Under each social objective are three sections.
– “Findings” includes the relevant information: and data, as well as the questionnaire results.
– “lmplications” covers the Social Audit Committee’s interpretation of the findings.
– “Recommended Actions” are specific steps strongly recommended by the Social Audit Committee to improve our performance on the particular social objective.
2024 note: The social audit documents were retrieved from very old files on a computer. There are a couple of glitches.
A NOTE ABOUT METHODOLOGY
When studying the results or the Social Audit, please keep the following points in mind:
The questionnaire was designed, administered and compiled by a committee of co-op volunteers and not trained social scientists. The figures reported are subject to an unknown margin of error (due to people misinterpreting questions, mistakes in entering data into the computer, etc.). Please use the data as rough indicators only.
The return rate on the questionnaire was 92% (or 248 of our 271 members). In this report, references to the percentage of what “all members” stated actually refers only to those that returned the questionnaire.
The questionnaire answers were entered into a computer program developed by Rebecca Moershel to allow data to be sorted according to 16 groups of members (by age, income, length of tenure, etc.). Only the data that was considered relevant and most important is included in this report. Anyone wishing to review all questionnaire findings may do so by contacting a member of the Social Audit Committee.
In references to income levels, we use the symbol “M” to refer to thousands of dollars. For example, $30M refers to $30,000.
References to “seniors” mean members 60 years of age and over. References to “lower-income members” mean those with less than $20,000 annual income. References to higher-income members mean those with $40,000 or higher annual income.
In several places, we make comparisons to four “similar housing coops”. Those co-ops are: Hugh Garner, William Lyon MacKenzie, Windmill Line and Oak Street.
INTRODUCTION
At their meeting in September, 1988, the members of Woodsworth discussed and adopted 12 social objectives for the Co-op. At that time, the members directed the Board to have a study carried out on the co-op’s progress on meeting these objectives. The report was to be brought back to members by March 31, 1989, in time for consideration prior to the adoption of the 1989-90 budget.
A Social Audit Committee was formed in October, 1989, to carry out the project. The Committee was open to all interested members and represented a reasonable cross-section of the current membership.
This document represents the Social Audit Committee’s report to the membership, The report is organized to comment on each of the 12 social objectives. Under each social objective are three sections. “Findings” includes the relevant information and data, as well as the questionnaire results. “Implications” covers the Social Audit Committee’s interpretation of the findings. “Recommended Actions” are specific steps strongly recommended by the Social Audit Committee to improve our performance on the particular social objective.
This report includes a significant amount of information about our co-op (but only a fraction of what we gathered). We strongly urge all members to take 20-30 minute to review this document in order to: 1) decide whether you agree or disagree with our interpretation of the research; 2) decide whether you agree or disagree with our recommended actions, or have any additional or alternate recommendations; and 3) be prepared to discuss these findings and recommendations at the special members’ meeting in April.
If you have any further questions about this report prior to the special membership meeting, please contact a committee member.
Click on each goal to read the report from the 1989 social audit:
1. Member involvement
2. Demographics
3. Elections
4. Board leadership
5. Quality of housing
6. Pricing
7. Progressive employer
8. Participation
9. Committees and volunteer workers
10. Co-op movement
11. Social issues
12. Enhancing the co-op community
The Social Audit Committee:
The Social Audit Committee, made up of a cross-section of members, prepared a report, organized to comment on each of the 12 social objectives.
Bill Ferguson, Larry Gordon (chair), Sally-Ann Heron, David lbbetson, Sarah Jackel, Nina ?, Milton Little, Kathy Mills, Jennifer Morris, Bev Norrena, Paula Norrena, Frances West , Carol Ann Witt
