The Mission Record Thursday, December 13, 2012 B1
BusinessTRACK Mission Chamber of Commerce connect • influence • prosper
Cooperatives have proven successful By John Liang ClickMedia Works Inc.
T
his was the year of cooperatives. Often seen as alternative, yet with a successful history locally and in Canada, this business model is gaining mainstream acceptance worldwide as the economy continues to struggle. Better control of operating costs, increased flexibility and efficiency, plus higher community profile and involvement are just three reasons why cooperative businesses worldwide survived the global financial meltdown better than their entrepreneurial counterparts. Even more impressive, according to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) they managed healthy growth as well. “This new data demonstrates that not only do cooperatives have significant scale, but that this scale is sustainable even in the face of difficult global economic conditions,” said Charles Gould, ICA Director General. “More than this, with $2 trillion USD in annual revenue among the 300 largest cooperatives alone, this is a sector that is no side-player, but a major global economic force.” For small business owners and operators trying to manage through uncertain and difficult times, awareness of the coopera-
The cooperative business model boasts a number of advantages over other types.
tive business model could be of critical importance. Set against a business model where maximum return to shareholders trumps almost all other considerations, the governance structure of cooperatives is significantly more democratic, inclusive and transparent. While acknowledging that profit is essential to survival, cooperatives place higher value on service to members, including environmental and social sustainability, ahead of
profit. In addition, they return surplus revenues to their members, not according to numbers of shares held, but proportionate to member use of their products or services. Five basic categories of cooperatives allow the model to fit almost every business need. The best known of these are consumer-owned (credit unions, food coops, housing co-ops) and producer-owned (agricultural co-ops, craft producer co-ops). There are
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purchasing co-ops (Ace Hardware is an example) where small independent businesses band together to enhance purchasing power and lower operating costs. Finally, there are examples of multistakeholder cooperatives where conflicting needs are resolved in order to achieve a higher purpose, such as to reduce duplication of services and create efficiencies. Creating business hubs can provide support, growth and scale
that benefits all business stakeholders. Capital and the Debt Trap reports that "Cooperatives tend to have a longer life than other types of enterprise, and thus a higher level of entrepreneurial sustainability." Studies have shown that the rate of survival of cooperatives after three years was 75 per cent, whereas it was only 48 per cent for all enterprises, and after 10 years, 44 per cent of cooperatives were still in operation, whereas the
ratio was only 20 per cent for all enterprises. ICA president Dame Pauline Green addressed the first ever International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec City, an event that attracted more than 2,800 delegates from 96 countries around the world. She put her finger squarely on the awareness problem facing cooperatives. “We represent over 1 billion co-op members around the world. Cooperatives employ over 100 million people, and in aggregate they form the world’s ninth largest economy." The cooperative business model has caught the attention of major accounting and financial consulting firms worldwide. McKinsey & Company, KPMG, Deloitte and PWC all contributed to the Summit program. Operating on the principles of honesty, transparency, democracy and concern for community, including environmental and social issues, cooperatives continue to prove their flexibility and adaptability to meet the economic challenges of our modern world as well as the interest of many young entrepreneurs. Once viewed as being on the fringe of mainstream business, the cooperative model has matured to be worthy of attention and consideration of small business owners looking to grow their business.
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B2 The Mission Record Thursday, December 13, 2012
2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BusinessTRACK
President's message
2
Cal Crawford
PAST PRESIDENT
Sean Melia
VICE PRESIDENT
Trevor Girard
DIRECTOR 2012
Attila Davalovsky DIRECTOR 2011
Satti Grewal
DIRECTOR 2012
Pam Alexis
DIRECTOR 2012
Vicki Gould
DIRECTOR 2012
Ann Harper
DIRECTOR 2011
Allan Main
LIAISON, C.F.N.F.
