Chicago is experiencing a wave of cooperative energy—much of it led by people of color working to address economic inequality in the city. A bill to create a statewide worker cooperative entity, HB3663, was introduced in the Illinois house of representatives this year. Multiple newly formed cooperative organizations are gaining traction and hosting events, including the Co-op Ed Center, Chicagoland Cooperative Ecosystem Coalition, and the Illinois Worker Cooperative Alliance.

In light of this momentum, the Cooperative Professionals Guild invites you to the 5th Annual CPG Conference: "New Horizons and Best Practices For Cooperative Professionals" on Thursday, May 30–Saturday, June 1, 2019. Featured presenters include lawyers and accountants from across the country who specialize in cooperative practice. Join your cooperative colleagues and friends—people who do what you do—for this rare opportunity to meet, talk shop, and compare notes!

New Horizons & Best Practices for Cooperative Professionals

Co-presented by John Marshall's Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Law Clinic.

This conference is co-sponsored by the Sustainable Economies Law Center, a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. The Law Center certifies that this activity has been approved for 1.25 or 1.5 hours of California MCLE credit per accredited workshop, as specified in the agenda below. Attorneys licensed in other states may be able to apply for MCLE credit in their states.

Draft agenda:

Thursday, 5/30

• 9:15-10:30am Welcome, Introduction, Group Activity Renee Hatcher, John Marshall Law School; Thomas Beckett, Carolina Common Enterprise
• 10:45am-12:15pm The New Landscape for Worker Cooperative Entity Choice (1.5 MCLE credits): This session explores innovative approaches to structuring worker-owned businesses, including a refined version of the worker cooperative LLC, using a limited cooperative association as a holding company, maintaining S-corporation status while converting to worker-ownership, and the new LCA / worker co-op corporation hybrid legislation being passed in Illinois.
  
• 12:15-1:15pm Lunch
• 1:30-2:45pm Tax Update (1.25 MCLE credits): This session will focus on recent developments in tax laws and regulations affecting cooperatives, and will also address selected topics in cooperative taxation, such as tax issues related to choice of entity and tax treatment of non-Subchapter T cooperatives. Roland Hall, Autry, Hall, & Cook; Bruce Mayer, Wegner CPAs.
  
• 3:00-4:30pm TBD

Friday, 5/31

• 9:15-10:30am Issuing Memberships Across Multiple States (1.25 MCLE credits): How does Recreation Equipment International REI offer memberships to individuals across the country? Does it register with the SEC? This session is intended to answer the question of how a cooperative can comply with federal and state securities laws in order to conduct multi-state securities offerings to members living across state lines. David Swanson, Dorsey Whitney; Ron McFall, Stoel Rives; Sushil Jacob, Tuttle Law Group.
  
• 10:45am-12:15pm Planning for the Future of the Cooperative Professionals Guild
• 12:15-1:15pm Lunch
• 1:30-2:45pm Creating Co-op Housing for People with Development Disabilities: a Case Study CLE (1.25 MCLE credits): How can a non-limited equity housing co-op for people with development disabilities charge below market rental rates in California with minimal governmental assistance? With lots of creativity! This case study explores the innovative legal and financial structure of a cooperative housing project in Half Moon Bay, combining the resources and wherewithal of local activists, for-profit businesses, and nonprofit organizations to undertake an ambitious endeavor. This venture also involves new vocational opportunities, a community center, and chickens! Brian Dahlk, Wegner CPAs and Therese Tuttle, Tuttle Law Group
• 3:00-4:30pm Real Estate Investment Cooperatives: Models and Legal Challenges (1.5 MCLE credits): This workshop will examine the REIC, an emerging cooperative form of land and housing stewardship. We will delve into at least two case studies, including the East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (EB PREC) and the New York City Real Estate Investment Cooperative (NYC-REIC). After learning about the history and strategy of these organizations, we will dig into the specifics— the legal entities, governance structures, and financing approaches— as well as address challenges such as securities law compliance, laws regulating cooperative corporations and housing cooperatives, and considerations when using a nonprofit-cooperative hybrid model. Sara Stephens, Sustainable Economies Law Center; Gregory Jackson, East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative; Sam Gray, New York City Real Estate Investment Cooperative; Kate Redman (tentative), Commonplace Law, Commongrounds real estate cooperative

Saturday, 6/1

• Half day of site visits to local cooperatives

Registration

Early Bird conference registration is $200 through May 1. General Admission after that date will be $250. Registration includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day. Housing is on your own, and we recommend AirBNB because hotels are filling up quickly for other conferences happening on these dates. We will have limited scholarships available; please contact Sara Stephens ([email protected]) if the admission price poses an obstacle for your attendance. If you are financially able, please consider including a donation with your registration fee, to help us provide scholarships and keep this conference affordable.

Thank you!