Honest
SLATE
Honest Weight Food Co-op’s Community Newsletter for Membership • Staff • Governance • Management Published monthly by the Communications Committee to promote transparency, report without bias, and sustain community.
August 2O20 Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667
honestslate@honestweight.coop • https://www.honestweight.coop/
Black Lives Matter at Honest Weight
The Co-op has taken on a number of new initiatives in the spirit of immediate action toward a just and equitable Co-op and Capital Region community at large. Most notably on the internal front, our newly formed Anti-Racism Committee held its first meeting on July 20, 2020. The committee will be meeting twice monthly moving forward; please look out for updates on the work of the committee. The Co-op is also putting a lot of energy into expanding our support of local organizations fighting racism and inequity. We encourage our Co-op community to join us in this effort. This is just the beginning.
• We’re actively dedicating space on all of the Co-op’s social media feeds to highlight and amplify local Black-led initiatives and Black-owned businesses. These highlights are most often posted in our Instagram and Facebook “Stories,” as that’s the most functional space to repost content from other creators and give them credit for their work. Our reposts on “Stories” typically receive upwards of 1,000 views! If you aren’t sure how to access the “Stories” feature, it’s easy – just click on the Honest Weight logo on either Instagram or Facebook. All Stories are posted to both platforms, and we share lots of things via this feature nearly every day. • $1,000 contribution to Citizen Action on May 31, the day after the first major Black Lives Matter rally held by Citizen Action in Albany following the death of George Floyd in police custody. • $2,500 contribution to Soul Fire Farm’s “Fortifying Our Foundation” campaign. Soul Fire Farm is an Afro-Indigenous centered training farm committed to ending racism and seeding sovereignty in the food
honestslate@honestweight.coop
system, reaching over 10,000 people each year. We deeply admire their work and we continue to try to support them in any and all ways possible. • Weekly fresh produce contributions to the South End Children’s Cafe’s COVID summer meal program, providing meals for 500 Albany families.
SUPPORT BLM A BLM vinyl decal produced by The Mailworks in collaboration with local activist Jamella Anderson
• We contributed $1,500 to a local Black Lives Matter vinyl decal project, organized by Albany activist Jammella Anderson. Fifty percent of funds raised through the initiative are going to Root3d, a Black-owned wellness center on Pearl Street, and 50% are going to the Center for Law and Justice. We distributed 150 Black Lives Matter decals we received through a social media giveaway. • We’re sponsoring Root3d’s Black Health Matters class on the first Friday of each month. Root3d is an amazing local organization that we’re very excited to be partnering with. We hope to work together on more projects in the future! • We’ve become a Gold-level corporate sponsor ($1,500 annually) of the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region.
• We’ve created a page on the HWFC website with a number of educational resources and links to local and national organizations accepting donations to put toward racial justice work. This page is a work-inprogress and we actively encourage you, our community, to send us items to add to this page. Go to www.tinyurl.com/hwfcblm for more info. • We are the very first sponsor of the Free Food Fridge Albany project, a network of community fridges providing free food to Albany’s people in need while helping fight food injustice. This is a super exciting and brand-new initiative put together by Jammella Anderson. Please follow the project as it develops; you can find updates at @ freefoodfridgealbany on Instagram or by following Jammella Anderson on Facebook! Stay tuned for more action with greater depth in the very near future. Please feel free to email me with any feedback, thoughts, or ideas of organizations you think we should be working with. We welcome any ideas on how the Co-op can do more, and do better. —Alex Mytelka, Marketing Manager alexm@honestweight.coop
CONTENTS Enviro Tokens News.................... 2 Curbside Pickup Continues......... 3 Meet a New Board Member!..... 4 Q&A............................................. 4 Food for Thought........................ 5 Committee Corner..................... 6 Board Decisions.......................... 8 Co-Opportunities........................ 9 https://www.honestweight.coop/
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August 2020
Enviro Tokens Program Goes Touchless Amid Pandemic by Erin Donahue The five-year-old program raises funds for local nonprofits and incentivizes reusable bags.
