SEC January Speakers' Series/Webcast - Mapping the Social Economy: Three Views

David Lasby of Imagine Canada will discuss the recently completed mapping of Ontario's social economy that combines nonprofits, co-operatives, credit unions, and other community organizations.

Using data taken from the first-ever census of Ontario co-ops, credit unions and caisses populaires, Mark Ventry from the Ontario Co-operative Association will discuss the social and economic impact of the province's co-op sector, what census information surprised On Co-op, and what the data confirmed.

Sherida Ryan of OISE/University of Toronto will discuss Ontario organizations that meet the broad definition applied to social economy enterprises and that rely on internet-based technology to achieve their organizational objectives, their similarities to traditional social economy enterprises, use of information technology and their understanding of an online social economy enterprise.

Wednesday, January 16, 2007, noon - 1:30 pm
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto
Room 12-199, 12th floor, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto
This event will be simultaneously webcast (see our website for details).

For more information, see http://sec.oise.utoronto.ca/english/lectures.php

Social Economy Centre (SEC) Lunchbox Speaker Series, November 28

The Social Economy Centre of the University of Toronto invites you to the next event in its speaker series on Wednesday, November 28th: "Social Purpose Business for Persons with Psychiatric and Developmental Handicaps” with Carolyn Lemon (Board Member, Common Ground Co-operative), Laurie Hall (Executive Director, AWAY Express) and John Trainor (Director, Community Support and Research Unit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health). The event will also be webcast live on the Internet. Please see the SEC website for detailed instructions at http://sec.oise.utoronto.ca/english/lectures.php.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
University of Toronto
252 Bloor St. West, Room 12-199
Toronto

Workshop Nov 30/07: Greening your Organization So Everyone Wins

The Social Economy Centre is running a new workshop series/certificate on cutting edge issues affecting the social economy during the Fall 2007 and Winter/Spring 2008. The next workshop will be led by Paula Anderson from Peterborough Green-Up, on 'Greening your Organization So Everyone Wins', on November 30, 2007.

For more information, go to http://socialeconomy.utoronto.ca and click on Workshops/Certificate, or contact Lisa White, Workshop Co-ordinator at secworkshops@oise.utoronto.ca

7th annual Co-op Conference and Gala now spans two days - October 16 and 17, 2007

Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington ON

October 16-17, 2007

The 7th annual Co-op Conference and Gala now spans two days - October 16 and 17. At 9am, October 17th, join Kathy Bardswick, CEO of The Co-operators as she discusses sustainability, innovation and the co-op principles. Following a networking break, participants may choose from one of five workshops: M1 - How can your co-op do a social audit; M2 - Co-op leadership in Canada; M3 - Co-operation and innovation at the regional level; M4 - How are co-ops adapting to change?; and M5 - the Funders Forum, an invitation-only session for organizations with an interest in funding and financing CED and co-op development.

After lunch, participants will attend an interactive plenary session, and then choose from five additional workshops. A cocktail reception and the Spirit Recognition Awards ceremony completes the day. This is the third year the conference will be held at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington ON. A tour of some of the region's most interesting co-ops; and four professional development sessions, presented by CUSOURCE Knowledge Network, take place October 16. All activities support the conference theme of 'Building Up, Moving Forward.' Learn more about the conference, and register online at www.ontario.coop/Gala. Sessions are quickly filling up.

Deadline to register is October 10, 2007.

Social Economy Centre Half-Day Workshop: BOARD-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE IDEAL AND REALITY IN THE GOVERANCE OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Friday, September 21, 2007 - 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Workshop leader: VIC MURRAY, Adjunct Professor, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria

Vic Murray is an internationally renowned scholar and specializes in the study of voluntary sector organizations of all types with particular emphasis on the areas of board governance, strategic planning, inter-organizational collaboration and the assessment of organizational effectiveness. He is also an active consultant in these areas and is the driving force behind the Volunteer Sector Knowledge Network project.

As part of the Social Economy Centre’s 2007-2008 offerings, Dr. Murray will present a workshop exploring the “stubborn paradox in the governance of community organizations by their boards of directors.” This workshop will also offer participants the opportunity to examine solutions for bridging the gap between the ideal and the real-world experience in the governance of community organizations.

