tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69475525191307345972023-07-17T23:31:07.952-07:00Holm on Governance: Co-ops and Democracywendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-90061234743136616032020-08-28T10:55:00.004-07:002020-08-28T11:01:43.522-07:00<p style="text-align: left;">I have not posted here in a while but COVID-19, the US election and Site C Dam draw me back... </p><p>Watching what is unfolding south of the border in the United States is nauseating - particularly as I was born in that country (NOTE: 100% Canadian since 1976)</p><p>Jonathan Manthorpe, a Victoria author interviewed on the CBC Early Edition a few days ago to talk about his new book <i>Restoring Democracy in an Age of Populists and Pestilence</i> referred to the USA is<i><b> an oligarchy, not a democracy.</b></i> </p><p>Manthorpe is right of course. Merriam Webster defines OLIGARCHY this way:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="vg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: lato, "open sans", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sb has-num" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 33px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="sb-0" face="" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sense has-num-only" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="sn sense-1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="num" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; left: 0px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1</span></span></span></div></span></div></div><div class="vg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: lato, "open sans", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sb has-num" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 33px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="sb-0" face="" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sense has-num-only" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="dt" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303336; display: inline; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="dtText" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">government by the few: e.g. </span></span></span></div><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">The corporation is ruled by</span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><span class="mw_t_wi" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">oligarchy</span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">.</span></span></div></div><div class="vg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: lato, "open sans", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sb has-num" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 33px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="sb-0" face="" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sense has-num-only" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="sn sense-2" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="num" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; left: 0px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2</span></span></span></div></span></div></div><div class="vg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: lato, "open sans", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sb has-num" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 33px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="sb-0" face="" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sense has-num-only" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="dt hasSdSense" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303336; display: inline; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="dtText" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes... e.g. </span></span></span></div><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">a military</span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><span class="mw_t_wi" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">oligarchy</span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">was established in the country... </span><span class="sd" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303336; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">also</span><span style="color: #303336; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><span class="dtText" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303336; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="mw_t_bc" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bolder; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">: </span>a group exercising such control: e.g. </span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">An</span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><span class="mw_t_wi" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">oligarchy</span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">ruled the nation.</span></span></div></div><div class="vg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: lato, "open sans", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sb has-num" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 33px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="sb-0" face="" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sense has-num-only" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="sn sense-3" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="num" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; left: 0px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3</span></span></span></div></span></div></div><div class="vg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: lato, "open sans", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sb has-num" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 33px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="sb-0" face="" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sense has-num-only" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="dt" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303336; display: inline; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="dtText" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">an organization under <a class="mw_t_a_link" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligarchic" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; background-image: linear-gradient(90deg, rgb(151, 190, 206) 100%, transparent 0px); background-position: 0px 1.15em; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-size: 3px 1px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #265667; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">oligarchic</a> control. e.g. </span></span></span></div><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">That country is an </span><span class="mw_t_wi" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">oligarchy</span><span style="color: #225f73; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">.