Social Economy Student Network Ontario

Student Lunch at Symposium

2010-04-08T11:17:00.002-04:00

Student Luncheon and Talk: Publishing in Journals - Nonprofit and Open Access

April 12th at 12:15 Peace Lounge, 7th Floor OISE

Guest Speakers: Peter Elson, Senior Research Associate, Institute for Nonprofit Studies, Mt. Royal University and Co-Editor of the Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research (ANSERJ); Stian Haklev, OISE Grad Student and Co-Chair Open Access Sub-Committee; and Marian Press, OISE Education Commons

There is no charge to attend.

The Fifth (and final) Annual Southern Ontario Social Economy Node Symposium

2010-03-30T11:33:00.000-04:00

April 12th (8:30-4:30) and 13th (8:30-3:30), 2010
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
First Floor Library
252 Bloor St. W
Toronto, ON

Our daily news is filled with reports about the consequences of the recent economic crisis. Our traditional economic approach has left people jobless, industries cutting back and local businesses closing. In these troubled economic times, how can we support the future of our communities? How can we invest in sustainable community development while at the same time contribute to wider economic change?

The Social Economy Centre of the University of Toronto is completing a five year research project that examined how co-operatives, nonprofits, community economic development corporations, and other social enterprises contribute to the economic wellbeing of our communities. Please join us to celebrate our work and to look to the future.

Keynote:
The Social Economy: A New Way to Manage Wealth
Michel Labbé, President and Founder of Options for Homes and more recently Options for Green Energy.

Two exciting panels:
 Voices of the Social Economy: Lessons from Quebec and practices in Ontario
 Towards a People’s Centered Economy / Procurement for a People's Economy

Interactive sessions with academic and community researchers who will share their work and insights. Short workshops on topics relevant to social economy organizations.

A preliminary program and more information is posted on our website http://sec.oise.utoronto.ca/english/symposium_10.php

There is no cost for this event. However, registration is required: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/95GS5NH

SOCIAL ECONOMY CENTRE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

2010-01-15T16:49:00.002-05:00

Upcoming Workshops (Registration required)
January 22, 2010: Marketing for Nonprofit Organisations (waitlist only)

February 19: Human Resource Management in Community Organizations(full day)

March 26: Strategic Planning for Non-profits, Co-operatives and Other
Community Organizations (full day)

April 30: Fundraising in Non-profits and Community Organizations (full day)

May 21: Managing Change in Community Organizations (full day)

** Certificate offered for completion of 5 or more workshops **

Upcoming Lunchbox Speakers (No registration required and you can even see it via webcast)
January 20, 2010: Participatory Budgeting

February 17: Entrepreneurship in Worker Co-operatives

March 24: Social Capital Financing

April 14: Community Foundations/Innovative Foundations

May 19: Green Energy Act

See the University of Toronto Social Economy Centre website for more info.

Social Economy Student Network (SESN) Student Conference on the Social Economy

2010-01-15T16:44:00.001-05:00

Exploring the Role of the Social Economy in a Changing World,
June 1st 2010

This one-day Social Economy Student Network conference will be held at Concordia University in Montréal June 1st, 2010 (with a social event to follow). The Deadline for abstract submissions is March 1st, 2010. We invite anybody who has had experience working with and researching various aspects of the Social Economy to submit an abstract.

More info

Marketing for Social Economy

2010-01-11T15:26:00.004-05:00

All day workshop in social economy marketing at OISE. Registration and fee required. More details go to:

http://sec.oise.utoronto.ca/english/pdfs/workshops/5woodkrause.pdf

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING

2010-01-11T15:22:00.002-05:00

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING

Daniel Schugurensky, University of Toronto

Elizabeth Pinnington, Neighbourhood Support Coalition of Guelph

Steve Floros, Toronto Community Housing

January 20, 2010, noon - 1:30 pm

OISE 252 Bloor St. West, Toronto
Room 12-199
Bring your lunch and a mug. Water,
coffee and tea will be provided.

ANSER Graduate Student Research Award

2009-10-19T13:14:00.003-04:00

The purpose of the ANSER award is to foster and acknowledge graduate research excellence in the field of nonprofits and the social economy in Canada.

Please note the timelines: Nomination Deadline: November 20, 2009
Review and award announcement: January, 2010
Presentation and research profile by recipients: ANSER Conference, June 2 - 4, 2010 at Concordia University, Montreal, QC.

Eligibility:

Any full-time Landed Immigrant or Canadian graduate student who is focusing on nonprofit and social economy research

Applications may be submitted in French or English

Selection criteria:
a. Research scholarship
b. Quality of research
c. Relevance to nonprofits and the social economy
d. Contribution to policy, governance, or sustainability of nonprofits and the social economy

Application process:
Submission of the following by the deadline date:

i. A two page outline of the research question/ methodology/ research partners/ expected contribution/ relationship to nonprofits and the social economy/ research timetable

ii. A CV (4 pages maximum) to include stage of study/ expected completion date/ bursaries or funding/ publications/ research experience

iii. Letter of support from supervisor or other to comment on quality of research scholarship and relevance to nonprofit and social economy

Awards: There will be two annual awards of $2,500 each with an additional $2,500 (total) to support Award recipient travel to the ANSER Conference. Award recipients will be asked to profile their research at the ANSER Conference.

