Category Archives: From the Board

Posts that are generated by the board

Change on the Board

The Board of Directors election results announced in last month’s Garlic Press indicated two new faces to the Board (Joy Thorson and Heidi Noonan-Day) and one returning member (Tom Wickersham). Since then, the Board has undergone an additional change.

In November, the Board officially accepted the resignation of Noonan-Day. Citing personal and professional commitments that would limit her ability to serve in the capacity that she felt was necessary for the Cedar Falls Food Co-op, Noonan-Day opted to resign while still offering future support to some of the committees’ work.

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The Board acted quickly, and, in accordance with the bylaws, appointed a replacement to fill the vacancy. The Co-op is pleased to report that Terry Stewart, who served for five months on the Board this year, is returning to serve out the remainder of the three-year term. Terry joins Thorson, Wickersham, and Jess Cruz, Brenna Griffin, Dan Heit, Sheri Huber-Otting, Amber Mann, and Kristel McClenahan to serve this next year. Wickersham will continue to serve as President, Thorson will step in as Vice-President, and McClenahan and Cruz will continue their roles as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Please join us in welcoming Terry Stewart back to the Board!

 

Board Happenings: November 2016

  • The board is excited to welcome a hearty welcome to our newest members, Joy Thorson and Terry Stewart! We also extend an excited “Welcome Back!” to re-elected board member Tom Wickersham.
  • With new board members comes new officers! The board has elected Tom Wickersham to serve as President, Joy Thorson to serve as Vice President, Kristel McClenahan to serve as Treasurer, and Jess Cruz to serve as Secretary.
  • We had an excellent showing of Co-op board and committee members at the recent Small and Strong Conference in Bloomington, MN. Check out the article in the month’s newsletter for a full report.
  • We are getting our events for next year set up, so be sure to follow us on Facebook and keep up on our monthly newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any of these fabulous events.
  • We’re making great progress on our Financial Pro Forma and starting to get ready to launch our Capital Campaign in the next year.

Give the Gift of Membership

Struggling to find the perfect gift? Give the gift of Co-op Membership!

The holiday’s provide plenty of opportunities for stress, and finding the perfect gift shouldn’t be one more. There are a number of membership benefits that your giftee can start using immediately, like any of the discount offered by our 40+ business partners. You also get the peace of mind knowing that your gift benefits your community by creating a Co-op that will provide healthy and sustainable food options and keeps up to 15% of its revenue local.

Co-op gift memberships are easy to purchase and last a lifetime. They make an ideal group gift for the boss who has everything or the family member who’s impossible to shop for. Since membership benefits can extend to a whole household, they also make a great gift for a whole family. This holiday season go in with a group on a gift membership and spread the love of the Co-op!

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The Gift that Keeps on Giving

It may sound cliché, but it’s true. The partnerships that we’ve formed with our local businesses provide the Cedar Falls Food Co-op member-owners with savings that truly add up day by day & month by month for each year! What’s more is that our list keeps growing! This month we have 3 new local businesses that have graciously offered our members deals on their already fantastic services!Continue reading→

Member Mavens Make it Happen!

At a recent house party hosted by our October Member Mavens, Jen Christiason and Sarah Frederick (plus their spouses, Kyle and Bob), a neighbor lamented the closing of Roots Market several years ago and how much she missed the local produce. As the conversation turned to the Cedar Falls Food Co-op and what it would provide, this same neighbor joined on the spot. In fact, five neighbors became co-op owners that night while they dined together over homemade soup and local bread. “I learned that many folks walking their dogs past our home every day have proud agricultural roots,” mused Jen. “It was delightful to hear the stories of their grandparents’ gardens and the canned goods that came from those efforts.” After the event, neighbors talked about how thrilled they were to gather together and connect with one another while learning about the efforts to bring a community-owned grocery store to the Cedar Valley.

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Save Room For Pie

 

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How many Thanksgiving meals have you heard this? This November we are living this mantra, because if you join the Co-op as a new member-owner, you will definitely have to save room. That’s because there is a homemade pie for each person who becomes a member-owner between November 1 – 20*. And the giving doesn’t stop there – our business partner, Fosters Mattress has generously agreed to match each new member-owner share purchase with a $10 donation to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

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Board Happenings: October 2016

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– We visited New Pioneer in Cedar Rapids and had an excellent time. They’re a wonderful store and we can’t wait to learn from all of their Co-op experience. 

– Keep an eye out for ThanksGIVING: Co-op Style. Anyone who joins the Co-op between November 1-20th will receive a free pie AND Foster’s Mattress will donate $10 to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank for each new member. 

– We’ve agreed to pledge to become Blue Zone Certified once our store opens, meaning we’re even more dedicated to bringing you healthy, sustainably sourced food options. 

– Did you see the Rooty while trick or treating on Main Street? Share your artwork on our Facebook page for everyone to see!

– We have a great contingent of Co-op Board and Committee members who will be attending the Strong and Small conference on November 12th, and we can’t wait to share all that we learn. 

From the Board President: Thanks and an Apology

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In October, the Co-op hosted its second annual Member-Owner Meeting & Social. The annual meeting, a sort of share holders’ meeting in which a “state of the Co-op” is presented, is a big deal. It’s the one event we’re required to host as per our bylaws, and it’s a signature event for food co-ops across the U.S. Our social, held at the Oster Regent, was full of conversations and good vibes (helped in part by generous donations of cookies, mini muffins, beer, cider, and mead!). Yet even with all the generosity and positive conversations, I was unprepared for the email that showed up the next day from Co-op member Randy S.:

[My wife] and I decided to donate a $40.00 gift certificate that can be used to purchase tickets at the Oster Regent Theater, so you can use as you see fit for a membership drive. The gift certificate is good until January 2018.

Thanks for all your hard work.

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Welcome New Board Members

 

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At the annual Member-owner Meeting & Social, the Cedar Falls Food Co-op wrapped up its election season for positions on the Board of Directors, and it is pleased to announce the results of the voting.

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