Sign up for our 2009 youth leadership seminars! They’re a blast - you’ll meet amazing people from around the Atlantic Provinces. Check The Know for more details. http://www.acyl.coop/english/know.htm
Recognizing Leadership Awards
Thank you to all those who participated. If you feel that you would like to participate please go to the November e-newsletter for the details and submit as quickly as you can.
Fast Co-op Facts
United Nations ‘Cities of Today’ named co-operative housing as one of the 105 best practices to deal with urbanization. Co-operative Housing in Canada: A Model for Empowered Communities: Co-operative housing flourished in the early 70s, in response to discontent with government low- income housing programs. Co-op housing activists encouraged the National Government to support smaller scale, mixed-income housing to be built, owned and managed by community-based not- for-profit groups. 200,000 people in all parts of Canada now live in co-op housing, generally recognized as the most cost- effective form of government-assisted housing in Canada. Because many co-op households are led by single parents, mostly women, many co-ops underwrite child care costs for their members. As a result women participate actively at all levels of the housing movement. All co-ops contain units and common areas for the handicapped. Co-op members share their knowledge and experience internationally. http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/habitat/dogood/dogood.asp
BLOG
“I have taken the path less travelled and it has made all the difference,” a line from one of the most memorable poems in our high school careers, but how many of us really have ever taken this path. I think conformity begins with our parents teaching us using the monkey see monkey do approach, or maybe its peer pressure.
Somewhere, very early in life, we become afraid of things that are different. We fear more than death that we show up in school without the cool shoes, and to eat anything other than that tuna sandwich you’ve had every day this year would be blasphemy. We must break from our routines and the herd, get up early, stay up late, and eat broccoli or spinach. I give you a challenge, starting today; do something you haven’t done before. Go out of your way to be different. I promise you - it well be worth it. This doesn’t mean you have to skydive next weekend. Just remember it’s the little things in life that make the biggest difference. Thus, I leave you with the greatest words I have read;
“One of the most important lessons I can impart to you is that since most people are only mediocre at any given skill, the path to greatness is found in opposition. Put simply, if you seek greatness, look at what most people do, and then do the opposite. And I mean that quite literally by the way” - Charles Staley
Matt Ford
THE WALL
List your goals, Share your progress, Cheer each other on!
One Million Acts of Green
This season, CBC and The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos want to mobilize Canadians to do One Million Acts of Green. Visit http://green.cbc.ca/
FILMMAKING FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS (FAB) is a project of the Atlantic Filmmakers’ co-operative makes films now!
FAB provides schools, community organizations, libraries, and other similar institution with an easy to arrange, fun and constructive workshop at no cost to the hosting institution. We provide equipment, film and an instructor for a 3 to 4 hour session which introduces kids and youth to the practice of filmmaking. http://www.afcoop.ca/
Finaly! is a dynamic youth driven organization that empowers youth to be active participants in decision making and implementation. Our involvement in social and economic issues provides an opportunity for youth to build a viable future in Newfoundland and Labrador. http://www.finaly.ca/
Community Service bursary offers Island students in Grades 11 and 12, who plan to attend any post-secondary institution, a bursary in recognition of volunteer work performed in the community. The bursary is calculated at a rate of $5 per hour. Students are required to volunteer a minimum of 30 hours or up to a maximum of 100 hours. (100 hours x $5 = $500 bursary). Click Flag!
YOUNG AND FREE TEXAS
Go Credit Unions - Young and Free Texas….meet DeAndre’
WHAT TO EXPECT AT TALENT NIGHT….Bruce Lee?
Bloggers Needed
ACYL is looking for bloggers! Is there anyone interested in givin’ it a shot, if so give me a shout! A big thank you goes out to Liam, Patrick, Blake, Bethany, Matt and Megan who will be blogging for ACYL. WICKED! Great response so far!
THE ‘GOOD STUFF’
Co-op Atlantic thinking GREEN!
For the past couple of months, Co-op Atlantic has an Environmental Impact Awareness Group (EIAG, pronounced E-YAG!). Composed of employee representatives from all operating divisions, the EIAG has been tasked with reviewing Co-op Atlantic’s Green Plan, defining the environmental impact resulting from Co-op Atlantic’s operations, and researching and recommending policies to reduce that impact. A further desired outcome is that some of the recommendations will result in programs or policies that are transferable to local consumer co-ops.
The EIAG was formed by the Executive Management Team of Co-op Atlantic, following a resolution by Co-op member-owners. The EIAG will report its findings to delegates at the 2009 Co-op Atlantic Annual General Meeting in May.
The winner of our highly anticipated, inaugural Youth Committee ‘It Belongs to Me Contest’ is Joshua Landry. Joshua is a grade 11 student and an owner of OMISTA Credit Union. Joshua’s essay, best exemplified what a young person believes an ideal Credit Union should look like. He expressed his thoughts with clarity and has described what products and services he feels young people are looking for in a Credit Union. Joshua’s vision of the ideal Credit Union has won him first place and a brand new Toshiba laptop computer.
The runner up was a very easy decision as well. 2nd place and an iPod Nano go to Benjamin Royce Gagnon who wrote lyrics to a song. Benjamin is a 21 year old currently working PT with an aspiration to complete his GED. He is currently working part time and is not a Credit Union owner. He said the inspiration for his lyrics came from knowing what he would want out of a financial institution AND through research he did about the Credit Union system. The amount of thought that went into writing his lyrics must have taken quite some time to do! Benjamin has proudly stated that he would happily put his lyrics to a beat for us if we wish!
I would also like to take the opportunity to note the 3rd finalist, Nathan Braun of York Credit Union. His entry made the top 3 and he also made us very proud!
Developing Youth Opportunities!
Co-op Atlantic Board of Directors has asked a Youth Task Force to create a proposed action plan to address issues relating to attracting and retain youth and young employees within the Atlantic Provinces. The plan will be submitted for approval at a Board of Directors meeting in February.
Featured Co-operative
The Seaport Farmers’ Market
The Halifax Farmers’ Market was founded in 1750 and is the oldest continuously running farmers’ market in North America. Our vision for the market is rooted in that history.
The market will be open six days a week at Pier 20, the busiest tourist entry point in the province, and it will be at the heart of the cultural, social and community centre that is emerging here at the Halifax Seaport Development.
It will be operated by the Halifax Farmers’ Market Cooperative and owned by its vendor shareholders and the community.
“I have taken the path less travelled and it has made all the difference,” a line from one of the most memorable poems in our high school careers, but how many of us really have ever taken this path. I think conformity begins with our parents teaching us using the monkey see monkey do approach, or maybe its peer pressure. 
ACYL is looking for bloggers! Is there anyone interested in givin’ it a shot, if so give me a shout! A big thank you goes out to Liam, Patrick, Blake, Bethany, Matt and Megan who will be blogging for ACYL. WICKED! Great response so far!