Funds for the ANSER Graduate Student Award have been made possible by the Institute for Nonprofit Studies, Mount Royal College.

For more information contact:

Peter R. Elson

ANSER Awards Committee
c/o Institute for Nonprofit Studies
Mount Royal College
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW,
Calgary, AB T3E 6K6
(403) 440-8722
pelson@mtroyal.ca

Best of luck!

Suzanne Cook

Scholarship Opportunity

2009-08-30T16:05:00.002-04:00

The Canadian Social Economy Hub (CSEHub) is inviting proposals for research scholarships from practitioners and students under 30‐years old1 who are working in the Social Economy. This scholarship program is intended to promote original research by “emerging leaders” in the Social Economy that will advance knowledge for the sector, and enhance the capacity of successful candidates to further strengthen the Social Economy in academic and practitioner sectors in Canada.

The Program will provide scholarships of up to $3,000 per recipient towards salary replacement, national/international travel, or other actual costs of conducting research and producing a research report for publication by CSEHub. A review panel will assess proposals and make recommendations to the CSEHub Co‐Directors who will select the scholarship recipients.

The following is due Sept 19, 2009:
1. Completed application (found on CSEHub website under ‘Sharing Your Research’) 2. CV listing all publications, previous research experience, and two references 3. Letter of application outlining interest in continued work in strengthening the Social Economy, the rationale for the research proposal, its relevance to the policy priorities of CSEHub, the arrangements that have been or can be made to ensure sufficient time for the research and writing process, a proposed budget (including costs to be covered by the award), and a description of how the report and research data/findings will be put to use by practitioners/actors in the Social Economy 4. Two letters of support

For more information, or to submit a proposal, please email secoord@uvic.ca, or visit the website: www.socialeconomyhub.

Funding for Nonprofit Research

2009-08-30T15:17:00.006-04:00

The Institute for Nonprofit Studies at Mount Royal College has announced its second call for applied research funding proposals. You do not have to be affiliated with Mount Royal for your application to be considered.
A total of $40,000 is available for university researchers in two funding programs:

• a total of $15,000 is available in the applied research program; and

• up to $25,000 is available in the first partnership research program. Proposals must focus on nonprofit governance, sustainability, or policy.

DEADLINE for submitting a letter of intent is September 23rd, 2009. For complete details check out this LINK

National Student Economy Network Website

2009-08-30T15:11:00.002-04:00

Check out the awesome new look (and of course great info) of the national Student Social Economy Network of which this Ontario node/blog is a member.

"The Social Economy Student Network (SESN) serves as a forum for post-secondary student academic dialogue, information dispersal and education on the Social Economy (SE). It links students to one another from across the globe and fosters the growth of knowledge and information-sharing among members. The Network exists to bring together students interested in aspects of the Social Economy in order to facilitate the formation of intellectually stimulating and diverse peer networks within and beyond the academic and research environment.

We have recently launched a new website and are continouosly working on improving it. Your feed back on how the website might best suit your needs as an individual interested in research on the Social Economy is important to us."

http://socialeconomy.info/en/english

SOCIAL ECONOMY CENTRE – UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO – BULLETIN

2009-08-27T14:46:00.002-04:00

October 2, 2009: Introduction to Financial Management in Community
Organizations (full-day)

with ERIC PLATO, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, FRONTIER COLLEGE

Do you find it difficult to put together a budget for a proposal? Do you
ask yourself What am I looking at? when someone gives you financial
support? Are you responsible for managing the finances for a project, but
not sure what that means?

If so, join us in this workshop to learn:

How to put together a budget for an organization or project

Methods to deal with overhead costs

How to read financial statements

How to monitor a budget

DATE: Friday, October 2, 2009 - 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

COST: $140 + GST; Each additional participant from the same organization
will receive a $15 discount, as will those who register for more than one
workshop. Student rate available. Refreshments, coffee & tea served,
but lunch not provided.

TO REGISTER: [ http://sec.oise.utoronto.ca/english/workshops.php
]http://sec.oise.utoronto.ca/english/workshops.php or contact Lisa White
at [ mailto:secworkshops@oise.utoronto.ca ][
mailto:secworkshops@oise.utoronto.ca ]secworkshops@oise.utoronto.ca ,
416-978-0022

LOCATION: Social Economy Centre of the University of Toronto, 252 Bloor
St. W. (5th floor), Toronto, ON M5S 1V6, (St. George Subway Station)

LUNCHBOX SPEAKERS' SERIES

September Speakers' Panel
WATER JUSTICE

When: Wednesday, September 24, 2009, noon 1:30 pm
Where: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto,
252 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Room 12-199

Speakers:

Joe Cressy is the Campaigns Coordinator for the Polaris Institute. He
will discuss the issue of bottled water and the need for public water
infrastructure, both in Canada and internationally.

