Weaving the Fabric of the Social Economy

A quick note to share the news of an upcoming Social Economy forum that will take place in June in Vancouver.

Here are the details:

Weaving the Fabric of the Social Economy

Wednesday June 15, 9 am – 4 pm

Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street (at 15th Ave)

What does “The Social Economy” mean?
What contributions do nonprofit organizations make to the social economy?
How can we strengthen the social economy in BC?
These are some of the questions we’ll explore in this interactive one-day session.

We’ll ground the concept of the social economy in our own experience -- by sharing our own stories and examples. And together, we’ll develop a shared understanding of the social economy and how we all fit in.

We’ll also learn from Pierre Morrissette, experienced leader of Quebec’s RESO*, one of the first urban organizations to reclaim democratic control over community development for the social and economic well being of citizens. Pierre will share how the social economy works in the context of an urban neighbourhood, and other resource people will share their experiences of the BC context.

Please join us for a lively exploration of the social economy in BC – one that will broaden our understanding and help shape action to build healthy, vibrant communities where everyone’s contribution is valued.

For more information, contact:

Mali Bain
Summer School on Building Community
Langara College Continuing Studies
Vancouver, BC
604-323-5981 ext. 2

National Study on Board Governance

Strategic Leverage Partners Inc. and the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development, a joint initiative of Carleton University and the University of Ottawa have developed a web-based survey that will form the base of a National Study of Board Governance Practices in the Canadian Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector. The survey has been designed in response to shifts in the environment in which Canada’s nonprofits operate and a desire to share governance practices across sub-sectors and organizations. The survey aims to gather information that will help nonprofit and voluntary sector boards across the country become more effective in their governance roles. The results will be shared with nonprofit organizations across Canada.

The survey can be found at:

English: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=83927925275
French: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=64565929861

The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and will be open until May 17th 2005. Your responses will be automatically saved as your go so you can exit the survey and come back to it at a later time. Please feel free to skip any questions that do not apply or are not clear to you. Responses to any of the questions will be helpful to us in our study.

Your opinion is important to us, and we appreciate you taking the time to complete it. Please be assured that all information you provide will be kept STRICTLY confidential. Results will be reported in aggregate form only. Your answers will be treated anonymously, and will not be linked in any way to your email address, or any other information that would compromise your anonymity.

For more information about the survey, please contact either Strategic Leverage Partners (Grace Bugg or Sue Dallhoff ), or the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development (Paula Speevak-Sladowski or Tatyana Teplova).

This National Study is generously financed and supported by contributions from Bridgeway Foundation, the Canadian Educational Standards Institute, The Muttart Foundation, Volunteer Canada, the Institute of Corporate Directors , and the Ontario Hospital Association.

Thank you for your help in making this survey as valuable as possible to our sector.

Specialty Companies are Making E-Philanthropy Easy

Vancouver is a technology hub. It's true. And organisations like GiveMeaning and Jason Mogus' Communicopia are working to add 'e' to the philanthropic impulse.

That's right e-philanthropy.

This article includes some interesting numbers.

The Path Ahead for CSR in Canada

Bob Elton is the Chair of the Board of Canadian Business for Social Responsibility. Here is the text of his recent speech at the CBSR AGM.

Elton said:

In 2015, when people around the world and here think of Canadian business, they will talk of us as leaders in social responsibility.

Really??

Bob Hunter's death

Bob Hunter, one of the founding members of Greenpeace has died in Mexico, he was 64.

Here is Bob's Greenpeace obit.

[Update: Wanted to draw your attention to Charles Campbell's article for The Tyee on Bob Hunter.]