A Director's Chair:
An Exciting Time to Join the Board of Directors

by Susan Weinrich

Honest Weight is going through an exciting and momentous time. We have recently purchased a building site and are developing numerous plans to make the most of our current location, as well as to develop and design a green building that will provide a good shopping and community experience. Leadership transitions can be challenging, but at a time like this than can be daunting. This year, due to term limits, we will be saying goodbye to our Board President of six years, Lynne Lekakis. Lynne has worked incredibly hard to build an effective leadership team and infrastructure that reflect our shared values and practices. Because of her strong commitment and vision she has contributed more of her time than any working member should be asked to give, and her departure is sure to leave a gap, no matter how capable our next president is. John Godfrey, our Treasurer, who has ensured that the Board understands our financial position and the implications of our decisions, will be running for re-election. I have been serving as Vice President and, due to my work obligations, will not be seeking a second term.

Leadership transitions can also create opportunities for new members to get involved and bring new ideas and perspectives. Honest Weight members will be electing at least three of our nine Board members in April. I wanted to take this opportunity to share the Board’s perspective on the skills and expertise that would best serve Honest Weight at this point in time. Certainly we are looking for members who are committed to the Co-op, our principles, and to our collective vision. Board members need to be willing to participate in group process and be open to listening and exploring issues thoroughly and creatively, as well as be able to work independently. Some specific skills that would be useful include strategic planning, organizational development, financial savvy, resource development and construction or project management.

Board members typically work 16–20 hours and attend at least three meetings per month (a Board meeting the first Tuesday of the month, a committee meeting and a Collective Management Team- Board meeting). They are expected to write newsletter articles periodically and to serve as Board liaison to a Co-op committee. Because of our upcoming capital campaign and efforts to obtain member loans for the new building, Board members will be asked to champion and participate in resource development efforts.

Although our bylaws allow members to run or be nominated from the floor at the April meeting, experience has shown that those members are less likely to complete their terms of office. We encourage members to take a more thoughtful approach and learn as much as possible before running, so that they are more informed and prepared for the position they will be taking on.

If you are considering running for the Board, please feel free to call me, Susan Weinrich at 794- 0897 or Weinrich@taconic.net, or Lynne Lekakis at 427-7386 or kandl@capital.net, to learn more about the role of Board members. Please consider attending a few Board meetings (February 5, March 4, April 1 — all at 5:30 pm). Minutes of former Board meetings are online and filed in the community room. Applications for Board leadership are available at the service desk and on Honest Weight’s website: www.honestweight.coop.

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