I think two recent happenings are the best place to start to explain the difference. The first event was the Annual Member-Owner Meeting, which took place on Oct. 23. At this meeting, the Co-op’s board provided updates on the Co-op’s efforts to the membership. Among the updates were membership growth, communications numbers, and financial details. We also discussed upcoming steps, including site selection, hiring a general manager, and the upcoming investment campaign. What’s noteworthy about this was the transparency and the willingness to solicit questions from the membership. Honest and open conversations between the folks in charge and the stakeholders are critical to the cooperative model.

The second event that helps shed light on this difference is the recent election. The members of the Co-op voted to elect three new members to the board of directors. Congratulations to Kate Dunning, Trevor Hendrickson, and Sally Rayzor! These three members are now going to help continue the momentum already established to open the doors for the Co-op.

The point I wanted to make to Joe is this: As a member, you have the ability to lead in the effort, vote for people who will, and hold them accountable for their work. How many other businesses do you frequent that you can say that about?

Thank you!

With the conclusion of this year’s board elections, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the three outgoing board members. Their work over the years is worthy of so much more praise than I can squeeze into this post.

SHERI HUBER-OTTING

Sheri started volunteering for the Co-op’s Operations Team in the summer of 2013. She was helpful in a number of initiatives, including the annual Fall Food Fest. Sheri later joined the board—she, along with the other two that I’m recognizing here, were the very first to run for the board. (Prior board members volunteered before formal elections were established.) Sheri also helped start up our Investment Team, which meant that she was the only board member serving on more than one committee. Thank you, Sheri!

JESS CRUZ

Like Sheri, Jess became involved in committee work before joining the board. Jess started with the Communications Team in the fall of 2014. Jess has been very instrumental in our efforts in marketing, design, social media, and event photography. As a board member, Jess took the reins of the Communications Team, chairing it for the last year, and also serving as the board secretary for the last 3 years. Jess made considerable efforts to educate herself about the world of start-up food co-ops by, among other things, attending two national food co-op conferences, making her an invaluable leader in our efforts. Thank you, Jess!

BRENNA GRIFFIN

Prior to joining the board, Brenna was serving on the Membership Team, which she started volunteering with in the fall of 2013. After Melanie Drake stepped down to serve as the Outreach Coordinator, Brenna stepped up to chair the Membership’s efforts, and she should be lauded for leading many successful campaigns over her tenure in this role. Brenna has helped the Co-op in numerous other ways, helping with house parties, special events, phone calling, booth staffing, and more. On a more personal level, I could always count on Brenna as a trusted advisor to my role as the president. Her commitment to this work kept inspiring me to work even harder. Thank you, Brenna!

If you have stories about Sheri, Jess, or Brenna’s efforts in helping the Co-op, please share in the comments below or by sending me an email at tomwick@sbcglobal.net. And if you see either of these three outstanding people, please be sure to thank them for their service to the Co-o and to the greater Cedar Valley community.

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

Before we get into this month’s column, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who helped make this year’s Fall Food Fest a smashing success! From the farmers, producers, and restaurateurs to the musicians, to the face painters, to all the volunteers who helped move tables and chairs, hung posters around town, and more. This is what it means to build community. This is what happens when people work together for a cause. It’s amazing to see. I can’t wait to see all the good things that happen after we open a store!

Now, on to our topic…

One of the most important benefits of being an owner of the Cedar Falls Food co-op is the ability to have a voice in your cooperative. YOU can help shape the direction of the Co-op. And right now there are two great ways for you to exercise your rights.

VOTE

The first if the right to vote. If you haven’t yet voted for the Co-op board candidates be sure to do so before the polls close at midnight on Thursday, October 25. Emails have been sent to fully-paid members with complete instructions on how to vote online. If you haven’t received any of the voting instructions, please contact us at info@cedarfallsfood.coop. You can also vote in person at the Annual Owners Meeting (see details below). You can vote for up to 3 candidates running for the board, so let’s hear your opinion!

