Do coops fail or have they a life span

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Do coops fail or have they a life span?
Presenter Pat Ray Workshop Strengthening
Coops Day 26 November 2005
Adelaide , South Australia Hosts Community
Housing Council Of South Australia
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Whos Pat Ray?
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Pats Street Cred
HHA
Paris Flat
Tenant
Active Member
Treasurer Asst Sectry Rent
Maintance
Resigned
1988 1990 1994 2000 2005
SACHA Development Compliance
Managing Education Enabling Roles
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What is a coop?
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Legal Definition

• housing co-operative means an association
  which is formed on
• (a) the principles of co-operation, and
• (b) principally to provide housing
• accommodation to its members
• Part 1 Preliminary Section 3
• South Australian Cooperative and Community
  Housing Act, 1991

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7 Co-operative Principles

• Open and voluntary membership
• Democratic Member Control
• Member Economic Participation
• Autonomy and Independence
• Education, Training and Information
• Co-operation among Co-operatives
• Concern for Community

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What is this thing- a coop member?
Member
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What is a coop? -Pats view point

• Dynamic living entity
• Process of waxing and waning
• Evolves over time
• Implies a life span

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More to coops than business only!
U2
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Dynamic View
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Challenges/threats to well being of the
cooperative

• Life span depends upon
• The trick or key is
• how these are handle!

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External Threats

• Housing Reforms
• - targeting
• Gazettal
• - grey area

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External Threats

• Compliance Era

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External Threats

• Amalgamation of the peak bodies
• CHASSA CHAF
• Resources diminished
• Support role fell to SACHA
• Power change

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Threat Change!

• External
• policy
• funding
• management

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Internal Threats (changes)

• Membership
• View Points
• Actions

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Membership Process

• Educating prospective members about
• Values vision of the coop
• The business focus over next 12-18 months
• Ways business is done by the coop
• Expectations of prospective, new and existing
  members
• How relationships are maintained

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Membership Process

• Assisting new members to
• Increase knowledge of cooperative
• Improve skills
• Share expertise
• Fit in with existing culture

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Membership Process

• Assist existing members to
• Sharpen skills or re-skill
• Share their expertise knowledge
• Train others

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Conclusion

• Business side handled (opportunity to)
• SACHA
• Regulator
• Enabler
• education training
• new Funding arrangements
• culture change

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Conclusion

• CHCSA
• Forums
• Workshops
• Conferences
• Lobbying
• National focus

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Conclusion

• See coop as dynamic and living
• Balance business and people sides
• individual and group
• Have and revisit a vision

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• KEEP LEARNING
• (stay informed)
• KEEP VISIONING
• (stay tuned)
• KEEP NETWORKING
• (stay connected)
• KEEP BEING HEARD
• (stay vocal)

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Its in your hands!!