Honest
SLATE
HWFC’s community newsletter
august 2019
Published monthly by the Communications Committee To promote transparency, report without bias, and sustain community among Membership • Staff • Management • Governance Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 honestslate@honestweight.coop • https://www.honestweight.coop/
In this issue:
coming soon:
“It is always so [much] fun to see the different cooking and heritage backgrounds ... in the way people cook.”
To learn more about your Membership choices, Honest Slate is planning a brandnew community-wide questionnaire to be created by Staff & committee members.
Special Staff/Membership Survey
—Dan Hurlbut, p. 2
•Who is it for? EVERYONE.
Q: “What’s the best part of your job?”
A: “No one’s ever asked me that before.” —p. 5 How many first-time shoppers does it take to fill a Suggestion Box? Hint: see p. 6.
Check out creates community: p. 8.
and more:
CONTENTS Dishing about the Deli ........... 2 Big-Picture NCG Results.......... 3 Yoga for the Voice.................... 4 From our Administrator.......... 5 Q&A/Suggestion Box .............. 6 Coffeehouse News.................. 6 Do We Owe You? ................... 8 Board Decisions....................... 8 Committee Corner.................. 9 Care to Share: MO News ..... 10 honestslate@honestweight.coop
Seeing Double?
Above: a photo of July’s Honest Slate securely tucked into its new home.
You Are Here:
Welcome to our August 2019 issue!
Now you can pick up the latest edition of Honest Slate at our official home by the store entryway slat wall, where we stock printed copies each month.
Look for copies in the acrylic holder
on the ledge just below promotional and coupon materials; and continue reading current and previous editions online at honestweight.coop/honestslate. Thanks to Yevette Buddeau, John Akots and the Marketing team for creating and providing our new signage.
did you know? The Membership Committee: • Promotes Member-Owner participation in the Co-op; • Preserves MOs’ rights and roles; • Seeks solutions to MO issues & concerns; • Focuses on MO accountability. See Care to Share, page 10.
Whether you’re Staff, Owner &/or MO, this survey covers ALL community members.
•Where/When:
Honest Slate · September 2019
•Why?
To explore Membership motivation.
This opinion poll will give everyone the chance to tell us what appeals to you most about belonging to the HWFC community, regardless of affiliation or status.
Staff/Owners/Member-Owners: How does your connection work for you?
Where do you fit into the picture? What is your approach towards choosing or passing on ownership? To sweeten the deal: Everyone responding to September’s survey will automatically be entered in a raffle for the chance to win a $100 gift card generously provided by Marketing; the winner will be announced in October’s Honest Slate. Icing on the cake: Even better, this month only (through Aug. 25), we want your ideas for creating this questionnaire! What questions belong? We’ll select from suggestions received, consolidating themes. Email honestslate@honestweight.coop with “Staff/MO Survey” in the subject line and plan to participate next month!
https://www.honestweight.coop/
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Honest Slate
Dishing on Deli: Q&A with Dan Hurlbut
This month the Communications Committee provided questions for Dan Hurlbut, Food Services Department manager for the past 3.5 years.
How have you seen your department’s role at HWFC evolve over time? We’ve kept traditions but have also made many changes: •New catering menu •Offering sliced deli meat and cheese •Adding display space and service areas for grab-and-go items and ever-growing bakery •Updating the service case to have takehome meals; moving salads to the cooler wall instead of duplicating locations •New coffee program with more vendors; nitro cold brew; bottling cold brew/iced tea •Remodeled our Empire State Plaza location and reworked the menu for a fresher look.
What are challenges for Food Services?
Keeping the whole department running as a smooth unit. Many moving parts require a lot of coordination between members of our team: ordering, production, customer service, hiring, training, even keeping plates and silverware stocked. Everyone has their role and makes the day go smoothly. I thank everyone who helps keep the department moving in the right direction!
What are the most rewarding aspects?
Knowing that we are here for a reason. We are not just making food for people to eat— we are making food for people who choose to care about...where it comes from and how it was treated. Putting their trust in us to take those ingredients and finish them for their meal is a huge responsibility—but also something our whole team should be so proud of! Seeing the Food Services team take on this responsibility and shine is the most rewarding part for me.
Are Food Services Staff cross-trained or
do they have specialized stations? Most are trained in all areas. •FOH are trained in juice and java/sandwich/ service case; many do kitchen prep if needed. •Openers on the 4 a.m. Bakery shift bake all fresh case items, do cake decorating, and handle regular production—a handful are also cross-trained in juice and java. •Kitchen staff are trained on many stations: breakfast, service case, soup, salads, meals and cross-over (keeping the hot bar full). •We are all trained in the dish area!!!