Nancy Goucher... is the Program Coordinator for the Forum for Leadership
on Water (FLOW). She will discuss efforts to protect our critical fresh
water resources, emphasizing the necessity of having all levels of
government work together as part of a Canada-wide strategy to effectively
address current and emerging threats to fresh water security.

Mark Cazavara is the regional organizer (Ontario/Quebec) for The Council
of Canadians, and he will talk about dumpsite 41 in Toronto as it relates
to water source protection, scarcity and the human right to clean water.

Bring your lunch and a mug coffee, tea and water will be provided.

For more information, contact Lisa White at [
mailto:secspeaker@oise.utoronto.ca ][ mailto:secspeaker@oise.utoronto.ca
]secspeaker@oise.utoronto.ca, or visit our website at [
http://socialeconomy.utoronto.ca ]http://socialeconomy.utoronto.ca

This event will also be webcast live on the Internet. Please see our
website for detailed instructions.

Announcing the launch of the Co-operative Management Certificate Program

2009-08-02T22:32:00.010-04:00

The Co-op Management Certificate Program is designed for those who are managing, governing or developing all types of co-operatives in Ontario. Co-op or credit union members, those interested in co-operatives, or those who are not based in Ontario will also find value in many of the modules. Developed by the Ontario Co-operative Association with the support of the co-operative industry leaders, and offered by the Schulich School of Business, the Program is affordable, practical and accessible.

DEADLINE to apply: August 14, 2009.

Goals of the CMC Program

• To provide pertinent knowledge and information about the co-operative sector in areas such as governance, membership development, legislation, financing and co-op development.

• To develop critical thinking, management and leadership skills.

• To assist participants in the development of their careers.

• To develop alliances and partnerships with sector colleagues.

The Co-operative Management Program is a nine-month course of study, beginning Fall 2009 and completed by spring 2010. The program consists of five core e-learning modules, your choice of two sector-specific e-learning sessions, and three two-day intensive learning sessions in which participants engage critically with top professionals and peers in a learning network focused on contemporary co-operative management issues.

Each e-learning module takes about five hours in total to complete, approximately one hour of which will be spent online. There are two assignments.

More Info: http://www.ontario.coop/pages/index.php?main_id=403

SOCIAL ECONOMY CENTRE – UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO – BULLETIN

2009-05-07T14:45:00.003-04:00

UPCOMING LUNCHBOX SPEAKERS' SERIES & WEBCAST (free – no registration required)

MAY 20, 2009 - ONTARIO'S SECONDARY SCHOOL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT DIPLOMA REQUIREMENT (description below)*
This is our final speaker's panel of the 2008-2009 year.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS (registration required)

May 29TH, 2009: EFFECTIVE CHANGE MANAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS (full-day workshop - description below)**

June 19: COLLABORATION THROUGH CO-LOCATION; STRATEGIES FOR SHARING RESOURCES

*LUNCHBOX SPEAKERS' SERIES
May 20th - ONTARIO'S SECONDARY SCHOOL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT DIPLOMA REQUIREMENT
When: Wednesday, May 20, 2009, noon - 1:30 pm.
Where: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto ,252 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Room 12-199
Speakers:
1) Robin Shepherd (Education Officer, Ministry of Education)
Will discuss why 40-hours of community involvement became a graduation requirement in 1999, the general expectations of the 40-hours, and the evolving responses of staff, parents and students over the last 10 years.
2) Jane Hennig (Executive Director, Volunteer Action Centre of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area)Will speak about the positive and negative impact the Community Involvement Program has had on 160 community organizations in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
3) Mark Baetz (Professor of Business/Associate Director, Laurier Centre for Community Service-Learning)
Will discuss research which investigates the effects of mandating community service in high school on subsequent civic engagement.
4) Barbara Harrison (PhD student in Education, Brock University)
Will consider some unintended consequences of, and recommendations for the Community Involvement Program, from the perspective of key stakeholders.

Bring your lunch and a mug – coffee, tea and water will be provided.For more information, contact Lisa White at secspeaker@oise.utoronto.ca, or visit our website at http://socialeconomy.utoronto.ca
This event will also be webcast live on the Internet. Please see our website for detailed instructions.

**2008-2009 WORKSHOP SERIES: March Workshop
EFFECTIVE CHANGE MANAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS (full-day workshop) Kunle Akingbola, University of Toronto
Join us in this workshop to:
* Develop Change Vision Learn about effective change models
* Anticipate and prepare for resistance and build momentum for change

DATE: Friday, May 29, 2009 - 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
COST: $140 + GST; Each additional participant from the same organization will receive a $15 discount, as will those who register for more than one workshop. Student rate available. Refreshments, tea and coffee served, but lunch not included.

