AGM 2007

I can safely report that the Annual General Meeting was an enjoyable meeting. Four members not shown if you're counting heads - doesn't everyone do that?

a) Chair, Secretary and Treasurer all re-elected unopposed.
b) Four delegates to Area Co-op Party filled easily
c) Delegates to Withington Labour Party are John Hacking and Geoff Bridson
d) Delegate to Manchester Central - Peter Copping.

The interesting discussion as always was on the future program for the year. Big support for a film night of clips from the past. This is now technically easy to achieve these days, now we have access to DVD burners, laptops and projectors. Home Care Co-ops, a trip to the co-operative brewery in Cumbria, carbon off-setting and a celebratory meal were some of the other ideas. You get the idea that our Co-op Branch is for political types who want to be on friendly territory. Why not? We're all in this together.

Big support for financial donations to help candidates in winnable seats this May. You get the idea that beating the Lib-Dems is a priority.

UPDATE:
There is a complimentary blog entry "Co-op Party Divis Up Results" about the Withington Co-op Party AGM at chorltonparklabour by ever active member John Hacking.

Fairtrade # 2

Good display of fair trade products at Unicorn Co-operative Grocery in Chorlton. But note how they've expanded it beyond just products that have the familiar Fairtrade Foundation logo (it's not cheap to get that on your packet - but that's another story). Zaytoun Olive Oil from Palestine on the left, and some excellent white rum in the middle. A shop that doesn't sell sugar but sells alcohol made from sugar (but that's another story too).

SMCU AGM

Just a plug for the South Manchester Credit Union of which many of us are members of. Their AGM is on Tuesday 6th March at 1930h. Venue is St.Peter's Church at the corner of Barlow Road and Stockport Road in Levenshulme. Looking for helpers, if you wish to volunteer an hour a month.
"What makes a Credit Union different from a bank is that it is owned and run by its members - people like you"

If you are interested in saving and joining speak to Paul our Secretary at the Withington Co-op Party AGM or email: smcu AT phonecoop.net. If you ever wonder why I spell out email that way it's to stop pesky spammers collecting yet another address to mither...

I'm hoping to set up an online calendar this week to keep track of all the meetings that are going on and which might be relevant.

Andy Walsh FCUM

I've heard that Andy Walsh the General Manager of FC United will be speaking at the Co-op Manchester Area Party AGM (delegates only) on Saturday 17th March. So he'll be missing the Abbey Hey away game to be played at Hyde United's ground. You might know that FC United is a bona fide Industrial & Provident Society, one member one vote, and it costs 10 GBP a year to be a member. Interesting choice, and I'll admit to bias being a member and like Andy come from sunny Stretford too. Supporters owned football clubs have made some headway in the last few years (there are 5 Football League Clubs including dear old Stockport County), now receive official UEFA backing (link), even a little Government money for Supporters Direct but clearly a long way to go.

Andy Walsh video interview on FCUM-TV (broadcast on Channel M last December)

Fairtrade #1

Here we are down our local Co-op (thankfully I've got one nearby) and it's 20% off all Fairtrade products for Fairtrade Fortnight. If only I brought my tasting notes from the last time we sampled these at our Co-op meeting on Fairtrade wine. Just get two bottles for now...I'll come back later in the week for some of the chocolate selection and maybe some fairtrade cake. co-opfairtrade
Good report in today's Guardian Saving St.Lucia, about Sainsbury's and Fairtrade bananas. It does make a difference to a fragile economy and it's all been driven by the consumer. If they don't sell then supermarkets will cull those product lines, so we have to continue buying them.

Live in Roma

On holiday in Roma but will be back for the Co-op Party AGM on Wednesday 28th February 2000h GMT. Been catching up on the comments (mmmm!) , and the mentions on other members blogs (thanks) . Nice to get away from it all, and if the Prodi government fell the other day you would never notice.

Clayton

Two pictures from John Hacking, taken whilst out campaigning in Clayton ward, north Manchester. He gets about, and manages to take some pictures of an old co-op shop as well doing foot slogging to win votes. Click the pictures to get a larger view. Looks like it was built in 1908 by Droylsden Industrial Co-op Society. I like that crown on top. As John points out "I hope someone is recording all this because it'll be gone soon". You can read what our member John is up to at chorltonparklabour. Makes a good read following his "Ballots and Rain Tour of Manchester". Since then he's been to the Velodrome and Burnage, a tip of the hat to someone who is doing the real politics. What's that? Meeting people who are not politicians.
Google Map
Streetmap.co.uk

Nomination Result

At tonight's meeting the following candidates were nominated : Naheed Arshad-Mather and Nargis Khan

Nomination Meeting

Withington Co-operative Party makes it's nomination for the Withington Constituency Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate shortlist to-morrow night (19th Feb). We can choose from six who are Co-op Party members out of the nine candidates , and only members who are resident in the constituency can take part in the meeting. These are the rules we have to follow.
The result will be posted here, directly after the meeting finishes from the upstairs room on the right in the picture. Oh, the wonders of mobile phones to weblogs. Maybe even a photo. You can follow the Withington Selection events, results and make comments at Labouroflove.

The Supermarket That's Eating Britain

Monday 19th on TV Channel 4 : Dispatches at 200oh - 2100h.
The Supermarket that's eating Britain...like the title.
"Tesco is Britain's favourite supermarket - 2,000 stores, 15 million customers a week, it has 25% of the UK's grocery trade. Dispatches shows how Tesco could soon become even bigger, and asks if this retail giant is abusing its power."