How are recipes developed or sourced?
Most of our recipes are creations of our team. The rest are hand-me-downs from a database of HWFC recipes which I am told are based mostly on past employee ideas. It is always so [much] fun to see the different cooking and heritage backgrounds come out in the way people cook. I feel this is why we have such a diverse variety of flavors and concepts to choose from in the Deli Dept.
Does a chef design the overall menu?
Hot bar menus are designed by our chefs (one per day). We have a different entrée cook daily; all get the opportunity to create a unique menu while staying within cost and labor guidelines. Each entrée cook plans for the next rotation months in advance by scanning cookbooks, watching food shows, trying
August 2019 items at home, and even eating out! I always look forward to the new thoughts and flavors that work their way into the kitchen’s entrée. Specific recipes—vegetable quinoa salad, for example—also come from our team or database.
Do Staff or MOs contribute recipe ideas?
Yes. New ideas are brought up daily for the hot bar, service case and even salads. We will try a small batch; many team members will taste and give feedback. Then we need to cost out the items to see how it will work with our margin.
So who are “Nick” of Nick’s Broccoli and “Matt” of Matt’s Tofu?
They are former employees, I am told. I do know Meagan of Meagan’s Meatloaf. I worked with her briefly. She is Tom G.’s wife; Tom is the manager of our Bulk Department.
Do Member-Owners put in time investment in Food Services?
Yes, they do. We have a small handful of MOs who feel comfortable serving customers behind our department line. It’s only on the service case side—packing meatloaf, twice-baked potato or some roasted vegetables—but it is all so helpful. Others work in our front of house {FOH} and do more behind the scenes: pack salads, scoop pudding, portion salsa and sour cream and the like. MOs can sign up for hours by contacting me or the assistant manager of the correct department section (FOH, Bakery, Kitchen).
Are any changes in store?
We are looking at [potentially] expanding to Maria College to be its food service option.
How many managers work for you?
Ashley is the Bakery manager with a shift lead. Meaghan is the FOH [Front of House] manager with an assistant. We have two sous chefs, Will and Steve, in the Kitchen; and I oversee the whole department along with Mike, who orders and receives food. Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop
The Bigger picture By Rick Mausert with Erin Martin and Rhoda Pickus
Honest Weight is a part of a much larger ecosystem of co-ops across the country? As a member of the National Co+op Grocers, we belong to a group of 145 co-ops across 37 states. Along the Eastern Corridor, 53 co-ops from Maine to Florida participate in NCG, which supports us in many ways. Its staff has arranged a buying contract with UNFI (United Natural Food Inc.) that benefits all member co-ops.
did you know
Under this buying agreement HWFC has saved over $500,000 in purchases during calendar year 2018 alone. NCG negotiates contracts with select suppliers on behalf of the member co-ops, increasing both purchasing power and buying power. As part of NCG, our UNFI Supply Contract helps reduce the cost of purchases from United Natural Foods.
HWFC participates in these additional programs through NCG: • Co+op Deals: HWFC receives sales flyers and promotional shelf materials with discounted sales prices. • Co+op Basics: HWFC benefits from competitive pricing on almost 5,600 pantry staple items. • NCG off-shelf promotions such as: --coupon distribution for new Owners; --an in-store coupon book, and --a variety of packaging and supply products branded as Co+op. --La Riojana (exclusive access to an Argentina co-op-produced olive oil); We continue to use NCG as a resource for staff development. Managers and hourly and staff alike have had the privilege of attending 8 NCG-sponsored conferences to date, including Co+nnect, a finance managers’ conference; Convergence, an annual product and purchasing expo ; an Eastern Corridor Interest Group retreat; Fall and Spring DR (Designated Rep) meetings; an annual HR Conference; Marketing Matters, and Safety & Emergency Preparedness.
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Honest Slate
August 2019
NCG survey results may interest the entire HWFC community. Risk Matrix Score
NCG also benchmarks all co-ops and provides measurements of fiscal health. Their 2018 participation survey results may be of interest to HWFC Member-Owners, Staff and Management. We are excited to share how well Honest Weight is doing when measured against other member co-ops in finance; NCG standards and policy compliance; meeting, event, and program participation; and the UNFI Supply Contract.
