Ned's Blog

Values are what make Co-ops different

Ned — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:10:09 -0700

If I think about the organizations that have had the most profound impact on me, it’s co-cps every time. I will hold that it’s the values of these organizations that has allowed them to become so entrenched in my life. I live in a co-op, I’m a Car Co-op member and Board member, I’m a proud member of Vancity, and my longest standing co-op affiliation is with MEC. I’ve been a member at MEC since I was old enough to take my first trip to a town that was big enough to have a MEC store.

The co-op I live in (China Creek) is incredible. An eclectic collection of people passionate about the community they live in and serious about continual improvement of the community. Emotionally charged, yes, as most co-ops. Nonetheless, China Creek is a continued source of inspiration and a playground for personal growth.

The Car Co-op just makes plain sense. Given where I live, I just don’t need a car on a daily basis. I still do have a car but I plan to take advantage of the Scap It Program before the next big repair! It’s environmental, convenient and way more financially intelligent than owning a car.

Vancity. There’s a line in the movie Grey Owl that is something like, “you can judge a person from the way they dream.” Vancity has dreamed well. In BC, it’s a no brainer – there is simply no other financial institution that is guided by a such a strong set of community and environmental values. I worked there for 4 years, and although I’m no longer working at Vancity, I still do all my banking there.

And finally MEC. MEC has achieved in me what most companies can not even dream of. I’m an openly vocal advocate for the organization, and I don’t consider, even for a second, ever shopping at any other outdoor gear shop. They’ve done the research. They know the products they source are amongst the most ethical, environmental available and the quality is always top notch. Throw a Rock Solid guarantee on everything and really, why would anyone shop anywhere else.

Back to my original point. These organizations have struck a chord with me. There is a connection with these organizations that is not found in any other organizations. Is it the structure? Is it the attitude of the people who work for these organizations? Is it a different set of success metrics they use to govern themselves? Is it just a common sense approach that leads to sound judgement and decisioning?

I don’t know what it is about co-ops that have made them so profoundly different but I can say that the outcome is engaging people at a level that is not available to other types of organizations.

Still on Track - after several tests

Ned — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:15:08 -0800

So - I'm still in the game. 21 days of vegetarian diet and still happy about it... but there's been some real tests. Like sushi for example - ouch. Vegetarian sushi is great but the options are way less and I have to admit I do miss raw tuna and salmon. And going for dim sum is just not that same when your vegetarian. And I hate that I in flict my new dietary restrictions on friends that invite me over for dinner - A couple times now friends have made special vegetarian dishes just for me and I hate to be a burden. Although, for the first time this evening, I had dinner at a good friends place and even though he's not vegetarian, we all ate a full vegetarian meal. That feels pretty good cause I don't believe they missed meat this evening and now my diet is having broader environmental benefits because it's reducing the meat others are eating. I'm pretty okay with that.

Although I haven't fallen off the wagon yet, I have started thinking about perhaps just eating a lot less meat and eating only ethically sourced meat....but I've still got that peta video in my head. Especially the line about how no person should have to make a living by killing animals. That makes so much sense. Still though, I wonder if a greatly reduced meat diet is a decent point of moderation. Perhaps a steak in the springtime when the BBQ's start firing up. Or maybe a crab bought directly from a small-scale fishing boat. Hmmm.

Although I thought it might be wise to see a nutritionist, I haven't yet. Who knew that benefits didn't cover nutritionists? I've been having these uber-healthy smoothies every morning and that gives me protein and iron so I think I'm doing okay so far. No energy crashes or yellow under the eyes just yet.

I think my goal is to go until the end of March and then make a decision over how purely vegetarian I will be.

Wireless Smireless

Ned — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:06:52 -0800

I’m in the ‘no thanks’ category. Frankly, I don’t like the thought of invisible little radioactive waves running through buildings, concrete, and our bodies. So far, I’ve avoided it. No cell phone, no microwave, and I even have one those archaic keyboards and mouse that you actually have to plug in – soon to be a collector’s item I’m certain.

Here’s the bit I don’t like. Why is there so little knowledge and research out there about the effects of these wireless devices on our bodies and brains and why is there so little regulation around the amount of radioactivity you are allowed to subject people too. Sure, smoking is banned cause it’ll kill you in 10 or 20 years, but radioactivity is no problem…..fry away. Cell phones, for example, are radioactive. So why won’t the cell phone providers tell us how much radiation is bad for us and how much radiation is coming from cell phones. Cell phone providers should disclose how much radiation comes off each cell phone. Shouldn’t that be a criterion that informs the purchase decision?

Great Gift Idea

Ned — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 14:56:22 -0700

Nice work Rob! Your posting reminded me of the coolest gift a brother-in-law just got for his parents.

His parents had their old bikes in storage for eons. Never even thought about using them. Being the crafty chap that my brother-in-law is, he stole his parents bikes from them at Christmas time, brought them to his house, and totally fixed up their old bikes. New chains, repainted, greased, cleaned, he even researched where you can by old bike stickers (like Free Style, Raleigh, etc.). He gave his folks back their bikes on their anniversary and they hadn't even noticed they were missing. Now his parents are biking regularly and love it!

It probably cost a bit to fix up the bikes but refurbishing an old bike wouldn't have cost more than a typical gift. It was thoughful, practically waste-free and created a positive change in their lives. Perfect gift or what?

I love stories like this

Ned — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 14:47:59 -0700

I think I know the spot Duncan is talking about. It was an eye sore for a long time and it's now a totally productive garden.

China Creek Co-op did something very similar. A slope right at the base of Vancouver Community College was once a live stream (which is still running underground) but became a landfill. I think about 10 years ago the China Creek Housing Co-op turned the landfill into a garden. Those who turnover their soil today still find reminants of it but it's an absolutely incredible garden area now.

Watch for what you'll see happen at the corner of Clark and Broadway. There's a patch of land there that is essentially waste land....mostly sparse weeds, gravel, garbage etc. A Latino community group is going to be changing this land into a crop and flower garden with a major emphasis on Latino foods and plants. Cool eh?