This year we tried something different at Vancity. Any of the 12 people running for the three open slots on our Board of Directors could record a podcast and we published them on vancity.com.
This gives our members a chance to get a feel for the candidates, through their written statements, their Ask A Candidate responses and now through a short podcast. Take a listen.
By the way, that’s my colleague Robin voicing the intros.
Last week I was on vacation in Boston with my wife, Amy, and son, Ivan. It was a very nice trip – we visited the aquarium, zoo and children’s museum. I had a coffee with my friend Ron Shevlin. We saw lots of friends and family, including my cousin Tiven Weinstock, a sometimes commenter on my blog.
On Thursday, we drove up to Manchester, New Hampshire to meet my friend Morriss Partee at America’s Credit Union Museum.
Yes, I know, how incredibly credit union geeky of me (I know, I know…). But I’m glad I went, it was well worth my time.
First of all, it was incredibly kind of them to open the museum for the two of us (my wife and son went to the nearby Manchester Science Museum, and who could blame them really). We had a great guided tour by a volunteer named Gloria.
She explained that the museum is in the house where the first credit union in America was founded. It was founded thanks to three people who saw a need for the local mill-workers to save their money safely and get access to affordable credit: Monsignor Pierre Hevey of the nearby St. Marie’s Church recognized the need among his parishioners; local attorney Joseph Boivin was the first president of the credit union and allowed the CU to operate from his home (his home is where the museum is today); and Alphonse Desjardins, who led the creation of Canada’s first credit unions (Caisses Populaires Desjardins) in Quebec, advised on the project.
There is something touching about the museum – it’s history and simple, honest roots. It is emblematic of local community members coming together to pool their resources for the common good. And it is that common good which is so easily lost as communities grow, and local organizations gain a vested interest in their own growth and existence, sometimes totally divorced from the initial community needs that spawned the organization in the first place.
Afterwards, Morriss and I got into a great conversation about the role of CUs today. I am sorry we didn’t get more time to finish our conversation.
In my three and a half years in CU-land, I have been torn between really believing in credit unions as a vital democratic form of financial institution and, well, just not really caring all that much. Clearly today’s financial crisis proves we need ethical and responsible places to conduct our financial business. FIs rooted in long term thinking, and not just out for the quick profit.
Many in the CU movement believe CUs are superior to banks from this point of view. And on a certain level I agree with this. When your profits go to shareholders, you can more easily become corrupted and lose sight of equitable business practices.
But I also believe there are lots of incredible banks out there doing great work (ShoreBank anyone?). I’m not sure what is gained from pitting CUs against banks, we’re just alternatives that in most cases are too subtly different from each other for any regular consumer to really know the difference. Perhaps we just need a Goliath to make us feel more like David (I think Morriss wondered that aloud, but I’m not sure if I’m quoting him correctly).
I know in the CU world the bank versus credit union debate is a big one, but I’m not so wrapped up in it. It was very interesting seeing the birthplace of the American credit union, and I recommend anyone in the credit union movement/industry/system to visit it if you’re in New England.
Actually, scratch that, anyone in the entire financial services industry should pay the museum a visit, because ultimately we were all born out of a need, still incredibly relevant, for people to access savings and credit vehicles. We should not be in business to serve our own needs or make shareholders wealthy, we should be there with solutions to basic consumer needs. Solutions that work for the common good, where it isn’t about profits, nor about charity, but about service, as a sign in the first room of the museum says. I don’t think credit unions have a patent on that concept in the FI world, but being a co-operative helps CUs stay grounded in that concept.
In my experience, it is mostly CU people who struggle with that debate and feel a sense of connection to the roots of community banking. And perhaps that, in and of itself, speaks volumes about the heart of the movement.
Mountain Equipment Co-op, Canada’s equivalent to REI, started something called The Big Wild, which “celebrates Canada’s large wild expanses: our forests, lakes, free-flowing rivers and stunning coasts. It’s an online community of people who are passionate about that wilderness. And it’s people working together to ensure at least half of our wilderness is protected forever.”