TO REGISTER: http://sec.oise.utoronto.ca/english/workshops.php or contact Lisa White at secworkshops@oise.utoronto.ca , 416-978-0022
LOCATION: Social Economy Centre of the University of Toronto, 252 Bloor St.W. (5th floor), Toronto, ON M5S 1V6, (St. George Subway Station)

*Other workshops coming up:June 19: COLLABORATION THROUGH CO-LOCATION; STRATEGIES FOR SHARING RESOURCES
For more information, go tohttp://sec.oise.utoronto.ca/english/workshops.php

Socially Conscious Procurement Telelearning Opportunity

2009-05-07T14:41:00.001-04:00

Telelearning Session 14 Procurement and the Social Economy: The Canadian Context
* What is the impact of different purchasing policies on communitydevelopment?
* What challenges do governments face in developing ethical purchasingpolicies?
* How does ethical trade fit in as a component of the alternativeresponse to the global economic crisis?

If you want to know the answers to these questions and more, please join:J.J. McMurtry, Coordinator of the Business and Society Program at YorkUniversity, and Brendan Reimer, Prairies/Northern Territories RegionalCoordinator for the Canadian CED Network, in an engaging telelearningsession hosted by David LePage Program Manager of Enterprising Non-Profits.

Call Logistics:· Session Date: Wednesday May 13, 2009·
Call begins at 12:00 pm Eastern time, 9:00 am Pacific time·
Call in information will be given upon registration·
Register before May 11th to obtain dial in information and backgroundpapers·
This session is in English.

Session Format: 1 HourWelcome: 5 minPresentations: 10 min by each speakerDiscussion: 35 minutes Registration:Register by phoning 1-250-472-4976 or, E-mailing telelearning@socialeconomyhub.ca with your name, location, and work orvolunteer position.

Limited number of spaces available Register soon!

Social Economy Student Network lunch

2009-04-20T15:17:00.003-04:00

If you are a student coming to the Southern Ontario Social Economy Symposium at OISE this week, please come to the Peace Lounge on the seventh floor Thurs April 23 at noon for a student lunch to connect with like-minded folks and to share good food from Lemon and Allspice.

Here's a link to some brief info on the symposium itself.

Please let Sherida know you are coming by emailing sec@oise.utoronto.ca.

Social Economy and the System of Rice Intensification in the Philippines

2009-03-21T18:43:00.008-04:00

My name is Daniel and I study nonprofit and voluntary sector management at Ryerson and adult education and community development at OISE.

I’ve been interested in ecological agriculture for some time mostly as a consumer rather than producer, but I have been fortunate enough to visit organic farms in India and most recently in the Philippines. The farmers I met have generously spared their time to allow me to learn about what they do and why they do it. I am also interested in the role nonprofit and activist actors in the social economy play in relation to resource mobilization and sharing knowledge in this international social movement.

On August 14, 2008, I travelled to Pampanga, north of Manila with Jun Garde who is working with the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM). Jun was to do follow up visits to some farms that instituted trials of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of growing rice. This technique, which originated in Madagascar in 1983, is now being tested in several Asian countries including the Philippines. Documentation to this point from around the world finds that SRI achieves “higher yields with a 25-50% reduction in water requirements…may also reduce greenhouse gas emissions…[and] stronger root systems help the plants stand up to drought, wind damage and cold spells”*(see below for ref.). As a Canadian interested in sustainable agriculture practices around the world, I was fascinated to find out more about SRI.

Mt. Arayat

The farm of Lito Malliare is situated in the shadow of Mt Arayat. His 6 hectare farm includes rice, vegetables such as eggplant and tomatoes, as well as sorghum and various fruit trees like calamansi, chiko, guava and santol.

Lito in long eggplant (talong) field

His rice, like all the crops he grows, is pure organic with the last conventional farming having taken place there in 1990.

PRRM’s Jun had conducted a seminar about SRI in this community in Pampanga where Lito’s friend had attended. Lito was interested in getting more information about this technique and Jun soon visited his farm to discuss it.

Jun demonstrating transplanting of rice seedlings for SRI

SRI also is often used in conjunction with organic, biodynamic, permaculture and other natural farming methods.

I saw micro-organism fertilizers like the one to the left being developed for the soil as well as botanical weed and pest “repellents”. Lito informed me that if the plant he sees on his farm is green and healthy, then he knows he can use it to counter weeds and pests because it must have naturally occurring resistant and pest repellent qualities in its genetic material. Lito prefers to call them “repellents” rather than “pesticides” and “herbicides” which imply killing. SRI teaches farmers to do, not to buy, which also frustrates the commercial interests of corporate agribusiness.

