StillSwimming
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Apr 10, 2012
Posts: 29
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 Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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BobinPgh, thanks for your interest in joining the cooperative! It is a work-in-progress, and many have come forward expressing interest in helping out. A website for promoting the cooperative is being created. Do you think a few informal committees should be set up, with each committee working on developing an essential component of the cooperative? The cooperative is a US based initiative, but I would like people from all over the world to be involved. After all, our world is becoming increasingly borderless, and with the Internet, information travels at lightning speeds, and contracts can be done electronically, and so forth. Maybe, with cloud computing becoming so affordable, we could even run a paperless (and environmentally friendly) global operation! The US based cooperative would help sister cooperatives set up in different parts of the world, and we would all exchange best practices with each other. It might shorten the learning curve! Also, if the US and sister cooperatives around the world had a collaborative relationship, we could build a GLOBAL BRAND around our concept, and workers in any one of the affiliated cooperatives could potentially transfer from one location to another. Maybe we would end up with globetrotting Aspie and HFA netizens!
Yes, it is true that many people on the autism spectrum do not marry or have kids. It would make sense for the cooperative to have "campuses" set up and there would be dormitory-style accommodations were members could have private rooms and shared common areas, and they could just walk to the cooperative office.
Your nuclear plant idea was terrific! I've also thought that other jobs such as working at an oil rig would be attractive to ASD people who don't mind being away for two weeks at a time. These positions pay well but many NTs do not like the long periods away from home. As you said, many autistics are single, do not have strong family attachments, and do not have a deep need to be part of a regular social circle.
Keep the good ideas coming! |
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StillSwimming
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Apr 10, 2012
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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lotuspuppy, I saw your insightful comment: "Just remember that the best individuals for certain jobs may come from outside of the community the coop is targeting. Take marketing."
Yes, the cooperative would be set up to include both autistic and NT worker-owners. A key goal would be to create an innovative and supportive atmosphere where each member's talents and strengths could be identified and nurtured to reach their fullest potential. Members would also have the chance to cross-train and rotate job duties so they would be exposed to the different aspects of operating the cooperative. Thus, we want members to be rewarded for their strengths, but at the same time also understand and relate to the whole picture and how all the puzzle pieces fit together.
I look forward to more insight from you! |
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Smartalex
Toucan
Joined: Apr 12, 2012
Age: 28
Posts: 259
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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Still swimming, I love the ideas. But you need to crawl before you walk, "GLOBAL BRAND." You found the nuts and bolts and then some.
I think this thread is the link between, the birth of your idea and the start. Is that correct? But there's still more steps between.
How about create a list of possible jobs and edit it? The discuss each profession? Pro's and cons?
Also like maybe, list steps? Step one, come up with idea (done), step two discuss online - from this point on I don't know where it goes. Planing a plan.
I really like it. Visionary. Still swimming, crawl, then walk, then RUN! |
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jhighl
Raven
Joined: Apr 19, 2012
Age: 22
Posts: 121
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah there is alot of potental in this idea but i agree that more steps will be needed. If it all gets put together i would love to support it. |
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StillSwimming
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Apr 10, 2012
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:48 pm Post subject: Cooperative Principles |
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Smartalex and iHigh, you are right, there are lots of steps ahead!
My proposed order of doing things is to gather interest, obtain at least one potential corporate/institutional client, determine which hiring needs of that client could be fulfilled by our coop workers, collaborate with the client to design a brief training program for those jobs, recruit members who are already qualified or are trainable, develop the cooperative structure, and create the initial membership base. I would also elicit the assistance of managers/founders of established cooperatives, consultants from cooperative associations, and other professionals and prominent business people so we can get the ball rolling as soon as possible. My goal is to have the worker cooperative formed and ready to accept clients before the end of 2012.
Here are the foundational principles of a Cooperative as set forth by the International Cooperative Alliance in Geneva:
Statement on the Co-operative Identity
Definition
A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
Values
Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Principles
The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.
1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.
3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter to agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.
5th Principle: Education, Training and Information
Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.
