It's Your Turn — Annual Council Elections Near
Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 January 2012 22:37 Tuesday, 03 January 2012 22:27
Council - Special News
By Melissa Blake,
Council Member
What does it mean to be a democratically controlled, member-owned and member-driven organization? Well, for one thing, our cooperative's Board of Directors (a.k.a. Council) is composed of member-owners and elected by member-owners. These, your elected representatives, serve three-year terms with some terms expiring every year. So every year we look for new Council candidates, and we think you should run!
Council is responsible for representing our members, for oversight of the finances and general operations of the stores, and, most of all, for helping set the vision and direction toward which the General Manager is to move the Co-op. At a recent monthly Council meeting, I asked some of the other 12 current members why they've chosen to serve the Co-op in this way.
Long-time Council member Jan Rhodes-Norman said she first ran for Council because she had a long relationship with the Co-op, going back to her time as a very active member of the Ithaca Real Food Co-op, GreenStar's precursor. "I consider the Co-op to be an essential cornerstone of a local, living economy and, for me, being part of that process is exciting. I also feel like it's an essential piece of community and so participating actively in providing more and more things to the community — whether it's services or good food at fair prices or a living wage — it's been exciting to be part of those things."
Kash Iraggi-Wiggins, currently serving her third term, said, "It's been an amazing learning experience. What I learn about co-ops, what I learn about people make it well worth the time I put in. I had no idea when I started on this council how much I would get out of it. I thought it would be kind of cool, and it was a good discount. [Council members receive a super-worker discount and an annual stipend of $600, with officers receiving slightly more.] But what I have learned — it has prompted me to be a part of other boards; it's prompted me to get more involved in my community."
SunShine Huntone was recently appointed to fill a vacancy on Council. He said he applied because of his desire "to add energy toward the GreenStar that I have come to love over the past year." He added that it's going well so far. "It's a big meeting every month, but it's not too overtaxing — so far!"
As usual, Council elections will take place in April this year. The deadline to declare a candidacy for inclusion on the ballot and in the spring member mailing is March 1. Write-in candidates are permitted to declare candidacy prior to the start of the voting period on April 1. Members are always welcome to attend regular open session Council meetings, which is a great way to get a better understanding of what we do. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month (if that falls on the tenth of the month, as it does this January, we will meet on the third Tuesday). We meet from 6:30 to 9:30 pm in The Space @ GreenStar.
Any member-owner in good standing (i.e., whose required capital contribution is no more than one month overdue, and who has not violated the Standards of Conduct posted in our stores) is eligible to run. The minimum commitment entails one three-hour Council meeting per month, serving on one standing committee (standing committees meet, on average, 2 hours per month), and some work in between meetings such as familiarizing oneself with various documents and issues. In reality, there is a lot of work to do: we're a $14 million retail business looking to expand, we have a big mission, and the volunteers on Council must represent the diverse interests of close to 8,000 members while safeguarding the financial condition of the Cooperative. We really need people who can go beyond the minimum commitment required by our Bylaws by serving on at least one ad hoc committee and considering being a committee chair. Various expertise is valuable to Council, including legal, financial, cooperative movement, retail, agricultural, marketing, sustainability... and chances are you have something to contribute.
For information on what Council is up to, please see the "Council News" column in every GreenLeaf. Also, your Council representatives' contact information can be found at the front of every GreenLeaf, so you can contact us with questions about the nitty-gritty of serving. Watch for an informational forum in January or February where prospective candidates can ask questions. To obtain a candidacy declaration form, please go to the Customer Service desk at the West-End store.
We hope you'll consider joining us in serving your co-op and community in this way!
