You own a grocery store! Have you ever thought about it that way? You took a leap of faith and invested your money in Co-op Market Grocery & Deli. You built a vibrant new retail food co-op, the first one in Alaska.
As a Member-Owner, you can do more to ensure our success than just shop with us. You can help shape the future of Co-op Market and make sure we remain true to our values and mission as we continue to grow. You can serve on our Board of Directors.
Co-ops are not just businesses: They are democratic organizations governed by an elected Board of Directors made up of Member-Owners. Our nine-member board is the legal steward of the Co-op and fulfills the obligations of running a business. The board provides leadership, vision and guidance. It oversees wise use of Co-op resources and sets long-range goals.
Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. (Find out more about cooperative values and principles here.)
This year the board will be finalizing its board policies and Ends Statement and will begin to work with our General Manager to clarify our plan for growth and expansion.
Do you believe in the cooperative values and principles? Are you passionate about bringing good healthy food to the community? Do you want to help create a flourishing local economy with a real focus on sustainability? Do you have a background in business or volunteer organizations and relevant life experiences to share? You’re an ideal candidate!
Here are some things you need to know.
The Board of Directors
- oversees the Co-op’s financial condition.
- connects to our owners.
- shapes our Co-op’s vision and works closely with our General Manager to set long-term strategies.
The Co-op Market board operates under the Carver Policy Governance Model.
To be eligible, candidates
- must be Member-Owners of Co-op Market Grocery & Deli in good standing.
- cannot be a Co-op Market employee.
- must know how to focus, communicate clearly, and understand strategic thinking.
- should have prior experience making decisions in a group setting.
- must be able to undertake fiduciary responsibility on behalf of the Co-op and its owners.
Directors serve for a two-year term. For 2014/2015, four of the nine board seats are up for election.
The board meets monthly. Directors commit to an average of 4 to 8 hours of service per month, depending on committee and project workload. They also commit to attend yearly national cooperative training and conferences.
Applications are available here, or you can get a paper copy at the customer service desk. Completed applications, along with a current digital photograph, are due by September 5, 2014. (Your photograph should be a headshot only and in .jpg format.) All Member-Owners will receive candidate bios, photos and a ballot. On-line and paper ballot voting will begin on September 25. Winning candidates will be announced at our annual meeting on October 23.
For more information, please contact Board Chairman Robert Leach at board@coopmarket.org.
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