By bringing reusable bags,
HWFC shoppers can choose to receive 5 cents off their grocery bill or make a 5-cent donation to local nonprofit organizations via our Enviro Tokens program. The initiative not only encourages shoppers to reuse bags to reduce waste, but also brings awareness and support to charitable organizations doing great work in the Capital Region. “The Co-op is the facilitator [connecting the shoppers to the charities],” says Honest Weight’s Outreach Coordinator Amy Ellis, who credits the program’s success to the committed participation of shoppers. In addition to donations, Enviro Tokens nominations also “often come by way of the [Coop] community.” Outreach Staff choose 5 organizations per fiscal quarter from their list of community-recommended organizations, with a goal to choose recipients that are diverse in mission and population served. “A focus is kept on local grassroots [organizations] with missions that align with the Co-op’s core values,” Amy said. Recipients have included youth programs and services, animal sanctuaries, environmental conservation groups, and more. Since Co-op Staff created the program in September 2015, shoppers have raised $36,982.50 for 75 Capital Region nonprofits by reusing over 739,650 bags.
How it Works
For each reusable bag brought and packed, shoppers receive one Enviro Token wooden nickel to drop into one of five boxes—each representing a local nonprofit chosen for that quarter—at the Enviro Tokens board before HWFC’s exit doors. Since March, the Co-op has adopted a touchless exchange to prevent spreading COVID-19. Enviro Tokens donations are now applied at checkout and split evenly among the five organizations selected. During each 3-month quarter, the program typically raises $350–$900 per recipient.
Enviro Tokens are currently dedicated to local nonprofits fighting racial injustice.
community partnerships, support, and collective action. The Social Justice Center also provides space for community activists to meet and work.
Amy noted that there was concern about how COVID-19 might have a negative impact on both Enviro Tokens and shoppers’ preference for reusable bags over plastic or paper.
• AVillage, Inc. is a community-led organization that empowers residents of Albany’s South End and beyond by fighting inequities at their roots, prioritizing marginalized voices, and reclaiming community spaces and resources. The organization’s work also includes advocating for environmental justice, building community gardens, and the weekly South End Night Market, which connects the South End neighborhood with locally grown healthy, affordable food and local Black-owned businesses.
Instead, the program has fared well. Throughout the pandemic, people have continued using their own reusable bags and make virtual 5-cent donations. While the number of customers in the store has decreased, the average basket size has increased—so customers are packing more reusable bags in fewer shopping trips.
bring your
your own own Bags
Last quarter, shoppers collectively raised $550 each for the Colonie Senior Service Center’s Umbrella Program, Northeast Organic Farming Association, Whispering Willow Wildcare, Beyond Plastics, and a Place for Jazz.
This quarter (July 1–Sept. 30, 2020), Enviro Tokens are dedicated to local nonprofits working to fight racial injustice. The following organizations are receiving donations through Sept. 30:
• Capital Area Against Mass Incarceration (CAAMI) is a local initiative working to “dismantle mass incarceration and the systems of oppression that sustain it” through community empowerment, engagement, and advocacy. CAAMI facilitates dialogues between community members to share ideas, spread awareness, and take action against mass incarceration and the injustices of our criminal justice system. • Founded in 1981, the Albany Social Justice Center fights oppression by confronting its roots and structures, and propels progressive social change through strong
• The Center for Law and Justice is an Albany-based civil rights organization that has been working toward a fair and equitable criminal justice system by providing criminal justice education, advocacy and policy analysis, and legal resources to low-income and under-resourced communities in the Capital Region for 35 years. The Center also helps previously incarcerated people and their families overcome the individual, social, and institutional barriers they face as they reenter their communities. • Located in the South End, Youth FX works to advance race and gender equity in film, television, and media arts by providing hands-on education and creative opportunities to young people ages 10–24 residing in Albany’s historically underserved communities. Led by experienced media instructors and artists, Youth FX students explore the various aspects of film production (directing, editing, acting, scoring, screenwriting, etc.) and create documentaries and short films with a focus on visual storytelling and artistic expression.
To learn more about the Enviro Tokens program and to see a full list of past recipients, please visit the Co-op’s website.
