--- title: Common Share (5) description: Co-operatives First produces articles and podcasts each month on how-to's, what you need to knows and cool co-op stories. Follow us. (5) --- [![Co-operatives First](https://cooperativesfirst.com/isl/themes/cof/img/logo.png)](https://cooperativesfirst.com) Go Back - Courses - [ONLINE GOVERNANCE COURSE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/governance/) - Workshops - [CREATING CONNECTIONS WORKSHOP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/workshop/) - [INSPIRING LEADERSHIP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/inspiring-leadership/) - [EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/exploring-opportunity/) - [Co-op Talk Lunch & Learn](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-op-talk-lunch-learn/) - [Board Effectiveness Workshop](https://cooperativesfirst.com/board-effectiveness-workshop/) - Resources - [Co-op Creator](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/resources/) - [BLOG](https://cooperativesfirst.com/blog/) - [THE BACKROAD DIARIES](https://thebackroaddiaries.com) - [THE COMMON SHARE PODCAST](https://cooperativesfirst.com/common-share-podcast/) - [Co-operative FAQs](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-operative-faqs/) - Advising - [Biz Dev Refresh](https://cooperativesfirst.com/biz-dev-refresh/) - [AGM Planning](https://cooperativesfirst.com/agm-planning/) - [About](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [WHO WE ARE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [BOARD OF DIRECTORS](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/board-of-directors/) - [ANNUAL REPORT](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/annual-report/) # The Common Share ## [3 themes in Budget 2018 impacting Canadians today](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/03/01/3-themes-in-budget-2018-impacting-canadians-today) The federal government has released its budget for fiscal year 2018, [*Equality and Growth: A Strong Middle Class*](https://www.fin.gc.ca/n18/18-008-eng.asp). While many commentators, pundits, and partisans focus on the Liberal Party’s deficit... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/03/01/3-themes-in-budget-2018-impacting-canadians-today) March 01, 2018 • Kyle White ## [Why diverse boards are rare and what to do about it](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/28/why-diverse-boards-are-rare-and-what-to-do-about-it) On a board of directors? At your next meeting, take a look around the table. Does everyone look and sound similar to you? Diverse boards are rare and that's a problem. [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/28/why-diverse-boards-are-rare-and-what-to-do-about-it) February 28, 2018 • Aasa Marshall ## [5 to-dos when planning an AGM](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/23/5-to-dos-when-planning-an-agm) It’s the most wonderful time of the year – AGM season! Co-operatives and credit unions will soon be issuing notices to shareholders and members of their annual general meeting (AGM). For those of us... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/23/5-to-dos-when-planning-an-agm) February 23, 2018 • Kyle White ## [How to become the most connected community in Canada](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/16/how-to-become-the-most-connected-community-in-canada) You might not expect to find the country’s most connected community in a rural setting, but folks in Olds, Alberta play by their own rules. [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/16/how-to-become-the-most-connected-community-in-canada) February 16, 2018 • Aasa Marshall ## [Sex, succession and the co-op model](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/14/sex-succession-and-the-coop-model) It’s Valentine’s Day. For some folks, this means a great deal. Others (no judgement) let it pass without bothering to note its peculiar significance in western culture. Whatever your take on the day,... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/14/sex-succession-and-the-coop-model) February 14, 2018 • Dan Matthews ## [10 things you often aren't told when you become a board member](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/09/10-things-you-often-arent-told-when-you-become-a-board-member) ## Set aside personal biases As a director, all the decisions you make at the board table should be in the best interest of the organization. This may mean setting aside personal interests as a board... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/02/09/10-things-you-often-arent-told-when-you-become-a-board-member) February 09, 2018 • Kyle White ## [How farmers benefit from ag equipment co-ops](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/01/26/how-farmers-benefit-from-ag-equipment-co-ops) Farming is expensive. The cost of the machinery and labour required to run a farm is daunting, and many farmers are having to take on increasing levels of debt to access the tools and resources they... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/01/26/how-farmers-benefit-from-ag-equipment-co-ops) January 26, 2018 • Aasa Marshall ## [What it means to explore an opportunity](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/01/24/what-it-means-to-explore-an-opportunity) ## Opportunity costs Taking an opportunity from idea to reality requires time and resources. It also shuts the door on what might have been had you chosen a different idea or pathway. This door shutting... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/01/24/what-it-means-to-explore-an-opportunity) January 24, 2018 • Kyle White ## [Another 3 co-ops you probably didn’t know were co-ops](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/01/17/another-3-co-ops-you-probably-didnt-know-were-co-ops) As we’ve noted in [past blogs](https://www.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2017/5/23/another-3-co-ops-you-probably-didnt-know-were-co-ops), co-operatives operate in all industries, often going unnoticed. Many co-operatives have recognizable brands, but do not necessarily tout their business model. Here are... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/01/17/another-3-co-ops-you-probably-didnt-know-were-co-ops) January 17, 2018 • Kyle White ## [RedHat Co-operative: a producer co-op success story](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/01/09/redhat-co-operative-a-producer-co-op-success-story) For over 50 years, RedHat Co-operative has been supplying western Canada with fresh, greenhouse-grown vegetables. [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/01/09/redhat-co-operative-a-producer-co-op-success-story) January 09, 2018 • Aasa Marshall [Newer](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/page/4) [Older](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/page/6) ![People in a co-op](https://cooperativesfirst.com/isl/themes/cof/img/people.svg) ![Co-operatives First](https://cooperativesfirst.com/isl/themes/cof/img/logo.png) A business development organization funded in full by the Co-operative Retailing System and Federated Co-operatives Limited. Every day, we focus on promoting and supporting business development based on the co-operative business model. Our priority overall is increasing rural and Indigenous economic development across western Canada. - Courses - [ONLINE GOVERNANCE COURSE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/governance/) - Workshops - [CREATING CONNECTIONS WORKSHOP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/workshop/) - [INSPIRING LEADERSHIP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/inspiring-leadership/) - [EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/exploring-opportunity/) - [Co-op Talk Lunch & Learn](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-op-talk-lunch-learn/) - [Board Effectiveness Workshop](https://cooperativesfirst.com/board-effectiveness-workshop/) - Resources - [Co-op Creator](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/resources/) - [BLOG](https://cooperativesfirst.com/blog/) - [THE BACKROAD DIARIES](https://thebackroaddiaries.com) - [THE COMMON SHARE PODCAST](https://cooperativesfirst.com/common-share-podcast/) - [Co-operative FAQs](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-operative-faqs/) - Advising - [Biz Dev Refresh](https://cooperativesfirst.com/biz-dev-refresh/) - [AGM Planning](https://cooperativesfirst.com/agm-planning/) - [About](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [WHO WE ARE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [BOARD OF DIRECTORS](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/board-of-directors/) - [ANNUAL REPORT](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/annual-report/) 4-1810 8th Street East Saskatoon, SK 306.382.4410 [info@cooperativesfirst.com](mailto:info@cooperativesfirst.com) © 2019 Cooperatives First ![Consider a Co-op](https://cooperativesfirst.com/isl/themes/cof/img/sign.svg)