Answers from #13, Catherine Roome

#13, Catherine Roome was the first to send me a complete set of answers (#11, Gregory Dean, only sent me his answer for the first scenario, so I'll wait for more material until posting his answers). No news from the rest so far.

Scenario 1: A considerable improvement in efficiency allows Vancity to mantain revenue and operations with 30% less work hours.

If this change in operations were possible, I would hope we would see the possibilities in sharing this technology and process improvement with other sectors, because surely this would revolutionize the economy here and possibly around the world, and shift the ability of human kind to create more value in a balanced, triple-bottom line way.

Scenario 2: A LETS or a time bank is started in in a city where Vancity operates, and it grows up to the point where a considerable amount of the economic activity in this city passes through it. A representative asks Vancity for support.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LETS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_bank

Given my very limited knowlege of these initiatives - I understand that LETS can support community interests through cooperation across a wide cross-section of the community, including individuals, small businesses, local services and volunteers - to save money and resources in cooperation with others and extend purchasing power - I would suggest that Vancity already practices community cooperation on a number of scales. A very interesting example is the micro-lending program within a community which then has common interests in seeing the loans paid back and the participants succeed.
For social value, from a triple-bottom line perspective, there are times markets simply do not work. Safety is one where I have first hand knowledge, where the reason regulation is put in place is because natural markets do not necessarily put the same valuation on this social capital value as on the economic.
I can envision LETS being used to create momentum within communities to generate triple-bottom line value where it was limited in natural markets. The worry is that they often have a natural and limited life span. Perhaps they are catalysts for increasing the standard of living, and can be used as such.

Scenario 3: a group of Vancity members is convinced that interest charging is evil per se, and demands that Vancity gradually phases out of any interest exceeding the rate of inflation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_banking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riba

I have a tough time with the term "evil". To me, "evil" is when one group or individual believes their values are more important than, or trump, another groups' or individuals' values.

Scenario 4: Peak Oil becomes evident, the oil price rises from 100 CAD/barrel to 200 CAD/barrel during your three-year position.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil

It is highly likely in my opinion, that the Hubbert production peak may already be here. That said, the capacity for human kind to find solutions is limitless. That's why scientists such as yourself thrive - because we are an optimistic species. A higher oil price is very likely in the next few years, and all institutions are already preparing strategic scenarios to cope with multiple different futures.

Scenario 5: Thanks in part to non-conventional reserves, oil production increases, oil price recedes quickly to 70 CAD/barrel and stays there during your three-year position.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_sands

Another possible future scenario that forms part of a good planning strategy, and an accompanying operations plan to have resilient policies in place.

Scenario 6: US dollar plummets, change oscillates between 1 CAD = 1.0 USD and 1 CAD = 2.0 USD during your three-year position.

As a good friend of mine who is Canadian, and yet lives and works in the United States reminds me, America remains the world's most innovative economy.