For years, books, articles, web-sites and consultants have been offering all kinds of advice on how boards ought to operate and relate to the organizations they govern. Yet many boards have a very difficult time living up to these ideals or choose not to even try. Why is this? Is it the fault of the boards and managers? Or is it possible that the advice itself is not always what is needed?

Join us in this workshop to:

• Explore the gaps between the ideal and reality in board governance
• Learn how to develop ways of bringing the ideal and reality closer together
• Learn how to use contingency-based analysis and tailored board development approaches

FORMAT: An interactive workshop with opportunities to ask questions and tailor the information to your own organization.

DATE: Friday, September 21, 2007 - 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

COST: $100 + GST; Each additional participant from the same organization will receive a $15 discount.

LOCATION: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, room 5-175
252 Bloor Street West, Toronto (St. George subway station).

To register, click here or for more information contact Lisa White at: secworkshops@oise.utoronto.ca

Please note; space is reserved in these workshops on a first-come, first-served basis.

2007-08 Social Economy Certificate/Workshop Series

The Social Economy Centre (SEC) of the University of Toronto is pleased to offer its 2007-08 workshop series. These half-day workshops (9 am to noon) can be taken individually or applied towards a Certificate (requires completion of 5 or more workshops).

Download poster of workshops

September 21, 2007: BOARD-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS: Bridge the gap between the ideal and reality in the governance of community organizations. Full description.
Workshop Leader: Vic Murray, University of Victoria

October 26: ROCK PAPER SCISSORS: Gain insights and enhance your strategies for voluntary sector/government relations. Full description.
Workshop Leader: Peter Elson, University of Toronto

November 30: GREEN YOUR ORGANIZATION SO EVERYONE WINS!: Turn your organization in a sustainable direction – environmentally, economically and socially. Full description.
Workshop Leaders: Paula Anderson, Manager, Waste Reduction Program, Peterborough Green-Up; and Sue McGregor-Hunter, Executive Director, Peterborough Green-Up

January 30, 2008: NON-PROFITS AND EMERGING INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES : Explore ways internet-mediated technology can add value to your organization. Full description.
Workshop Leader: Sherida Ryan, University of Toronto

February 29 , 2008: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN NON-PROFITS AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS: Develop progressive human resource management practices for non-profit organizations. Full description.
Workshop Leader: Kunle Akingbola, University of Toronto

March 28: SOCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR NON-PROFITS AND CO-OPERATIVES: Learn how to account for volunteer value in your organization. Full description.
Workshop Leaders: Laurie Mook, University of Toronto; Jack Quarter, University of Toronto; B.J. Richmond, York University; and Eric Plato, Frontier College

April 25: STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR NON-PROFITS, CO-OPERATIVES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS: Discover how to develop a strategic plan that really works! Full description.
Workshop Leader: Jane Garthson, Garthson Leadership Centre

May 30: MENTORING IN NON-PROFITS: Learn how the Mentors Circle can add value to your organization. Full description.
Workshop Leader: Elizabeth Verwey, Small Office Mentors

June 20: COLLABORATION THROUGH CO-LOCATION: STRATEGIES FOR SHARING RESOURCES: Explore how organizations can work together to achieve greater efficiency and build a sense of community. Full description.
Workshop Leader: Eli Malinsky, Centre for Social Innovation

To register, click here.

For more information contact Lisa White at: secworkshops@oise.utoronto.ca

Please note; space is reserved in these workshops on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cost: $100 + GST for the first workshop, and $85 + GST for subsequent workshops. A Certificate is awarded for 5 or more courses.

Location: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, 252 Bloor St. W., Toronto, Ontario (St. George subway station)

Social Economy Centre half-day workshops for social economy organizations

OISE Workshop – May 29, morning seminar
The Mentors Circle, Clear your path to growth
Learn this new model to collaborate with others in a co-mentoring program. This half-day session will introduce key templates and exercises that help you to grow your organization. You will gather new ideas and resources to help clear your path.

Elizabeth Verwey, from Small Office Mentors will facilitate this half-day session. Elizabeth was the founding Director of New Development for Performers for Literacy. She will share information, resources and encourage groups to collaborate in new and innovative ways.

Material from The Mentors Circle will be used in this session. www.mentorscircle.com

For more information, send an email to sec@oise.utoronto.ca