https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_land_trust

Tacoma urban Land trust.  -   https://www.tult.org/ 

https://www.tacomahousing.org/news/what-is-a-community-land-trust-and-could-one-help-with-tacomas-homelessness-crisis/

https://www.wliha.org/blog/community-land-trusts-unique-affordable-homeownership

I want to start a worker owned art, publishing and performing arts cooperative that performs or creates recordings, movies, novels, books, comic books and magazines together.
I want to provide live and online platforms for the artists to show, distribute or sell their art, recordings, books and performances. 
I want to create a worker-artist owned fictional universe for the characters created and owned by independent artists. This universe could have shared fictional settings created by the members of the cooperative.
I want to create collaborative storyboard templates that encourage collaboration and creativity.

Greg Spence Wolf

Marvel Bay Cafe makes their own deli salads, cookies, brownies, biscotti and tarts. My wife and i have been there a dozen times. It has a nice athmosphere.

The artice starts by saying:

“KEN LEWIS MOVED from Grenada to New York City in 1989 at a time when he says employment options for immigrants were limited. “You either got into construction or drove a taxi,” he says. Alongside grad school study, he drove a cab and remembers being alarmed at drivers footing the bill for all their expenses, from gas to vehicle repairs.

“Then in 2011, Uber came along and everything got worse, as drivers ran from the yellow taxi industry in the hope of finally making more money for themselves and their families,” he says. “We invested our life savings into buying cars, but actually, we were just buying the tools to exploit us further.”

https://drivers.coop

https://www.wired.com/story/gig-economy-worker-owned-apps/

 

It's Central Co-op Election Time!

Impact Central Co-op's future by voting for the newest members of our Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee! Voting for governance leadership is a crucial piece of what sets co-ops apart from many other business models, and we need your voice to move our Central Co-op into the future!

Each year, we elect one new Worker and one new Consumer to the Board (for three year terms), and one Worker and one Consumer to the Nom-Com (for one year terms). All Central Co-op Member-Owners vote for open positions for both Worker and Consumer candidates.

All you need to vote is the name on your account, and/or your member number -- one vote per Member-Owner account! Read about our 2023 Candidates below, and follow the green buttons to our Online Voting portal.

In-store voting will be available beginning October 31.

2023 Annual Owner Meeting

Alongside the Election, we are returning to an in-person format for our 2023 Annual Owner Meeting!

Please join us on Sunday, November 12, 2023 from 1:00pm until 3:00pm at the Silver Cloud Hotel at Madison and Broadway.

You'll hear about updates in our organization, meet members of Central Co-op's Board and Leadership Team, interact with other members, and get the latest on the Annual Election. Light snacks and beverages will be offered. 

Space is limited at this event, so please let us know if you're planning on attending by emailing info@centralcoop.coop.

Board of Trustees Consumer-Owner Candidate
Amethyst Green

Board of Trustees Consumer-Owner Candidate
Jeremiah Treacy

Home Store: Tacoma

Candidate Statement:
I’d like to be part of the Co-op's participation and community involvement with “setting the table” for family and friends, our neighborhood source of health, wellness, goodness, nutrition; having the Central Co-op is a plus for our neighborhood and having it lead with sustainable, organic and local resources is a continued and beneficial next step.

Board of Trustees Worker-Owner Candidate
Jack Sharp

Nominating Committee Worker-Owner Candidate
Hannah Jessup

Nominating Committee Consumer-Owner Candidate
Winston Fryer

Gallery Boom Shop

Who are you and how do you want to be identified? 
I am Christine Malek. She/they is fine.

Do you have a business name, stage name pen name, etc.? 
I'm the head curator of Gallery Boom.

Do you have a catchphrase that helps describe what you do? 
Gallery Boom Local Art & Gifts.
 
What inspires you to write, create and perform?
I want to encourage, support and promote South Sound artists and their art. I meet these lovely people and their fantastic art. They are very good at making it but after that, it kind of just sits there. It's not fair to ask people who are good at one set of skills to master a whole other set just to find success. We can help each other. I can help.

What cultural traditions do and draw from? 
Since it's a for profit business, it's hard not to be sucked into good ol traditional American Capitalism. 
I do my best to just follow the rules I need to so we can stay open and not be sucked into the mire. 
I like the concept of the "Free Market". This is a myth in the general economy because all sorts of selfish forces bend the markets to their will. At Boom I want to liberate the Free Market to be truly free. We have art items of all types, styles, mediums, abilities for people to choose from. If you want to paint your butt green and hop on canvases, go for it. Let's put a price on them and see if the people want em. If they do, then they'll buy. If not. Nope. I try not to censor the art too much outside of some commonsense rules.
How long have you performing, creating and writing? Gallery Boom is 9 years old. We've hopped around buildings in that time but are still truckin.

How can people buy your merchandise? 
Go to Gallery Boom at 3959 Martin Way E Olympia, WA Wed-Sat 11-7, Sun 11-5 (closed Mon & Tue) or www.galleryboomshop.com (we have over 5,000 pieces of art online)

How can people support your efforts materially and financially?
Go to one of those two places and buy everyone you love presents.