Despite the benefits to the health of people and the environment, one of the great difficulties in encouraging the transition from conventional to organic or SRI techniques, according to Jun, is changing mindsets. This has been becoming and continues to be exceedingly important as a result of the globalizing forces of capitalism that continue to destroy biodiversity and the environment in general while at the same time jeopardizing family farming as a viable livelihood. There is a network of about 25 People’s Organizations (PO) in northern Luzon (where Pampanga is located) that help to encourage demonstration farms that highlight the benefits of ecological agriculture for improving livelihoods. Since the price of petroleum based inputs of conventional farming had begun to skyrocket with the rapidly increased price of oil last year, more farmers were looking for alternatives, especially in learning how to make botanical inputs such as fertilizers.

Currently, there is little additional value reflected in the price of organic produce in local markets. That gives farmers less incentive to switch than their counterparts in countries of Europe and North America. However, this is changing in Manila and SRI does present other cost savings and higher rice tiller yields that can act as economic inducements for farmers.

One of Lito's SRI demo plots

The good news is that when I visited again with Lito before I departed the Philippines, he spoke highly of SRI and planned to expand his trial plots. Through the work of individuals such as Jun working through people’s organizations like PRRM, positive impacts are being made for the social economy and the natural environment in the Philippines. More information about PRRM is at http://www.prrm.org/and SRI in the Philippines in general here.

Since my return to Toronto, I have become aware of an organization that worked with a nonprofit group in Indonesia that is promoting SRI in that country. They developed a great short doc that you can view here.

* Uphoff, Norman (2004) “System of Rice Intensification responds to 21^st Century needs” Rice Today. July-September 2004 p. 42

March Social Economy News

2009-03-05T10:12:00.013-05:00

Greetings! A lot is happening in the social economy this month. There are scholarship opportunities, a call for papers from ARNOVA, a social economy hub telelearning event and an international conference that I know you will want to hear about, so please read on!

1) The first exciting scholarship-related news is that pending the official announcement by ANSER, there are new research awards available. The Institute for Nonprofit Studies will be awarding grants to graduate students for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Here are the details:

Individual research awards will be made up to a maximum of $2,500. A total maximum of $7,500 will be available for applied research pertaining to the Institute's three research priorities - governance, sustainability, and policy. Interested graduate students who will be conducting research during the 2009-2010 academic year are invited to send a one-page letter of intent to Peter Elson at the Institute for Nonprofit Studies.

The one page letter of intent must be received before April 17, 2009. Further details concerning the letter of intent and the overall funding priorities for the 2009-2010 Research Program for 2009 - 2010 are available on the Institute web site (see link below). A full application will be due by May 15th. Application details will be sent to those students who submit a letter of intent.

http://www.mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/InstituteforNonprofitStudies/AppliedResearch/index.htm

Peter R. Elson, PhD, Senior Research Associate
Institute for Nonprofit Studies
Mount Royal College
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
Calgary, AB
T3E 6K6
(403) 440-8722
pelson@mtroyal.ca
www.mtroyal.ca/nonprofitinstitute

2) CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR STUDIES IN CO-OPERATION (CASC) SCHOLARSHIPS

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is calling for applications for the three CASC scholarships administered by CCA:
· Alexander Fraser Laidlaw Fellowship (graduate students only)
· Amy and Tim Dauphinee Scholarship (graduate students only)
· Lemaire Co-operative Studies Award (undergraduate or graduate students)

In addition to the monetary awards, winners of all three scholarships will be awarded a free one-year membership in the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC) as well as free registration at the 2010 CASC conference.

The deadline for applications is April 15, 2009.

Alexander Fraser Laidlaw Fellowship
The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada established the Laidlaw Fellowship to honour Dr. Alexander Fraser Laidlaw, the father of the non-profit co-operative housing movement in Canada. An outstanding Canadian adult educator and co-op leader, Dr. Laidlaw served the cause of the co-operative movement for over 40 years . Author of Cooperatives in the Year 2000, Laidlaw fostered the social purpose of the co-op movement while always advocating sound business methods for co-operative organizations.

The Laidlaw Award, valued at $1,000, is available to graduate students only. The award is based on the applicant’s academic record, as well as on the importance of the proposed research activities to the development of the co-op movement in Canada or abroad. Applicants must either undertake studies at Canadian universities or university-equivalent colleges (regardless of citizenship) or be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants studying at such institutions outside Canada. To be eligible to receive the award, recipients must undertake their proposed study within one calendar year of the fellowship being awarded.

Amy and Tim Dauphinee Scholarship
The Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation established the Amy and Tim Dauphinee Fellowship in recognition of the outstanding contribution these two leaders made to the development of the credit union movement and the Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation.
Tim, a retired scientist from the National Research Council, and Amy, a retired school principal, have a strong commitment to co-operatives, education and research. Both have served as local directors on a number of organizations. Amy was the first woman elected to the board of directors of Credit Union Central of Ontario and served for 22 years.

