What we do
As a community and organisation, we do a range of things:
- Core activities – resourced through our membership base,
- Major projects – which are funded through grants or donations, or generate their own revenue,
- Member projects / ventures – member projects that are run independently (e.g. their own business).
Core activities
These include Buzz bi-weekly newsletter, sharing information and resources through social media, and hosting regular gatherings of our members like Friday Fika and ‘Swarm’. We currently don’t charge for membership, so all these activities are done by volunteers. We’ve already:
- Started regular, popular networking and learning events – meet us each each Friday 8-9am at SaltDish
- Hosted ‘Learning Lunches’ to share the expertise, ideas and case studies: Wednesday 12:30-13:30 at CityHive.
- Attracted 200 subscribers and 80 members through our newsletters and activities - sign up, yourself
Major projects
Our two major projects are:
- CityHive – a two phase project to create the physical space for innovation, sustainability and collaboration. Phase 1 will open in September 2011, and Phase 2 will proceed once we have attracted the funding (we’ve applied for lots). Learn more at CityHive’s own website, or visit us after 16th September.
- Learning Program – as well as the physical space and supportive community, our members and community want specific support to take their venture to the next stage. We’ve developed local and national partnerships to plan a program that includes monthly events, 9-sessionleadership courses, 9-month ‘schools’ for social entrepreneurs and more. You can download the draft program here. Some of these activities will start in late 2011.
- Partnered with a dozen local, national and international organisations – see our list of partners,
- Researched and reported on the needs and solutions for regional development – read our market research,
- Attracted more than $100,000 in grant funding, donations, and in-kind contributions for our projects,
- Completed our planning: Business Plan, Learning Program Design, CityHive Design and detailed budgets,
- Opened our coworking space ‘CityHive‘ and are operating it as a real, sustainable ‘social enterprise’,
- Planned our first ‘Swarms’ and ‘Leaders’ Programs ready to start in late 2011, and early 2012 respectively.
Member projects / ventures
These are what our member-based organisation are designed to support. Some member ventures are existing and underway in the non-profit, for-profit, government and social enterprise sector. Others are just getting started or are only intended to be short-term and are being ‘incubated’ or ‘auspiced’ through Pollinators membership and legal structure.
- Magazine social enterprises,
- Wholefoods buying co-operatives (see more details in the blog)
- Ethical investment advisors,
- Community art projects for the Open Your Eyes CountryArts WA Festival,
- Designers of media campaigns that makes us rethink our identity,
- Coastal gardening workshops,
- Online ride-sharing services http://www.pickuppal.com/pup/group/Geraldton-Community
- Policymakers re-writing the rules to create a fairer society,
- Artists starting new conversations and inspiring change,
- Bike recycling social enterprises.