How can people contact you if they want to hire you or license your work? 
galleryboomolympia@gmail.com

What is your website(s):

http://www.galleryboomshop.com 

How can people friend you online?
Instagram & facebook /galleryboom

Do you have a mailing lists, subscriptions, publications, webcasts or streaming services people can subscribe to you on?
We have a mailchimp mailing list. 
Email galleryboomevents@gmail.com to be added

What is your proudest achievement as an artist, creator, designer, human being, performer, producer or writer?
I feel quite proud at events that Boom is hosting when the hum of people enjoying themselves fills the air. There is a timelessness and deep grounding I experience. It is an atomized peace where my individuality is calm and blends into the collective. A fleeting moment yet worth all the questions, emails and hurry that go before it.

Do you have an inspirational message that you would want to share with the world?
Make art. Sell Art. Trade your Art. Don't judge it or compare. You are worthy and your art is too.

1. Who are you and how do you want to be identified. IE. Do you have a business name, stage name pen name, preferred prefix or pronoun, etc.
2. Do you have a catchphrase that helps describe what you do?
3.  What inspires you to write, create and perform?
4. What cultural traditions do and draw from?
5. How long have you performing, creating and writing?
6. How can people buy your merchandise?
7. How can people support your efforts materially and financially?
8. How can people contact you if they want to hire you or license your work?
9. How can people friend you online?
10. Do you have a mailing lists, subscriptions, publications, webcasts or streaming services people can subscribe to you on.
11. What is your proudest achievement as an artist, creator, designer, human being, performer, producer or writer.
12. Do you have any events, shows, performances, open houses, exhibits etc coming up"
13. Do you have an inspirational message that you would want to share with the world.
14. Feel free to submit up to 3 photos or photo links. And one video link.

For Crafters and Designers.

1. What do you make?
2. What do do make it from?
3. How do you make it?
4. Where did you learn to make your craft?
5. What do you like about making your art?

For musicians

1. How would you describe your act?
2. What instruments do you play? 
3. What is your repertoire genre?
4. Where can someone see you perform?
5. Where can people purchase your music?

For writers

1. What kind of writing do you do? Technical, songwriting, Social Media Posts, Poetry, Novels, Magazines, Journalism, haiku, Comics, blogging, 
2. What Genres do are write in?

For storefronts?

How long have you been in business?

All answers submitted  by October 31st will be edited using Natural Intelligence and posted by November 30th on the Cooperatively Owned Blog.

Would you like to be invited to join the cooperatively owned mailing list 

Cooperatively owned is not cooperatively owned. It is owned by Greg Spence and and it is mainly used to blog about cooperatives and sell music that is collaboratively produced by my wife Paulette and I. 

I also use it to blog about locally owned businesses. In the long run I'd like it to be a consumer owned version of Facebook, Myspace, Nextdoor, Yelp, Bandcamp,Twitter, and-or Yelp?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_land_trust

Blue Steele Coffee I got a 12oz coffee for there for $2.45 plus 80¢ for almond milk.

They have a support the police theme, so they are honoring these four officers who were murdered at gunpoint at the Moonrise Cafe in Lakewood, WA.

I believe thst areas like South Tacoma that have lots of big yards and people who like to garden, we have the ability to grow food in our communities for our communiities.

I don’t think that any house can be self sufficient. But we can greatly reduce our carbon footprint by minimizing the distance betwen field and table.

I want to start a Tacoma/Pierce County based herb growing retail seller that buys from and sells within neighborhoods and connects businesses with local growers within their neighborhoods. 

We could sell to groceries, coops, health food stores, restaurants, food trucks and donate to free food drives. 

I currently grow enough apples to sell seasonally to one small restaurant. In 2018 when I first moved to Tacoma, my exwife and I supplied cherries and apples to Tibbets restaurant in the zFern Hill neighborhood of Tacoma. 

I currently believe I also grow enough bergamot, catnip, lemon balm, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme to  provide year round herbs for one small restaurant. 

If you would like to buy my herbs 

Greg Spence Wolf GREGSPENCEWOLF@ZOHO.COM

Please Post Links to Your Original Writing Work in the comments

I reserve the right to remove material that is off topic or encourages irresponsible behavior.

Greg Spence Wolf

Please post links to your original music in the comments.

I reserve the right to remove off topic posts and posts that encourage irresponsible activity.

Posts selling jackets, software, etc will be removed.

Co-op Owners, Our Annual Election is Coming! 

Due to the unprecedented conditions we’ve all found ourselves in this year, our Annual Election was postponed this past Spring. We appreciate everyone’s patience, especially that of the candidates, during this delay! 

We will be holding our Annual Election this year from Monday, October 5 through Sunday, October 18. There will not be any in person gatherings or tabling this year, but we will have information about the candidates available online. We will also post a prerecorded ‘virtual’ Annual Meeting available starting Sunday October 18 for members to view at their convenience. While the election results will not be finalized during the Annual Meeting, results will be announced via email and signage in store as quickly as possible after the end of the election. 

