nofollow">cira.ca/elections/en/results.html</a>.<br /><br />Newly elected directors are:<br /><br />Members' Slate -- <b>Kevin McArthur</b><br /><br />Nom-Com Slate --<br /><b>Louise Macdonald<br />Rowena Liang<br />Rob Villeneuve</b><br /><br />Congrats all!Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-77851890077123698602013-09-20T14:04:18.488-07:002013-09-20T14:04:18.488-07:00Amending my amendment:
I thank Modo's Governa...<b>Amending my amendment:</b><br /><br />I thank Modo's Governance Committee (especially Alan Woodland, Joel DeYoung, and David Lach) for discussing my above proposed amendment and suggesting an improved version. I agree with their suggestion, so I now plan to propose (at next Monday's SGM) this new wording for <b>Rule 10.02:</b><br /><br />"The Directors shall not invest a total of more than $25,000 of the funds of the Association in securities or classes of securities other than those in which trustees are permitted to invest trust funds under the <i>Trustee Act</i> unless the Members have ratified, by ordinary resolution, an Investment Policy approved by the Directors that defines permitted investments and sets investment limits for permitted investments, in which case the funds of the Association shall be invested in accordance with that Investment Policy."<br /><br />BTW the Governance Committee is not endorsing my amendment, just trying to ensure that it is pragmatically actionable if it passes.Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-49205034494880385912013-09-16T10:04:27.946-07:002013-09-16T10:04:27.946-07:00I thank those who have given me feedback on this p...I thank those who have given me feedback on this post. One has pointed out that large voting organizations typically do not have their investment policies approved by voters. That is true, it's not a standard governance feature. But since Modo aspires to a higher standard of co-op member democracy, this would be a good feature to have.Mark Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570922352903867246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-52416186911602036782013-08-13T09:48:39.222-07:002013-08-13T09:48:39.222-07:00Mark:
This is a great initiative. What a differen...Mark:<br /><br />This is a great initiative. What a difference it would make if even 2% of co-op members began requesting a forum and two way communication. Co-ops would soon be reconnected to their democratic roots. James McRitchiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02002886644292794280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115556433372076865.post-22163878358118579762013-04-29T08:06:17.550-07:002013-04-29T08:06:17.550-07:00Wow, it looked like a duck and it talked like a du...Wow, it looked like a duck and it talked like a duck, but now we know it's a duck. You cleared up any doubt that this is a run-away entrenched board here:<br /><br />"Apparently the board decided that MEC members needed to be benevolently protected from having the option to vote for Anders this year."<br /><br />I can't believe they've already used that provision from last year! I mean preventing the membership from choosing who challenges them is a power a board doesn't have. If they claim they *really* need it because they're so threatened (which is precisely what they claimed), then it should only be used in conjunction with such a massive takeover attempt. But this was no threat at all. I'm really disgusted. How Soviet of them.<br /><br />And now *more* sneaky sugarcoated special resolutions this year? Like they need more unilateral powers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com