</span></span></div></div><h1 class="Uo8X3b" style="background-color: white; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; white-space: nowrap; width: 1px; z-index: -1000;">Search Results</h1><div data-async-context="query:restoring%20democracy%20in%20an%20age%20of%20populists%20and%20pestilence%20jonathan%20manthorpe" eid="Mj5JX6ysEMev-gTev4PoAQ" id="rso" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 6px;"><div class="g" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 28px; margin-top: 0px; width: 600px;"><h2 class="Uo8X3b" style="clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; white-space: nowrap; width: 1px; z-index: -1000;">Web result</h2></div></div></blockquote><div data-async-context="query:restoring%20democracy%20in%20an%20age%20of%20populists%20and%20pestilence%20jonathan%20manthorpe" eid="Mj5JX6ysEMev-gTev4PoAQ" id="rso" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 6px;"><div class="g" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 28px; margin-top: 0px; width: 600px;"><h2 class="Uo8X3b" style="clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; white-space: nowrap; width: 1px; z-index: -1000;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Restoring-Democracy-Age-Populists-Pestilence/dp/1770865829" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.ca/Restoring-Democracy-Age-Populists-Pestilence/dp/1770865829&ved=2ahUKEwisjarKtb7rAhXHl54KHd7fAB0QFjAAegQIAxAB" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); color: #660099; cursor: pointer; font-size: small; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></h2>Protecting democracy is hard - we all have to work at it... </div><div class="g" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 28px; margin-top: 0px; width: 600px;">The construction of the Site C dam on BC's Peace River is an example of failed democracy. Those now in power promised they would stop it, British Columbians voted for them, and once in power the New Democratic Party government gave the green light for SITE C to go ahead. </div><div class="g" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 28px; margin-top: 0px; width: 600px;">Today, Mother Nature has put her foot down and said STOP. BC Hydro has just told us in their annual report that they are searching for engineering solutions that will provide safe footings for the generating station, the spillway and the dam itself. None are in sight, nor do they have any idea of what such a process might cost. </div><div class="g" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 28px; margin-top: 0px; width: 600px;">Building an untried design earth filled dam next to what aspires to become the largest fracking field in NA and trying to anchor it to the ground on the geological equivalent of billiard balls is ridiculous. Doing it with taxpayer money, against the will of First Nations who hold Treaty 8 Title to the Land, and destroying farmland with capacity to meet the nutritional needs of >1 million people a year forever is not GOVERNANCE it is ARROGANCE. </div><div class="g" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 28px; margin-top: 0px; width: 600px;">Americans are not the only ones who have lost a lot when it comes to democracy and governance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOGv2g6K3TVmisGvFswm_-pNXw3IywmV0nzHCQcCZqBCkLshwT0Z73ECV1TMNz24zSwbZXvOQQIM_xHfve_deG9FK56pX5MchqyenH-XHbZEojZgVtQU2_FEFjAnKNAYXuTIU2pgBpCk/s1485/trump.slide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="1485" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOGv2g6K3TVmisGvFswm_-pNXw3IywmV0nzHCQcCZqBCkLshwT0Z73ECV1TMNz24zSwbZXvOQQIM_xHfve_deG9FK56pX5MchqyenH-XHbZEojZgVtQU2_FEFjAnKNAYXuTIU2pgBpCk/w410-h318/trump.slide.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br /></div>wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-1843835865133196992018-02-19T11:20:00.004-08:002018-02-19T11:20:59.214-08:00THE BIGGEST GOVERNANCE ISSUE IS THE SITE C DAM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmTrKfWHkJ7yQHYXLhno8dCYsnx9c9u9eGsP_E8BF3besQ26VQ23-N0Z6BugoE_dTXKfOhAyOvkm5eTs-t8F9ZMJUwwzt1Lj_4G55niHyED7MHFUGPhwOTD0dBcXY_MkPj6tFflDfVgs/s1600/DAMMING-Cover_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1071" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmTrKfWHkJ7yQHYXLhno8dCYsnx9c9u9eGsP_E8BF3besQ26VQ23-N0Z6BugoE_dTXKfOhAyOvkm5eTs-t8F9ZMJUwwzt1Lj_4G55niHyED7MHFUGPhwOTD0dBcXY_MkPj6tFflDfVgs/s320/DAMMING-Cover_FINAL.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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The biggest governance issue facing Canadians today is how to reclaim democracy in the face of new rights of investors under globalization. The SITE C dam, being built on BC's Peace River, is a prime example. <br />
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Find out why - DAMMING THE PEACE will soon be available on line and in bookstores. <br />
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THIS IS NOT OVER... READ WHY. AND IN PARTICULAR READ RAFE MAIR's last word...<br />
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<br />wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-70639167095156993832012-12-20T21:10:00.000-08:002012-12-21T08:38:34.052-08:00Basel III raises costs, encourages mergers in credit union land...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><i>"...the Great Crisis had highlighted to the
