Change, Donations and
the Future: Co-op Members move the discussion forward . . .
by Deborah Trupin
More than 80 Honest Weight
Food Co-op members gathered on Sunday, February 24 to share desserts
and
participate in a membership meeting.While turnout was not as high as for
other recent membership meetings
(competition from the Oscars?), enough members attended to make this an
“official” meeting-one at which it was possible to vote.HWFC vice-president Susan Weinrich
facilitated at the session at the First Unitarian Universalist Society
of
Albany
Creating Change
Two items on the agenda
required membership approval.Both of
these concerned how members might help to bring change at Honest Weight.
The first proposal, a
document called “Policy and Procedures for Creating Change,” outlined
the
different ways in which members can seek to change Co-op policies:
participating in an HWFC committee, seeking time on the agenda of a
Board of
Directors meeting, bringing up the topic during the 15 minutes allotted
for
open discussion at all membership meetings, and initiating a referendum.Susan introduced the document, which had
been mailed to members before the meeting.Most of the discussion was about the
wording for initiating a
referendum.The assembled members
devised alternative language, substituted that in the document, and
voted
nearly unanimously to approve the revised document.“Creating Change Procedures” will become
part of the HWFC Member
Manual and will also be available at the Co-op’s website.
The second change-related
item requiring approvals was a document, also sent to members earlier,
that
detailed what methods and rules for referenda.In response to a question, Susan
explained that the HWFX bylaws called
for these procedures to be developed.She said that the procedures described
were based on those used for the
“meat” referendum.After very little
discussion, the assembled members approved this document, again almost
unanimously.This will also become part
of the HWFC Member Manual and be posted on the website.
Making Donations
Third on the agenda was a
discussion about Honest Weight’s donation policy.HWFC
Board president Lynne Lekakis helped lead discussion for
this part of the meeting.Susan first
summarized HWFC’s recent donation history.The HWFC Statement of Conscience calls
for the Co-op to give 5% of its
profits as donations.For many years,
these donations were made through the store (as donated goods to
non-profits)
and organizations with missions connected to HWFC).In 2005 and 2006, about half of the
donations were made the same
way; but half of the amount was invested with the Capital District
Community
Foundation and the Capital District Community Loan Fund.(These programs were described in more
detail in the April 2006 Coop Scoop; see also their websites: www.cdclf.org
and www.cfcr.org.]During 2007, as donations were made from
the store over the course of the year, and as the HWFC profit was
smaller, it
became clear that most or all of the money for donations was going to
be used
for “from the store donations.”The
Board decided to seek member input to help clarify the donation
decision-making
process.
The
donation discussion that ensued was wide ranging with many different
opinions
expressed.Susan then asked for a show
of hands about several issues.Many
members indicated that they liked the framework of the 50/50 split,
while
others preferred more in-store donations.And, many expressed concern about HWFC
investing with the Community
Foundation.The results showed that
more discussion, and perhaps more education of HWFC members, was needed.One member suggested that representatives of
the Community Foundation and the Community Loan Fund be invited to
speak to
Co-op members about their programs.
Planning for the Future
The open discussion concerned
the planning for the Co-op’s new home and the status of the proposed
“reset” of
the current store.Lynne Lekakis said
that the Facilities committee has heard what members say they
want-better
community space, demonstration kitchen, etc.Committee members are now working with
the architect on how the “flow”
of space might go.
The committee is taking the
environmental concerns to heart, and is debating whether or not to
“start over”
with a new building.Lynne said that
HWFC members would have a lot of big decisions coming.The Facilities committee will be seeking
input from WHFC members and shoppers in various ways, and Lynne
encouraged
members to communicate their thoughts and ideas directly to her or to
staff
members Lexa Juhre and/or Cindee Lolik.{Contact information for Lynne, Lexa and
Ci9ndee can be found on page
2.]
HWFC hopes to open in the new
store in spring 2010, but there is no firm timeline as yet.Lexa Juhre concluded the meeting by noting
how focused the staff is on making the current store work, while also
developing the best plan possible for the new store.
