Association of Cooperative Educators: cross-border membership and collaboration brings growth

Rural Cooperatives, May-June, 2004

The Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE) has a big vision: to strengthen cooperatives and the cooperative movement by promoting innovative educational responses to social and economic changes.

From the outside, ACE appears to be an unassuming organization. Its part-time executive administrator works from her home in Arlington, Va. The Cooperative Foundation provides many of the organization's support services out of the CHS Inc. offices in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. Its website is hosted by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives in Madison, Wis.

At a time when cooperatives have been cutting back on education staff, ACE's membership has been growing.

"ACE gives a lot of bang for the buck," says Leslie Mead, ACE executive administrator. "The combination of a committed board, organizational and foundation supporters, and technology allows ACE to serve its diverse membership and promote cooperative education very efficiently."

ACE brings together researchers, educators and cooperators from across cooperative sectors as well as national boundaries, linking an otherwise decentralized field. Most ACE members come from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico with membership from the rest of the world growing.

The Internet not only offers a cost-effective way to reduce administrative expenses, but it also allows frequent communications with members and offers a wealth of information on cooperative research, education programs and developments.

"The ACE newsletter contains a lot of information gleaned from websites," says Mead. "The web makes available information on some very good cooperative education resources and innovative programs from all over the world. Few people have the time to search for it. The newsletter provides a valuable service by distilling this information and making people aware that it's available."

ACE recently began publishing its newsletter electronically. The change reduced printing and mailing costs and allows greater flexibility in size, design and color. The newsletters are posted on the ACE website and available to all.

While the Internet has expanded ACE's information and communication capacity, the annual ACE Institute remains an important event for cooperative education and networking.

The Institute includes recognition of the best cooperative education programs and honors cooperative educators at the annual awards banquet. This year, ACE member Cooperativa de Seguaros Multiples de Puerto Rico commissioned an artist to redesign the ACE awards. The result is a stained glass trophy that symbolizes the national and sector diversity of ACE membership.

This year's institute in Montreal will be simultaneously translated in Spanish, French and English. (The 2004 Institute will be held Aug. 4-7.)

Though ACE has been around for over 40 years, its importance grew significantly in recent years as events and organizations once considered cooperative education institutions were curtailed or eliminated.

"Despite continual changes in demographics and economies, there remains a significant interest in cooperative education and recognition that education is essential to member commitment and support of cooperatives." says William Nelson, president of the CHS Foundation and The Cooperative Foundation.

"Cooperative Centers, universities and state and national organizations are all components in the revitalization of cooperative education. The Cooperative Foundation sees the networking and information services provided by ACE as very important to this process."

Contact Information: website: http://www.wisc.edu/uwcc/ace/ace.html; Phone: (651) 355-5481; address: ACE C/O The Cooperative Foundation, P.O. Box 64047, St. Paul, Minn. 55164. President, Anne Reynolds (University of Wisconsin); Executive Administrator: Leslie Mead.