Mayor Ted Adlem DOM LIAISON
012 has proven to be a successful year at the Chamber, with initiatives designed to provide our members with the stepping stones you will need to continue building your business. The Chamber has advocated for business in several key areas this year. For the first time ever, we successfully developed policies that were accepted for adoption both by the B.C. and Canadian Chambers of Commerce. Our two policies, related to the use of the Fraser River as a sustainable transportation route and to the flood management practices on the river, are vital to the trade and commerce of the Fraser Valley. These policies have caught the attention of the provincial Ministry of Transportation and some test work will be done at critical areas above Mission bridge in 2013, to improve flood management in a habitat-friendly manner. Additionally, in concert with other Chambers in the Fraser Valley, we have successfully brought inter-municipal licensing from Hope through to Surrey on both sides of the Fraser. In fact, Mission’s mayor and council were the first to approve this initiative. While this is a pilot program for trades and contractors in 2013, we foresee the program broadening to all businesses, which will build our economic zone. We also brought forward the issue of equal application of bylaws across commercial/industrial zones. All businesses should need to meet local requirements, notwithstanding federal or provincial licenses that may be in place. I look forward to beginning our 120th anniversary celebration in the New Year, and I hope to see you at our Christmas luncheon Dec. 20. Merry Christmas to you all and have a prosperous New Year!
Elyssa Lockhart PRESIDENT
Long-serving Scotiabank manager retiring this month C hris Calverley, branch manager of Scotiabank, will be retiring this month after 24 years of financial mentoring in Mission. With more than 39 years of banking experience, Chris has worked through many changes both in industry practice and Mission’s everchanging economy. Originally pursuing a career in teaching, Chris left teaching college to find work in Prince George. He fell into finance in 1973 and moved his way up the corporate ladder at the Bank of Nova Scotia by working in small towns like McBride, Mackenzie, Vernon and Lumby. In Octo-
Pay it Forward… Shop Local
Let us thank you for shopping in Mission during the holiday season. 10¢ donated to the Mission
Christmas Bureau for every receipt sent to the Mission Chamber showing a purchase made at a Mission business. Nov 16- Dec 15 www.missionchamber.bc.ca
ber 1988, he transferred to the Mission branch of the bank with a continued Chris focus on Calverly commercial/ small business development. His clients included mills, farms and retail. Though opportunities to move on in his career had come up, Chris chose to stay in Mission and continue to support the many commercial/small businesses that he had helped develop. “I really enjoyed helping
businesses start and helping them through the economic hard times.” notes Calverley. “Most of the deals I put together were done at the kitchen table, on the golf course, or at the customer’s place of business. Seldom did business owners find their way into the bank. That was the fun part of my job. It has been rewarding to be part of success and succession here.” Chris feels Mission is on the verge of significant change, reflecting on how the town has doubled in size since he arrived. An active community builder, Chris plans on continuing being active as a vol-
unteer. Serving over 22 years on the board of Fraser House and the Mission Rotary Club, this Rotarian has lived service over self. He expects to stay an active director of the Fraser House, Rotary, and the Mission Community Foundation after retirement, where he finds his work most rewarding. Chris encourages community members to get involved just as Stan Lim (Riverside Chev-Olds) invited him to do when he first arrived in Mission back in 1988. His parting words of wisdom, “find balance between work, community and family, it is vitally important.”
MISSION COMMUNITY SERVICES
Christmas Bureau
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! WE NEED HELP: • Help-a-family • Hamper Construction • Wish Trees • Office Help • Special Events
• Food, New Toys, Cash Donations Gladly Accepted
Helping People
Changing Lives
33179 2nd Avenue Mission, BC V2V 1J9 604.826.3634 info@missioncommunityservices.com
Christmas Bureau 32646 Logan Ave. 604.814.3333
Building Community
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The Mission Record Thursday, December 13, 2012 B3
BusinessTRACK Chamber Luncheon Christmas Luncheon Place: Chapel Room, Rockwell's Bar and Grill, 32281 Lougheed Hwy. Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dec. 25-Jan. 2 Chamber will be closed
Jan. 17 Speaker: Maria Gallo Speak! Grow Your Business Chamber luncheon Place: Chapel Room, Rockwell's Bar and Grill, 32281 Lougheed Hwy. Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Laura Sigurdson watches participants hold a yoga pose
CLICK MEDIA WORKS
Jan. 22
Iron Lotus Yoga renews the mind, body, soul, and building
Interested in joining the chamber? Come by! Place: Chamber boardroom, 34033 Lougheed Hwy. Time: 11 a.m.
