The Coop in the Classroom - Park Slope Food Coop
The Coop in the Classroom - Park Slope Food Coop
The Coop in the Classroom - Park Slope Food Coop
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09-01-15 p 01-16 1/14/09 6:37 PM Page 11<br />
<strong>Park</strong> <strong>Slope</strong> <strong>Food</strong> <strong>Coop</strong>, Brooklyn, NY January 15, 2009 11<br />
WEBSITE<br />
IMPROVEMENTS,<br />
EMAIL ALERTS…<br />
DEAR MEMBERS<br />
As 2009 is upon us, and <strong>the</strong> 21st<br />
century is quickly go<strong>in</strong>g by, it would<br />
be nice to see our membership be<br />
able to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir membership<br />
concerns and needs here at <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Coop</strong>’s website. It would be nice for a<br />
member to view his or her personal<br />
membership <strong>in</strong>formation with<br />
regards to an alert for any reason. It<br />
would be nice to check back here at<br />
our <strong>Coop</strong> website to see if a person’s<br />
membership is <strong>in</strong> good stand<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are times that we <strong>the</strong> members<br />
do forget that we have a make-up<br />
and if we are beh<strong>in</strong>d…by check<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>the</strong> website this would help to alleviate<br />
a time by schedul<strong>in</strong>g a make-up<br />
onl<strong>in</strong>e and perhaps we can have an<br />
email rem<strong>in</strong>der of our work alert. If<br />
<strong>the</strong> alert is for f<strong>in</strong>ancial commitments<br />
<strong>the</strong>n this could also be forwarded<br />
to <strong>the</strong> member <strong>in</strong> question.<br />
This would help to reduce time at <strong>the</strong><br />
entrance desk and members hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to go up to <strong>the</strong> office with questions<br />
with regards to alerts and suspensions.<br />
Members can be alerted via<br />
email. This would also free up coord<strong>in</strong>ators<br />
from hav<strong>in</strong>g to tackle a<br />
number of issues at one time.<br />
Hope this can be presented at a<br />
General Meet<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Teri Gorbea<br />
ONCE MORE AROUND<br />
THE SLOPE<br />
I didn’t get my fantasy gift<br />
Nor anyth<strong>in</strong>g that hot—<br />
My car and I were hop<strong>in</strong>g for<br />
A permanent park<strong>in</strong>g spot.<br />
Leon Freilich<br />
WORK AND<br />
COMMITMENT…<br />
DEAR GAZETTE,<br />
I am respond<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> recent letter<br />
from Laura on workslot reduction<br />
and FTOP.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g ways to help it function<br />
well might be challeng<strong>in</strong>g. Certa<strong>in</strong><br />
time periods are popular and f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a task can be chaotic.<br />
As a receiv<strong>in</strong>g worker I always knew<br />
that <strong>the</strong>re were icky clean<strong>in</strong>g tasks to<br />
do when everyth<strong>in</strong>g looked done.<br />
<strong>The</strong> bottom of <strong>the</strong> sweet potato<br />
box, <strong>the</strong> crates out back, boxes,<br />
assorted messes randomly left<br />
around <strong>the</strong> aisles. I saw a worker<br />
sweep<strong>in</strong>g underneath <strong>the</strong> bulk b<strong>in</strong>s<br />
yesterday—who knew Rarely is <strong>the</strong>re<br />
“noth<strong>in</strong>g to do.”<br />
My current slot is on <strong>the</strong> compost<br />
squad and it requires extra commitment.<br />
When I feel burdened, all I need<br />
do is notice how much harder o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
members are work<strong>in</strong>g. It is what makes<br />
PSFC a great community and one I<br />
wish to be part of. And when I see <strong>the</strong><br />
efforts made by <strong>the</strong> paid employees to<br />
provide us with <strong>the</strong> best of everyth<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
I know that my own efforts are small <strong>in</strong><br />
comparison. We each make a difference<br />
and those who are look<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
give less are miss<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> fundamental<br />
generosity that underlies <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciple<br />
and practice of cooperation.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is currently FTOP credit<br />
available for work on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Food</strong> Conference<br />
that is be<strong>in</strong>g co-sponsored by<br />
PSFC on May 2.<br />