To nominate a local nonprofit organization to be a recipient of HWFC’s Enviro Tokens program, contact Outreach Coordinator Amy Ellis at amy@honestweight.coop or 518-482-COOP, ext. 128.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
August 2020
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Honest Slate
Co-op Curbside Pickup Steps Up to the Plate by Susan Andrews
I pride myself on being a very self-
sufficient person. I do my own home improvements, shovel my own snow (and sometimes others’), and mend and alter my own clothes. So when the coronavirus descended, I was faced with the uncomfortable realization that grocery shopping was not in my future. You see, I am immunocompromised. Not getting sick, or getting someone I love sick, has become my top priority. Within days of the announcements surrounding the pandemic, I relinquished my weekly Member-Owner cashier position at HWFC and stopped grocery shopping at the Co-op. It was an unsettling time. And because Honest Weight had not yet started curbside pickup, I was forced to do what I hadn’t done in years: shop at one of the local grocery chains in the Albany area, using Instacart. This became a real adventure, as well as a practice in patience and creativity. Years ago, I watched a Food Network television show that provided competing professional chefs with a mystery basket filled with random foods. The chefs, once given the basket, were then required to assemble a creative dish made from the food items. This accurately characterizes my four-week experience with the Instacart process. Because the shopper (me) is able to select an “allow substitutions” feature when ordering, it became a bit of a crapshoot as to what might land in my grocery bag. For instance, a request for a pound of blackeyed peas could, and did, turn into a jumbo, 55-ounce can of baked beans. Or my request for a 5-pound turkey breast could, and did, turn into a 28-pound turkey. With no freezer on hand (at that time), or large family gatherings on the horizon, some creative thinking became necessary. Just as I was beginning to get accustomed to mystery shopping, I received notice that the Co-op would be offering curbside service.
“This became a real adventure.” I was all in. Curbside delivery involves notifying the Coop by phone that you would like to be put on the list to receive next-day curbside service and providing your contact information (an email address or phone number). You are then instructed to compile your grocery list and are told that you would be contacted shortly. Within hours, you are contacted by your personal shopper (in my case, either Deanna or Amy) requesting your grocery list, informing you about the process, and inquiring as to when you want to pick up. You need to provide credit card information, which is promptly destroyed after the transaction occurs. Can you believe such service? But that’s not it! I would often get follow-up emails or phone calls from my shopper notifying me that Honest Weight didn’t have an item, or asking if I would like something
A Message from Marketing We are excited to announce that HWFC is now shoppable online for delivery via Instacart. It’s taken over a year of ongoing work to bring this full-scale grocery delivery service to life. For more information or to get started placing an order check out www.honestweight.coop/instacart All Staff who have so seamlessly organized and operated our grassroots curbside pickup program throughout COVID have other essential roles to fulfill here at the Co-op. Amy is our Outreach Coordinator, Deanna is our Education Coordinator, Yevette is our Member-Owner Coordinator, and Liza is our Designer & Marketing Coordinator. COVID significantly impacted their ability to do normal day-to-day work, most notably in Outreach and Education, which are both traditionally very hands-on and in-person programs. This opened up time
else instead, because it was on sale. I was also asked things like “would you like your avocados in varying stages of ripeness so they would last longer.” It was just too wonderful. Such care and attentiveness went into ensuring that I got what I wanted, and needed. When I went to the store for pickup, I would open my trunk and text my shopper (or call the front desk) and out my groceries came. It was nice to have a few friendly words with Deanna or Amy, and off I went, with everything I ordered, plus a deep appreciation in my heart for my shoppers and for the Co-op. Susan Andrews became an active Member-Owner in 2016, cashiering weekly in the express line on Tuesday afternoons. She used curbside service from late April through mid-June. We now use Instacart (see below) but continue to provide curbside service.
for these Staff to focus their efforts on the curbside program. As the capacity for everyone to get back to their work routines increases, the need for curbside shopping will naturally decrease. We’ve seen this happen in a big way already as we progress through the phases of NYS reopening. We have no hard stop date for curbside in mind but are actively encouraging curbside customers to transition over to Instacart as we slowly begin (fingers crossed) to get back to normal, which will entail less time for fulfilling curbside orders. We are open to keeping curbside alive in some fashion in the long term but it would have to look quite a bit different. (Instacart offers a curbside pickup option but would require a significant investment in refrigerated and frozen storage space plus physical staging space for orders to be picked up.) —Alex Mytelka
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
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Honest Slate
from the
Board I was prompted to run for the Board of HWFC as the June Membership Meeting progressed. I was impressed by the content of the meeting. Having been on the board of a food co-op in Duluth, MN for many years, I recognized that it was often a struggle to recruit qualified owners for open positions. Although I had not intended to become involved in the board at HWFC, I decided that because of my previous experience I would be able to contribute to the HWFC Board of Directors. My primary interests as a new Board member are healthy food/eating and finance. I have an MBA, which doesn’t make me an expert in finance, but I enjoy numbers, statistics, and financial performance. I was
Q&A Q: Whomever made the Eggplant Parm to go on Tues. 6/23, WOW! So Delicious! So much care and love went into that. Yummmmmm. ♥ A: That’s wonderful! Thanks very much for letting us know! Q: Pesto Tofu = ♥(esp. when nicely crunchy). Please make more trifles with maple? A: Pesto Tofu is one of our new recipes. We’re consistently working on keeping it with the crispy texture. We’ll make more maple trifles. Thanks for the compliments. Q: More pineapple upside down cake, please. (Bakery case.) A: The pineapple upside down cake was very well received. It will be a part of our regular rotation. Q: Please, a little more TUNA in the TUNA mac salad. Last few months hardly any tuna. Like tuna flavored mac salad. A: We’re surprised to hear that as we have not changed the recipe. We’ll keep an eye out for inconsistencies.
