Howard Bowers Day
The Special Focus of Howard Bowers Day 2010: The education/training needs of new and expanding food co-ops!
Pick a day in October 2010… any day… preferably a busy day!
Designate it as Howard Bowers Day!
Donate 1% of sales on that day to the Howard Bowers Fund
Give your members a chance to practice the 6th Co-op Principle:
Co-ops Helping Co-ops
Education and training is critical at all stages of co-op development, but it’s particularly important for newly-organized co-ops and for co-ops that are facing difficult decisions about expansion. That’s why the funds raised this year from Howard Bowers Day will be used for the special training needs of new and expanding food co-ops. It’s all about the 6th Co-op Principle – co-ops helping other co-ops.
The Bowers Fund advisors decided on this focus for Howard Bowers Day 2007. It resulted in a record-breaking number of participants in Howard Bowers Day and a record amount of funds raised for Howard Bowers Day. Click here for the press release describing the grants given with the funds raised.
Who was Howard Bowers?
Howard Bowers was a respected leader of the national cooperative community who dedicated his life to the growth and development of the consumer cooperative community. He was responsible for organizing and managing consumer cooperatives in the Midwest and throughout his career he was a mentor to many. He also understood the importance of education and training for managers, staff, and board members of consumer cooperatives and, for that reason, the Howard Bowers Fund was established in his memory.
How does Howard Bowers Day work?
As part of the October observance of Co-op Month, food co-ops are asked to pick a day in October to designate as Howard Bowers Day. On that shopping day, 1% of your total receipts are donated to the Howard Bowers Fund for its scholarship and educational programming. In 2010, the funds raised from Howard Bowers Day will have a special focus: these funds will be set aside for scholarships and/or training programs that will benefit newly-organized or expanding food co-ops. This special focus will only apply to funds raised from Howard Bowers Day 2010; The grants will be given in early 2011. Other fundraising by the Bowers Fund throughout the year will continue to support educational programs and training for staff, managers, and board members of all food co-ops.
The Key to Success:
Get people to shop on Howard Bowers Day
Email equinn@cdf.coop to let us know you're participating!
Tell your members about it in your newsletter & on your website!
Post flyers in the store that remind people to shop on that date! Click here for an example flyer!
Apply for a Howard Bowers Day Grant!
Click here for the Announcement
AND
Click here for the Grant Application
