Dearest co-operators, it is a few days late but here is another edition fresh out the door. Happy Monday! :trumpet:
Yours in co-operation, [The CoTech newsletter team](https://git.coop/cotech/newsletter/project_members).
PS. If you want to know how to subscribe, we've written instructions [over here](https://community.coops.tech/t/about-the-newsletter-category/626).
## Contributing To The Newsletter
- Send feedback or items for the next issue to [newsletter@coops.tech](mailto:newsletter@coops.tech)
- Direct message [@decentral1se](https://community.coops.tech/u/decentral1se) on [the forum](https://community.coops.tech)
- Contribute to the [project repository](https://git.coop/cotech/newsletter/)
## Get involved with CoTech
- The next **CoTech Circle call** is on **Wednesday 30th June at 4pm UK**, see the forum post [here](https://community.coops.tech/t/cotech-call-june-2021/2770). This is a general decision-making and network organising meeting that needs your participation!
- If the CoTech Infrastructure group were able to offer a VPS service - co-operatively run, co-operatively owned hardware, in a co-operative data centre running on renewable energy, would you want in? [It's an open call for input to all CoTech members](https://community.coops.tech/t/call-for-input-please-all-members/2681)(**UPDATE**: there is a follow-up survey available [here](https://community.coops.tech/t/call-for-input-v2-co-op-vps-survey/2802/9), please consider also consider participating in this call for input in order to help the group have a more concrete idea of the network needs.)
-[Join in on the discussion](https://community.coops.tech/t/is-discourse-voting-good-enough-to-replace-loomio/2661) to decide whether CoTech should continue with Loomio or consider other options for online decision making (Loomio thread [here](https://www.loomio.org/d/1yxel47Z/cotech-fund-switch-to-loomio-community-lifetime-plan)).
## News
### Outlandish: CoTrack and more!
> We spent much of lockdown developing a tool that tracks Covid-19 samples for the @sangerinstitute . The tool we helped build – CoTrack – allows scientists and business managers to track samples as they progress through the analysis pipeline.
Catch the tweet [here](https://twitter.com/outlandish/status/1407662021349462018) and the full post [there](https://outlandish.com/project/wellcome-sanger-institute-covid-19-sample-data-tracking-workflow-app/).
Furthermore, Outlandish are keeping the fires lit and have a bunch of new inspiring posts:
-[We are giving ourselves a little break](https://outlandish.com/blog/culture/we-are-giving-ourselves-a-little-break/)
-[Web and Communications Trainee](https://outlandish.com/blog/web-and-communications-trainee/)
> At a time when we really need to build back better, co-ops are ideally placed to boost the economy and create a fairer society. media co-op is incredibly proud to be part of this community. We hope you enjoy the film and remember to #JoinACoop this Co-op Fortnight 2021!
Media Co-op continuing their wonderful work, as always. They've [tweeted](https://twitter.com/mediaco_op/status/1407657615111430148) about a new post showing them on the scene for a Cooperatives UK event. See the post [here](https://mediaco-op.net/news/co-op-fortnight-2021/).
### A look at sociocracy amongst UK co-operatives
> We are experiencing a rise in the interest in sociocratic governance in the UK co-operative sector, particularly amongst worker and multi-stakeholder co-operatives.
Calverts [tweeted](https://twitter.com/calverts/status/1408081293229932548) about this new article which looks at Sociocracy being increasingly used within the network of UK co-operatives. See the full post [here](https://www.uk.coop/blog/look-sociocracy-amongst-uk-co-operatives).
### Democracy, you’re on mute: A co-op alternative to Zoom
> Meet.coop began as a collaboration between three tech co-ops in May 2020. It is set up using open source software (BigBlueButton) and runs on co-operatively owned hardware powered by renewable energy. It currently has 105 members across Europe, Asia and South America, including brands such as Friends of the Earth International and The Tor Project.
[Meet.coop](https://www.meet.coop/) in the news! Catch the entire post [here](https://www.thenews.coop/154366/topic/technology/democracy-youre-on-mute-a-co-op-alternative-to-zoom/).
### Autonomic secure funding for The Co-operative Cloud
> Co-op Cloud is a public interest infrastructure: it makes self-hosting open source apps (e.g. Nextcloud, WordPress, Jitsi) a reliable and cost-effective alternative to “Big Tech” services. The platform is made for co-operatives, non-profit groups, and individuals. With the support of the CoS Fund, they can release a polished “Beta” version in 12 – 18 months.
See the funding profile page [here](https://culturalfoundation.eu/stories/cosround4-autonomic-co-operative). More coming soon!
(PS. [Meet.coop](https://forum.meet.coop/t/fwd-cos-infodemic-expression-of-interest-selected/618/4) are still also in the running, fingers crossed!)
The sprints continue! [Sprint Notes 3](https://agile.coop/blog/local-gov-drupal-beta-sprint-3-notes/) and [4](https://agile.coop/blog/local-gov-drupal-beta-sprint-4-notes/) have been published this month. For more background on this work, see [this post](https://agile.coop/blog/sharing-drupal-code-between-uk-councils/). Solid stuff!
### New podcast episode from We Are Open Co-op: The Tao of WAO
> The Tao of WAO is a podcast about the intersection of technology, society, and internet culture — with a dash of philosophy and art for good measure. Hosted by [Laura Hilliger](https://laurahilliger.com/) and [Doug Belshaw](https://dougbelshaw.com/) of [We Are Open Co-op](https://weareopen.coop/).
Get listening over at [SoundCloud](https://soundcloud.com/tao-of-wao).
