4 p.m. Saturday, April 23, via Zoom
It’s almost time for our Annual Owners’ Meeting! Please take a few moments and register to attend.
Our agenda will include the results of our Board of Directors election and reports on the state of the co-op from our board and general manager. As always, there will be prizes! (You do have to be present at the meeting to win.)
Our special guest this year is Samantha Kirstein, Fairbanks Community Food Bank Community Development Director.
We’ll be meeting via Zoom, so we’ve created a set of Virtual Meeting Guidelines with important rules and instructions. Please read them before attending our meeting.
Note: Registration is required. Please RSVP here. When you register, you will receive the Zoom login information by email as soon as we’ve confirmed that you are an Owner.
Our meeting will start at 4 p.m., but you can enter the waiting room at 3:30 p.m. Please come in at least 15 minutes early to ensure you don’t have any technical problems.
You will be asked to vote by poll to approve the meeting agenda and last year’s minutes during the business meeting.
We look forward to seeing you!
P.S. If you are one of the first 50 Owners to register, we’ll enter you in a drawing for a $100 gift certificate! To win, you must be present when your name is called.
Please welcome Amber Quesenberry, our co-op’s new general manager.
We are pleased to welcome Amber Quesenberry as the next general manager for Co-op Market Grocery & Deli. Her first day at the co-op will be January 17th.
Amber comes to us with extensive experience in customer service and in leading, inspiring, and managing teams. Since 2015, she has held senior management positions at Princess Riverside Lodge and Westmark Hotel & Conference Center in Fairbanks. Before moving to Alaska, she spent several years as receiving manager and then visual merchandising manager for Macy’s in Delaware and Maryland.
Amber has expressed a deep commitment to serving our community and promoting equality through the co-op. She said she’s eager to move from a corporate environment to a more values-driven organization. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to develop relationships with our Owners and shoppers,” she said, “and I’m especially looking forward to working alongside the co-op’s dedicated managers and staff as we strengthen the store for the future.”
The co-op board of directors unanimously selected Amber following a two-month competitive search that identified several highly qualified local candidates. Store managers were included in the final interview process.
The board was impressed by Amber’s commitment to staff and her solid track record of developing strong management teams. We appreciated her obvious dedication to customer service, and we were inspired by her commitment to the cooperative values and principles.
To ensure continuity, Amber will work closely with Columinate consultant Dennis Hanley, who has served the co-op as interim GM since October. Under Dennis’ leadership, the co-op has developed plans to improve store operations and finances. He will transition to the role of mentor and monitor to help the board and GM succeed in implementing those plans.
Amber is eager to meet our Owners and shoppers, so please keep an eye out for her when you’re in the store. Introduce yourself and let her know what the co-op means to you.
As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to us at board@coopmarket.org.
In cooperation,
Co-op Market Grocery & Deli Board of Directors
Art Gelvin, Brian Kassof, Patrice Lee, Anduin McElroy, Rich Seifert, Hilary Shook
A Message to Our Owners About the Health of Our Co-op
from the Board of Directors and General Manager:
As a community-owned cooperative, our health and wellbeing are inextricably entwined with the health and wellbeing of our community. When people in our community thrive, our cooperative grows and thrives. If our community suffers – whether because of financial and economic uncertainty or natural disaster – our cooperative naturally feels the impact, too, as people spend less money.
Because of our state’s current political and economic upheaval, we are concerned about the wellbeing of our co-op community.
Although we don’t yet know the final outcome, we do expect significant changes in funding for everything from agricultural programs to food and shelter for our most vulnerable citizens. In the meantime, we know that many of our Owners and shoppers are already experiencing economic hardship and anxiety about the future.
As for the co-op, after 2018’s tremendous 14% sales growth, we are now experiencing declining sales (down 3% from last year). Although we are still a healthy, viable business, we are concerned about what the future may hold.
We are committed to supporting our local economy, fostering food security, and making healthy, nutritious food affordable and accessible to everyone. As a cooperative, we have built a business model that includes many initiatives to support these things, including:
• Preferred purchasing from local farmers and producers. Our purchasing priorities are 1. Fairbanks and surrounding area, 2. Alaska grown and produced, and 3. organic and natural products from the distributors that serve our national cooperative.
• Lend a Hand and Shop & Share. These programs give our shoppers an easy way to share their resources with community nonprofits and people in need.