PARTICIPATE

One of the trademarks of a co-op is the annual owner meeting, something like a shareholders meeting. This year the annual meeting will feature a popcorn bar, so you’ll be able to enjoy some snacks while you get an update on the state of your Co-op! Please be sure to attend:

See What’s Poppin’ at the Co-op: Annual Owners Meeting

Tuesday, October 23rd, 7-8:30pm

Location: One Strategic Place, Cedar Falls

Mark your calendars now! This is a members ONLY event, but you can sign up to be a member at the event. At this meeting you’ll hear updates on the Co-op’s progress, be able to ask questions of the board, and let you opinions be heard. Find out about what’s coming up next in the Co-op’s development.

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

Have you ever served on a board of directors? If so, you probably attended regular meetings, reviewed annual budgets, and gave feedback on programs and marketing plans. All very important work. But your role was likely around continuing the work of the organization.

Right now, there’s a new opportunity you should consider: Serving on a board to help launch an organization. If elected to serve on the board, you will be part of the leadership of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op as it journeys through the single most important event in its history: The grand opening of the store!

The deadline to submit applications to serve on the board of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op has been extended: The new deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 12. Complete details can be found here.

About the Board

One of the distinguishing aspects of your Co-op is the fact that any member can serve on the board of directors. The Co-op fully embraces Cooperative Principal #2, Democratic Governance, and wants you to know that if you’ve got the passion for bringing a full-service grocery story that focuses on local and healthy, and that is an investment in our community, then you should consider running for the Co-op’s board of directors. Each summer there are there positions open on the board, each serving a three-year term.

What does the Board Do?

The Board is responsible for ensuring organizational performance on behalf of all of the Co-op’s owners. Currently, the work of the Board of Directors is geared towards establishing a physical store. Once established, the work will shift to developing clearly stated expectations for the General Manager through written policies; delegating responsibility for, and authority over, the achievement of stated objectives; and monitoring GM compliance with written policies.

On a personal note, having served on the Co-op’s board has been a tremendous experience. In fact, I would say it’s one of the single most important experiences of my life. It has truly been a pleasure to serve our growing membership and help turn our dream into reality.

Please let me know if you have any questions about serving on the board – send me an email and I’ll get you some answers. Thanks for your consideration!

That’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often, and one that I urge you to consider.

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

Speaking of starting a food co-op, did you know that the Cedar Falls Food Co-op is getting close to announcing a site location? If all goes well, we should have an announcement by the end of the month. Keep watching our Facebook page for details!

In the meantime, it’s time to revisit an article I wrote a few years ago, The Top 6 Myths About the Food Co-op. I think it’s time to expand that list. So, without further ado, here are 6 additional myths about food co-ops and the Cedar Falls Food Co-op:

Myth #7: The Cedar Falls Food Co-op is like the NewBo City Market

FACT: The NewBo City Market, located near the downtown in Cedar Rapids, is a space filled with separate businesses, operating much like a business incubator. In contrast, the Cedar Falls Food Co-op is one business—a grocery store, which will purchase goods from local growers and producers, and sell those on their behalf. A better picture of what the Co-op will look like is in this video.

Myth #8: Because of its name, the Cedar Falls Food Co-op will only be for Cedar Falls residents

FACT: Anyone can shop the Coo-op! In fact, my wife and I shop at food co-op across the country, often going out of our way to visit food co-ops for lunch or to grab some food for the journey. Not only will the Co-op serve the entire Cedar Valley, it will generate tourism dollars from other folks who stop by on their way through town. Also, don’t forget that unlike businesses like Costco, you don’t have to be a member (or really, owner) to shop the Co-op.

Myth #9: The Co-op will be bad for the farmers markets

FACT: On the contrary, the Co-op will be a boost for the farmers markets. Between promoting/advocating the value of purchasing locally and providing the farmers with yet another outlet to sell their wares, food co-ops across the country work in collaboration with their local farmers markets. One of my favorite examples is the Neighborhood Co-op (Carbondale, IL), which hosts their community’s farmers market in its parking lot. Talk about synergy!

