Co-oppundit 2010
Welcome! Co-oppundit.org is dedicated to securing the reforms required in many Co-operative and Mutual Enterprises (CMEs) if they are to succeed in making a much more significant contribution to the mainstream economy. Many of the ideas explored here are of necessity condensed due to the nature of the media but for those interested they are elaborated in the booklet:
CO-OPERATION - The Beautiful Idea
- for details please see below
This website outlines the main factors driving the need for reform, and sets out the nature of the reforms that are needed. It also provides information about useful publications, links to other websites and details about CO-OPPUNDIT
Please click on any link to get more information
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What are CMEs?
What's in a name?
Co-operation underpins of wide variety of co-operative and mutual enterprises of many differing types, including: co-operative societies, building societies, credit unions, friendly societies, community benefit societies, member-owned enterprises of all types, etc. It is also at the heart of many other enterprises encompassing many more types of enterprise well beyond the very limited range that are registered under legislation specifically formulated to cover co-operatives and mutuals. Here we are dealing with a specific model of enterprise that is based upon self-help and mutual help.
The way in which communist and other regimes have sought to exploit the co-operative enterprise model for political ends has sometimes besmirched its reputation, with the result that some have sought to adopt different terminology. In other cases those controlling co-operative and mutual enterprises would prefer that their member-owners were not reminded of the fact that they ought to be subject to democratic control, so they have wanted to give their organisations names, such as "social enterprises" or "member-owned businesses", that seek to hide their co-operative and mutual credentials. Also, the failure of some co-operatives and mutuals to change with the times has led some to want to disassociate themselves from what they perceived as an old-fashioned image. Whatever the motivation, some have tried to give new names to organisations that we can only properly describe as co-operatives and mutuals.
Abridged from: Co-operation - the Beautiful Idea by Edgar Parnell
Co-operatives and mutuals are two sides of the same coin. Co-operatives are based upon mutuality and both mutuals and co-operatives are based upon the concept of beneficial interdependence; both are reliant upon the practice of co-operation. An organisation that is fully mutual services only its members. The main reasons for the distinction between co-operatives and mutuals arise from their historical origins and the different forms of legislative arrangements that were available to their founders. Throughout the booklet the composite term "Co-operative and Mutual Enterprise" (CME) is used to describe all of the different manifestations of enterprises rooted in the practice of economic co-operation.
Coming soon!
Co-operation-
The Beautiful Idea
This new booklet explains in less than 100 pages the importance of
Co-operation today.
Watch out for full details soon
For a free Download of Chapter One
please click here
Significant reforms are required if CMEs are to become fit for purpose:
The realities
What we need to understand
The world we live in - what it means for Co-operative and Mutual Enterprises
Want more information about CMEs?
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Co-operative and Mutual Enterprises (CMEs)
Models of enterprise compared
It is vital that everyone involved with
Co-operatives or Mutuals (CMEs) fully understands the enterprise model. To see an explanation of the CME model compared with the investor-controlled company and the social enterprise models
Please click here
Co-operation means: Better Organisation - a Better Deal - Better Living
last updated: 23 August © Edgar Parnell 2010