All election material will be available online and at both stores. We will have ballot boxes at both stores as well as an online voting portal. We strongly encourage you to vote online if at all possible as this will reduce the amount of possible exposure for those that will be handling paper ballots. Online voting and election communications will be tied to your email address, please let us know if you need to update yours by emailing us at info@centralcoop.coop. 

Thanks for your support!

Annual General Meeting 2020 Join us on Zoom! It's that time of year again. Mark your calendars for Grit City Co-op's 3rd Annual General Meeting! We'll gather virtually on Tuesday, October 6th at 7pm. Join us to hear what our board members have been up to for the past year, and help us decide our next steps. Zoom link coming soon!

If you click the link at the bottom of the page, you will see our one song playlist. Here are the lyrics.

"Our Love" Lyrics and melody by Paulette Caroline (DeRooy) Wolf

He's a singer who dances

I'm a dancer who sings

When we sing and dance together

What rolls out really swings

We're singers who dance

We're dancers who sing

When we sing and dance together

What rolls out really swings

You're a singer who dances, 

I’m a dancer who sings, 

When we sing and dance together 

What rolls out really swings 

We're singers …. 

Verse 1 together 

When we met each other for the very first time, 

Attraction and desire propelled us into rhyme. 

We always feel alive – music leads the way. 

As we reach out in fun, 

Our hearts never stray. 

CHORUS 

I'm a singer who dances, 

She's a dancer who sings...

Now we live as one in a wide open space,  

Breathing and creating, avoiding a race. 

When we move as a team 

Present a caring face. 

light as a feather 

Floating out in space. 

CHORUS

What is to be 

Remains to see. 

As we create, 

We meet our fate. 

Love leads the way, 

 as a mainstay, 

 So All that shatters 

Is held at bay 

CHORUS twice

Copyright 2020 Paulette Caroline Wolf

Manifesto

I want to start a cooperatively owned, democratically run, sustainable and equitably managed business model.  

I want to start businesses with people where responsibility, work, ownership, benefits and gains are shared equally and equitably.  I want it to be a business model that is non-hierarchical and has rotation of leadership built into its decision-making process.  

I want the worker owned coop's intellectual property to be owned by the coop in a non-profit or not for profit manner and that the fruits of the coop are fairly distributed amongst its worker owners.  

I want the workers to be paid a fair wage for their work.

I want the  coop to be both a replicable model and a successful business.

I want the worker owned coop's intellectual property to be owned by the coop in a non-profit or not for profit manner and that the fruits of the coop are fairly distributed amongst its worker owners.

We should be able to transfer our model to more hierarchical organizations and break down structural inequality in a way that makes these organizations more just and fair  while making them stronger and more resilient at the same time.

I propose people who share this vision come together to form an umbrella organization to facilitate this vision.  

Updated 7/8/2020 Greg Spence Wolf

Proposals: 

Start a worker owned writers, art and performing arts cooperative that performs or creates recordings, movies, novels, books, comic books and magazines together.

Start a worker owned publishing comapny.

Start a worker owned restaurant, cafe, brewery, food production and distribution company. 

Workers could grow, produce and sell commercial food products at outdoor markets. and online. Products that could be made and sold on a local basis include baked goods, bread, cookies, salsa and canned goods.

Workers could grow, produce and sell commercial food products at outdoor markets and online. 

Start a  worker owned health care facility that provides urgent care.

Start a worker owned clothing manufacturer and retailer. 

Start a worker owned storefront to sell the products made by the worker owned manufacturers.

Greg Spence Wolf with Paulette C Wolf

Equal Exchange Worker Owned Fair Trade importers

At Equal Exchange we all walk around like we own the place. That's because we all do! Our co-op has over 130 worker-owners, each with an equal stake - and an equal vote - in our business. We believe that we should expect no less from ourselves and each other than we demand of our farmer partners. For that reason we have organized ourselves as a democratic worker co-operative, now one of the largest in the country. 

The concepts are quite simple: 

the right to vote (one vote per employee, not per share); 
the right to serve as leader (i.e. board director); 
the right to information; 
the right to speak your mind.

https://equalexchange.coop/worker-owned
  

Imports coffee almonds, mangoes, cashews, pecans, raisins, dates, Chocolate Chips, cocoa powder, olive oil and cous cous. 

(http:www.equal exchange.coop 7/13/20)

The Mondragon Cooperative Featured on Deutche Walle

The Mondragon Cooperatively owned corporation started in the Basque region of Spain has hierarchical job stratification, but the ownership is cooperative based on one member one vote. So the members vote on their wages. 

They own factories including a factory that makes machines for other factories, a basque language newspaper, grocery stores and a university. They also train and rehire laid off workers. 

They charge their members 15,000 to join. 

Retail and Food coops: 

www.GreenStar.coop in Ithaca New York 

Central Coop in Tacom and Seattle.

Puget Consumers Coop)

Park Slope Brooklyn

Recreational Equipment Incorporated 

Credit Unions   

Alternatives Federal Credit Union

Boeing Employees Credit Union

Salaal (fromerly Group Health)

Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union

ACU America’s credit Union

Welcome to the Cooperatively Produced Network