Invitation to Join

(:include BroadVocabularyCooperative/2008-12PlanningInvitationFromBillSell:)

Cooperatives are good for you. Join up. Support. Take control.

Why we should support Milwaukee’s latest Cooperative effort - Broad Vocabulary

Come to a meeting. Tues. Dec. 16, 7 pm, Bay View Library to hear how you can help make this possible.

A statement of opinion by

Dear friends

Can we rescue the whole nation from the Bush mess? How about a city? How about YOU? Can we rescue you. I believe it.

One sure tool is the cooperative. Where a community builds something and people empower each other.

Each person (not dollar) gets one vote. I have belonged to the following kinds of co-ops in my short life: baby (day care run by parents), housing (Riveredge Housing Cooperative), food (Outpost since it was founded in 1970). Each of these institutions made a mark on my life in an indelible way. The baby co-op allowed many babies to teach me about children. The housing co-op taught me that my house does not end at the walls. The food co-op has brought me the riches of organic food, and a feeling of control over what I eat, the wonderful cheeses from artisanal factories all over in Wisconsin.

I invite you to join another co-op that holds great potential for Milwaukee.

I am talking about Broad Vocabulary. It has closed as a bookstore, but it will open again as a co-operative, with your support. Your voice; your money - you choose how to help. In a co-op everyone can contribute according to their skills.

Come to a meeting. Tues. Dec. 16, 7 pm, Bay View Library to hear how you can help make this possible.

This cooperative bookstore will be owned by the members and governed by the members. Even as a private business Broad Vocabulary has enjoyed volunteer help. As a co-op it will attract volunteers because it will become a community center, a gathering place, as well.

The co-op will hire a competent manager who knows how to work with volunteers as well as paid staff.

HOW this bookstore will be configured, well, it’s really up to you and the skills, ideas and energy you bring.

Our fearless planners (Annie, Stephanie, Hannah, Baba) are inviting YOU to attend a meeting. Tues. Dec. 16, 7 pm, Bay View Library and express your willingness to help in some way: volunteer staffing, building a mailing list, marketing, finding a location — to express your opinion on the focus of the store itself.

Last weekend, I walked KK Avenue inspecting vacant buildings with three of the team you will meet on Tuesday. They are a spirited team with their eye on the goal - reopening Broad Vocabulary again.

They need to hear from a wide array of people in order to feel confident about decisions they will need to make. Money is good (very good) (suggestion: $25 per year for a membership; $100 for a lifetime membership). But your resolve to help is essential. Come and speak up; take the future in hand and help us build something. This is far beyond the usual business ventures because its heart will not be profit but community.

The planners need to know you will buy (or order) your books there. Broad Vocabulary co-operative will be positioned to be a major source of text books for many school districts, bringing in sustaining operating costs.

Come, here, speak out, express your concerns and your ambitions, and make an offer of your skills Write a check if you can. Join this wonderful, timely effort.

best
Bill Sell