Gaining Grocery Fluency

By |July 27th, 2017|

Most directors are drawn to serve on the board of their local food co-op because they embrace its values and mission, and not because they yearn to become grocers. And yet their role as the [...]

Reflecting Ends and Implementing Inclusivity Practices

By |July 12th, 2017|

Seward Community Co-op Minneapolis, MN Year founded:  1972 Member investment:  $75 Number of members:  16,000 Number of employees:  335 Business units:  two retail grocery stores, restaurant, production facility In 2013, when Seward Community Co-op began [...]

The Power of Board Perpetuation Planning

By |June 15th, 2017|

Board perpetuation is a key task for directors, and actively pursuing it throughout the year (and every year) creates a powerful influence in the quality of board work. The first step is having a strong [...]

Changing the Board Nominations Process

By |June 15th, 2017|

Ozark Natural Foods Fayetteville, Arkansas Year founded:  1971 Member investment:  $140 Number of members:  9,300 Number of staff:  97 Retail square feet:  9,000 Ozark Natural Foods had a legacy of internal conflict and high board [...]

Relax! You Are Linked

By and |June 2nd, 2017|

Cooperative boards of directors are small groups of people who influence the future of the world. They are committed citizens who think and learn and work together for something that together they find relevant and [...]