Resolutions at CHF Canada’s 2011 annual meeting
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Resolution 3: Think Young
MOVED BY: Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT)
CONTACT:
Tom Clement
Executive Director
658 Danforth Avenue, Suite 306
Toronto, ON M4J 5B9
Tel: (416) 465-8688
Email: tom@coophousing.com
WE RESOLVE:
- THAT CHF Canada member housing co-ops encourage young people to run for their co-op boards, boards of local co-op housing federations and other elected positions in Canada’s co op housing movement;;
- THAT CHF Canada ask its member housing co-ops and federations to provide information to CHF Canada about the number of young directors on their boards of directors;
- AND THAT CHF Canada report to members at the 2012 annual meeting about the number of young directors elected to the boards of co-ops and local federations.
OUR REASONS FOR THIS RESOLUTION ARE:
- The leaders of Canada’s housing co‑ops have recognized for a long time that one of their most important tasks is to preserve and safeguard their co‑op homes for the use of future generations of Canadians. So, they have tried to renew the leadership of their own co ops from time to time. They have encouraged new people to serve on their co operative’s board of directors, and have looked for people under 30 years of age.
- In many housing co‑ops and regional federations of housing co‑ops, young people have stepped forward to serve on boards of directors. Some of these young people were raised in housing co‑ops. Others are from young families that have joined co‑ops more recently.
- The Co‑operative Housing Federation of Toronto believes that, if co‑operative housing is to continue to thrive in the coming decades, more young people should be encouraged to step forward as leaders.
- With others in the co‑operative housing movement, the Co‑operative Housing Federation of Toronto has developed scholarships to provide educational opportunities for young people from housing co‑ops. We have supported the leadership camps for young people from co operatives, which are organized by the Ontario Co‑operative Association. These young leaders’ opportunities exist in other provinces.
- These programs help to ensure that young people can make a valuable contribution to a board of directors that is recognized when they offer to serve through co‑op elections. They also help to prepare young people who may later consider a career in co‑op housing management, or within the wider co‑operative movement – including credit unions, retail enterprises, and worker co‑ops.
- CHFT has actively encouraged young people to join its board of directors. Young people have made significant contributions to CHFT’s success by bringing modern approaches to member engagement, youthful energy and fresh new ideas.
- CHFT believes that housing co‑operatives should do as much as possible to encourage young people to become fully engaged in the governance of their co‑operative, by running for the board of directors. Other federations, including CHF Canada, can also benefit from outreach initiatives that will include young people in their governing bodies, committees and other groups.
WE THINK THAT THIS WILL COST:
A small amount of money will be spent by CHF Canada to collect and report the information provided by co-ops and federations about young directors.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMENTS:
The board supports this resolution.
CHF Canada is a sponsor of co-op young leaders’ camps and CHFT’s diversity scholarships. We have provided support for young people to attend conferences within the wider co-op movement, and are founding sponsors of the Master’s in Co-op Management program at St. Mary’s University in Halifax.
In 2009, CHF Canada adopted a three-year leadership renewal program. The plan covers activities to improve and support leadership recruitment, leadership training and governance. Renewing our co-op leadership means attracting new board members, and this resolution asks member housing co-ops to actively seek out young people to become involved in the governance of their housing co-op.
The board believes that co-op housing needs young co-op leaders. The vision, energy and initiative of a new generation can help to secure a successful future for housing co-ops. If this resolution is approved, we look forward to hearing from member co-ops about the results of thinking young.