• Donating surplus food. We avoid food waste by donating out-of-date useable food to Breadline’s Stone Soup Cafe and the Fairbanks Community Food Bank. We also offer compostable food waste to local farmers and gardeners.
• Co+op Basics. More than 100 of our organic and natural items in every department are affordably priced every day. These items have purple price tags and are priced to compete with store-branded products from other stores – and they’re often of higher quality.
What else can we do?
One concrete step we can take right now is to make it easier to become a Co-op Market Owner.
Making Ownership more accessible will allow more people to enjoy money-saving benefits, including monthly Owner Deals and, five times annually, 10% off one shopping trip. And increasing Ownership is good for the co-op: The more of us there are, the stronger we are and the more positive impact we can have on our local economy.
Effective immediately, we are reducing the required initial Ownership investment from $25 to $10. Full investment remains at $200. We will ask Owners who are not paid in full to make regular quarterly payments of at least $5 toward their full investment to be considered in good standing. Owners must remain in good standing to continue to receive discounts and vote in our board election.
We will be exploring other options in the future, and we welcome your suggestions. Please feel free to attend one of our regular monthly board meetings at 6 p.m. every 2nd Monday at the Literacy Council. Or email us at board@coopmarket.org and gm@coopmarket.org.
What can you do as an Owner?
• Continue to shop at the co-op. We know there are other choices out there, and as expected, Costco has taken a bite of our sales. We know that it may be easier and, for some specific items, less expensive to shop at a big box store. But our relationship is just that: a relationship. We cannot survive without you.
• Talk to your friends, neighbors and coworkers about your co-op. Many people still don’t know that we exist, or that you don’t have to be an Owner to shop here. People are much more likely to patronize a business when it is recommended by someone they know and trust. You can help us grow simply by talking about us.
• Get involved. Whatever your political persuasion, we encourage your civic engagement. We the people are the government, whether of the state or nation or even the co-op. Our government only works for people when people take action: Learn about the issues. Communicate with your representatives. Vote. Consider running for office or for a seat on our board.
Unlike large corporations, we don’t have outside investors who can inject temporary funding to tide us over in hard times. Also unlike those corporations, we are here to stay. We are committed to doing all we can not only to ride out these turbulent times, but to be a source of stability and a place where community can come together to solve problems. After all, it took powerful, sustained effort from many people to make the dream of a cooperative grocery store become a reality. The energy is there, and we hope you’ll help us harness it.
Thank you for your continuing support as we navigate these difficult times. We treasure your loyalty and confidence, and we know that difficulty often brings opportunity. As your representatives on the co-op’s board of directors and as your general manager, we commit to deliberate and careful actions to ensure that we maintain our role as your source of healthful foods. The wellbeing of our community members and the health of our business will always guide our decisions.
In cooperation,
Board of Directors:
Art Gelvin
Brian Kassof
Anduin McElroy
Chase Nelson
Madeline Patterson O’Dell
Rich Seifert
Hilary Shook
Jodi Tansky
General Manager
Mary Christensen
Want to win $100 in Co-op Cash? Tell us what you think.
Want a chance to win $100 in Co-op Cash? Just give us your opinions and 20 minutes of your time. We want to hear what we’re doing well, what needs improvement, and any other comments and suggestions you may have.
We’ll ask about your shopping patterns and your satisfaction with the co-op. There’s also a section specifically for Owners and a series of demographic questions that are entirely voluntary. Many questions have space for your comments, too.
Our Shopper Survey ends March 1st and is open to anyone who shops at Co-op Market. Access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XVJGLWV
(If the survey link does not work when you click it, please try copying it and pasting it into your browser. If that doesn’t work, please contact Kristin Summerlin, Marketing & Owner Services Manager, at marketing@coopmarket.org).
Worried about Sam’s Club closing? We can help.
With the announcement that Sam’s Club will close its doors at the end of the month, many people are worried about the negative impact on restaurants and small businesses in our community. We understand the concern and know this will affect not only restaurants and businesses, but also people with large families, those who live in the Bush, and many military families.
We can help.
Special Order Discounts
You probably already know that you can save money by shopping in our Bulk Foods aisle. But did you know that you can get a discount when you order staples in bulk or cases of the groceries on our shelves? Owners receive a 10% discount on special orders, but anyone can place a special order and receive a 5% discount. (These discounts apply to non-sale items.)
