Renewal News and Blog

Our New Home

Pamela Chaloult — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:01:28 -0800

Renewal will move in early January to our fabulous new space on the 2nd floor of The Tides Renewal Centre located at the Flack Block. The Centre’s four floors of offices with LEED certified commercial interior build out, will also house Tides Canada Foundation, along with a number of other exceptional social entrepreneurs. Tenants currently committed include Hollyhock Leadership Institute, Raised Eyebrow, Forest Ethics, Penner & Associates, Rainforest Solutions Project, and Convergence Communications. We are in negotiations with a diverse mix of other prospects, as well as some single desk users, for the remainder of the space.

In uncertain economic times, co location of organizations with related goals, is especially attractive. When shared, meeting rooms, kitchen/cafe facilities, recycling, bike room and showers, large capacity office equipment, etc., are maximized in their efficiency.

The 5th floor penthouse space is now available for an organization seeking an extraordinary space, setting, and location. Window walls and a wraparound patio deck on 3 sides, along with exquisite modern finishes, compliment the Gold Rush era history of the impeccably refurbished Flack Block building.

Please note our new address as of January 12th- 200 – 163 West Hastings Street, Vancouver V6B 1H5. Our phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

Make a Social Resolution for 2009

Tara Smedbol — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:54:50 -0800

It's the time of year for instituting change in our lives, and Villages Connected is inviting socially conscious individuals, business owners and nonprofit organization to share how they are committing to acting socially. Join them in making a Social Resolution and commit to changing the world around you.

The Nature of Slow Money

Tara Smedbol — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:38:48 -0800

Woody Tasch's recently published book Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered comes complete with a foreword from the founder of the International Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini. This must read offers a new vision of capital that is rooted in nature and supports businesses that enhance biodiversity and promote local food systems.

Woody currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Investors' Circle. He is also Chairman of Chelsea Green Publishing, a leading publisher of books on organics, renewable energy and the politics of sustainability.

2009 Hollyhock Programs Available Online

Heidi Hartman — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:21:47 -0800

Hollyhock, Canada's Leading Educational Retreat Centre offers a vast array of programs, welcomes holiday guests and day visitors, and rents its facilities for conferences and private gatherings. From March through November, this unique West Coast ocean-side paradise attracts program and conference participants from around the world. Guests come to develop skills, further professional networks, enliven artistic expression, deepen personal practice, and relax and recharge in a setting of spectacular natural beauty. Organic garden inspired cuisine and cozy accommodations augment abundant opportunities for learning, exploration and discovery.

Start dreaming about your Hollyhock vacation and check out the 2009 Programs now available online. Space is limited for all the programs, so be sure to reserve your space today by calling Hollyhock at (800) 933-6339.

Are you planning an event in 2009? Host your next gathering at Hollyhock whether it be a wedding, family reunion, board retreat, strategic planning meeting or whatever else you have in mind. Find more information about Hollyhock group bookings online or email groupbookings@hollyhock.ca.

Don't think you will be able to make the journey to Cortes Island this year? Check out Hollyhock's great Vancouver Programs and join us for some inspiration a little closer to home.

We hope to see you at Hollyhock this year!

Hollyhock exists to inspire, nourish and support people who are making the world better.

Equal Exchange Collaborating for the Sake of Bananas

Joel Solomon — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:11:25 -0800

Renewal early investee, Equal Exchange, the pioneering fair trade company, will infuse new capital and take over majority ownership of Oke USA to keep the fair trade fruit company operational. Here's the wonderful story of collaboration that is keeping the fruit moving.

On October 2, 2008 at the annual shareholder meeting, the future looked bleak for Oke USA. Organic bananas, our core product, were in short supply and priced above what the US market would bear. AgroFair, majority owner and operational supporter, faced a fast tightening cash situation and could no longer supply Oke with needed cash or a corporate guarantee.

Carlos Eugeno Vargas of COOPETRABASUR, Oke banana suppliers in Costa Rica, when hearing about the cash crisis, asked us to pray and work for a miracle to keep Oke USA going. The hard work of Equal Exchange, Red Tomato and the Oke USA staff produced the miracle.