August 2020
With New Board Member Chris Edwardson chair of the finance committee in Duluth for most of my tenure on that board. I have also been involved with food policy issues and I am now the HWFC board liaison to the Nutrition and Education Committee. I look forward to working with the committee on ensuring that products the Co-op sells are non-GMO, not overpackaged, and as “green” as they advertise. False claims of “greenness” and overpackaging are pet peeves.
In part, the unique operation of HWFC requires that its board play a greater role than in other co-ops that I am familiar with. Two major differences I’ve noticed between HWFC and many other co-ops are the requirement that MOs make a time investment in order to vote and the focus on getting MO input on issues and concerns.
As a new Board member, I am playing catch-up on the issues and concerns of Member-Owners and the Board focus. However, I’m confident I will be able to contribute to the important work that the HWFC Board does. So far this board does much more rigorous work than in my past board experience.
Before moving to Albany last year, my wife and I traveled to the area often to visit family. On one of those visits we sought out the Co-op (then located on Central Avenue) and were super impressed by the amazing foods offered. Shopping there became a must-do on our visits. As soon as we became NY residents we joined HWFC. —Chris Edwardson Look for news from additional members of the Board of Directors in coming months.
Due to the pandemic, supply chain disruptions will continue for a while.
Q: Please carry SerendipiTea. A: Our tea set is not currently under evaluation. We’ll keep SerendipiTea in mind when we review the teas.
Q: Could we please wrap the bully sticks + tracheas [dog treats] in bags w/ PLUs for the cashiers? Gross to handle… A: We are hesitant to add additional packaging to the waste stream. We can put some paper bags by the sticks and tracheas for customer use. Q: Move suggestion board so we can read? A: We’re considering our options. Honest Slate publishes the Q&A monthly. We hope to have the suggestions with responses in a safe area in the future. Q: Fitjoy Grain Free Pretzels, Cassava–so Good! A: We’ll bring in Fitjoy Grain Free Pretzels. Q: Earth’s Best Oaty Fruit Snack Bars–Mango Carrot. Please carry if...available. A: We will bring in their Mango Carrot bars. Q: Gluten-free Wasa (crackers). Please carry if available. A: We’ll work on bringing in gluten-free Wasa to our selection.
Q: Bring back Troegs Chocolate Stout. A: It looks like our distributor is not offering Troegs Chocolate Stout at this time. We’ll ask about bringing it back. Q: Where are Hilary’s Spicy Thai burgers? They’re very good. Please get more. Thx. A: Our distributor has dropped the Spicy Thai from its Hilary’s selection. We’ll watch to see if they bring it back. Q: Can you please get some Earth Balance Mayo. It’s been out for weeks now. A: There have been some supply chain issues with Earth Balance Mayo. We’re facing difficulties in obtaining certain items due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Q: For Grocery. Kindly reorder Health Valley No Salt Vegetable + Minestrone soups. They’ve been out awhile. Thanks. A: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a number of hiccups in the supply chain that will continue for a while.
Please bring written questions to our service desk suggestion box.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
August 2020
Honest Slate
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Food for Thought : What is a Natural Flavor? by Paula Jacobus, Nutrition and Education Committee
T h ou s a n d s of natural flavors are
used in processed foods ranging from the essential oils of orange and lemon peels (limonene) and vanilla extract (vanillin) to monosodium glutamate (MSG), GMO soy sauce, hydrolyzed protein product (HPP), and hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), to name a few. “Natural flavors” sounds fine, but are they really natural?
Are natural flavors better than artificial flavors? A natural flavor’s significant function in food is for flavor rather than for nutrition, with its aroma or flavor chemicals derived from a single plant or animal source. These sources include spices, fruits and/ or vegetables, including their respective juices, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Food technologists take a natural food source (such as a fruit or spice) and find ways to extract chemicals that capture only that food’s taste.