public throughout Europe and beyond of the positive contribution coop banks
give to the stability of the whole banking system."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"...We
thus need to reassess bank regulation in a perspective that takes into account
the differences in the nature and governance of different types of bank
institutions to make the whole banking system resilient and to prevent the
recurrence of new crises in the future"</span> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"> The Amazing Power of Cooperatives</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Texts Selecteted from the International Call for Paper Proposals,</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Quebec International Summit of Cooperatives </span></i></span></div>
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</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Decisions regarding structural change (mergers and acquisitions) must respond to member needs, not regulatory dictates. T</span>he Mondragon model suggests coops do better when they remain small and federate (cooperate) for scale. Large uni-coops face challenges to engage members, spawning governance and agency problems. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Regulators prove time and time again that they don't "get" coops. When the sector being regulated is financial coops, all coops have an interest in this. <u>Regulation
and the Viability of Cooperative Banks </u>discusses the implications of Basel III on credit unions and mutuals. Below an excerpt from their concluding remarks: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Regulation
and the Viability of Cooperative Banks</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Giovanni
FERRI</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1 </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">and Giovanni PESCE</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2</span></div>
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-size: 5.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">1<span style="letter-spacing: .4pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #231f20; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chairma</span><span style="color: #231f20; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">n<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> <span style="mso-font-width: 111%;">th</span></span><span style="mso-font-width: 111%;">e<span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Departmen</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: -1.1pt;">
</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> <span style="mso-font-width: 81%;">E</span><span style="mso-font-width: 109%;">c</span><span style="mso-font-width: 112%;">o</span><span style="mso-font-width: 110%;">n</span><span style="mso-font-width: 112%;">o</span><span style="mso-font-width: 105%;">m</span><span style="mso-font-width: 93%;">i</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 109%;">c</span><span style="mso-font-width: 106%;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.75pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 119%;">a</span><span style="mso-font-width: 119%;">t<span style="letter-spacing: -.95pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -1.3pt;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 94%;">U</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 110%;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 93%;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 103%;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 116%;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 105%;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 106%;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 93%;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 131%;">t</span><span style="mso-font-width: 101%;">y</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.75pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> <span style="mso-font-width: 97%;">Bar</span></span><span style="mso-font-width: 97%;">i<span style="letter-spacing: -.65pt;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -1.1pt;">“</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">A</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">d</span>o <span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;">Mo</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">”</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: .5pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 90%;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 103%;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 93%;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 112%;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 103%;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 116%;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 110%;">nn</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 93%;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">.f<span style="mso-font-width: 116%;">e</span><span style="mso-font-width: 105%;">rr</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 93%;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 85%;">@</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 110%;">un</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 93%;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 108%;">b</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 116%;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">.</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-font-width: 93%;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-font-width: 131%;">t</span><span style="mso-font-width: 90%;">)</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">2 <span style="letter-spacing: .1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #231f20; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">European <span style="letter-spacing: .05pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Research<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 77%;">I</span><span style="mso-font-width: 109%;">nsti</span><span style="mso-font-width: 119%;">tute</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>on<span style="letter-spacing: .9pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-font-width: 108%;">C</span><span style="mso-font-width: 108%;">ooperative<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span></span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>Social<span style="letter-spacing: .85pt;">
