Tag Archives: self-responsibility

The Unnamed Co-op Value: Gritty

Posted on March 28, 2020 by John McNamara

Calvin Coolidge, the US President that symbolized the 1920s, has been credited with this statement: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; … Continue reading →

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My 2nd Birthplace: Union Cab of Madison 40 years on

Posted on October 29, 2019 by John McNamara

I am a bit glad that this post came so late in the month. I needed some time to get back in the practice of blogging before taking tackling this–so many thoughts and emotions run though my mind that this … Continue reading →

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PT Shipwrights: They Saw, They Conquered

Posted on October 15, 2019 by John McNamara

Just a short write up today to acknowledge one of the oldest functioning worker co-ops in Washington: The Port Townsend Shipwrights Cooperative. They started out this journey (or voyage) in 1981 with 8 shipwrights and a ship’s saw. The Co-op … 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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Twisted Strait Fibers: a PNW Original

Posted on October 10, 2019 by John McNamara

One of the first groups that I started working with after moving to the Pacific Northwest was the PNW Fiber Web Cooperative. The project began as a effort to build resources for the animal fiber producers and fiber artists on … Continue reading →

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Capital Homecare-18 months in

Posted on October 2, 2019 by John McNamara

On March 3, 2018, the workers of Capital Homecare Cooperative received their Agency license from the State of Washington. In Washington, home care (not to be confused with home healthcare) is heavily regulated. Just to get licensed (which also means … Continue reading →

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The “We” Generation

Posted on January 23, 2017 by John McNamara

Here we are.
The next two years will seem to bring to life the ancient curse, “May you live in interesting times.”
The need for mutual self-help and self-reliance along with solidarity will be at the forefront for many of our cooperatives … Continue reading →

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The People’s Ride: A Co-op Response to Uber

Posted on October 5, 2015 by John McNamara

I haven’t been a fan of the “sharing economy” primairlity because it really isn’t about sharing, it is about extraction. Uber, Lyft, AirBnB, TaskRabbit aren’t sharing anything, they are providing a technological interface for people to do menial jobs and … Continue reading →

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Co-operation Isn’t For Everyone. . . (initially)

Posted on September 22, 2015 by John McNamara

REFLECTION NO. 538
The radicalism of the cooperative proposal, in face of development, appealing to the economic, personal, communal and integral concourse of its believers, faces the alternative of success or complete failure. Cooperativism requires people with a strong spirit, or … Continue reading →

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Teamwork vs. Collaboration

Posted on September 8, 2014 by John McNamara

One of my weekly “must-reads” includes the Monday Morning Memo from the “Wizard of Ads” marketing guru Roy H. Williams. His weekly thoughts offer insight into the world of advertising and the human condition. Often illuminating, the Wizard delves into … Continue reading →

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