By Kathleen Rake Click Media Works
L
aura Sigurdson, owner of Iron Lotus Yoga, started her business in December, 2010 after training at Prana Yoga Teacher College with Shakti Mhi and spending six months researching and business planning. “You really have to know what you’re stepping into,” commented Sigurdson. “At least you do if you want to be successful.” Iron Lotus Yoga is situated in a converted garage
on Grand Street, a few steps up from First Avenue. The studio was constructed and finished with mostly recycled or “up-cycled” materials. For example, the doors were collected from a hotel on Granville Street, mouldings came from a construction toss-away bin and furniture was sourced from thrift stores. The bathroom has loose stones as its floor and the toilet takes advantage of a rooftop rain barrel and gravity for its daily operation. The Iron Lotus Yoga rooftop hosts more than a rain bar-
rel; Sigurdson converted it to accommodate yoga. She used old barn windows for railings and sewed drapes to create walls for privacy. To that she added pots filled with blueberries, grapes, and vegetables. “One day it will be like a forest up there,” she said. Yoga classes are designed so there is something for everybody: restorative and gentle sessions; beginner or advanced sessions; and, specialty yoga. The Saturday gentle yoga is free when you bring a non-perishable dona-
tion for the food bank and the hot yoga sessions are under new infrared lights. “This hot yoga class is the one you want to take if weight loss is your goal,” said Sigurdson. In addition to yoga, you’ll find massage therapy at Iron Lotus. Registered massage therapist Linda Sangwine specializes in myofascial massage and uses it to help clients through a “healing journey.” Stop by the studio, visit IronLotusYoga.com or call 604-287-7282 for more information.
Scan this QR code with your smart phone to see details on our website
Randy HAWES, MLA Abbotsford - Mission Marc DALTON, MLA Maple Ridge - Mission
Our constituency office is here to assist you with: •GOVERNMENT RELATED ISSUES •INFORMATION ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS •CERTIFYING YOUR COPIES •ARRANGING CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES PHONE:
Randy Hawes MLA
Abbotsford - Mission
Marc Dalton MLA
Maple Ridge - Mission
EMAIL:
33058 First Avenue Mission, B.C. V2V 1G3 604-820-6203 TOLL FREE:1-866-370-6203 FAX: 604-820-6211
randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca
EMAIL:
www.randyhawesmla.bc.ca
marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca www.marcdaltonmla.bc.ca
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CHAMBER COMING EVENTS
Dec. 20
Chamber Snapshots: A close-up look at members that keep Mission humming
B4 The Mission Record Thursday, December 13, 2012
Michelle Favero
Allison Jack
Manager
Clare Seeley
Administration
Visitor Services
MEMBER_SERVICES@MISSIONCHAMBER.BC.CA
Info@MissionChamber.bc.ca
Admin@MissionChamber.bc.ca
manager@missionchamber .bc ca
2012 CHAMBER TEAM
BusinessTRACK
W
hatever your question, you can now get customized research help in a one-onone session with Mission Library information experts. “People have big questions, and little time for quality research,” says Diana Marshall, Mission librarian. “We want to save you time. That’s why we’re so pleased to be launching this service.” Of a recent appointment with a local business person, Diana says, “She came to the library quite overwhelmed — there’s so much market information, she just didn’t know where to start. My colleagues and I set her up with a nice stack of materials, personalized to her needs, and a list of resources to go to next. She was so relieved.” The service is new to the library, launched this September as a way for the library to address the community’s evolving computer and technology needs. It has since
Athena Green Member Services
"Membership has its benefits!" Also, your centre for Mission & BC Tourist Information
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FUTURE RIGHT Trevor Girard – A Valued Advisor Relationship focused, not transaction focused Call: 604-287-5586 for your free consultation and quotes! Email: trevor.girard@futureright.ca Website: www.futureright.ca
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expanded from computer help to downloading eBooks, job hunting, market research and more. While each customer is different, the format works well for business and homework questions alike. Thirty-minute one-on-one sessions are available by appointment to get you started, whatever the question. Library staff are trained and experienced at finding quality information. Simply contact the library and ask your question. Many questions can be answered on the spot. For questions requiring more time, library staff will be happy to book an appointment. Book a Librarian appointment times are available throughout the week. For more information, call 604826-6610 or visit them in person at 33247 Second Ave. Mission Community Library is a founding member of the Fraser Valley Regional Libraries.
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