Stretching Co+op Deals Sales
If you’re familiar with our twice-monthly Co+op Deals flyer, you know that these sales represent significant savings. Did you know you can special order cases of these items anytime during the flyer period and receive the sale price, no matter when the product actually arrives in the store? This is a great way to take advantage of special pricing to stretch your grocery budget.
Case Pricing on Overstock
From time to time, we do find ourselves with overstock. We will offer case pricing on these items, while supplies last. Look for them on the back endcap near the dairy products. (We’re setting it up with some Bob’s Red Mill products later today.)
Business Accounts
If you’re a fully invested co-op Owner who also owns a small business or restaurant, we can help you source high quality organic and natural products for use in your business. We can offer bulk bags or cases of products, including fresh produce, at our cost, including shipping, plus 20%. If you purchase items for your business from our shelves (rather than ordering by the case), we offer a 10% discount.
This offer is only extended to licensed businesses that use the products for resale. Eligible businesses include small restaurants, bed & breakfasts, inns and tour operators – any small business that purchases groceries for large groups of people. (Business discounts only apply to groceries used for business. Family groceries must be purchased at our regular prices.)
You can find our business account application here.
We do understand the gap Sam’s Club’s closing creates. We also see it as an opportunity to do more for our community. We’re exploring ways to offer even more savings and benefits to bridge that gap. And because we’re a community-owned grocery store, we don’t have outside shareholders who would rather close a store to maximize profit at the expense of community. We belong to you, and we’re here to stay!
P.S. Don’t forget our annual Truckload Sale in May! We expect this year’s sale to be even bigger and better than ever!
Thank You: Helen McLean to Retire from the Co-op Market Board of Directors
By Hans Geier, Past Vice President
Long-time volunteer Helen McLean has submitted her resignation to the Co-op Market Board of Directors. We want to recognize and honor her selfless and generous service.
Helen was there at the beginning. I met her at one of our very first co-op meetings, about seven years before our grand opening. Through the years she has given so much to our cooperative. She’s always given freely of her time and efforts. She even provided the Board with a regular meeting place in her family’s beautiful home. So many times we gathered there for potluck dinners before the meetings. Those potlucks were definitely a highlight of our earlier days.
During our first years, many of our activities revolved around planning and executing fundraising events. Helen was always one of the first to volunteer and seemed to get most everything done, making our fundraising efforts seem effortless and fun.
Now the Board will be less occupied with fundraising as we turn our attention to expediting the Co-op’s success. Board membership has changed, and we’ve welcomed new members (AnneMarie Billingsley, Angela Matz and Shannon McClure) and new officers (President Anduin McElroy and Vice President Chase Nelson).
In keeping with the Co-op spirit, we “old” Board members (Rob Leach, Rich Seifert and I) find it very gratifying to see the Board leadership be transferred to the “next generation.” We are confident that our cooperative will continue to grow and prosper as an iconic – yet new – Fairbanks business.
Thank you, Helen for your faithful service. We wish you well in your new career at the Lodge at Black Rapids. I am sure it will be a wonderful fit for your talents and work ethic. And we know you’ll always be an integral part of the Co-op.
Why a Member Loan? Testimonials
“Across the country, people are recognizing that cooperatives are trustworthy, responsive and major assets to their communities. What makes co-ops different from other, investor-controlled businesses is the people who own it. Shoppers who depend on a store to meet their needs are the owners and investors in co-ops.
Instead of maximizing stockholder returns, the co-op will strive to serve the members, customers, local producers, store employees and the community at large–keeping the business balanced and sustainable. Your loan is an essential part of the capital that will create this strong, independent grocery store. It is an investment in quality food, meaningful jobs, and community education. Please consider a loan now. The co-op needs you, and you need the co-op!”
Stuart Reid
Executive Director, Food Co-op Initiative
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“I envision Fairbanks Community Cooperative Market as one venue that can help with food security by providing a reliable local outlet for many smaller producers. We can still buy the more exotic foods from far away, but we can buy a lot more of the basics much closer to home.”
Tom Paragi – see full article here
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“After considerable rumination can only agree that the cooperative is of vital importance to us, and indeed people everywhere should be engaged in a similar effort. Having read Slow Money by Woody Tasch and also Ultrametabolism by Mark Hyman I am seeing the world quite differently.
