Next Meeting is Transport

The next meeting will be on

Thursday 27th October 2000h in Hardy Lane Co-op Rooms

(that's above the co-op shop at the Junction of Hardy Lane/Mauldeth Road West - but note Hardy Lane and the car park is blocked off with roadworks for the building of the new tram line)


featuring :
Cllr Andrew Fender (Labour Co-op / Old Moat ward)
Chair, Transport for Greater Manchester Committee
entitled :
'Transport for Greater Manchester's Current Policy Priorities"
There is a lot going on in relation to transport in the City so this will be an excellent chance to hear and ask questions to someone who knows the full story.

We will have our usual fair trade refreshments.
All welcome - you don’t have to be a Co-op Party member to attend. The picture is the the barriers to protect the recent Tory Party Conference in Manchester. Hand operated to let trams through.

Mutual or Big Society?

"I just want to start by saying what a privilege it is to be here in Cardiff at the first Co-operative Party Conference in what I believe is a new era of Labour Party politics"...it goes on to touch on the mutual tradition and something called Big Society (whatever that is?)

Full speech by Tessa Jowell at the Co-operative Party Conference, Saturday last 11th September 2010.
Link.

Co-op Party Daily

A new feature from the Co-operative Party is a news filled webpage. It is generated by an online application from Twitter using recent Tweets and those who you are following. These then link to the articles that have been alerts on Twitter. Anyone can sign in and create their own online publication. It is a good way to catch up in the evening on what has been going on....

You can see it here at paper.li/CoopParty

Peterloo commemorated

Sunday 15th August saw the commemoration of the Peterloo massacre of 1819. This is part of the long running campaign to obtain a proper and fitting memorial to the event. The St.Peter's Fields have been built over but you can get near the actual site by standing outside G-Mex ( since renamed Manchester Central Convention Centre - a regular venue of the Labour Party Conferences).

Picture is of Geoff Bridson, long standing co-operator, dressed up in a Hugh Birley outfit. Full marks for the costume and going as one of the reactionary opposition to the people.

Ed at the Hustings

Here we have Ed Balls MP (Morley & Outwood), well known for his co-operative credentials being interviewed at an event in Lambeth. It's hustings time for the Labour Party, and there will be one of those events in Manchester. Co-operative Party & Labour Party memebers can apply for tickets. Saturday 31st July, at the HQ of The Co-operative, New Century House started at 1100.

Anyway back to Ed Balls MP - you might need to read Ed Balls, Lambeth Co-op & Cutting Corners on The OnionBagBlog (fear & lothing in SW8) from where this audio snippet is taken. 

Live Webcast Monday 28th June

As part of Co-operatives Fortnight, the Co-operative we will be webcasting a live programme here at 1815 BST on Monday 28 June from Toad Lane, Rochdale.

Presented by Paul Hendy and featuring CEO Peter Marks, CEO of Co-operative Financial Services Neville Richardson. Christine Tacon, Managing Director of Farms and Moira Lees, Society Secretary. You can join in with questions but have your membership number to hand to login. It might be all available later if you miss it.

Link

New Grounds Co-operatives Video

"People who don't share our values politically using what we believe in as a cheap way to cut back public services" warns Michael Stephenson, General Secretary of the Co-operative Party. He is sat on the platform along with Cllr. Steve Reid from Lambeth Council who mentions iniatives in that borough.

An interesting short video from The Co-operative Membership dept for Co-operatives Fortnight.

Unicorn Workers Co-op Video

A two minute video made for the first Co-operatives Fortnight by Unicorn workers' co-operative in Chorlton. It's in that British tradition of cheezy, over-acted style but having fun. Nice copyright free track by Moby who makes this music available for non-commercial use. Great effort...and enjoyable.

Co-ops Fortnight Ahead

Two weeks promoting Co-ops is nearly upon us.  There are some activities from Co-ops in Manchester as you would expect - On the 8th Day, Manchester Film Co-operative, Unicorn Grocery..etc & etc
12 page guide (it's got pictures) - here
Events in the NW England region - here

People's Supermarket to open in Londonshire

Chef Arthur Potts-Dawson is on a mission to create The People's Supermarket: a not for profit, co-operative grocery store that will feature in a series of TV shows on Channel 4 in the U.K. in 2010. It's due to open somewhere in central London. You join, you volunteer for 4 hours a week and you get discount groceries. It's a tried and tested operation in New York. There is a downside in that supermarket skills look easy but lots of people can't cut it. Bit like badly run charity shops were socialising is preferred to business. Working tills, facing up, picking and stock rotation needs to be achieved. Motivated volunteers and training are the issues. But good luck to the venture.
Link.