Flavor manufacturers do not have to disclose ingredients. Are “natural flavors” really what we think of as natural and healthy? While food processors must list all of the ingredients on a food label, flavor manufacturers do not have to disclose ingredients. Despite the name, most nonorganic natural flavors are produced in a lab and are found mainly in processed foods. Often the chemical makeup of a natural and artificial flavor can be exactly the same and sometimes artificial flavors may have fewer chemicals than natural ones. As with all nonorganic processed foods, current regulations do not restrict the dozens of other ingredients including preservatives, solvents, emulsifiers, carriers, and other additives that may be added to a socalled natural flavor. These are called incidental additives, which means the manufacturer does not have to disclose their presence on food labels.
This can be an essential oil, resin, extract, essence, distillate, or any process of heating, roasting, cold pressing, fermentation, or centrifuging, all according to government guidelines. But “natural flavors” cannot contain artificial preservatives, cannot be derived from the contaminant hexane, and are not chemically modified in any way that makes them different from their natural state. Artificial flavors are synthesized in a lab and use one of 700 FDA-allowed flavoring chemicals or food additives that are characterized “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). More than 2,000 other chemicals are also used for artificial flavors that are not directly FDA-regulated but sanctioned for use by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States. Most of these chemicals exist as natural flavors or can be extracted from them.
Chemical makeup of natural and artificial flavors can be the same. According to David Andrews, a scientist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization, there is little difference between natural and artificial flavors because of the wide variety of ingredients that typically go into natural flavorings. EWG’s food scores—rating more than 80,000 foods on their degree of nutrition, ingredients, and processing concern—reveal “natural flavor” as the fourth most common ingredient listed right after salt, water, and sugar!
Natural flavors (and artificial flavors) may contain undisclosed additives that could pose a potential health risk depending on an individual’s specific food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivity concerns. Some food safety advocates recommend people with food allergies or dietary restrictions avoid altogether these food flavorings with undisclosed ingredients. This is hard to do when food manufacturers add them to a surprising number of basic items: not just to highly processed foods like candy, granola bars, and frozen dinners but also to some cold cereals, flavored yogurts, canned soups, and spaghetti sauces—even to some apple sauces and ice creams. Those at risk should routinely research ingredients that are vague or unclear to find exactly where these flavors come from. As an example, the simple fact that McDonald’s says its “natural beef flavor” is derived from wheat and milk should raise awareness and prompt the desire to know more! Another popular, healthier place we see natural flavors pop up is on the label of fruity seltzer waters. Thanks to the science of flavor extraction, the natural flavor of a fruit is added by distilling its essence and adding it in very small quantities that don’t contribute to the drink’s calories. Natural flavors here are a better choice but, even so, labels should always be read to make sure that other ingredients such as artificial sweeteners aren’t also added. Natural flavors used in certified organic foods are subject to a different, far more restrictive set of regulations. They cannot contain certain ingredients, including synthetic solvents, carriers, and emulsifiers or artificial preservatives, according to the Organic Trade Association. They must use non-petroleum-based solvents, cannot be irradiated, and cannot use flavor extracts derived from genetically engineered crops. continued on page 7
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
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August 2020
Honest Slate
COMMITTEE C O R N E R August 2O20 HWFC Meeting Summaries This article provides a summary of preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors for August 4, 2020’s Board meeting. See the Board meeting packet for details. Full Board-approved committee reports are posted on HWFC’s website. Communications Committee (CC)
∙ Hard copies of Honest Slate are available in-store (entryway racks and committee bulletin board). ∙ Solicited and published material from various Staff regarding Black Lives Matter (BLM); front-page and additional coverage will be included in July’s Honest Slate. Reached out to all Committees and newly elected Board members for readership updates, input or response to questions (heard back from one new Board member). Honest Slate routinely welcomes occasional or regular guest writers. ∙ August marks completion of two full years publishing Honest Slate (24 issues), a stable team of seven, and regular submissions. ∙ Following Honest Slate’s July coverage of the Cottontail Housing Co-op start-up, its founder reported reader inquiries.
