Allow GreenNet to join CoTech
GreenNet have contacted us and wish to join CoTech. Are we happy for them to join?
> GreenNet http://greennet.org.uk is a collective that has been operating for 30 years doing a variety of internet related activities. We have recently been investigating (with www.hced.co.uk) about whether to formally become a coop, and have mapped out the next steps.
> I believe that we were approached to join when the group was starting up, andit certainly looks like we'd be a good fit. We're working with Wave at the moment, and have been in contact with other members like Calverts and Outlandish over the years...
> What would we need to do to join up now? and what would our obligations as members be?
Chris Croome (Webarchitects Co-operative)
Mon 17 Jul 2017 12:02PM
Vote changed from Disagree to Agree following the GreenNet collective agreeing the 7 co-op principals.
Simon Grant
Tue 18 Jul 2017 8:22AM
Voting for Cetis LLP. As others, seeing that they have now committed to the ICA principles, I see no great obstacle to their joining.
Deleted account
Tue 18 Jul 2017 8:31AM
Voting on behalf of Blake House Filmmakers Coop
AndyrCroft
Tue 18 Jul 2017 1:54PM
I think we need to clarify membership criteria for Co-Tech. Is this purely a co-op for co-ops or are we happy to include individuals and non co-op cos, providing they fulfil certain criteria?
Chris Roos
Wed 19 Jul 2017 8:47AM
We're (GFR) agreeing on the basis that we're currently a member but are not formally a co-op.
Whether we should be a member given some of the concerns raised in this discussion is another question and we plan to address that separately.
Chris Lowis (Go Free Range) Wed 12 Jul 2017 10:16AM
@asimong @sionwhellens apologies - could you add which CoTech member you're voting on behalf of when voting please?
Sion Whellens (Principle Six/Calverts) Fri 14 Jul 2017 3:14PM
Calverts!
Shaun Fensom Wed 12 Jul 2017 10:27AM
I have history with GreenNet (further back even than @chriscroome) and there is a deep irony in their joining CoTech. But that is old old history and if anyone is interested (which I doubt) it's for the pub. So, I'm voting yes.
Aaron Hirtenstein Wed 12 Jul 2017 11:12AM
Very happy to support this proposal but am a bit confused if they are not yet a coop. I'm not one for sticking to tight rules / regs but "Co-operative Technologists (aka CoTech) is a network of co-operatives that sell tech/digital services."
Are we saying that acting co-operatively is enough to be defined as a co-op?
Can anyone clarify this for me otherwise I don't see how we can agree to this given our current definition of membership?
Thanks!
Chris Croome (Webarchitects Co-operative) · Wed 12 Jul 2017 10:05AM
I have known various people at GreenNet for a long time (back in the days when Sheffield didn't have a pop, Windows didn't ship with TCP/IP and to get online I used a 14.4k modem and a long distance phone call to them) and I agree they would be great to have on board and they are a good fit practicaly and ethically, however the email to the contact list from GreenNet said:
Shouldn't we wait for them to actually be a co-op? In the meantime it would be great to see them at Wortley Hall etc.