Myth #10: The Co-op will benefit from numerous grants

FACT: While it’s true that cooperatives are sometimes eligible for grants, and that the Cedar Falls Food Co-op was the beneficiary of one such grant ($300 for to help cover expenses to attend the annual food co-op conference), the reality is that grant opportunities are few and far between, especially for us here in Iowa, which doesn’t have as robust a cooperative infrastructure as many other states. Don’t forget that cooperatives are not nonprofits (see previous article).

Myth #11: It will be expensive to shop at the Co-op

FACT: Prices at food co-ops are competitive with conventional grocery stores. Sure, it’s true that the Cedar Falls Food Co-op will pay workers more than conventional stores, and will give back more to the community (as a percentage of its profits). (And it’s true that our prices might be a bit higher during our first few years after opening.) But the Co-op also benefits from being a member of a national organization and supplier, which will help make some prices even lower than the competition. But even if the prices were a bit higher, wouldn’t that be worth it if you factor in how much money is kept locally, how much co-ops nurture community, and how much co-ops benefit the environment? I thought so.

Myth #12: Opening the doors of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op is inevitable

FACT: The Cedar Falls Food Co-op is close to announcing a location, but that doesn’t mean there’s not much work left to do. In fact, the final stage of opening a $2.5 million business requires a lot of hard work. Many thanks to all the volunteers who’ve helped with this process so far. However, there’s much left to be done – if you are interested in rolling up your sleeves to help with governance, marketing, finance, or events, please drop me a line at tomwick@sbcglobal.net.

Thanks so much for reading this month’s column. Please let me know if you have other ideas for future articles.

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

Last month, at an event I attended for my nonprofit day job, I was approached by someone who told me that he heard where the Cedar Falls Food Co-op will be located. “That’s news to me!” I exclaimed. Perhaps you’ve heard a rumor (or two?) as well.

Over the years, the Cedar Falls Food Co-op’s board has worked diligently, guiding our development towards the opening of a store much like this one. At each step in the Co-op’s growth, we’ve wrestled with countless issues and have made significant decisions including the name of the Co-op, the amount of a membership, and the qualifications we’ll require from potential general managers.

But the single most important decision the Co-op’s board will make is determining the location for the store. Currently, the Co-op board of directors, along with representatives of the Operations Committee, are working hard to make that decision. And we are not taking that responsibility lightly.

Our work is guided by national and local consultants, and we are doing our due diligence in analyzing the market, the competition, and the feasibility of various locations. We are studying other start-up food co-ops across the country, working with existing food co-ops, and diving into research about the few start-ups that haven’t succeeded. And we are working with owners of potential sites to negotiate the best possible arrangement for our store. Our goal has been and will always be to open up a store that will be financially successful.

And while the location is part of that, it is also tied to the store size, parking spaces, and even what services and products we offer. These are a lot of moving parts, and the Co-op’s leadership is committed to making the best possible decision while balancing all of these variables along with member-owner’s needs. Yes, we would have liked to have opened a store by now—and we’ve been approached with some offers that may have sped up our process—but ultimately, we feel it’s better to take our time and do it right, rather than rush this process.

This community deserves a fantastic food co-op. It will be a pleasant place to shop. It will support local growers. It will help make our community a healthier place to live. But the Co-op must be financially viable. We are not going to invest over $2 million to open a store only to have it close a few years later.

So, bear with us as we work through these details. If you hear about a site know this: It might be a location that we are in negotiations with, but it’s just that – under negotiation. Once a decision is made, we’ll be sure to announce that to the membership first and the community soon after. But we won’t let an external timeline, a site, or a developer guide the decision. We will make the decision based on sound financial and market feasibility studies and projections.

Until then, thank you for your patience. And thanks for your continued support of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op.

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

Even someone like me who doesn’t watch a lot of TV couldn’t escape the Maddie Poppe news – Clarksville’s own won this year’s American Idol competition. There were celebrations everywhere. Tons of coverage in the papers and local news stations. “Maddie Poppe Fever” was a thing. And signs everywhere. Clarksville hosted a parade and declared May 15 as Maddie Poppe Day. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds attended Maddie’s concert at the Butler County Fairgrounds.

