2009 Calendar of Events

USFT is once again joining forces with the California Student Sustainability Coalition, the Community Agroecology Network, and the Real Food Challenge for an amazing weekend of building bridges, lighting fires, and having fun.  This year's West Coast Superconference is titled "Strengthening the Roots: Food, Justice, and Fair Trade." Find out more here.

The Midwest/Heartland Convergence is another regional gathering of USFT.  The programming will consist of a lot of skill building workshops as well as exploring where the movement is headed and looking what we can do as a region moving forward.  Registration for the convergence will be on the website (http://www.usft.org/node/261), and will be open to anyone who would want to put on a workshop. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail Rachel, the Heartland Coordinator, usftheartlandcoordinator@gmail.com

This year, FTF (Fair Trade Federation) celebrates 15 years of strengthening and promoting the Fair Trade network in North America. From March 27-29, they’ll be hosting their annual conference in Portland, OR, where leaders in Fair Trade will discuss key issues of the market today.  Visit their website for more.

For the last couple years, Cooperative Coffees has participated in the annual SCAA Conference (Specialty Coffee Association of America) in which members of the world’s largest coffee trade association gather to learn about the latest news, trends, and happenings in the world of gourmet coffee. This year’s conference will be held in Atlanta, GA on April 16-19. For more information, visit the SCAA’s show website at www.scaaexposition.org.

World Fair Trade Day has grown into a global celebration of Fair Trade with events organized worldwide, on and around the second Saturday of May by members of the International Fair Trade Association across 70 countries. Events have included Fair Trade breakfasts, talks, markets, live performances, fashion shows, carnivals, processions and protests, to drive Fair Trade and campaign for justice in trade and promote sustainable environmental policy. Fair Trade products and produce from marginalised communities are showcased on the day. http://www.worldfairtradeday09.org/

IFAT is a network of more than 350 Fair Trade Organizations in 70 countries and is currently in the midst of a "changing of guard" with a new name and label as well as a series of proposed changes in their Standard.  This year's Global Conference and Annual General Meeting should be quite interesting!  www.ifat.org

BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) is an association of small businesses and networks dedicated to building strong local living economies. Their annual conference is a gathering of social entrepreneurs in sectors like green building, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, local food systems and independent retail. Last year, Coop Coffees attended the conference to facilitate a Fair Trade panel. This year, the conference will be taking place in Denver, CO on May 21-23. Check out this site for more information.

Green America (formally known as “Coop America”) is another budding ally of Coop Coffees, devoted to creating a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Together with Global Exchange, they’re putting on the “Green Festival” in five different geographical locations, at five different points in the year. With a slew of renowned speakers, a number of workshops and films, as well as live music, taste-testing, and many other fun activities, it sounds like these events are quite the party! Go to their website for more: http://www.greenfestivals.org/

1) Seattle – March 28-29
2) Denver – May 2-3
3) Chicago – May 16-17

4) Washington DC – Oct 10-11
5) San Francisco – Nov 13-15
 

Every year (usually some time in the fall), the members and staff of Coop Coffees gather in one city for our annual general meeting.  Seeing as we're a group of roasters from all over the continent, face-to-face quality time is important for determining the direction of the coop and what steps it'll take to get there!!  It's also a great excuse for a classic Coop Coffees party and good times for all!