See the CoTech forum post [here](https://community.coops.tech/t/the-tao-of-wao-new-podcast-from-we-are-open-co-op/2727) and the official announcement blog post [there](https://blog.weareopen.coop/announcing-our-new-podcast-e38aaba57066).
### CoTech Outeach, Website and Propaganda WG
After some [very off-topic rambling](https://community.coops.tech/t/activitypub-for-administrations-workshops/2779/11) there has been [a](https://community.coops.tech/t/cotech-website-revamp/137/36?u=decentral1se)[few](https://community.coops.tech/t/cotech-propanganda-wg/2800) [rumblings](https://community.coops.tech/t/cotech-website-repo-mirroring-to-github/2818/3) around getting the focus back on improving our wonderful [coops.tech](https://www.coops.tech/) website! It is still an open discussion as to what the website could be and how it could help CoTech and CoTech interested people do nice things together. If any of this sounds interesting to you, [please join the discussion on the next CoTech Circle Call!](https://community.coops.tech/t/cotech-call-june-2021/2770/2)
### Jobs on the Go
Looking for work in the network or in network-adjacent groups? Here is a helping hand!
-[Outlandish: Web and Communications Trainee](https://outlandish.com/blog/web-and-communications-trainee/)
-[Request for help: creating an integrated chat system](https://community.coops.tech/t/request-for-help-creating-an-integrated-chat-system/2666/9)
-[React job at understory.coop](https://community.coops.tech/t/react-job-at-understory-coop/2795/2)
-[Beabee are looking for a frontend developer to help build a platform for independent community-powered newsrooms](https://community.coops.tech/t/beabee-are-looking-for-a-frontend-developer-to-help-build-a-platform-for-independent-community-powered-newsrooms/2790/4)
-[Camplight - a digital cooperative is looking for like-minded partners](https://community.coops.tech/t/camplight-a-digital-cooperative-is-looking-for-like-minded-partners/1651)
-[Bitspossessed looking for a Project coordinator, a Lead Developer in NodeJS/JavaScript and a DevOps specialist](https://community.coops.tech/t/bitspossessed-looking-for-a-project-coordinator-a-lead-developer-in-nodejs-javascript-and-a-devops-specialist/2814)
-[Calling Front End Devs / React lovers! Work at Library of Things?](https://community.coops.tech/t/calling-front-end-devs-react-lovers-work-at-library-of-things/2822)
-[Animorph is looking for a designer](https://community.coops.tech/t/animorph-is-looking-for-a-designer/2704)
And if all else fails, you can post in the [People looking for jobs](https://community.coops.tech/t/people-looking-for-jobs/94) thread and subscribe to the [Jobs category](https://community.coops.tech/c/jobs/7) on the forum. Good luck!
## Events
> Did you know [our wonderful forum](https://community.coops.tech/) has a Calendar feature? If you post under the [events category](https://community.coops.tech/c/events/5) then they will automatically appear in this calendar. You can subscribe to it using [iCal](webcal://community.coops.tech/c/events/l/calendar.ics) or [RSS](community.coops.tech/c/events/l/calendar.rss). The [Agenda](https://community.coops.tech/c/events/5/l/agenda) also gives a linear overview of upcoming events also.
Good luck to all the organisers and thanks for your energy and determination despite all the remaining uncertainties around organising events right now.
### 30th June: Co-ops Fortnight - How cooperatives are driving community innovation
> Polly Robbins, community builder at Outlandish, will be giving an overview of new innovations in the cooperative sector.
See the events listing [here](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/co-ops-fortnight-how-cooperatives-are-driving-community-innovation-tickets-158700687027).
### 30th June: CoTech Circle Call
> A network wide general "decision-making" circle that meets virtually on a
> synchronous basis once per month - if you're part of CoTech, help organise it!
See the event post [here](https://community.coops.tech/t/cotech-call-june-2021/2770).
All notes and previous call posts are listed [on the forum `CoTech > Calls` category](https://community.coops.tech/c/cotech/calls/23).
### 5th July: CoTech Shared Infrastructure Call
> A new group has formed within CoTech to try to provide a co-operative alternative to corporate server providers. If that sounds interesting to you, please join in!
See the event post [here](https://community.coops.tech/t/shared-infrastructure-call-friday-2nd-july-15-00-uk/2808/2).
All notes and previous call posts are listed [on the forum Hosting category](https://community.coops.tech/c/hosting/24).
### 23rd - 25th July: Worker Co-op Weekend
> The Worker Co-op Council agreed to make a firm booking for Worker Co-op Weekend at Selgars Mill 3 near Tiverton, Friday 23-Sunday 25 July. The day before - Thursday 22 July - we are mooting a pre-event Solidfund 1 strategy session, which may run alongside a face-to-face gathering for the relaunched Young Cooperators Network.
See the [forum post here](https://community.coops.tech/t/more-worker-co-op-gatherings-in-2021/2591).
### TBD: The Next CoTech Gathering
There is a poll setup by [@Lucy](https://community.coops.tech/u/lucy/summary) to try and put some dates and figures on the next face-to-face CoTech meeting!
> The idea is that CoTech (perhaps in collaboration with Solidfund/Young Co-operators Network) will extend the booking by a day, so that we can arrive Thursday evening and carry out our CoTechh sessions on the Friday. The total cost of this would be £1500.
Weigh in on this [forum poll here](https://community.coops.tech/t/more-worker-co-op-gatherings-in-2021/2591/6).
You can also join the discussion on [this separate thread](https://community.coops.tech/t/urgent-interest-and-funding-for-cotech-summer-gathering/2659).
