Living Co-operative Values/Making Bath a Co-operative City

The Bath and West Co-operative Party at its meeting on the 24th February 2018 agreed to fund a public meeting at the Friends Meeting House in Bath on the 2nd June 2018, and to fund a lunch for participants. The issues for the day include Living Co-operative Values and Making Bath a Co-operative City. One of the aims is to strengthen participation in the Bath Co-operative Alliance. I'll share a draft flyer next week.
17th April 2018 - letter, agreed with Nick, to be sent out to Co-operatives - Jack will post details of Co-operatives he has contacted. Do please make individual contacts to encourage people to attend the meeting on the 2nd June and circulate the flyer for the meeting:
Dear
Bath Co-operative Alliance has been recently set up to strengthen the development of Bath as a Co-operative City and your activities are already contributing to this end.
We are writing to you to invite you to attend and participate in the gathering supported by the Bath Co-operative Alliance at the Friends Meeting House in Bath on the 2nd June 2018 – see attached flyer.
Members of the Bath Cooperative Alliance are working to strengthen the development of Bath as a Co-operative City and your activities are already contributing to this end. We are hoping that you and/or a colleague will come along on the 2nd June to share ideas on how we can strengthen the co-operative movement in Bath.
Best Wishes,
Anthony, Austin, Barbara, Bryn, David, Jack, Jane, Joaquim, Lin and Nick.
(Bath Cooperative Alliance)
Austin Wed 28 Feb 2018 9:19AM
Great news Jack

Jack Whitehead Wed 28 Feb 2018 9:39AM
28th Feb - just posted the draft flyer for the meeting on the 2nd June 2018 at the Friends Meeting House
Barbara Gordon Wed 28 Feb 2018 10:14AM
That's great Jack, thank you.
Nick Bird Thu 1 Mar 2018 1:33PM
Here are some suggested aims for the event. What do people think?
1. To explore what we mean by a co-operative economy, what the benefits could be (for individuals, communities, the environment etc)
2. To explore together how we can realise our Vision for Bath as a Co-operative City, building on local, national and international ideas and practice.
3. To get organisations and individuals to sign up to our Vision for Bath as a Co-operative City
4. To enable Co-operatives and those interested in Co-operatives to network with each other
5. To share knowledge on the benefits and practice of co-operatives, including how to set one up, support, finance etc available
6. To recruit members to Bath Co-operative Alliance
Nick Bird Thu 1 Mar 2018 1:34PM
I have some thoughts on an event programme which I can share once I have some feedback on the aims

Joaquim dSouza Tue 6 Mar 2018 4:42PM
Hi Nick, thanks for putting that list together. I think you've covered the aims pretty well once again! I think the main challenge is to come up with activities that will result in people / coops continuing to collaborate after the event. We need the BCA to provide value over time to ensure that we get long-term commitment from new members.
Practically, I think having stalls for each co-op and a coordinator to find connections is a good idea. It would also help to have online directory set up beforehand, which I think would also drum up interest in the event.
Nick Bird Fri 9 Mar 2018 1:42PM
Any other thoughts about the event aims?
Nick Bird Fri 9 Mar 2018 1:47PM
I was just wondering if Friends Meeting House is the best venue for the event. If we want stalls around the room and presentations/workshops would there be the enough space? I have a meeting at Bath City FC next Tuesday and would be happy to check that out as a potential venue. I understand that they are a community owned club so this would fit with our ethos.
Austin Fri 9 Mar 2018 1:58PM
We should be able to get a fair rate for the room too
I paid £15 ph for the Ken Loach Talk
Regards
Austin

Jack Whitehead Tue 13 Mar 2018 2:32PM
Hi - Apologies for missing next week's meeting of the BCA. Just for clarification - at our last meeting I thought it was agreed that I should book the Friends Meeting House for the 2nd June event - we checked that it was available at our meeting. I've done this and circulated a flyer just to inform people of the event, timing and venue. On the Saturday after our meeting I did what I agreed to do and gained agreement from the Bath and West Cooperative Party to fund the venue and refreshments. Nick's note has confused me . When I get to Bath on the 4th April, I'll check to see if what I thought we had agreed still holds.
A Waterhouse Wed 14 Mar 2018 8:15AM
I thought we agreed to help and be involved with the Coop party summer meeting, June 2nd, and we vaguely discussed a future meeting organised by the BCA in the autumn, when the BCA might be better estabilshed. So I understood this as Jack has described. To clarify as I understand, the idea is that the BCA is seperate of the Coop Party but will cooperate with them when aproprate.
Nick Bird Wed 23 May 2018 5:28PM
Please find attached the text of an email that has been sent out tonight to all Bath Labour Party members. It's tailored to Labour but you can amend it to suit any other group/network you wish to invite.
Austin Wed 23 May 2018 6:15PM
Hi Nick
This has also been posted to Bath Labour and Momentum Facebook pages
Regards
Austin
Nick Bird Thu 24 May 2018 9:14AM
I have sent the attached email text to the Secretary of NE Somerset Labour Party, amended to appeal to NES members
Jane Samson · Tue 27 Feb 2018 7:08PM
Thanks Jack