Who are you?
The child of Wisconsin dairy farmers (who seldom traveled), I’m Cathy Statz, whose “cooperambulations” now take me around the world to engage in education and outreach on the cooperative business model–especially for young people and emerging professionals, and particularly with a cross-sectoral emphasis.
How long have you worked with cooperatives?
This depends on how you define it! I first started learning about co-ops at age 6 through the Farmers Union youth and camp program. I spent all but one of my college summers leading those same cooperative education camps, then served as the education director and camp director for Wisconsin Farmers Union for the next 26 years. When my spouse and I moved to Poland in August 2022 (we’ve since moved back to the States), I transitioned to remote contract work. So, I’ve worked with cooperatives for 30+ years.
Describe your role.
Officially, I live in Wisconsin, but I serve in a variety of cooperative education and outreach roles regionally, nationally, and internationally. I co-coordinate the National Farmers Union College Conference on Cooperatives. I assist with communications and special projects for the Ralph K. Morris Foundation. I co-coordinate the Cooperative Leaders and Scholars program (and support cooperative outreach and other projects) for the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) and the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA) in Washington, DC. I also serve as an outreach specialist for the International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which offers international study tours, executive education/short courses, and part-time, online degrees in cooperative management.
What do you enjoy about working with cooperatives?
The cooperative business model really is remarkable, but finding and maintaining the balance in being both enterprise and association requires ongoing information, training, and education, which you might recognize as International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Principle 5. What other business model must constantly explain its democratic governance structure to its customers, staff, stakeholders, and policy makers in order to preserve and sustain its purpose (that is, to meet members’ needs)? In some ways, we have to work twice as hard in co-ops: we must be both superior businesses and excellent organizations of people–and by people, I mean not just employees but members, too. When we do this well, however, the result is at least twice as meaningful: everyday people’s needs are affordably met, democracy is practiced and strengthened, and communities benefit now and in the future. What other business model can claim all that?
When did you join CCA? Why?
I’ve been a member of the Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE) since 1997; I’m a past president and continue to serve on the ACE board in a non-voting historian role. I’ve long known about CCA as a sort of “sister organization” to ACE. When I transitioned to remote work in late 2022, I realized I was adding elements of communications to my roles. I was also becoming more aware that communications can be described as another form of education. I joined in early 2023 and have really enjoyed attending Institutes and getting to know–and learning from–this great community.
Did anything surprise you about CCA upon joining?
I work primarily in cross-sectoral spaces, so I was actually a little surprised not to see more cooperative sectors represented in the CCA membership (housing, worker, food, healthcare, purchasing, credit unions, etc.). I believe the communications and member services staff from other types of cooperatives would benefit from the excellent training, exchange of ideas, networking–and fun–of CCA, so I’ve started setting out CCA promo along with the other education and professional development information I regularly share at cooperative and agriculture events–20 events in 16 states in 2024.
How has CCA supported you in your career?
I’m a fairly new CCA member, but I’ve already made great connections and learned a lot about skills and strategies for communicating the cooperative difference. I love learning about different examples of cooperatives; I think we all benefit from having a sort of “mental file” of co-ops to draw from when we interact with those new to co-ops or those familiar with only one sector. We can build bridges of understanding, appreciation, and curiosity when we share cooperative stories that resonate with diverse audiences; we never know where or when a cooperative seed might take root and grow!
What are your hobbies and interests?
I love to travel, and I love to travel affordably so that I can travel more often–I look for Amtrak Rail Pass sales, stay in hostel dormitories or with friends, and take public transportation or walk whenever possible. I’m passionate about traveling lightly (carry-on only), so I’m also keen to research all the “best” ultralight bags, travel-friendly clothing, and tiny, clever travel gadgets. I enjoy samping new cuisines and am usually willing to try anything once: fried field rat in Thailand, roasted grubs in Ecuador, and chocolate-covered cicadas in Virginia.
Do you have a “bucket list”? What are some of the things on that list?
I’ve been to every continent except Antarctica, so it would be fun to visit there someday. I’ve never been on a cruise, but I think it would be interesting to take a repositioning cruise (when they move a ship from one region of the world to another for a new sailing season–usually transoceanic). I’m also keen to walk the Camino Frances from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. And someday (if it is safe to do so), I’d love to take the Trans-Siberian Railway from Beijing to Moscow.
Give us something about yourself that is surprising or that most people don’t know.
In the summer of 2023, my spouse and I spent nearly a week rowing 75 miles down the River Thames in a 25-foot traditionally crafted wooden skiff (camping aboard along the way), then took a train to northern England and walked most of the 190 miles from one coast to the other (from the Irish Sea to the North Sea) over the next two weeks. (Do you see a travel theme continuing here?)
What advice would you give to professional communicators just starting their careers?
Don’t be afraid to speak up and introduce yourself in new settings and find ways to share your dreams and goals–you never know if someone you meet might have the ability to help you realize them, or how you might inspire them to realize their own. And as you get older and more established, don’t forget that it is sometimes hard to be “new,” and seek out ways to welcome, include, and meaningfully engage with those young or emerging professionals who are showing up for the first time to meetings or events.
Email Cathy here
Palace of the Winds in Jaipur, India