</span>Enterprises <span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>(Euricse),<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 98%;">(g</span><span style="mso-font-width: 109%;">.pesc</span><span style="mso-font-width: 104%;">e@dse.uni</span><span style="mso-font-width: 106%;">ba.i</span><span style="mso-font-width: 108%;">t)</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Concluding remarks:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
Great Crisis highlighted the strengths of the “originate-to-hold” (OTH) model
along with the weaknesses of the “originate-to-distribute” (OTD) model. The
banking institutions based on the latter model proved to be weak during the
crisis while the banks based on the OTH model showed their strength and the huge
contribution they provided to the stability of the whole banking system.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6947552519130734597#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
crisis has triggered a new wave of regulation, primarily but not exclusively,
in the banking system. Basel III is one cornerstone of the new banking
regulation that will apply to the entire banking system in the coming years. We
have seen how it introduces measures to correct and prevent the causes that triggered
the Great Crisis. However, some question marks remain on the stability of the
banking system, such as the problems arising from the unregulated shadow
banking system, the possibility of regulatory arbitrage, the type of (‘light
touch’ vs. ‘rigorous touch’), the extent of surveillance (‘scrutiny problem’)
and the skills of supervisory authorities (‘skills problem’). Last but not
least, the current regulatory approach ignores the benefits from the presence
of banking and financial institutions with different objectives and governance
methods. Coop banks, for example, were considered outdated and inefficient
institutions until a few years ago, but the Great Crisis had highlighted to the
public throughout Europe and beyond of the positive contribution coop banks
give to the stability of the whole banking system. However, the regulation in
its current framework does not recognize such a role. Instead, it creates
distortions that may push these banks into business and governance models
outside their nature, characterizing mainly big banks, primarily PLC banks.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">We
argued that coop banks are urged to comply via the channel of regulatory compliance
costs. From an ad hoc survey of Italian coop banks, we found that compliance
costs–in terms of dedicated employees–had increased on average of 175% between
2000 and 2010–even before the enforcement of Basel III–with peaks of 500% for
some coop banks. In addition, in 2010, an average of 1.9% of these banks’ staff
was committed to regulatory compliance, with peaks above 4%. The costs of staff
dedicated to regulatory compliance–as a proportion of the total staff–represents
fixed costs for coop banks. After taking into account differences among coop
banks in terms of volume of business, geographic location, workforce size and
local networks, coop banks play a key role in explaining the costs of staff
devoted to regulatory compliance. “Increasing” the total number of employees of
coop banks significantly reduces their regulatory compliance staff costs. In
other words, this means that coop banks with a smaller total staff bear a cost
of regulatory compliance–in terms of dedicated staff–relatively higher than at
larger coop banks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">All
of this compels coop banks to find solutions to reduce the costs of regulatory compliance.
One way is through mergers and acquisitions (M&As) among coop banks; in fact,
85% of the responding coop banks said that Basel III increases the probability
of M&As, with 43% of respondents saying their own bank will be affected
directly by this event. We find also that the experience (and success) gained
in past M&A operations has a significant and positive impact on the
probability that coop banks expect to be involved in future M&A operations
for which the share of staff dedicated to regulatory compliance is a driving
force, through the existence of artificial economies of scale, pushing coop banks
to such measures in order to mitigate the effects of Basel III.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">We
thus need to reassess bank regulation in a perspective that takes into account
the differences in the nature and governance of different types of bank
institutions to make the whole banking system resilient and to prevent the
recurrence of new crises in the future. Possibly, enlightened legislators and
regulators will engage in applying some proportionality criterion to the
enforcement of these new rules. This is needed to preserve diversity within the
banking system, whose virtues were (re-) discovered with the Great Crisis of
2007-2009. Now, banking diversity demands practical measures of safeguarding
rather than simply lip service.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6947552519130734597#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Furthermore, the OTD
model was generally interpreted in the strict sense that originating banks
would give away the underlying risk along with the securitized loan portfolio
and this had the disastrous consequences we all learnt. The collapse in some
credit markets highlighted that the presence of generalized OTD banks had
dramatic results for the whole system.</span></div>