Right now, they are seeking a Program Director for the Big Wild, “an experienced strategist and communicator who can help create Canada’s most engaged and effective online community for wilderness conservation.”
As the Director of thebigwild.org, you will head up the Big Wild’s efforts to expand our community’s size and effectiveness by developing online activities and promotions, leveraging other MEC outreach channels (including our stores, email and partnerships), engaging members in outdoor activity challenges (the Big Wild Challenge) and strategizing around conservation campaigns, social networking and other collaboration tools. Your leadership will help build a large-scale community that demonstrates support for the vision of protecting at least half of Canada’s public land and water, and for specific conservation initiatives and campaigns.
This is truly an amazing opportunity for someone looking to make a mark for a really great company. MEC and Vancity are like sisters in the Vancouver area, large-scale co-operatives looking to be prosperous businesses while remaining true to their ideals.
Here’s the full deal:
Posting #09-001
Program Director of thebigwild.org
Closing Date: March 27, 2009
Status: FT One Year Contract, possibility for extension
Location: Vancouver Head Office, Sustainability and Community Department
Purpose: Mountain Equipment Co-operative seeks an experienced strategist and communicator who can help us create Canada’s most engaged and effective online community for wilderness conservation. The Big Wild is an innovative conservation initiative founded by MEC and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS): it’s an online community that brings Canadians together to enjoy our wilderness and help keep it wild. By combining conservation community expertise with MEC’s nationwide network of almost three million members, we can build a community that inspires a new constituency of Canadians to care about and act on behalf of our wilderness.
As the Director of thebigwild.org, you will head up the Big Wild’s efforts to expand our community’s size and effectiveness by developing online activities and promotions, leveraging other MEC outreach channels (including our stores, email and partnerships), engaging members in outdoor activity challenges (the Big Wild Challenge) and strategizing around conservation campaigns, social networking and other collaboration tools. Your leadership will help build a large-scale community that demonstrates support for the vision of protecting at least half of Canada’s public land and water, and for specific conservation initiatives and campaigns.
What you’ll be doing:
Setting the community’s strategic direction and goals in consultation with the Steering Committee, and implementing strategy, plans, programs and services to increase online activity
Developing plans for promotional and outreach activities, materials and partnerships, and executing those plans in collaboration with our team
Ensuring the Big Wild platform’s technical excellence and responsiveness to community needs. Includes setting the trajectory for platform development and maintaining the development roadmap
Managing the operations and growth of the Big Wild human resources (team of a part-time moderator, technical contractors, communications and conservation support), achievement of milestones, contracts, budgeting and ongoing reporting
Leading communications and marketing for The Big Wild, including marketing, public relations and responses to public inquiries
Identifying and acting on opportunities to collaborate with organizations such as other non-profit organizations, businesses and schools
Coordinating with key staff at CPAWS and MEC to build internal and external partnerships, support and audience
Establish the Big Wild as an inclusive entity that exists beyond founder organizations (later priority after the initial phase of community building)
What you need to do it well:
A passion for social media or online community, and a relentless fascination with how you can harness it to the issues you care about
A broad interdisciplinary background that includes experience in business/entrepreneurship, online technology and nonprofits or advocacy organizations
At least two years of experience related to online community, social media, blogging or social networking
Excellent communications and writing skills, including marketing and outreach experience
At least two years of experience in project management, preferably including experience managing web sites or projects
Knowledge of and passion for wilderness conservation and outdoor recreation in Canada (professional experience in this field is not a requirement)
Demonstrated ability to manage teams (including staff and contractors) and to develop effective stakeholder relationships
An established network of relationships with conservationists, recreationists, environmentalists and social media influencers
An entrepreneurial spirit and experience in successful completion of the development phase in a new venture, major project or organization.
Experience in coalition/organization building and funding an asset
Oral fluency in both official languages (French/English) highly desirable, written fluency an asset
Infectious enthusiasm that begins with one symptom: your desire to be part of making The Big Wild a bold new force for conservation
Please submit resume with covering letter stating job posting number addressed to jobs [at] mec [dot] ca