Category Archives: Education

Co-op Wars: Lessons for the Future from the Past

Posted on November 9, 2020 by John McNamara

During the 1970s, I was a child and missed most of the craziness of that era. I only received driver’s license after the election of Ronald Reagan in the fall of 1980 which largely marks the end of the “’60s”. … Continue reading →

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Solidarity: We Don’t Need to be Perfect

Posted on May 18, 2020 by John McNamara

Is there anything in the world of work that at this moment that is required more than unity? And is it possible to consider unity rather than trying identify ourselves with the values that are already universal?José María Arizmendiarrieta, Reflections

Recently … Continue reading →

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Are We Not Owners? We Are Workers!

Posted on March 20, 2020 by John McNamara

Last Winter, Fifty by Fifty ran a series of blog posts about the sale of the ESOP New Belgium Brewery to Kirin. It was a great series of posts of which I was honored to participate. This was and is … Continue reading →

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Power in Purpose: Part 2-Policy Breakout

Posted on October 23, 2019 by John McNamara

The first break out group considered the barriers to cooperatives and what policy changes can occur to break down those barriers.
My group (and many of the others) focused on three central areas: Education, Awareness, and Incentives.
Education needs to begin at … Continue reading →

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Co-ops in the Miracle Mile

Posted on October 13, 2019 by John McNamara

One of the more interesting projects that I have had the pleasure of working on over the last couple years is in southern Idaho. The town of Buhl is about 50 miles from the Nevada border along the Snake River. … Continue reading →

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Pope Francis and Co-operatives

Posted on September 21, 2015 by John McNamara

Tomorrow, Pope Francis arrives for his first visit to the United States. This pope, hailing from Argentina, brings with him a message for all of us in terms of building our economies–the quest for wealth needs to be more than … Continue reading →

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How Do We Measure Coops?

Posted on May 28, 2014 by John McNamara

Last week I attended the Tools to Measure Performance and Impact at St. Mary’s University in Halifax. The conference was part of a several year research CURA known as the Measuring the Cooperative Difference. Part of my role with … Continue reading →

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Democracy at Work Network

Posted on April 22, 2013 by John McNamara

***Disclosure***
I was recently reelected to DAWN’s Board of Governors and the Training and Certification Committee. I am also a founding member of the organization. The following opinion (pitch, if you will) is all mine, however, and should not be seen … Continue reading →

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Sensemaking in Worker Cooperatives

Posted on June 11, 2012 by John McNamara

For my theory class, I am currently reading a classic article on sensemaking in organizations: “The Collapse of Sensemaking in Organizations: The Mann Gulch Disaster” by Karl Wieck
The article reviews Norman McLean’s “Young Men and Fire” and theorizes about … Continue reading →

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Markets Can Be Healthy

Posted on February 13, 2012 by John McNamara

As part of my studies this semester, I am reading the English edition of Cooperative Enterprise: Facing the Challenge of Globalization* by Stefano and Vera Zamagni.
In their opening chapters, they lead a discussion about the nature of cooperation (from their … Continue reading →

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