The Cooperative Maine Business Alliance (CMBA) will hold its 8th annual Principle Six Conference on April 2nd at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast. The event will help cooperatives, their staff and supporters build business skills while also inspiring democratic community action and provide networking opportunities for Maine’s co-op community.
This year’s theme is “Cooperative Resilience.”
Attendees will participate in a range of skill-building workshops, experience first-hand storytelling from different co-op sectors, hear from a renowned cooperator about her community efforts and enhance collaboration within Maine’s cooperative economy. The schedule includes lunch, coffee breaks, and a reception.
Principle Six, one of seven cooperative principles, focuses on cooperation among cooperatives. This conference provides the opportunity for Maine cooperatives to join forces in building a strong cooperative economy in Maine. This event will help staff, management, and boards build business and governing skills. It will also provide attendees with a networking platform, highlight advocacy efforts and opportunities, and bring cooperators together to celebrate the great work that co-ops in Maine are doing.
The conference is sponsored by Maine DECD, who is supporting Equitable Access to this year’s conference as well as a Host Committee including the Cooperative Development Institute, Rising Tide Co-op, Portland Food Co-op, Blue Hill Co-op, Cooperative Fund of Northeast, Belfast Co-op, Bangor Savings Bank, Columinate, Fedco and the Democracy at Work Institute. Additional sponsors are Community Credit Union, Town & Country FCU, Maine Farmers and Gardeners Association, and the Island Institute.
To register for this event, visit www.maine.coop/events or contact Emmy Andersson by emailing emmy@maine.coop. For more information about CMBA, visit www.maine.coop.