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wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-80619254348691982562012-08-25T14:59:00.003-07:002012-08-25T14:59:42.464-07:00Bullies in the boardroom – Governance and the failure of agency<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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--> </style><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span>We have all heard how the 2008 financial collapse was driven by greed and a lack of regulation. Overlooked in this discussion is the failure of agency: why did those elected
to safely skipper the ship instead dash it against the rocks? </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Why did/does governance
fail? Does the invisible hand perform sleight of hand in the boardroom? What
does this mean for the economy? Do firms do enough to ensure directors
understand the governance mandate? Is there a difference between private and
co-operative firms? How can governance be measured? Post 2008, are new trends
emerging in governance and regulation? What are the implications? </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Using
examples taken from personal experience and drawing on best practices, Holm
will challenge your thinking about the role of the Board and the care and
feeding of its directors.<br />
<br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>___________________</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>New 2013 Presentation just posted on my <a href="http://nsb.com/speakers/view/wendy-holm" target="_blank">National Speakers Bureau Speakers Page </a>For more go to <a href="http://nsb.com/speakers/view/wendy-holm">http://nsb.com/speakers/view/wendy-holm</a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wendyholm.com/" target="_blank"><span>click here to return to wendyholm.com </span></a></span>
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wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-46411510046068605512012-08-25T14:55:00.007-07:002012-08-25T14:55:54.960-07:00Greed, community and the power of networks
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><br />
<strong></strong></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In this age of globalism — where rivers of capital move silently through
borderless economies, sourcing at the lowest cost and charging back to society
its costly externalities – we are adrift on a raft of our own making. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Firms
today excel at what neo-classical economists and governments have been cheering
them on to do since the mid 30’s: make investors rich and the economy will be
better for it. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Somewhere along the way, communities got left behind. Economic
bullies have captured the flag. The question now is: how do communities take it
back? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Theory suggests that stakeholders, unfettered by hierarchical systems and
supported by a cooperative infrastructure, have a natural instinct to
cooperate. This fosters relationships that, in the presence of common
purpose, create networks. When networks are complex — bringing together
differing perspectives and resources — and when systems are democratic and
open-ended, the potential exists for unplanned adaptation, innovation and
entrepreneurship. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Under these unique circumstances, innovation blooms like
wildflowers in a meadow - with unexpected bursts of colour and in unanticipated
places. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And, like the wings of a butterfly, many small actions have resonance
on a much wider scale, creating the framework for an adaptive,
community-focused process that – properly harnessed – can deliver the dignity
and security of a sustainable future. <br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>___________________</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>New 2013 Presentation just posted on my <a href="http://nsb.com/speakers/view/wendy-holm" target="_blank">National Speakers Bureau Speakers Page </a>For more go to <a href="http://nsb.com/speakers/view/wendy-holm">http://nsb.com/speakers/view/wendy-holm</a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wendyholm.com/" target="_blank"><span>click here to return to wendyholm.com </span></a></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-12595378216961130472012-08-25T14:53:00.002-07:002012-08-25T14:53:25.873-07:00Governing the commons – Democracy in a people-centered economy
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A resource-rich nation, care of our Canadian “commons” is critical to our
sustainable future. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Good governance is about democracy, strong public policy
and respect for community. How can we better govern the commons? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">From urban
food co-ops to Quebec's solidarity co-ops to the large industrial, consumer and
social co-ops of Finland, Italy and Spain, well-run co-operatives offer a fair,
sustaining, democratic and people-centered governance alternative. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the midst
of this global economic crisis, are there co-operative alternatives to private
sector capitalism that produce more robust economic benefits? Benefits that
build sustaining social capital that respects and upholds the dignity of the
community and her people? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In this International Year of Co-operatives, learn
how we can encourage and support the growth of co-ops in our community to
reclaim economic and social sustainability…<br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>___________________</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>New 2013 Presentation just posted on my <a href="http://nsb.com/speakers/view/wendy-holm" target="_blank">National Speakers Bureau Speakers Page </a>For more go to <a href="http://nsb.com/speakers/view/wendy-holm">http://nsb.com/speakers/view/wendy-holm</a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wendyholm.com/" target="_blank"><span>click here to return to wendyholm.com </span></a></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-13307622322186303212012-08-20T12:49:00.002-07:002012-08-20T12:55:15.183-07:00A debate is simmering in credit union land...As blogged previously, BC's Financial Institutions Commission released in March their <a href="http://www.theholmteam.ca/TaskForceonCreditUnionGovernance_FinalReport.pdf">Task Force Report on Credit Union Governance</a> purportedly aimed at "recommending ways the governance of B.C.’s credit unions could be strengthened." <br />
