Symbiotic Sustenance - BriarPatch Co-op

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16 February/March 2011 The Vine, BriarPatch’s Community Newsletter The early winter months of the year are often good times to reflect on our accomplishments and to plan future paths and improvements to our practices. Jeff Gold Looking back This past year has seen significant accomplishments by the BriarPatch Board, rewriting our policies and maintaining a full calendar of “standing committee” meetings. Our new governance policy structure is about to be adopted, and it will be a useful tool as we collaborate with our General Manager, management team, and BriarPatch Owners. In addition to our monthly meeting, Board Directors attend meetings of standing committees, which perform the majority of our responsibilities. These committees include: Finance, Board Development, Governance, and Executive (where the officers meet to review meeting agendas and topics for the yearly calendar). Each committee provides monthly reports Co-op Board Report DIRECTORS Jeff Gold, President; Alan Weisberg, Vice President; Peter Lockyer, Treasurer; Malaika Bishop, Secretary Peter Van Zant, Mark Fenton, Rick Sheller, Louise Jones, Kerry O’Regan Looking ahead: paths to sustainability and presents proposals to the full Board, where decisions are made and implemented. In 2010 some noteworthy accomplishments of the committees have been: • Finance Committee–Revised the monthly monitoring reports and hired an independent audit consultant. • Board Development Committee–Reorganized the board candidate application, improved our evaluation processes, and led two board-training workshops. • Governance Committee–Rewrote the From Jeff Gold, Board President Board Policy and Procedures Manual, and developed the policy governance model for the Board. These significant accomplishments have supported our BriarPatch management team and contributed to the overall success of BriarPatch Co-op. The Board’s goal is to implement the Co-op’s mission by representing the Owners in a transparent way. We encourage your participation so we may stay current with changing community needs. How to contact the Board Directors have BriarPatch email addresses consisting of their full first names and the first letter of last names followed by “@board.briarpatch.coop” — i.e. peterv@ board.briarpatch.coop, peterl@board.briarpatch.coop, etc. Or send an email message to info@briarpatch.coop with “Board” in the subject, and staff will forward it to the Board Secretary or another Director as indicated. Or leave letters for Directors at the customer service window. Where to find Board meeting agendas and minutes Agendas are posted on the front inside bulletin board several days before meetings. Minutes are posted there about 2 weeks after meetings and online at www.briarpatch.coop/pages/board.html. Staff will make you copies upon request. Looking forward The Board is beginning this year with stronger engagement with our fellow co-op Owners. We will be adding an “Owners Committee” to foster Board-Owner communication and consider additional activities. We want to hear your concerns and ideas for improving our co-op as a source for local food and as a community hub. Last month we introduced our monthly “Breakfast with the Board” events, held the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. This is a time for informal chat about the market and our future. Please stop by the deli seating area and share your views with Board members. Later in the year we are planning a harvest dinner gathering as another occasion for conversations about our cooperative and the community. A sustainable path This year the Board will be exploring ways to strengthen our educational outreach and to promote greater awareness about the local food system, nutrition, and Continued on next page
The Vine, BriarPatch’s Community Newsletter February/March 2011 17 Continued from previous page sustainability. I have been taking stock of my own household practices to see how my family can make a difference. For us it includes some simple but challenging reminders to improve our recycling, avoid plastic, not use paper towels, make fewer “town trips,” value old things, and make the Co-op bulk department a larger player in our daily diet. In looking ahead, I’ve been reflecting on the meaning and practice of sustainability. I’ve been inspired by a recent publication by the local Yuba Watershed Institute, “The Nature of This Place.” In a series of essays, this moving book describes ongoing work in our community to understand the local, natural world. This book has helped me be more mindful about all forms of life. Recently I visited Ashland Food Coop. They’ve developed a sustainability plan with yearly goals designed to make their market “carbon neutral” by 2030. Why not here, too? I believe our co-op, indeed our whole community, thrives on audacious goals that call for mindful daily practices. How might we make more sustainable choices as consumers? How do we change our attitudes and behavior We want to hear your concerns and ideas for improving our coop as a source for local food and as a community hub. to shop more consciously? Sustainable consumption encourages us to buy locally and to select products based on quality, price, and environmental impact from production to disposal. Our co-op’s path is full of possibilities. What might BriarPatch look like in the year 2030, or even one hundred years from now? I look forward to our discussions and cooperative work together! Co-op Board Report Board Meetings Held in the BriarPatch Co-op Community Room on the last Tuesday of the month. BriarPatch owners are welcome to attend. Tue., Feb. 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tue., Mar. 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m. BREAKFAST WITH THE BOARD Held in the Good Food Gallery and dining area on the second Saturdays of every month. BriarPatch owners are cordially invited. Muffins, coffee and tea will be served, along with informal conversation about Briar- Patch’s future. Tue., Feb. 12, 9-10 a.m. Tue., Mar. 8, 9-10 a.m. Co-op leadership 2011 Board Director election open until mid-February As a cooperative business, BriarPatch is governed by a Board of Directors, elected from among its owners. While the position of Director is unpaid, it is vital to the business. It is important that both candidates and voters understand the Director’s duties and responsibilities and their limits. Election Dates & Deadlines February 15 Director Application Deadline April Candidate information published in the newsletter April, tba Candidate Forum May 1 - 15 — Election
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