6th Principle: Co-operation among Co-operatives
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
7th Principle: Concern for Community
Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members. |
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StillSwimming
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Apr 10, 2012
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:52 pm Post subject: ICA Cooperative Stories |
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| The International Cooperative Alliance has developed a website which showcases cooperatives and their stories from around the world. See: http://stories.coop to learn more about types of cooperatives that have been formed. |
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BobinPgh
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Apr 06, 2012
Posts: 184
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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Stillswimming,
If you are interested in the nuclear plants idea, you might want to try to advertise on www.nuclearstreet.com that is where I get a lot of information and they have links to companies that do a lot of the "outage" work. I was also thinking of Areva, the French nuclear power company because being European they might be more understanding of the idea. In Pittsburgh, we have Westinghouse which I have been trying to get into through the "normal" channels with no success. Most positions you have to have a degree in engineering. I have been trying to get in as an office media assistant, which I would qualify for, but now I wonder if that is too much multitasking. Often in that industry, even I would have to travel to the power plants (in my case to provide clerical and adminstrative support to the engineers). Some of the work, such as making the NRC certified welding may be very heavy and some of the tight security with guns would make me nervous. But there a lot of rules which people on the spectrum may like. |
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AtheneNoctua
Butterfly
Joined: Apr 04, 2011
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:13 pm Post subject: I'm interested |
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1. This is the line of thinking I'm pursuing. Although I'm approaching my own idea from a different angle, I'm very interested in keeping track of how your project develops, what obstacles you run into, and your successes.
2. I am married and have four kids. I have three sets of Aspie friends, all married with kids. Probably best to refrain from overgeneralizations like "autistic people tend not to be married or have kids." |
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StillSwimming
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Apr 10, 2012
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:27 pm Post subject: Re: I'm interested |
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| AtheneNoctua wrote: | 1. This is the line of thinking I'm pursuing. Although I'm approaching my own idea from a different angle, I'm very interested in keeping track of how your project develops, what obstacles you run into, and your successes.
2. I am married and have four kids. I have three sets of Aspie friends, all married with kids. Probably best to refrain from overgeneralizations like "autistic people tend not to be married or have kids." |
AtheneNoctua, Hi there! Thanks for your interest. I'll be posting more information on this thread so hope it will be useful in developing your idea as well. Good luck with that! Also, you are right, I should not overgeneralize. We would like to help ASD people regardless of their marital/family status. |
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johansen
Deinonychus
Joined: May 16, 2011
Age: 24
Posts: 321
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:51 am Post subject: |
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| StillSwimming wrote: | Did you know that in 2009, stagehands at the Lincoln Center in NYC made $290,000 per year on average? They probably make even more this year, three years later.
See: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/arts/music/28hands.html?pagewanted=all
Stagehands are the people in dark suits that perform tasks for stage performances like move the grand piano from one end of the stage to another. The stagehands at Lincoln Center made on average $290K because they belonged to a powerful union that bargained on their behalf and represented their collective voice. Job skills alone don't determine level of pay; how powerful your voice is also matters. The collective voice of a thousand people who are similarly situated is much more powerful than a single voice on virtually all issues.
With that in mind, I am applying for an NIH grant to set up a worker-owned cooperative for high-functioning people with ASD so they can self-organize and maximize what they can earn for themselves. Most if not all of these people can perform the tasks required of a stagehand. If you are one of them, my question to you is this: Are you making $290K per year on average? |
YEah, at the major theaters perhaps. in the rest of the country, the guy running the lightboard might make one half of that.
the stage hands get paid about average for skilled labor, and you work your way up to that wage from about double minimum wage. |
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StillSwimming
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Apr 10, 2012
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:16 am Post subject: |
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| i think many unionized employees make $100K+ per year but what was striking about the stagehand example was that after the CEO of Carnegie Hall, the next 5 highest paid employees at the institution were unionized stagehands of one form or another. So that means they made more than the CFO and the EVPs, the general counsel, and all the business development and fundraising guys. I love the theater and should have tried out stage prep while in college just to be part of the "magic" of theatrical performances. You don't have to suffer from stage fright and you can surround yourself with the creative types. And you get to watch some awesome acts and amazingly talented people perform for free. Being a stagehand doesn't sound like a bad gig except I would be afraid to be up the ladder for long periods of time (I have a fear of heights)! |
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old_badger
Emu Egg
Joined: Jan 19, 2013
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Have you finished the web page yet?
We might as Alex to put up an new discussion thread on this topic. It could be divided by geography, proposed business plan, and skills. |
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managertina
Deinonychus
Joined: Oct 30, 2012
Posts: 317
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:41 pm Post subject: Über cool |
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| It sounds über cool. How would you attract jobs, though!? That I do not understand. |
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old_badger
Emu Egg
Joined: Jan 19, 2013
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Über cool |
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| managertina wrote: | | It sounds über cool. How would you attract jobs, though!? That I do not understand. |
A cooperative does not attract jobs, it creates jobs.
The cooperative will be the future of the economy. We need to jump on now. |
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managertina
Deinonychus
Joined: Oct 30, 2012
Posts: 317
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 1:47 pm Post subject: location |
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Just for the States? Or other countries too?
I don't know how cooperatives work day to day, though I did read quickly through your mandate again just now. |
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