As a child I had polio and over recent years my mobility has been declining, severely. I learned of the possibility that this may not simply be an effect of the polio when reading Ultrametabolism. Toxins and allergies can cause joint inflammation. This seemed unlikely however I started on an organic diet, no sugars of any kind, no engineered foods, and pretty much nothing out of a box. In just two weeks my mobility has recovered to the way it was 10 years ago and I am both ecstatic about this and suddenly an evangelical community focused whole foods advocate.
It makes my toes curl, now that they can curl again, to see a child munching on their corn fructose and trans fat made thousands of miles away mass produced concoctions, their parents totally ignorant of the multifaceted consequences.
Thank you. Power to the Coop!”
Paul Morgan
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“The availability of diverse and safe food is a vastly under-rated luxury of our modern life. Having it readily available when we want it, in great diversity, and affordably, is a treasure which too many take for granted. A Cooperative grocery could improve and localize our food supply, and for that and many other reasons,
I am a board member of the Co-op Market effort, and a willing lender, and here’s why:
An established food Cooperative, stressing local production of healthy vegetables, fruits, meats, and seafoods, is not only a huge asset, it is a wonderful insurance policy for all our friends and neighbors. We now import a vast majority of our food. This is insecure, lowers its quality, and makes us less self-sufficient. All of us would be healthier, more food-secure, and the community more resilient if we develop increased production of local foods. I have committed $5000 to a board member portion of the financial nest egg we want to use to build the Co-op. This can and likely will be one of the most important community actions we can take for our future.
Won’t you join me in a community effort to build a food source and market we can be proud of?”
Rich Seifert
Board member and finance committee co-chair.
How to Volunteer
Thanks for considering joining our volunteer team. Everyone’s efforts are appreciated. This is a grassroots effort! Literally.
Summer Festivals and Downtown Market – We seek a volunteer team to represent Co-op Market at the new Downtown Market every Monday and at the Midnight Sun Festival. Call 457-1023 or email today.
Office Shifts!
Two hour shifts in the office. Tasks include answering the phone, checking the mail, writing thank you notes, research, filing, printing, entering new memberships in the database and preparing membership packets to be mailed out.
To sign up for a weekly or biweekly office shift call 457-1023 or email Co-opMarket@ak.net.
Tasks can be tailored to match your talents and interests. Plus we have things that can easily be done from home. Research and Essay Writing are just two of those. Contact Mary about this. Call 347-4463 or email co-opmarketoutreach@ak.net.
One committee needs a chairs or co-chair.
Health and Wellness committee: This committee got off to a good start and is vital to our outreach and core cooperative values of education and service. We need someone to lead the charge with this committee.
To Help with Finance Committee – Call us at 457-1023
Two really cool jobs! Be our Twitter person or work with our Blog or start a food blog.
Finance Committee
Our Finance Committee has a lot on its plate! We could use more help! We have a Member Loan Campaign team and we now we need a team to work on the rest of the financing we need to get the go ahead to start the Building Phase of our project.
If you would like to volunteer to work with this committee please call 457-1023.
Member Loan Information
Are you considering providing a Member Loan? If you are a member of Co-op Market and a resident of the State of Alaska here is some information that may be helpful in informing your decision.
Did you know that co-ops all over the country have raised start up capital with member loans? One co-op that comes to mind is Friendly City Food Co-op in West Virginia, a soon to open co-op of a similiar size to ours, achieved $600,000 in loans from 200 members.
Another food co-op that had a successful Member Loan campaign is Just Food Co-op in Northfield, Minnesota. They have been open close to 5 years and are enormously successful.
What are the risks? To find out more about the risks and benefits of this social investment email us at co-opmarketoutreach@ak.net or call 457-1023 and we will send you the full disclosure documents.
You may also find useful information from the website of CDS Consulting Co-op. Bill Gessner, Mel Braverman, and Tami Bauers have helped us enormously with their technical assistance. They have a wealth of knowledge about the development of food co-ops.
For more information about this business model go to the Weaver’s Way site. There are several sources listed at the bottom of the page.
Our Member Loan Disclosure Documents, the Business Plan and Financial Pro Forma are all available electronically by request. Hard copies are available at the office and we are happy to mail Disclosure Documents out. Email Mary at Co-opMarketOutreach@ak.net.
Call our office – 457-1023 or call 347-4463 if you have any questions or would like to meet to discuss this program.
All are welcome to drop by the Volunteer Office any week day afternoon. It is located at 540 4th Ave. in suite 102B – Under the Vet Center.