The award, currently valued at $3,000, is available to graduate students only. The award will be based on the applicants’ academic records and on the importance of the proposed research activities to the development of the co-op movement in Canada or abroad. Applicants must either undertake studies at Canadian universities or university-equivalent colleges (regardless of citizenship) or be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants studying at such institutions outside Canada. To be eligible to receive the award, recipients must undertake their proposed study within one calendar year of the fellowship being awarded.

Lemaire Co-operative Studies Award
Louis Lemaire, a co-operative pioneer, dedicated much of his life to organizing co-operatives in Saskatchewan and willed part of his estate to the Co-operative College of Canada (now the Canadian Co-operative Association) to support co-operative studies.

Available to both undergraduate and graduate students, the Lemaire awards are intended to encourage students to undertake studies which will help them contribute to the development of co-operative in Canada or elsewhere. These awards are also intended to support students who have been involved in co-operatives, preferably in leadership positions as volunteers or employees.

Eligible candidates will have been involved with co-operatives, must demonstrate reasonable knowledge and understanding of co-op principles and their application, and be able to indicate how the proposed studies will contribute to the co-op movement.

Full-time or part-time students, taking full- or partial-credit courses at any university or university-equivalent college are eligible to apply. Eligible candidates must take a minimum of one course about co-operatives. The bursaries will be awarded in multiples of $1,000 to a maximum of $3,000. The amount of the awards will be proportional to the significance and contribution of the studies to the advancement of co-operatives. Applicants must either undertake studies at Canadian universities or university-equivalent colleges (regardless of citizenship) or be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants studying at such institutions outside Canada. To be eligible to receive the award, recipients must undertake their proposed study within one calendar year of the fellowship being awarded.

Please note that the awards and scholarships listed above are intended to support studies about co-operative businesses and organizations – they are not intended to support co-op work/study programs in other fields of study.

PLEASE SUBMIT SUBMIT THE ATTACHED APPLICATION FORM, TOGETHER WITH SUPPORTING MATERIAL, TO:
Donna Balkan
Canadian Co-operative Association
400-275 Bank St.
Ottawa, ON K1P 2L6
E-mail: donna.balkan@coopscanada.coop
Or download the application form from the CCA web site at:
www.coopscanada.coop/cooplinks/education/awards

3) Call for Participation - The 38th Annual ARNOVA Conference
Philanthropy in Communities: Finding Opportunity in Crisis
Cleveland, Ohio
November 19-22, 2009

As always, ARNOVA’s annual research conference will be a key opportunity to discuss the latest research on nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in all its diversity.

Proposal Submission Tracks for the 38th Annual ARNOVA Conference:
(these suggestions are not exclusionary of other topics)

Accountability, effectiveness, and evaluation
Boards, governance and leadership
Community and grassroots organizations
Fundraising and giving
International perspectives and issues
Philanthropy and foundations
Public policy
Strategy, programs, and innovation
Theory and methods
Voluntarism and volunteering
Teaching and Education
Philanthropy in Communities: Finding Opportunity in Crisis

Types of Presentations & Submissions:
Proposals for papers, Panels (pre-arranged) of 3-4 papers, and Colloquies of at least 3 presenters are solicited. Submissions by practitioners and doctoral students engaged in research are also welcome. The Conference Planning Committee seeks volunteers to chair or serve as discussants for paper sessions. We particularly welcome younger scholars and members of under-represented groups to make their interests known to the conference organizers so we can include you in our community.

The on-line proposal submission system will open February 18, 2009, and close at midnight, March 23, 2009.

To submit a proposal, go to http://www.arnova.org/ and – under the Tab for “Conference” – click “Submit a Proposal.” More information about submitting proposals is posted under “Guidelines and Instructions for Proposals". Questions can then be directed to the ARNOVA office at (317) 684-2120, or to conference@arnova.org .

4) The Social Economy Hub has announced the following event:

Telelearning Session 13: Microfinance in a Canadian Context http://www.socialeconomyhub.ca/hub/?p=1091

The provision of financial services to low-income clients is an under-examined facet of the economic system. Proponents of microfinance believe that meeting the financial needs of such community members can be a sustainable answer to solving the problems associated with poverty in our society. Join us as we explore some of the issues surrounding microfinance in Canada, including:

• What is the significance of microfinance programs in the Canadian context?
• What is the need for microfinance programs?
• Under what conditions do microfinance programs thrive in Canada?
• What are the challenges faced by Canadian microfinance programs?

Sign up today to participate in this engaging telelearning session, featuring Susan Henry (Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at Alterna Savings) and Anahi Rivadeneira (Microfinance Program Officer at Vancity http://www.vancity.com/ ), with facilitation by Seth Asimakos of the Saint John Community Loan Fund http://www.loanfund.ca/ .

Spaces are free, but limited - Register today!