So, what’s the big deal? Why all the attention? The answer is simple: local pride. As one concert-goer noted, “We may not have any stoplights in Butler Co., but we do have a shining star.” Note the possessive quality of this statement. People in northeast Iowa, and across the state, are taking pride in “one of our own” winning a national contest.

What are YOU proud of about the place you live? Folks in Dyserville are proud of their Field of Dreams. Waterloo is proud of Dan Gable and the Sullivan Brothers. Iowans are proud of the Bridges of Madison County and RAGBRAI. If you’re from Decorah, you’re proud of one of the best breweries in the world.

Think of the places you’ve lived. When you have out-of-town visitors, what do you want to show off to them? When my wife and I lived in St. Louis, we loved to show off Forest Park to guests. Now living in the Cedar Valley, we take visitors to Hartman Reserve for walks, Miss Wonderful for shopping, and Rudy’s Tacos for unique food.

“People want to be true stakeholders in what happens in their areas,” noted a recent HuffPost article. “Cities should offer their citizens inclusive opportunities and a sense of personal pride in the overall infrastructure.”

That, of course, is something the Cedar Falls Food Co-op offers. Not only will the Co-op be “home grown,” but it also offers residents a chance to be a stakeholder. Anyone can be an owner of the Co-op. How many local businesses can claim that?

In addition to being owned by the residents, the Co-op will reciprocate and invest in the community, buying from local producers, donating to local charities, and living out the principal of Concern for Community.

While a grocery store might be a modest investment in one’s community, it is something we can all connect with. What’s more universal than food? Food nourishes us, so why not have the place where we can buy food be as interested in nourishing our community as we are?

As Maddie pointed out in her rendition of “Bare Necessities,”

Wherever I wander, whenever I roam

I couldn’t be fonder of my big home

If you haven’t become one of the nearly 775 member-owners of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op, join today and be a part of building local pride.

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

This is not to say that writing bylaws and conducting a market study weren’t exciting in their own right, but the final stage is most exciting because this is where the vision turns into reality.

Right now the Co-op’s board and committees are hard at work finalizing the last pieces of Stage 2, which, in addition to the market study, included establishing accounting practices, conducting membership recruitment campaigns, doing a financial feasibility study, drafting the general manager job description, and conducting preliminary site research. (See graphic.)

Having passed the 750-member mark in late March was also a significant milestone. Board member Brenna Griffin noted that the number of members is only one metric to the community’s support. “The local business community is fully backing the Co-op,” she added. “In addition to the 70 businesses offering discounts to Co-op member-owners, several others have helped host programs, events, and meetings, as well as donated goods and services,” said Griffin.

Having the Co-op as one of the City’s goals in its strategic plan is also a significant symbol of the community’s support of this initiative.

Stage 3: What’s Coming Up

The final phase in building the community-owned grocery store starts soon, and the most notable aspect is securing a site. Co-op officials are currently in negotiations on a potential site and hope to make an announcement soon. Once a lease is signed and announced, the rubber hits the road for the final steps including:

• Raising the capital
• Securing a traditional loan
• Hiring a general manager
• Designing the store and stocking the shelves
• Holding a grand opening ceremony!

Things happen quickly during this stage, and the need for members to step up and help push this across the finish line is greater than ever. If you haven’t had a chance to volunteer, join a committee, or recruit a friend to become a member, now is the time to do so. YOU can help build this!

If you are interested in helping out, please contact the Co-op at info@cedarfallsfood.coop today!

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

A 1994 New Pioneer staff T-shirt is part of a quilt at the Brattleboro Food Co-op.

Right now, people in Cedar Falls and the surrounding communities are joining together to build a similar legacy here, a business that’s owned by members of the community for the community. With each new member of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op, we get closer to opening the doors.

But when those doors open for the first time, the window of opportunity to become a Founding Member closes.

What’s a Founding Member?

To be clear, anyone can join as a member of the Co-op before or after we open the doors. But only those who join before the store opens will be designated as a Founding Member.

Think about it. Only the 1,000 or so members who join before opening day can say “I helped build that.” Only they can say they were “early adopters” who made a (financial) leap of faith, believing in the Co-op’s vision before there was a bricks-and-mortar space. They can look back years from now and proudly proclaim, “I was a Founding Member.”