Membership Committee (MC)
∙ Online and in-person new Member orientations are under way. Subcommittee continues to standardize new format and procedures. Website updated to share current orientation options for prospective Owners/MOs. ∙ In response to CC’s request for Bulletin Board display area for Honest Slate, MC voted to suggest CC use their portion of the All Committee Bulletin Board. ∙ Continuing work drafting updated 2020 work plan; to be completed in August. ∙ Discussed Board’s new Anti-Racism Committee initiative, which will include MO Manual review . ∙ Cara B. accepted nomination/approval for another three-month term as MC Chair.
by Stephanie Conde
Increased sales and a loan/grant from the SBA’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP) let HWFC meet financial goals with no layoffs. Environment Committee (EC)
∙ Continued examining energy conservation opportunities for HWFC, including review of Bullrock/High Peaks community solar contract and analysis of HWFC’s utility bill. ∙ Further researched development of online Zero Waste presentation for Membership (what Zero Waste is; examples of homes, businesses, and communities that have moved toward fully implementing Zero Waste practices; and practical Zero Waste steps for individuals and communities. ∙ Due to Covid19-related time and meeting challenges, draft work plan has not been completed. Hope to have plan ready by Sept. or Oct. · The Environment Committee submitted a letter directly to the Board regarding a recent change in hand soap stocked in HWFC bathrooms. Concerns included whether the product met FPM standards. [Ed. Note: HWFC’s Environmental Services Manager responded to the committee.]
Honest Arts Committee (HAC)
∙ Committee juried entries for Virtual “Renewal” Art Show. Three to five pieces will be rotated through digital exhibit each week for 5 weeks (hashtag #HWFCRenewal). ∙ Call for art for virtual “Black Lives Matter” Art Show scheduled for Aug. 4 release; jurying of submissions by Aug. 22.
Finance Committee (FC)
∙ CFO Erin Martin noted year-end report will be ready in a few weeks. Increased sales in last two months and loan/grant from Small Business Administration’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP) has allowed HWFC to meet its financial goals. Final numbers available in a few weeks will reflect profit. Annual Inventory was completed without any issues. Annual Audit will be done in early August with two FC members and CFO Martin.
∙ Discussed concerns about closing Food Service buffet at HWFC and Empire State Plaza (ESP). Had significant financial losses but did not lay off any employees. Currently no date to resume full service buffets at Co-op or ESP. Food Service losses amounted to $83,000; actual loss of income was $33,000. Fortunately, OGS returned rent paid in advance for ESP site. Plans to work with College of Saint Rose are on hold. ∙ Committee vote passed FC 2021 Budget unanimously. ∙ Reviewed 2020 work plan. Since no changes were recommended, same work plan will be employed for 2021. ∙ Held brief discussion on need for strategic/long-range planning. FC wants process to begin. Previously requested Board ask each HWFC committee to select one or two members to serve with Board and other Member-Owners (MOs) to develop process and schedule. Board liaison suggested: more complete plan be made by FC (unclear why Board was reluctant to allow FC full organizational control), and presenting plan to get long-range planning started would be okay (as Board has been busier and would welcome plan from FC).
Elections and Nominations Committee (ENC)
∙ Debriefed election process of virtual June Membership Meeting. Will reach out to Janis Adams on her suggestion to improve ballot format. In response to several MOs trying to submit ballots for others during collection at Co-op, discussed ballot collectors’ responsibilities; decided they are not really different from those of ballot box holders at in-person Membership Meetings. At collection tables, we remind MOs (with minimum signage) that ballots can continued on page 7
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
August 2020
Natural Flavors continued from page 5
Flavors labeled “organic flavors” or “organic natural flavors” are even more strictly regulated, consisting almost entirely of organic ingredients; the latter may contain a small amount of natural flavor as well. As an organization, EWG (plus many like-minded communities, individuals, local farmers, and organizations including HWFC) promotes the belief that people have a right to know what’s in their food and that food companies should be regulated to make full disclosure of all their ingredients. Processed food makers should not manipulate flavors that increase cravings and encourage people to eat unhealthy foods.
COMMITTEE C O R N E R continued from page 6
only be cast by voter and no one else. To address anticipated challenges posed as technical difficulties arise, all ENC members will be prepared to fill in for each other during future virtual meetings. Will solidify process for candidates nominated from floor, especially in relation to conflicts of interest and liquor license requirements. ∙ After June Membership Meeting, participants were invited to complete a brief survey about their experience of the virtual meeting (not about election process but about virtual meeting). Sharon Matthews was unavailable so couldn’t provide survey results during ENC meeting. Discussed whether survey was initiated by ENC or Board and whether it is ENC’s responsibility. Will follow up with Sharon on survey results and then present to Board. ∙ Voting Handbook will detail election management process. ENC members now have access to Voting Handbook via Google Docs and formulated a plan to complete it. Plan
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Honest Slate What then is the fundamental difference between natural and artificial flavors? Research indicates that the bottom line is cost.
Food makers should not manipulate flavors to increase cravings.
People have a right to know what’s in their food.
