Without sound management, co‑ops often get into difficulty that threatens their survival. And if one co‑op is lost, it’s a loss to the entire co‑op housing community.

That’s why CHF Canada has declared 2012 the Year of Getting Management Right. And because 2012 is also the International Year of Co‑operatives, now is a perfect time to emphasize the role management plays supporting the co‑operative housing enterprises that provide our members with affordable, community-minded housing.

Good governance and sound management go hand in hand. At this year’s CHF Canada Annual General Meeting in Niagara Falls, there are plenty of workshops to choose from in both the Member Education Forum and the Co‑operative Management Conference. Boards need to know what sound management looks like, and how they can support and keep it. And co‑op managers and staff can choose from topics that support them in the work they do. And remember that Management is one of the standards of 2020 Vision, so look for the Management Standard workshop to help your co‑op along the road to becoming a 2020 Co‑op.

In 2004 the members of CHF Canada adopted five Core Management Standards that help measure and improve the quality of management in your co‑op, no matter what kind of management you use. They are:

• Managing the finances
• Keeping the co‑op in good repair
• Keeping the co‑op full
• Meeting your legal requirements, and
• Supporting good governance.

To learn more about the Core Management Standards you can refer to Getting Management Right in the Resource Centre on our website. And throughout the year of Getting Management Right look for more resources and tools to be launched that support the Core Management Standards.

The 2011 national Good Governance Survey provided us with a great snapshot of the quality of governance in housing co‑ops across the country, and a clear sense of where co‑ops need more support. During the Year of Getting Management Right we would like to take the same kind of look at management in co‑ops: members will be able to participate in a survey that will give a national overview of the state of management. Co‑ops will also be able to take the test on their own to see how their individual management measures up. Look for the Sound Management Survey to be launched in the early spring: the results will be announced at the AGM, and shared with all members in NewsBriefs.

There’s a lot more to come throughout the Year of Getting Management Right, and there are already many resources available in the CHF Canada Resource Centre – just go to the main page and follow the links to Managing Your Co‑op. So start thinking about the value of sound management in your co‑op, and look forward to a whole year of Getting Management Right.