Co-op Cafe 2025: Sep 27th
SAVE THE DATE 9/27/25
Helping Boards create high-performance cultures
jadebarker@columinate.coop
802-449-4070
SAVE THE DATE 9/27/25
Create a solid foundation for shared understanding — with the added convenience of tuning in from wherever you are.
Create a solid foundation for shared understanding — with the added convenience of tuning in from wherever you are.
The Detroit People's Food Co-op is getting ready to open and has contracted with Columinate's Chris Dilley as Manager on Contract. Build-out in the co-op's new facility is nearing completion, with opening now planned for early 2024. The new Detroit Food Commons facility, a partnership between Detroit Black Food Security Network and Develop Detroit, will house the Detroit People's Food Co-op as well as a community kitchen operated by the Black Food Security Network.
Contemporary food co-ops have begun important discussions in their organizations around equity and inclusion. As part of that process, they’ve had to accept and deal with some painful truths that their co-ops have not always been perceived as inclusive, especially through the shopping experience.
Accountable Empowerment It is always important for a co-op board of directors to have good systems of accountability in place to provide proper and strategic oversight of the general manager. With strongly increasing demand for natural and organic products resulting in more pressure from competitors, cooperatives need to strengthen operations, and at the same time effectively communicate the value the cooperative brings to its [...]
Ever had someone ask that simple question: What is the board's job anyway? and wondered where to start? The CDS Consulting Co-op model for cooperative governance, the Four Pillars of Cooperative Governance can help! We identify four pillars built on a foundation of Cooperative Identity that lead to the success of the cooperative. Each piece helps tell the story of the board's job. At the top is Success of [...]
Many boards of retail food cooperatives rely heavily on electronic communication tools to handle logistic and administrative matters and to share and store board documents. For a board with strong communication skills, properly used electronic tools facilitate the administrative details of board service. For boards working to build trust and communication skills, email in particular can create or add to misunderstandings. Electronic Communication basics: [...]
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