Research is always important to know exactly what you are getting. Find out more with these links:
Food manufacturers spend a great amount of time and money in the search for the chemical sources of natural flavorings, the costs of which are then passed on to consumers. Often, though, as compared to less expensive artificial flavorings, they are neither safer nor significantly better in quality.
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/natural-flavors/
According to the author, the best sources of natural flavor would be items from your own spice rack, squeezing fresh lemon or lime, or infusing a variety of fresh fruits in water and recipes, salads and/or baking, for example. So many whole food options to choose from!
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/well/eat/ are-natural-flavors-really-natural.html
to schedule annual review to keep Voting Handbook as current/accurate as possible going forward. ∙ No current ENC member is able to take full responsibility as Chair. Instead Karen Roth, Lieta Washington, and Paula McKeough will work collectively and make decisions as a team. All three names will be added to HWFC website. All emails to ENC Chair should be sent to electionscomm@ honestweight.coop. ∙ Will email GRC to ask if they’d like ENC’s help to plan GRC election (with July 24 reply deadline). If so, ENC will start planning discussions at August meeting.
A longtime advocate for the non-GMO organic movement, Paula also supports environmental concerns and animal welfare. She earned certification as a Bredesen ReCODE Protocol practitioner, helping to prevent and reverse cognitive decline, while caring for her mom with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2017.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/natural-flavors http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/the-flavor-rundown-natural-vs-artificial-flavors/ https://www.livestrong.com/article/13726163-what-are-natural-flavors-and-artificial-flavors/
Paula Jacobus is a Certified Health Coach with a passion for helping others achieve a whole, green, and healthy lifestyle—encouraging choices to satisfy and fuel the body and mind that fit one’s lifestyle.
An active Member-Owner working in Grocery and the Front End, Paula joined the Nutrition & Education Committee in 2014, has a great team, and finds many store projects to which the committee is assigned interesting and rewarding.
Governance Review Council (GRC)
∙ Reviewed notice for June 28 Regular Membership Meeting; will advise Board Administrator that notice is acceptable. ∙ Prepared (and suggested corrections to) slide presentation for June Membership Meeting. Submitted presentation to Board Administrator for inclusion at June 28 Membership Meeting. ∙ GRC representative to Bylaws Panel resigned; unanimously passed motion for Carolynn to become GRC rep to Bylaws Panel. Will inform Board Administrator and Bylaws Panel of Carolynn’s appointment.
HWFC does not provide medical advice. Please check with a health care practitioner before treating any condition.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
8
August 2020
Honest Slate
Board Decisions The HWFC Board of Directors approved the following decisions at the 6 pm Aug. 4 Board Meeting: • Member-Owners investing time on the floor or in admin from Aug. 5 until the next meeting of the Board of Directors are to receive one and a half (1.5) hours for each hour of time invested. • Until the next meeting of the Board of Directors, Employees who are not absent due to COVID-19 related reasons may access sick time accruals without the need to supply a doctor’s note other than for compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
now growing...
Congratulations to HWFC Employee Erin Johanns, who was appointed to the Board of Directors at the August Board meeting!
• Until the next meeting of the Board of Directors, extend the suspension of the one-year service requirement and the requirement for a doctor’s note for those with a personal illness to use the Leave Transfer Bank Policy with the modification that FFCRA eligible Employees are not eligible for the Leave Transfer Policy. • On-site committee meetings are suspended until the next meeting of the Board of Directors.
Seasonal Plants MOs: share your experience with our community!
Calling All Plants People!
What do you dig about your time in Plants? Do you garden elsewhere? What do you grow? What’s your favorite plant? Email us at honestslate@honestweight.coop.
August 2O20 Submissions Policy:
Editors & Contributors:
We welcome articles & contributions.
Susan Andrews Yevette Buddeau David Bulnes Stephanie Conde Erin Donahue Chris Edwardson Elisa Grimm
• Preferred maximum length is 500 words. • Material is published at the discretion of the Honest Slate team. • Only signed work is accepted. • Items are edited for length, grammar, and style. We may consider unsolicited material but encourage individuals to submit ideas or outlines first. Letters to the Editors do not require preapproval.
Paula Jacobus Don Kennison Alex Mytelka Carol Ostrow Janet Sorell Tyler Varese
Contact honestslate@honestweight.coop with questions, comments, or suggestions.
• Board committee liaison assignments were made. • The November Board Meeting will take place at 6 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. • Erin Johanns was appointed to the Board of Directors • The Education & Engagement Manager job description was approved. • The Lead Designer job description was approved. • The New York State Paid Family Leave Policy was approved to be included in the Employee Manual. • The Human Resources Director/ Manager job description was approved.