75%
NCG measures finance metrics by Equity, Cash on Hand, Sales and Sales Trends, Gross Margin, Personnel Expense, Margin, EBITDA and Risk Matrix. In these measurements HWFC either improved our performance, met, or exceeded the expectations set forth by NCG. We are also in compliance with all NCG requirements for financial reporting and inventory counts. Below is the HWFC graph for Risk, combining measurements for Debt to Equity, Inventory turns, EBITDA and Liquidity.
NCG’s average overall score at the end of 2018 was measured at 58.11 percent. At the end of 2018, 39 NCG co-ops ranked below 50 percent.
A higher score indicates a stronger financial position.
70% 65% 60% 55%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Honest Weight Food Co-op’s risk matrix score improved to 74.5 percent in 2018—a result of sales growth, strong earnings and growth in equity. It’s rewarding to know that the consistent hard work and dedication of Member-Owners, Staff, and Management working together have combined to drive these successes of HWFC. Job well done!
MOBILE BLOOD DRIVE
Honest Weight Food Co-op 100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Blood Drive held on the Red Cross BUS
To make an appointment visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code: HonestWeight
1-800-RED CROSS | 1-800-733-2767 | redcrossblood.org | Download the Blood Donor App ©2019 The American National Red Cross
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop
4
Honest Slate
Yoga
Turns out, Yoga for the Voice is a thing.
for the
Voice
Maintaining voice awareness, like other practices, allows you to see what’s beautiful around you rather than what’s flawed.
What is Yoga for the Voice? Chanting while doing headstands? Throat singing? Gargling with mineral water??
Turns out, yoga for the voice is a thing.
This month we feature a combination class-turned-interview with HWFC Member-Owner Melissa Hurt, who moved to the Capital region about two years ago, joined HWFC recently, and now offers her expertise via classes at the Co-op.
As a Lessac Certified Trainer, Melissa
specializes in embodiment coaching through voice work and has offered several sessions to date via Honest Weight’s Education Department. She also invests time as a monthly worker in Produce. Billed as “Yoga for the Voice,” the prospect sounded intriguing, so I signed up for the July 25 session.
Initiate buoyancy: “I advise people to get grounded—feel their feet, feel their breath, then begin,” Melissa said. She recommends trying voice work to diffuse stress: “initiate buoyancy, then explore voice from that space.”
“We don’t want force or tension in our spirit,” Melissa explained. The practice she teaches values awareness of and commitment to sensation. This class included not just vocalization as expected, but also physical movement. We began by standing up and expanding to occupy our space more fully—with movements resembling tai chi chuan— before moving on to voice work. By investigating specific vocal sequences that utilized different consonants and vowels, we became more aware of physical sensations in the palate and facial area—not just sound but corresponding vibration—while progressing through explorations.
So many modalities in one struck me as an excellent teaching & learning tool. The experience proved to extend well beyond sound, overlapping other senses. It became visual and tactile—even literary, as we recited alliterative phrases. So many modalities in one struck me as an excellent teaching & learning tool. I confess I had not previously paid much attention to these sensations, and the workshop allowed me to appreciate the subtle but strong connection between voice, the whole physical body, and overall well-being.
August 2019 Creating healthy habits can actually accomplish neural reprogramming through what Melissa called “depatterning.” Her terminology derives in part from the teachings of Arthur Lessac, from whom Melissa received certification before he passed away in 2011 at the age of 101½.
Melissa devoted time both during and after the interactive class to describe her approach and answer questions. She explained that focusing on one’s own style of spoken language provides a springboard to finding the voice both literally and figuratively. When Melissa works with clients she studies their speech patterns with kindness. Many, she stated, tend to be self-critical, reflecting disembodiment in the voice, the breath, and posture. She encourages people to cultivate themselves the way they would tend a garden or conduct an orchestra. Highlighting the connection between mind and body, she uses the terms “psycho-physical,” “bodymind complex” and “embodiment.” With a theater background and experience as a yoga instructor, Melissa sees herself primarily as a storyteller. She works with a range of individuals: from professional actors, attorneys, corporate and public speakers, to moms, teachers and priests. Starting this fall she will also be teaching voice at SUNY Albany’s theater department. Learn more about her work at her website, www.melissahurt.com; and keep an eye open for future classes. —Carol Ostrow
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop
5
August 2019
This month Honest Slate sat down with Honest Weight Board Administrator Tyler Varese, who strives to keep information flowing between the Board of Directors and
with the
board
tor
Administra
general Membership. Here’s what he
Did You Know?
shared about his job and perspective.
