Board Ready: A Training Series for New Co-op Directors
September 15 - October 13, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CT every Tuesday
Outstanding board leadership is essential for the success and sustainability of any cooperative. Strong governance doesn’t happen by accident — it’s developed through intentional learning, shared experience, and practical tools that help directors fulfill their roles with confidence and impact.
This training series is designed especially for newly elected directors and those who have not previously received formal governance education. Participants will gain a solid foundation in cooperative governance fundamentals, practical skills for effective board service, and insights into cooperative financial oversight.
Cooperative Childcare Solutions Webinars
October 15, 2026, 12- 1 pm CT
October 22, 2026, 12- 1 pm CT
October 29, 2026, 12- 1 pm CT
Zoom
The childcare crisis is straining rural communities — creating business disruptions, reducing access to affordable quality care, and causing burnout for childcare workers. Join the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives and Cooperative Development Services for a webinar on the childcare crisis. Drawing on eight months of firsthand research, this presentation will share ways rural communities and employers have addressed childcare gaps through collaboration, advocacy, and the cooperative model. There is no cost to attend; registration required.
Training for New Employees of Cooperatives
October 14, 2026, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. CT
October 21, 2026, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. CT
This training is designed for employees of cooperatives seeking to deepen their understanding of the cooperative model. By the end of this training, attendees will have a stronger grasp of the cooperative identity and its impact on communities and economies. This training is only for cooperatives based in Wisconsin.
Save the Date: CCMA 2027
June 3-5, 2027
Ithaca, New York
Join your food cooperative peers in Ithaca, New York for CCMA 2027.
CCMA is the longest-standing national gathering of retail food co-op leaders in the U.S, creating an inclusive space that welcomes a broad range of food co-op leaders – from managers and staff to board members and cooperative allies – fostering connections across all levels. CCMA attendees learn, connect, collaborate, and come away reinvigorated to do the hard but important work of empowering communities and building a more just and sustainable food system through the cooperative model.
UW Center for Cooperatives events are open to all. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law. You may request an interpreter, materials in an alternative language and/or format, and/or other services to make these event more accessible. Contact mawebster@wisc.edu. Make your request 25 days before the event. There is no added cost to you for these services.