WE OWE YOU The Co-op has money waiting for a number of individuals whom we cannot locate. If you or anyone you know appears on the following list, the Finance Department urges you to contact the Co-op at your earliest convenience: finance@honestweight.coop. Gillian Eastwood
Stephen Dornbush Nishi Beharry
Eva Foitzik
Hank Adams
Lily Ringler
Timothy J. Cowper Laurel Holden
Joseph Gietl
Maria Kuhsel
Druis Beasley
Kimberly Truitt
Oliver Holecek
Mark Pranys
Elias Saifan
Statement of Purpose: Honest Slate is a platform for HWFC Membership, Staff, Management, and Governance: promoting transparency, reporting news without bias, and sustaining community. Honest Slate articles are for informational purposes and are not intended to diagnose or treat disease. Opinions expressed in Honest Slate do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Honest Slate or Honest Weight Food Co-op. All contents ©2020 Honest Weight Food Co-op; no material appearing in Honest Slate may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of HWFC.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
August 2020
9
Honest Slate
memBer-owner Announcements
Co-opportunities by Yevette Buddeau
Member-Owner Coordinator (MOC)
August already?
Interested in joining Honest Weight Food Co-op’s Team as an Employee? Check out our Employment Page.
This month we send out another huge thanks to those who continue to come in and help at the Co-op as we keep safety at the forefront of our minds. Observe the six feet of distance around all other people and wear the mask completely properly, covering both your nose and mouth, so we can all stay safe. Thanks for doing your part!
Other outside tasks options remain in Plants: CarolSurash@honestweight.coop Maintenance: Brian@honestweight.coop Housekeeping: John.Daubney@honestweight.coop and Weeding & Gardening: memberservices@honestweight.coop.
Enjoy the harvest and the heat while you can!
We still have places for those who are interested in helping in the outdoor spaces of the Co-op. Below is the contact info for those who want to get their hours outside in the warm weather, but make sure to drink plenty of water and use appropriate sun protection. The greatest need is as an outdoor greeter, counting customers as they come and go from the store and collecting and cleaning the carts. These shifts are at least two hours long and cover the main business hours of the day, between 10 am and 6 pm. To sign up for this interactive outdoor position, reach out to Dan at DanH@honestweight.coop. The best-case scenario for this role is for people to do this in pairs, so if you see someone greeting and counting, then there is still room for one more and you can sign up!
writers Honest wanted:
SLATE
Write what you know. Write what you want. Write what you like. Write for Honest Slate. See submissions policy on page 8.
honestslate@honestweight.coop
We also have needs for Member-Owners to come help out in Grocery on many different days and times. Contact Georgia. Sullivan@honestweight.coop or JoshNichols@honestweight.coop for more details.
To donate hours to the Member-Owner hours bank, or to request a donation due to COVID-19 hardship, reach out to Yevette at memberservices@ honestweight.coop. Two longtime community members passed on recently and our condolences go out to the friends and loved ones of Tom DiGiovanni and Rance McKenna.
It may seem early, but we’re already thinking ahead about the busy holiday seasons and snow coverage. If you believe that the autumn may be easier for you to do your hours, then please reach out to your department of choice now.
Please send messages of support through appropriate means if you knew them. If you know of a community member who has recently passed and you would like to see them mentioned here in Honest Slate, please send the desired info to Yevette at memberservices@honestweight.coop. You may also submit a heartfelt article about the person to HonestSlate@honestweight.coop if you feel so inclined.
The Co-op can also use a few people who are at the ready to show up with shovels when snow comes. It seems far off, but if you commit in your mind now then you will be ready when the time comes. (Think about it on these super-hot August days!)
Here’s a new topic: Do we have MOs who would like to financially sponsor a new owner with no strings attached? If this interests you then please send your comments to Yevette at memberservices@ honestweight.coop.
Attention MemBer-Owners: From August 5th through September 1st, Member-Owners investing time at the Co-op will receive 1.5 hours of credit for every hour invested. This is an update to the double hours policy that was in effect from March 16 through August 4. •The 1.5 hours will be calculated the same way the double hours were: added bi-weekly as a separate entry. • We are not able to change the programming to have these hours increase in live time. • If you have any questions at all about your Member-Owner account or the hours you have, or if you would like assistance signing up for time investment hours, please contact Yevette at memberservices@honestweight.coop.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