<br />
Strengthen indeed. Task Force recommendation 2.5 will - if adopted - fundamentally undermine the democratic functioning of BC's
cooperative financial sector: <br />
<br />
<i>2.5 The nominating committee recommends candidates it feels will best
meet the credit union’s requirements and recommends only that number of
candidates needed to fill the number of open positions on the board.</i><br />
<br />
Many in the Canadian credit union system are alarmed. If FICOM Task Force recommendation 2.5 is adopted, this pressure will spread to other provinces.<br />
<br />
Vancity has already moved in this direction (see ballot below) sparking concern from members: <br />
<a href="http://www.straight.com/article-657446/vancouver/vancity-elections-criticized">http://www.straight.com/article-657446/vancouver/vancity-elections-criticized</a><br />
<a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Cayo+Vancity+muzzles+candidates+board/6505912/story.html">http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Cayo+Vancity+muzzles+candidates+board/6505912/story.html</a> <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkK52FDkxd6tTxcqagFluVXESlVy98PD1ZEEyVpZLhFgUp6jTkjDJU4iZvGT7JG1MeVeL8xiQSi155iDDvR_K7qbtQr49SJdRNzFesRH1Qfmls3PY-IDu7XCxYXLcaaIy0oExQKHWlyjE/s1600/VancityBallot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkK52FDkxd6tTxcqagFluVXESlVy98PD1ZEEyVpZLhFgUp6jTkjDJU4iZvGT7JG1MeVeL8xiQSi155iDDvR_K7qbtQr49SJdRNzFesRH1Qfmls3PY-IDu7XCxYXLcaaIy0oExQKHWlyjE/s320/VancityBallot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Removing the right of members to democratically
elect representatives to the governing board of their cooperative
weakens not only the credit union sector, it weakens the entire co-op
community.<br />
<br />
When they issued their press release in March, FICOM said they were about to engage in six months of discussion.<br />
<br />
Have they asked credit union members what they think? Not likely. They should. Members have the right to decide this one.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2140335209">Click here to return to wendyholm.com</a><a href="http://www.wendyholm.com/"> </a><br />
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<br />wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-81380242701456012542012-07-04T15:38:00.001-07:002012-07-18T07:53:34.276-07:00Barclays...Would a board with <a href="http://edmayo.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/stand-up-the-plasterers-nurses-and-ministers/">"a plasterer, a nurse and a minister" </a>have allowed senior traders to get away with rigging the overnight bank rate? <br />
<br />
Not understanding why these things occur is like not understanding why an apple falls from the tree.<br />
<br />
In the financial sector, people are key, and they are wooed away from competitors by pricey performance bonuses that reward short term profits over long term stability.<br />
<br />
Co-ops can do it better. But we have to make sure we have Directors around the table that understand and enhance the cooperative difference to make it happen. That means Co-op Education programs for Directors (watch for one from Saint Mary's) to lead the development of performance measures that track attention to values and principles, not just principal and interest.<br />
<br />
<br />
Return to <a href="http://wendyholm.com/">wendyholm.com</a> for more on cooperatives and democracy.<br />
<br />
<br />wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-75774689719876302222012-07-01T16:29:00.002-07:002012-07-01T16:46:15.468-07:00FICOM Task Force ReportDemocracy bites the dust as regulators push financial cooperatives to the right... <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theholmteam.ca/TaskForceonCreditUnionGovernance_FinalReport.pdf">Click here for a copy of FICOM's Task Force Report on Credit Union Governance. </a><br />
<br />
Note the following under Chapter 2 – Assembling and Developing an Effective Board<br />
<br />
2.5 The nominating committee recommends candidates it feels will best meet the credit union’s requirements and recommends only that number of candidates needed to fill the number of open positions on the board.wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-25883981593634809752012-07-01T15:08:00.003-07:002012-07-02T08:16:02.426-07:00Plasterers and nurses and ministers, oh my!<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}" style="font-size: small;">An interesting story from England... Pressure from regulators who do not understand cooperative governance is creepingly evident in Canada. Witness the recent discussion paper circulated by BC's FICOM suggesting coops recommend ("star") candidates in board elections. Members need
good information about candidates to make informed choices. They do NOT
need to be told who to vote for. </span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a class="shareMediaLink shareRedesignMedia -cx-PRIVATE-uiImageBlock__image lfloat" data-ft="{"type":41,"tn":"E"}" href="http://wp.me/paxI9-pb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="shareMediaPhoto img" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/y4/r/-PAXP-deijE.gif" style="background-image: url("http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQD-lBgk3GGwpmRK&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedmayo.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F05%2F20120526-103327.jpg%3Fw%3D300%26h%3D300&cfs=1");" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a class="pam shareText" href="http://wp.me/paxI9-pb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stand up the plasterers, nurses and ministers </a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/357d54d0-6931-11e1-9931-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1zPvydfzv"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a link to the story in London's Financial Times. </span></a></div>