Call Logistics:
• Session Date: Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
• Call begins at 9:00 am PST, 10:00 am MST, 11:00 am CST, 12:00 pm EST, 1:00 pm AST, and 1:30 pm NST
• Call in information will be given upon registration
• Register before March 8th to obtain dial-in information and background papers
• This session is in English Session

Format: 1 Hour
Welcome: 5 minutes
Presentation: 10 minutes from each speaker
Discussion: 35 minutes

Registration: By Email or by PhoneRegister by e-mailing telelearning@socialeconomyhub.ca with your name, location, and work or volunteer position. We will provide instructions on how to access the telelearning forum. Unfortunately, the session is only open to those residing in Canada.

To register by phone call 1-250-472-4976. Check out the CSEHub Telelearning page for more information and to listen to the podcasts after these events! http://www.socialeconomyhub.ca/hub/index.php?page_id=129

5) EMES EUROPEAN RESEARCH NETWORK
International European Conference on the Social Economy and Social Enterprise in Prague (Czech Republic)
An International European Conference on the Social Economy and Social Enterprise will take place in Prague from 16 to 18 April 2009.

More details available from: www.emes.net/index.php?id=57

Good luck with your applications!

Suzanne Cook, Doctoral candidate and SESN rep for the Southern Ontario Social Economy Network
http://sec.oise.utoronto.ca/

Here are a few opportunities for students. Check them out!

2009-02-05T09:41:00.009-05:00

1) International Student Workshop on the Social Economy - Call for Papers (deadline extended to February 16, 2009
2) CASC scholarship award - April 15, 2009 deadline
3) The 2nd International Research Conference on the Social Economy - Call for Papers, deadline February 15, 2009
4) Impact! The Co-operators Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership - deadline February 27, 2009

1) CALL FOR PAPERS
International Student Workshop on the Social Economy
Innovation & Sustainability in a Changing World: Exploring Social Economy Alternatives

In Association with The Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC) and The Association for Non-Profit and Social Economy Research (ANSER)
Congress of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences 2009
May 26, 2009 at Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Post-secondary students are invited to submit proposals for individual papers and panel presentations on one of 5 thematic streams.

See the website for the Call for Papers: http://socialeconomy.info/en/english
Submit to studentnet@socialeconomy.info
Proposal Deadline: February 16, 2009

2) Below is the link to an application for the annual CASC scholarships. This is due on April 15th. Students are not required to be members of CASC to apply. See the CCA site for more information: http://www.coopscanada.coop/cooplinks/education/awards/casc.html

3) The 2nd International Research Conference on the Social Economy organised by CIRIEC in Östersund (Sweden) on October 1 and 2, 2009 on the theme "The social economy in a world facing a global crisis." This call for papers will also soon be available in French, German and Spanish. After the huge success of the first edition of the conference in Victoria (Canada), October 2007, we once more rely on your participation.

Additional information about the conference can be found on the conference website http://www.socek.se/ciriec_research_2009

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2009

Call for Papers details:
http://socek.se/ciriec_research_2009/details

4) Impact! The Co-operators Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership http://www.impactyouthsustainability.ca/ Achieving sustainability requires a multi-disciplinary approach and a broad social commitment. It also requires the energy and passion of youth.That's why The Co-operators has launched an unprecedented partnership of business, academia and non-government organisations to bring together students from all fields of study from across Canada to develop and implement real sustainability solutions for their current lives and their future careers.All conference related expenses will be covered for selected participants. Their contribution is time and commitment.
• September 24-27th, 2009 at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario
Apply before February 27,2009

Report back from the first International Doctoral Summer School on the Social Economy

2009-01-03T17:21:00.012-05:00

A Special Place for Social Economy Learning and Networking
By Suzanne Cook, SESN rep and Steering Committee Member, Social Economy Centre

“From July 3rd to 7th, 2008, I had the honour and privilege of attending the First International Social Economy Doctoral Summer School.” Suzanne Cook

The Need for a Doctoral Summer School Program

Recognizing the variety of approaches to the field of study known as the "third sector" around the world, the need to mentor the increasing number of young researchers entering the field who will become the next generation of academics, and the various disciplines (political science, business, sociology, economics, adult education, anthropology) they are working within, sometimes in isolation, the Network CINEFOGO (Network on the civil society and the new forms of governorship in Europe) and the EMES (European Research Network) saw the need for a doctoral training program for young scholars in the third sector that addresses theoretical and methodological research issues. The goal of the First International Summer School “Social enterprises, third sector, social economy, solidarity-based economy: Empirical and theoretical debates” was to enhance and widen important analytical frameworks available to future scholars, beyond the socio-political or non-profit perspective typically favoured.   

The Perfect Location

To host this type of international program, a location was carefully selected. The University of Corsica (www.univ-corse.fr) was chosen. The university is located in Corte on the island of Corsica in France. Corsica is the most mountainous of the Mediterranean islands. Corsica is named the Island of Beauty because its landscapes are majestic.