Every member of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op is an equal owner of the Co-op, and thus has a say in how the business is run (through things like voting for board members). And while members who join after the Co-op opens will help guide and direct the cooperative, only Founding Members will truly be able to shape the Co-op.

Part of that shaping is currently underway, as members have recently completed a survey about their preferences for what they want to see in the final store. They’ve also provided opinions on key words that will be used to craft the Co-op’s core values, a statement that will guide a significant number of decisions in our final stage of development. They’ll also be able to run for the board this summer, and then later vote on candidates for the board. Between now and opening day there will be other opportunities for current Founding Members to help shape the future of the Co-op, and, by extension, the future of our community.

Leaving a Legacy

Cedar Falls resident Marlene Behn is a Founding Member of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op because she sees what Co-ops can do for the community. “I have always loved New Pioneer in Iowa City,” she writes. “I would be proud to have a similar offering in Cedar Falls.”

Waterloo resident and Founding Member Rosemary Peacher understands building a legacy. “I want to contribute to the health of the community for decades to come, even beyond my own lifetime,” she writes.

Becoming a Founding Member of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op is a way of investing in our community. It’s about looking into the future and declaring that the future can be better by our actions today. It’s well beyond the list of benefits of membership – it’s commitment to the local economy and the future of the Cedar Valley.

Proud Co-op members, Sara C., Blake W. and Thad F. and their founding member tote bags, available only for Founding Members.

So, like the early pioneers in Iowa City, Decorah, and Ames, if you want to help shape the Co-op; if you want to help leave a legacy for generations to come; if you want to show your kids or grandkids your Founding Member name on a display in the store; or if you just want a cool tote bag; then join today to become a Founding Member before the opportunity is gone!

Have any questions about membership? Founding Members, want to provide more input on our direction? Then send me an email. I’d love to hear from you!

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

“How many members do we have now?” is a question I’m asked frequently (729 as of writing this). The number of member-owners is a gauge; it helps tell the story of how close we are to opening our doors. But there are other numbers that also tell the story of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op. In the spirit of the “Love Your Co-op” month, let’s dive into some of them. How many of these do you know?

$84,000

Last year, scores of volunteers contributed over $84,000 worth of in-kind and volunteer hours to the efforts of the Co-op. Members and friends of the Co-op baked pies, staffed booths, marched at Sturgis, and much more. Special kudos to your Co-op Board of Directors. We love our volunteers!

24%

Of the approximately $3 million that the Co-op needs to secure to open its doors, roughly 24% of that will come from traditional financing. (Co-op member-owners will contribute roughly 50% of the start-up costs.) Already, three banks in the area have expressed interest in our efforts. We love our local banks!

65

The number of business in the Cedar Valley (and beyond) that have pledged to support the Co-op by offering Co-op members discounts at their stores. From coffee to chiropractors, from gifts to brews, and from remodelers to restaurants…local businesses are showing love for our effort. We love our business partners!

5

Did you know the City of Cedar Falls has a strategic plan? Called “Future Forward 2025,” the plan outlines 15 specific goals. Number 5 on the list: “Sustainable local foods co-op in Downtown Cedar Falls.” We love this forward thinking city!

6

This is the number of parking spots we’re going to need after opening the store. Or, to be clear, it’s 6 parking spots per 1,000 sq ft of retail space. Retail space will take approximately 65% of our total space (the rest is for storage, offices, restrooms, and other behind the scenes stuff). Once we know how big the store will be (somewhere between 8,000 and 12,000 sq ft), we’ll know how many parking spots to secure, but for now we just call it ‘6.’

40

Right now there are 40 active committee members helping steer us towards the finish line. If you know anyone serving on the Communications, Finance, Membership, Investment, or Operations Teams, tell them how much you love them!

106

Food co-ops specialize in buying from local farmers and producers. On average, food co-ops in the US buy from 106 local producers like bee keepers, coffee makers, farmers, brewers, bakers, ranchers, and more. Imagine the impact one store could have on the local economy. We love community investment!

