If you’re already a member-owner of the Arroyo Food Co-op, this message is for you. If you’re thinking of joining, this message COULD be for you. Member-owners have a big thing to accomplish in the near future: electing directors for the board. Read on to see how you can influence where our grocery store is going.
THE BOARD
Our bylaws require yearly elections of board members. This is how we keep the business in touch with the membership. We run, we vote, we elect; then everybody does the best they can while also listening to one another. This makes a cooperative different from every other form of business out there. Our cooperative exists because of the members and for the members.
MEMBER INVOLVEMENT
Any member can submit their name for the ballot - just send an email signifying your interest along with a short statement (100 words or less) by May 3rd. Send it to member_support
BYLAW ADJUSTMENT
We’ve recently learned from a co-op knowledgeable accountant that it would be a good idea to change our fiscal year to end in the summer rather than in December. Among other reasons it could be easier to get accountant time (fewer companies to compete with) and it could be easier to find extra employees for year-end inventory work (fewer New Years Eve parties to compete with). To make this fiscal year adjustment, we’ll need member approval for a bylaw change.
OTHER OPTIONS
As you know, our goal is to open a brick and mortar grocery store. Some ideas have been proposed that might help us get there sooner. These range from starting a “Twitter Truck”, to opening a booth at farmers’ markets to starting a farm. We’ll be holding open meetings to consider these ideas in the near future (watch for announcements). If the board decides that any of these look viable, they’ll make it onto the ballot for member consideration.
THE PROCESS
The ballots will be mailed to members on or about May 12th. To submit your vote: return your ballot by mail, drop it off at any of our Friday night Office Hours prior to the 23rd or better yet, attend the year-end potluck lunch meeting on May 23rd.
Haven't joined yet? Do it today so your voice will be heard! To be able to vote your membership form must be postmarked by May 3rd.
Patrick and the rest of the interim board.
THE FULL SCHEDULE
April 7th (or thereabouts), Options task group meeting, to consider ballot alternatives for starting up. Maybe have other Options meetings leading up to the May 6th board meeting.
May 3rd, membership forms postmark cut-off to qualify to vote, also cut-off for candidate submission statements.
May 6th board meeting, board approves ballot (with changes if necessary)
May 7th through 12th, all corrections made, ballots printed/folded/stapled/addressed
May 12th, ballots in mail
May 12th through 22nd (postmark dates), ballots can be mailed back to our PO Box
May 14th and 21st Office Hours, members can drop off ballots
May 23rd Potluck Membership Meeting, last chance to drop off ballots
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