At the Oct 2 meeting, Equal Exchange, one of two minority owners of Oke USA, stepped up and agreed to explore the possibility of keeping the fruit flowing with reduced overhead and a limited distribution channel, though the board saw little hope for much success.

Just at the darkest banana hour, the global financial crisis hit. A week after the annual shareholder gathering, the euro plummeted against the dollar and the organic banana market softened.

Ironically, the crisis meant that suddenly new possibilities emerged. Management quickly set out to see if it could recapitalize the company to craft a second opportunity for Oke USA.

After a few weeks deeper into the financial crisis, Equal Exchange presented a plan to the Oke board taking the best of both approaches. It was agreed that Equal Exchange would infuse new capital and take a majority ownership role while keeping a vibrant role for AgroFair and Red Tomato.

Jonathan Rosenthal, CEO, will resign to assist a smooth transition to the new Equal Exchange structure. Rob Amsterdam, Jennifer Garay and Julia Khodabandeh have also left as part of the transition to a smaller Oke USA. Jordan Bar Am will remain with Oke USA along with 2 new Equal Exchange staff.

The bananas will transition to the Equal Exchange brand. For Equal Exchange, this new role is a compelling step in the fulfillment of its 20 year vision of "a vibrant, mutually cooperative community of 2 million committed participants, trading fairly $1 billion a year in a way that transforms the world."

Opening Hearts with Alternative Gifts

Tara Smedbol — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:22:52 -0800

Looking for alternative ways to celebrate gift giving during this Holiday? For inspiration visit the Georgia Straight and read about alternative gift giving.

Open Everything

Anna Strom — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:46:12 -0800

Check out Duanne's Nickull's interview with Joel Solomon at Open Everything, a conference that happens every year at Hollyhock, hosted by Renewal investee Communicopia.

A Loss for Our Community

Pamela Chaloult — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:57:45 -0800

The Renewal team was deeply troubled to learn about the unfortunate death of Ben Banky, CEO of Tallgrass Distribution. Ben was a frequent participant at our annual Social Venture Institute at Hollyhock and he will be deeply missed by many. We extend our condolences to Ben's family and colleagues during this challenging time. TallGrass has asked us to issue the following statement on their behalf:

MEDIA STATEMENT FROM TALLGRASS DISTRIBUTION LTD.

December 13, 2008 Vancouver - TallGrass Distribution Ltd. is deeply saddened by the tragic death of our President and CEO, Ben Banky.

Ben was a compassionate and dedicated leader who will be sadly missed. The company that he cofounded 12 years ago has become a successful business and the team he leaves behind will carry on to continue to fulfill the dream he began.

TallGrass requests that the media respect the privacy of our employees in their time of grief. The company will have no further comment while the police investigation continues. We will be providing our employees with grief counseling services to help them cope with this tragic and senseless loss.

TallGrass wishes to reassure all our customers that we will be resuming business in the days ahead, but in the meantime, we ask for your patience and understanding as we work through this difficult time.

Please contact the Vancouver Police Department with any further inquiries regarding this matter.

-30-

TallGrass media spokesperson:
John Paul Fraser, NATIONAL Public Relations 604-619-1980 cell
604-691-7398 office

SCI Alumni Vanessa Richards

Anna Strom — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:55:00 -0800

Social Change Institute (SCI) alumni Vanessa Richards presents a new song for our times, called Occupying Army. For more information about Vanessa click here.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Anna Strom — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:38:34 -0800

Woody Tasch, Investors' Circle

Check out Carleen Hawn's article on patient capital and a "grow slow" response to investing today, based on an interviews with Woody Tasch, Chairman of Investors' Circle, and Eric Becker, money manager with Trillium Asset Management. "There is a growing awareness that to have a truly sustainable civilization we need to have sustainable food systems, and to get there we need to rethink capitalism to make it work at a pace that can help finance sustainable agriculture and food systems."