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<a class="pam shareText" href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/357d54d0-6931-11e1-9931-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1zPvydfzv" rel="nofollow" target=""></a></div>
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</span>wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-58174449879989624492012-04-25T07:13:00.000-07:002012-07-01T16:37:49.957-07:00Thank you Bill... (my best campaign story)At 2:35 on Saturday afternoon, standing in front of Vancity's Brentwood Branch (the 37th I'd visited since the campaign began; 17 to go this week), I had to ask myself once again "why am I doing this"? Last year "recommended candidates" received SIX TIMES the votes of "unrecommended candidates". It certainly is an uphill battle. <br />
<br />
But I only know one way to approach a challenge and that's head on. I always campaign by visiting the branches and meeting members because I believe the branches are the most important part of our cooperative and the members are what we are all about. <br />
<br />
And so at 2:35, as I was thinking of my sore toes and the work piling up on my desk, an elderly member approached. He walked with a slight limp and carried a cane. He had read my material inside the branch and after chatting a few moments he said he would vote for me, but first had to put some more money in his parking meter. How far away are you parked I asked? About a block and a half away he replied. "I'll buy your vote for a quarter" I laughed, offering to put the change in the meter for him. But he replied his change was in the car and as I had none, off he went. A while later he returned and voted. We chatted outside before he left. <br />
<br />
Thank you Bill. You made me remember why it is I am happy to have sore toes and a few angry deadlines. It's about cooperatives, meeting members, and encouraging them to participate in their credit union. Uphill battle indeed... As my tweets say, it's about democracy...<br />
<br />
<br />
...wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6947552519130734597.post-56106163573401806152012-03-26T14:26:00.002-07:002012-07-02T08:36:12.579-07:00Last on your ballot, you're first in my heart!<div style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">This is a space for dialogue...</span></b></div>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
</h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I am a resource economist,
Agrologist, columnist, speaker and consultant standing for re-election to the Vancity Board. </b></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Though I topped the Vancity polls by a WIDE margin in the last election
(12,273 votes compared with second place at 9,715), new election rules
will make this an uphill battle in 2012. Last year, campaigning through slates was prohibited and a system of "recommended" candidates adopted. This year, both incumbents who ran as independents in the last election stand before you "unstarred".</span></b></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">I have 13 wonderful nominators who said some very important things about why I - as a Vancity member for over 25 years - should sit at our governance table. A ruling by the Nominations and Election Committee extended a Board prohibition on group endorsements in campaign material to apply equally to individual endorsements. Since this was not a Board decision (which I am not permitted to criticize) but rather an interpretation by the 4 member 2 Director Nominations and Election Committee, I <a href="http://www.theholmteam.ca/c.Holm.NEC.Mar11.2012.pdf">appealed</a> it as a Candidate on behalf of all candidates. The appeal was <a href="http://www.theholmteam.ca/c.NEC.Mar26.2012.pdf">denied</a>. </span></b></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">In a cooperative, it is a members democratic right to stand before other members - in a real or virtual hall - and say who they feel will do a good job on their co-op board and why. Equally, it is the right of members to listen to and be informed by the statements of other members in choosing their co-op leadership. This is International Cooperative Principle #2 - Democratic Member Control. </span></b></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">I am running because I believe in co-operatives. And democratic governance. And transparency. </span></b></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">If you agree, I need your support and that of your networks to return to the Vancity table. Vote on line, by mail or in the branches. </span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> <span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></b></span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">See also my blog Cooperative Conversations: <a href="http://holmoncoops.blogspot.ca/">http://www.holmoncoops.blogspot.ca </a></span></b></span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">My campaign website is: <br /><a href="http://theholmteam.ca/wendyholmVanCityElections.html">http://theholmteam.ca/wendyholmVanCityElections.html</a></span></b></span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">My Background and Candidate's Statement are posted at <a href="http://theholmteam.ca/Holm.RESUME.STATEMENT.pdf" style="color: #666666;">http://theholmteam.ca/Holm.RESUME.STATEMENT.pdf </a></span></b></span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">My Experience is posted at </span><a href="http://www.theholmteam.ca/Holm.EXPERIENCE.pdf"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}" style="color: #666666;">http://www.theholmteam.ca/Holm.EXPERIENCE.pdf </span></a><span id="goog_639132949"></span><span id="goog_639132950"></span></b></span></h6>wendyholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07266724853650098243noreply@blogger.com1