The Bay of Calvi, Corsica

The Program

From July 3rd to 7th, 2008, I had the honour and privilege of attending the First International Social Economy Doctoral Summer School. CINEFOGO, EMES and the University of Corsica jointly organized the International Summer School Program. Approximately forty students from around the world, from 22 countries, and speaking many different first languages, attended the program. Twelve professors – members of the EMES and/or Cinefogo networks – presented both traditional and non-traditional disciplinary approaches to the field as part of the theoretical corpus of the summer school.

Lecture sessions led by faculty members

The format for the five day program consisted of lectures, debates, workshops and presentations. The highlight for me was the thesis groups where each doctoral student had the opportunity to present on his or her research for one hour in a small group setting.

An Enriching Experience for the Participants

The program was valuable for the wide variety of learning and networking opportunities provided. The one weakness with the program was that it did not address hands-on research issues as much as participants wanted, especially in regard to methodology.

The variety of perspectives represented during the program rivalled those we find among our social economy colleagues across Canada. However, there was an instant feeling of camaraderie, support and respect among all participants; all voices were heard and everyone contributed.

Annie McKitrick and Suzanne Cook attending the performance of Corsican group Voce Ventu

This feeling of intimacy may have come from the beauty of the location, the small size of the group, the sharing of meals and dormitory accommodation, the evening downtime and the many informal opportunities we had to spend time together. We had many adventures together, exploring what the island had to offer during down time. Some of us fit in two trips to the beach including a midnight dip, while others swam in the river beside the university during our hour and a half lunch breaks.

The Beach in Calvi

For me, the summer school was a wonderful opportunity. From this experience I gained insights into my thesis, including a broader international perspective on my research topic, and connected with a broad group of colleagues who I now call friends.

Will we create a similar program in Canada?

There are many benefits to providing a similar learning and networking opportunity in Canada. Annie McKittrick, Manager of the Canadian Social Economy Hub also participated in the Summer School in Corsica and there is interest in reproducing the program here. We will definitely keep you posted.

For more information on EMES, CINEFOGO, the leading researchers involved and the participants in the Summer School, visit the following websites:

www.emes.net

www.cinefogo.org

For further information on the Social Economy Student Network, visit:
socialeconomy.info

International Student Conference on the Social Economy, Ottawa, Canada

2009-01-03T17:10:00.005-05:00

CALL FOR PAPERS

Innovation & Sustainability in a Changing World: Exploring Social Economy Alternatives

In Association with The Canadian Social Economy Hub, The Association for Non-Profit and Social Economy Research (ANSER) & The Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation

Congress of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences 2009, May 26, 2009, Carleton University, Ottawa ON, Canada

Important Dates:
31/01/09 Deadline for Submission of abstracts for papers
15/03/09 Notification of Acceptance of Papers and Presentations
26/05/09 Student Conference
27-29/05/09 Meeting of the Scholarly Associations for CASC and ANSER

Click here to view the Call for Papers in English

Click here to view the Call for Papers in French

Logo Contest of the Social Economy Student Network

2009-01-03T17:00:00.003-05:00

Are you a student?
Do you have some or a lot of artistic talent?
Are you interested in creating a logo for the Student
Network?
Do you have an idea for a logo?
Do you have an idea for a logo that represents youth in the
Social Economy?
Do you have an idea that represents both the Social Economy
and research?

We are pleased to announce the logo contest for the Student Network web site that is in the process of redevelopment. We count on the talent of the members of the Social Economy Student Network to create a logo that is relevant to students and the Social Economy.

Click here for more information, and to submit entries: http://socialeconomy.info/en/content/logo-contest-social-economy-student-network

Update from Suzanne

2009-01-03T16:55:00.003-05:00

There are currently three initiatives we are working on.

First, we are looking for student contacts who will become a representative for the Social Economy Student Network at your university in Southern Ontario (from Niagara to Ottawa). This individual must be interested in studying or researching issues related to the social economy. Each representative will be asked to publicize the SESN and its website by giving presentations to undergraduate and graduate students, putting up posters, distributing materials, advertising conferences and other academic opportunities, and representing the SESN at any appropriate up-coming campus events. They will be asked to compile a list of students at your university who are interested in the social economy in order to facilitate SE awareness and dialogue. In addition, we would welcome their assistance with the Social Economy Centre's April 2009 event, if they plan to attend. Please email me if you are interested.

Second, we are developing a list of completed dissertations and theses on the social economy at your university. If you have recently completed a SE-related dissertation or thesis, please email me the details.

Third, we are compiling a list of university programs with social economy studies. We would like to know if your university offers any type of social economy studies. In addition, we are interested in the titles and course description of any social economy-related courses being taught. Please email me the details.

Thank you for assisting us with promoting the SESN as we build and develop this important student resource.