3

Of course, the Co-op’s efforts aren’t taking place in a vacuum. We’re among over 125 co-ops across the country right now that are in development to open a community-grown grocery store. They, and we, are aided by the help of consultants. Let’s give some co-op love to CDS Consulting, Food Cooperative Initiative, and Dakota Worldwide for their help of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op! (Of course, this list of consultants does not include all the other established and start up food co-ops that have also helped along the way. P6 love to them!)

19

Okay, so there’s only one Rooty, the affable and quick-to-dance carrot mascot of the Co-op. But did you know that 19 co-op members have donned the costume at events around the Cedar Valley? Do you know any of them? Do you want to be #20? If so, we’ll show you the love!

If you want more information on any of these numbers, or you just want me to double check my math, send me an email. In the meantime what are ways YOU love the Co-op? Tell us.

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

New Board Leadership

At the November meeting of your board of directors, we elected new officers and realigned some of our committee leadership. Here are the new or updated roles:

Tom Wickersham, President

Andrew Morse, Vice president

Jess Cruz, Secretary

Scott Wirtz, Treasurer

Brenna Griffin, Membership Chair

Jess Cruz, Communications Chair

Scott Wirtz, Finance Chair

Terry Stewart, Operations Chair

Andrew Morse, Capital Campaign Chair

Capital Campaign

Okay, so on that last item, the newly formed Capital Campaign Committee is a critical part of our work in Stage 3. And I’m very excited about this team’s work so far. Sometime in the first half of next year, this group will lead efforts to raise a significant amount of funds needed to open our doors – roughly 45% of the total amount needed to buy shelving, install coolers, and stock the store. This team will have more details out soon about how this will work, but it boils down to this one fundamental concept: existing member-owners will have the opportunity to invest in the start up of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op. Watch this space for details!

General Manager

Meanwhile, our Operations Team is busy with numerous tasks, but two of them stand out as significant. One of them is the site selection process (see the next paragraph for more details), but the other is gearing up to hire a general manager. About one year before we open the doors, the board of directors will begin the transition from a working board (without pay, of course!) to a governing board, by hiring a general manager, who will, in turn, hire her or his staff to run the operations of the store. With all the start-up food co-ops underway right now (over 100!), the committee is working hard to get a jump start on the hiring process to ensure we have the best candidates for the position.

Site Selection

The leadership of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op understands how critical it is to find the right location for our grocery store. I’m very pleased with the due diligence work currently underway by our Operations Team to ensure we have the best possible location for the store. While the goal has always been the same – in or near downtown Cedar Falls – the number of variables is surprisingly large in part because we are considering all options at this point: buying, renting, or building from the ground up. Once a site is selected, we will most certainly make a big announcement about that, but until then, all considerations and negotiations will be kept confidential.

Professional Development

Your Co-op leadership team continues to take full advantage of all the consultants and learning opportunities available to us. Members of the board and committees continue to participate in a monthly Co-op Peer call in which we learn from and exchange ideas with three other start-up food co-ops: New Leaf Food Co-op in Green Bay, WI, Food Shed Co-op in Woodstock, IL, and Wild Root Market in Racine, WI. In addition, we work with Food Cooperative Initiative as well as CDS Consulting Co-op. Lastly, we’ve been fortunate to send members to attend two annual food co-op conferences each year: Small & Strong in Bloomington, MN, and Up & Coming in Milwaukee. I know our leadership team is developing the necessary skills to not only open our community grown grocery store, but to ensure that is runs well after opening day.

Other Items

Kudos to our Membership Team for all their hard work in recruiting new member-owners. Our growth rate continues to be strong, helping us get closer to opening day sooner. Our Finance Team is working on lots of back end items, while also having meetings with area banks. One of our sources of start-up capital will come from a traditional bank loan, so we’re getting things ready for that important step. And, if you haven’t heard yet, our Communications Team has worked with a local company to offer you an array of Co-op gear. These will make great gifts for the holiday season!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me at tomwick@sbcglobal.net. Happy holidays!

In cooperation,

Tom