Interested in Serving on GreenStar Co-op's Council?
Last Updated on Sunday, 05 February 2012 00:39 Saturday, 04 February 2012 23:39
Council - Special News
Thank you for your interest in serving on GreenStar's Council (board of directors). We on Council look forward to hearing your voice, benefiting from your ideas, and working with you to make the Co-op an even better place.
Download Declaration of Candidacy form.
Annual Elections (in April); Appointments to Fill Vacancies Between Elections
In the 2012 Council election, conducted during the month of April, the Co-op will be filling five 3-year terms and a single 1-year term. The five candidates with the most votes will receive 3-year terms, and the next one will receive a 1-year term. Vacancies that occur during the year are filled by Council appointment.
To be a qualified candidate in the election (according to Section VIII.C of our Bylaws), you must be a GreenStar member-owner in good standing (e.g., your membership fees are paid up to date). To be listed on the ballot, you must submit a Declaration of Candidacy form by March 1st; you could still run as a write-in candidate if you submit the form by March 31st. If you want to be considered for appointment to a vacant seat, between elections, you need to submit an Application for that. Both forms are available at the Front Desk at the West End store.
Should You Seek a Seat on Council? Some Considerations
As a Council member, you are required to abide by the legal, ethical, and practical responsibilities of being on a board of directors. This means that you stay informed and make reasonable judgments based on this information; that you attend meetings regularly; that you don't use information obtained by being on the board to the detriment of the organization; that you disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest; and, in your capacity as a Council member, that you put the good of the Co-op first. There's a fair amount of fine print, so, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at: HYPERLINK "mailto:governance@greenstar.coop" governance@greenstar.coop.
Before the election (or applying for appointment), we encourage you to attend a Council meeting and check us out. Our meetings are typically on the second Tuesday of the month, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, in The Space@ GreenStar (in the warehouse building across Buffalo Street from the West End store). Agendas are posted in both stores and on the GreenStar website. If you become a candidate, also plan to attend the annual Member meeting (April 20th) to introduce yourself – there will be a "meet the candidates" item on the agenda.
We are always looking for skilled, caring people who will add their voice and ideas to the governance of the Co-op, and help represent our diverse Membership. Please take a look at these materials, and, if you feel you have the time, energy, inclination and passion to make GreenStar even better, fill out the Declaration of Candidacy form and run for Council!
If you're reading this before February 10th, then please join us on that day, between 7 and 8:00 pm, in the classroom at the West End store, for a Question & Answer session with current Council members.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Council actually do? State law requires GreenStar, as a cooperative corporation, to have a board of directors (which we call our Council) that is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the Co-op and to the member-owners. In practice, Council makes the "big-picture" policy decisions and provides oversight of the Co-op's finances and store operations. Day-today management of the stores and their operations is delegated to a professional General Manager chosen and regularly evaluated by Council; the GM then selects and supervises the rest of the staff. During the past year, we've focused a lot on our own governance and our policies, on choosing a new General Manager (Brandon Kane), on planning for expansion (of our main store, and possibly opening a new satellite store in Collegetown), and on invigorated member involvement. Most of these issues will continue to get attention through 2012, and, of course, there will be new ones.
What's all this about "engagement" with members? One of Council's primary roles is listening to members and representing their interests. This can happen formally or informally, at Spring and Fall Membership meetings, special "town hall" sessions and focus groups, and through tabling at the stores by Council members and member surveys. Our Membership Committee has been working hard to reinvigorate these traditional forms of outreach, as well as come up with new ones. Maybe you have ideas about this and could help us to build a more engaged Membership.
OK, but what would I actually do, day-to-day or month-to-month? You would be expected to come, prepared, to Council meetings (normally, once a month; special meetings are called if necessary) and to serve on at least one committee (again, normally with monthly meetings). When all the prep and meeting time is added up, it's at least 10 hours a month. Most people do more than this, especially if they serve as an officer, chair a committee or lead a project. Many people do outside research or attend conferences and report back to Council.
What's a meeting like? The Council meeting is our main forum for doing business. There we hear reports from and ask questions of management staff, discuss and amend proposals for action, and vote on new policies. This can involve quite a bit of discussion and debate, but, when everyone comes prepared, can be quite effective. We use a version of Robert's rules – parliamentary procedure – to run the meetings. It might sound formal at first, but is designed to provide everyone a fair hearing. The best way to learn what a meeting is like is to attend one – they are typically on the second Tuesday of the month, starting at 6:30 pm, in The Space@GreenStar (in the warehouse building across Buffalo Street from the West End store). Hope to see you there!
What's this I've heard about a new governance system? At the end of 2010, Council voted to change its governance approach, by using the Policy Governance model "in a form chosen by Council." Policy Governance is a style that is popular in the co-op world. It's designed to help keep the board focused on the job of high-level planning and goal setting and to give the staff more leeway in running the stores and in implementing Co-op policy. Since making this decision, Council has spent much of its time in developing new policies in the Policy Governance style, which will ultimately replace many of our existing policies. Council has been getting guidance during this transition from a consulting firm that has helped many other co-ops. One of the most exciting parts of this process is just ahead in 2012, as Council works on developing new or updated "ends" policies (or goals) for the Co-op, with as much input as possible from the Membership.
And what do I get? You get to meet lots of interesting people, have a chance to go to trainings and conferences in exotic locals like Indiana and Minnesota, and become more involved in your Co-op than you thought possible. Also, you get a superworker discount at the register – that's 17.5% off almost everything you buy. Recently, the Membership authorized Council to provide its members with modest, monetary "stipends," and Council decided to implement such a system starting in 2012. "Regular" Council members will receive $600/year, committee chairs $900/year, and the President (chosen annually by Council) $1800/year.
Sounds good so far. How do I run (or apply)? Fill out the applicable form (available at the front desk or on the website). If you want to run in the election, don't wait until the last moment (there are essay questions!). Then start educating yourself...and launch your campaign.
Educating myself? Campaign? Yes! Educate yourself by coming to some meetings, attending our Question & Answer session on February 10th, between 7:00 and 8:00 pm at the West End store, or calling/emailing a Council member (such as the Chair of our Governance & Monitoring Committee – Dan Hoffman; contact info for all Council members is in the GreenLeaf newsletter). Campaigning has traditionally been pretty low key at GreenStar – feel free to table and tell you friends – the more people who care, get involved, and vote, the healthier our Co-op will be! Tabling can be arranged with staff at the Front Desk. If you do table in the store, we ask that you be respectful of others and not interrupt the normal functioning of the store.
Again, thanks for your interest. We can't wait to meet you and work with you. And, good luck!