See www.Brooklyn<strong>Food</strong>Conference.org<br />
for details.<br />
We welcome letters from members.<br />
Submission deadl<strong>in</strong>es appear <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Coop</strong> Calendar. All letters will be<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>ted if <strong>the</strong>y conform to <strong>the</strong> published<br />
guidel<strong>in</strong>es. We will not know<strong>in</strong>gly<br />
publish articles which are racist,<br />
sexist or o<strong>the</strong>rwise discrim<strong>in</strong>atory<br />
<strong>The</strong> maximum length for letters is<br />
500 words. Letters must <strong>in</strong>clude your<br />
name and phone number and be<br />
typed or very legibly handwritten. Editors<br />
will reject letters that are illegible<br />
or too long.<br />
You may submit on paper, typed or<br />
very legibly handwritten, or via email<br />
to GazetteSubmissions@psfc.coop or<br />
on disk.<br />
Anonymity<br />
Unattributed letters will not be<br />
published unless <strong>the</strong> Gazette knows<br />
<strong>the</strong> identity of <strong>the</strong> writer, and <strong>the</strong>refore<br />
must be signed when submitted<br />
(giv<strong>in</strong>g phone number). Such letters<br />
will be published only where a reason<br />
is given to <strong>the</strong> editor as to why public<br />
identification of <strong>the</strong> writer would<br />
impose an unfair burden of embarrassment<br />
or difficulty. Such letters<br />
must relate to <strong>Coop</strong> issues and avoid<br />
any non-constructive, non-cooperative<br />
language.<br />
LETTERS POLICY<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are many ways to fulfill our<br />
community agreements and <strong>the</strong>re is<br />
plenty of motivation to do so this year.<br />
I love it that car<strong>in</strong>g for our (extended)<br />
community is part of our <strong>Coop</strong> code.<br />
Peace and abundance for all,<br />
Claudia Joseph<br />
Fairness<br />
In order to provide fair, comprehensive,<br />
factual coverage:<br />
1. <strong>The</strong> Gazette will not publish<br />
hearsay—that is, allegations not<br />
based on <strong>the</strong> author's first-hand<br />
observation.<br />
2. Nor will we publish accusations<br />
that are not specific or are not substantiated<br />
by factual assertions.<br />
3. Copies of submissions that make<br />
substantive accusations aga<strong>in</strong>st specific<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividuals will be given to those<br />
persons to enable <strong>the</strong>m to write a<br />
response, and both submissions and<br />
response will be published simultaneously.<br />
This means that <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al<br />
submission may not appear until <strong>the</strong><br />
issue after <strong>the</strong> one for which it was<br />
submitted.<br />
<strong>The</strong> above applies to both articles<br />
and letters. <strong>The</strong> only exceptions will<br />
be articles by Gazette reporters which<br />
will be required to <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong><br />
response with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> article itself.<br />
Respect<br />
Letters must not be personally<br />
derogatory or <strong>in</strong>sult<strong>in</strong>g, even when<br />
strongly criticiz<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
member's actions. Letter writers must<br />
refer to o<strong>the</strong>r people with respect,<br />
refra<strong>in</strong> from call<strong>in</strong>g someone by a<br />
nickname that <strong>the</strong> person never uses<br />
himself or herself, and refra<strong>in</strong> from<br />
compar<strong>in</strong>g o<strong>the</strong>r people to odious figures<br />
like Hitler or Idi Am<strong>in</strong>.<br />
Produce Shortages<br />
Due to<br />
W<strong>in</strong>ter Wea<strong>the</strong>r<br />
PHOTO BY KEVIN RYAN<br />
Cold wea<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> grow<strong>in</strong>g regions of Florida,<br />
California, Texas and Mexico has led to various<br />
crop shortages and higher prices. Ra<strong>in</strong>, mud, w<strong>in</strong>d<br />
and hard frost will affect <strong>the</strong> availability of many<br />
greens for a few weeks. Let this problem present<br />
you with <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>spiration to try someth<strong>in</strong>g new, and<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ue to support our local farmers by eat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
more root vegetables.<br />
Read <strong>the</strong> Gazette while you’re stand<strong>in</strong>g on l<strong>in</strong>e OR onl<strong>in</strong>e at www.foodcoop.com