Being part of a cooperative means being part of something special. The Cedar Falls Food Co-op is celebrating National Cooperative Month in October, along with 40,000 other cooperative businesses serving more than 120 million people nationwide.

“Cooperatives Build” is the theme of this year’s National Cooperative Month. It’s also a great time to host the annual Owner Meeting & Social. Consider these ways that co-ops build:

Cooperatives Build Trust

Most co-ops strive to adhere to seven key cooperative principles, which combine to help build trust between the co-op, its members and the community. For example, the first principle is Voluntary and Open Membership, which means that we are a voluntary organization open to all people to use our services and willing to accept the responsibility of membership. The second principle, Democratic Member Control, gives members a voice in the cooperative’s policies and decisions. If you haven’t yet voted in the board candidate election, you have until 7:00pm on Tuesday, Oct. 18. More details here.

Cooperatives Build Community

The seventh cooperative principle is Concern for Community. Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through employee involvement in local organizations, through charitable contributions to community efforts and through support for schools. Here locally, a team of Cedar Falls Food Co-op board members and friends helped with flood clean-up on October 1. We’re also participating in Girls’ Night Out on Thursday, Oct. 6 (we’ll be providing drinks at Miss Wonderful), and the John Deere Health & Safety Fair on Oct. 19.

Cooperatives Build Jobs

Cooperatives generate jobs in their communities, keep profits local and pay local taxes to help support community services. Cooperatives provide more than 850,000 jobs, providing $74 billion in annual wages. Once open, the Cedar Falls Food Co-op will generate many jobs, and will ensure the wages are fair while providing health care benefits to as many employees as possible. The Co-op also values local economic development, and as such, we’re a proud supporter of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber.

Cooperatives Build a Better World

Through all of the above ways, cooperatives build a better world. Help the Cedar Falls Food Co-op celebrate National Cooperative Month in October. If you haven’t yet become a member, join today!

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

P.S. We’re proud to partner with area credit unions during National Cooperative Month, including (as of publication of this newsletter) Cedar Falls Community Credit Union, Collins Community Credit Union, University of Iowa Community Credit Union, and Veridian Credit Union. We’ll be posting information about the Seven Cooperative Principles at select locations—watch for them!

Last week, a friend asked me a question that I hear a lot: “So, what’s new with the Co-op?” When I concluded my answer ten minutes later, my friend, whose eyes had become a bit glazed over, probably regretted asking that question. And I hadn’t event gotten the chance to talk about our new refrigerator magnets (which you can pick up for free at Co-op events this fall.) Truth is, there’s so much going on with the Co-op that I could have talked twice as long. With a promise not to bore you too much, here’s a quick countdown of my top 10 favorite things currently going on with the Co-op:

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How about some quick numbers to start out? The Co-op is not quite 2 years old, but we’re over 400 members strong. Cedar Falls Food Co-op members live in 5 states (yowza!) and in one of those states, Iowa, they reside in 9 counties. Here in the greater Cedar Valley, from La Porte to Waverly, 16 zip codes are represented by Co-op members. There are also 12 households with 2 member-owners under the same roof!

Here’s another important Co-op number: nine. That’s how many people are serving on the Board of Directors. So, while 400+ member-owners each have a say and a stake in the well being of the Co-op that we all own, there are 9 people doing the bulk of the work in raising the awareness, developing the policies, managing the books, and growing the membership.

I have had the honor of working alongside these dedicated Board members. They, along with the 3 directors whose terms ended last year (yet who each continue to serve on committees), have been among the most inspirational people to me. Their wisdom and their wit…their dedication and their determination…their enthusiasm and their energy—simply put, they are AMAZING people, and I consider myself a lucky person to have the opportunity to work with and be inspired by them.

But, as the bylaws dictate, and as best practices recommend, it’s time to open the doors to other member-owners to serve on the Board of Directors. Each year 3 terms end, and so now we’re accepting applications for those who want to contribute to and help guide this effort to a successful outcome—opening the doors. Those who step up and get voted in as Board members will not only have the honor of serving alongside some of the most incredible people in the area, you’ll also be at the helm during some of the most exciting times in our development—selecting a site, designing the store layout, and hiring a general manager.

So, will YOU become a candidate for the Board of Directors? Learn more about the role and responsibilities of Board members HERE. And if you think you could contribute to the movement, submit a completed application by September 10. Be sure to brace yourself for an incredibly rich and rewarding experience!

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham