2018 has been extraordinary, it increased the reach of the Party, membership and awareness.

If we do a little preparation, 2019 could build on the work done in 2018. And it could make it easier. Anticipating some activities could put us ahead of the game and instead of reacting, we set the scene.

Dates for your diary

• May I suggest you put a few dates in your calendars, share with all your members and consider an activity or event.
• Fairtrade Fortnight is from 25 February until 10 March, the theme is Cocoa (Oh yes!!!) this is an opportunity to highlight co-operative trade, ethics in the supply chain, fairness in employment.
• Council elections, 2nd May, not everywhere but contesting about 270 English local councils, five directly elected mayors in England, have you got your Co-op sponsored candidates lined up. Have you helped them include co-op policies in the joint election address with the Labour Party? You need to be looking at this now, if you need advice on this get in touch.
• Co-operatives Fortnight is 23^rd June to 7^th July, can you connect with a local co-op, we can help you find several. They could speak at a meeting, educating members. Could your Councillors arrange a meeting with local Co-ops? Could you highlight a local co-op with a press release?
• One way to help organise the whole year is to have your party council and branch Annual General Meetings in your calendar. This can set the dates for subsequent meetings. Tie in other events and give yourselves an activity and interesting event for every meeting.
• We have the Local Government Conference on Saturday 8th June in Newcastle, this is becoming one of the highlights of the party’s activities.
• October is Black History month, could you promote an activity, an opportunity to learn, to share to listen?

Party Conference

We have your Party Conference 12-13 October in Glasgow. This sets other things in train, members are asked to suggest policies, consider these in the first quarter of the year, refine them by June.

• Delegates? ask for nominations in March/April
• Look at organisational motions April/May
• Support your delegates in August/September ask Head Office for details and help them prepare

Other opportunities

• There will be a whole host of asks throughout the year from the Party nationally and from your own local causes. Ask Head Office for help.
• We have the activity fund for those areas covered by the Co-operative Group. But we can also help Independent Society areas with additional resources.
• We have expertise on event management, policies, campaigning, local authorities, national assemblies and government…..and best of all co-operatives!
• If you are planning an event you can put it into our website to increase publicity.

Speakers, we are building a list of speakers and if you need one, get in touch, but really early. Competition is not a word I like but the fact is speakers are limited and if you don’t get them in your calendar you won’t get them.

……and finally, expect the unexpected, I might make mention of the 29^th March, what effect might leaving the EU have? Whatever, we need to be ready to promote co-operation, and solutions to the problems that face the communities we live in, represent or aspire to.