The article refers to the cooperative business sector as “the sleeping giant” and it asks, “How can we wake the giant up?”

Its answer: Take a giant step in the right direction and attend the Imagine 2012 International Conference on Co-operative Economics and the International Summit of Cooperatives, Oct. 6–11 in Québec City, Canada.

Imagine 2012 will host a global convergence of cooperative and credit union directors, senior managers, officers, young leaders and others. They will be exposed to the work of 15 specialists on the cutting edge of economics.

“Many assumptions and beliefs about cooperative economics will be challenged at the conference.” the article says. “New ideas will surface; new questions will emerge. Participants from around the world will take away concepts, analyses and observations that can be developed into a universally accepted discipline of Cooperative Economics.”

Thomas Homer-Dixon, chair of Global Systems for the Centre for International Governance Innovation at Balsillie School of International Affairs in Ontario, will be one of 15 economists thinkers on the hot seat at Imagine 2012.

“In a world that now seems perpetually on the edge of an economic abyss,” he says, “nothing could be more important than this. Imagine 2012 will explore practical and sorely needed alternatives to current conventional economic models, theories and practices that threaten our children’s future,” he says. (For biographies of all 15 Imagine 2012 Presenters and endorsements from internationally respected co-op/CU leaders, click on menu at top: www.imagine 2012.coop.)

Hundreds of people from around the world have already registered for the two events. A deep discount is offered for attending both, which are designed to be complementary.

Nelson Kuria, CEO of the 40-year-old CIC Insurance Group of Kenya says, “Imagine 2012 could not have, at a better time. For 50 years, the African continent has been a guinea pig for various types of economic models that have failed dismally. The world’s poor people don’t need sympathy and pity. Rather, they need the type of empowerment that true cooperatives facilitate through bringing the majority of the marginalized population into the mainstream of economic activity.”

Rowan Dowland, Manager of Development for bankmecu in New South Wales, Australia, says several of his directors are coming to Imagine 2012 as well as the Summit, because the mutual is positioning itself as a national leader in cooperative enterprise. Last May, NSW was first to enact the new Co-operatives National Law, in the works since 2007.

“We are strongly committed to proving the business case for more responsible approach to capitalism and sustainable development,” he says of bankmecu. “As one of three Australian companies (and the only mutual) participating in International Integrated Reporting Pilot, we are very keen to engage on issues around quantifying the value and performance of cooperatives.”

Matt Ludt, a member of Atticus Law Cooperative in Minnesota says of Imagine 2012, “I’m interested in participating in this premiere event for this new field of Cooperative Economics, much in the same way I’m excited to attend the International Summit with its sharing of unpublished studies and wide array of presenters. It will make me a stronger leader and advocate, in my own worker co-op and for other co-ops which I serve.”

Ludt is currently enrolled in the international Master of Management, Co-operatives and Credit Unions program (MMCCU), which is lead organizer of Imagine 2012. (www.mmccu.coop)

Tom Webb, founding Manager of MMCCU program, sums up the two October events this way: “Imagine the global influence of a widespread understanding of economics focused on meeting human needs sustainably, not just on wealth creation. Imagine world-class economists mingling with leaders of the world’s ninth largest economy [“Co-op Nation”] to shape better approaches to understanding and analyzing local, national and global economics.” Then, at the Summit: “Imagine this group of leaders coming together to identify ways to use the cooperative business model to build a better world.”

Dame Pauline Green, President of the International Co-operative Alliance, in a recent interview by Summit staff said, “The cooperative business model is about meeting human needs, not human greed. Yes, we want to make a profit (or surplus), but we promote sustainable enterprise through community ownership…

“This is a really important initiative. The movement needs to tap into our intellectual, financial, commercial and philosophical resources across the world to help determine how to grow and strengthen during the coming decades.“