4 HWFC employees report to the Board: • Administrator Tyler Varese • Note-taker Olivia Pettit • MOC Yevette Buddeau and • CCO Rick Mausert. Under our organizational structure, the Board oversees the CCO. In turn, the CCO oversees Staff; other Co-op managers report directly to Rick.
It was Election Day in November of 2016 when Tyler Varese found out he had been hired as Honest Weight’s Board Administrator; so he signed the paperwork for his new job at the Co-op; and then he went to vote. In a recent interview with Honest Slate, Tyler revealed that those election results sealed his motivation to leave UPS, where he’d served as a supervisor for 3 years, largely due to rampant pro-Trump sentiment permeating his former workplace.
It was also, he noted, one year after a Special Membership Meeting had altered the course of Honest Weight’s operations, and change was afoot.
As Board Administrator, Tyler is a part-time HWFC employee responsible for channeling information between governance and Membership—mainly, overseeing all email communication for Board members, including its officers [President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer]. The Board Administrator’s focus is to preserve all messages; channel them to the proper body—in this case, all sitting directors—and ensure receipt, conferring with acting Board Secretary Janet Sorell (currently also Vice-President).
Unlike department employees, Tyler reports to the Board rather than to Management. He attends Board meetings, Board work sessions, and Membership Meetings; and he serves as note-taker during the work sessions, while fellow staffer Olivia Pettit takes notes at Board meetings and Membership Meetings.
Staying current The Board of Directors is charged with the responsibility of keeping up with New York State law—remaining vigilant to any changes in state or corporate regulations that affect HWFC as an employer, a corporation, and a cooperative. “We need the Board to stay on top of current legislation, whether that affects grocery, liquor licensing or other areas,” Tyler stated, pointing out changes in sexual harassment law as a current example.
However, if that was all he did, our interview—and this article—would have ended quickly.
Our committees and panels regularly rely on note-takers for proper documentation. Note-taking is an excellent way to become familiar with Co-op procedure.
Though working part-time (23 hours weekly), Tyler exemplifies full-time commitment. He related what he has learned in his 2½ years on Staff and explained why he believes it’s so important to remain dedicated.
Some Honest Weight teams have existing members record notes; others put word out to recruit new participants. The Personnel Committee recently reached out for MO help via Honest Slate’s June issue and reported successful results.
• What’s the best part of your job? “...I’m working with people who really care. It’s rewarding.” Tyler added that although individuals don’t always agree, they still appreciate where one another are coming from. • What’s the toughest part? “When people who care are unwilling to compromise, or put themselves above the greater good.” Tyler’s main take-away to date is that “no one person has power over anyone else. There should be no ego [involved].” The group is a body with a great deal of power, and “zero power of authority rests within any one individual director.” • Is that significant? “Yes, because the collective is where the power lies. Our Bylaws give the President of the Board authority; s/ he—and all Board members—are elected by the Member-Owners. However, each one is still essentially an MO just like you or me.” • How can Member-Owners communicate with the Board? To bring a topic to the Board’s attention, MOs can submit a Member Item to be placed on the agenda at least 3 days in advance of the next scheduled Board meeting. When submitting Member Items, MOs request a certain amount of time on the agenda to discuss their request, usually averaging 10-15 minutes. Since the Board meets on Tuesday evenings, that means sending in requests by 6 p.m. of the preceding Saturday. Additionally, every Board meeting includes an agenda review to allow adjustments to the scheduled order of topics. Abiding by this procedure helps to bring issues to the forefront in several ways. First, it’s documented so that Membership has a time-stamped account for future reference. Second, it is the most appropriate and cooperative way to publicize concerns. MOs bring a wide variety of topics to the table— from sharing work to selling beer. Tyler’s responsibilities also extend behind the scenes to monthly work sessions, when the Board can study and resolve confidential matters such as personnel or sensitive financial information. 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
6
Q &A
From the Suggestion Box
Don’t see your comment here? Check the bulletin board in the café. Q: Please use the sugar free Coconut Milk when making smoothies etc. It comes in the green carton [not the red carton] of So Delicious. The red carton has 6-7 grams of sugar. Thank you! A: We will look at using unsweetened coconut milk in our smoothies. Q: Kristin Lajeunesse was an amazing instructor. Please do another session. A: Thanks for the positive feedback. We’d love to have Kristin back for another social media class; check upcoming calendars. Q: Would you please carry the Honest Wt. Utensil set! Wandered all over the store looking for it + was told only in for Earth day. Would be a great product to sell! A: They are on the way!
Honest Slate Q: Please stop using single-use plastic in dessert & juice bar (use bio-plant plastic). A: We are progressively working on decreasing our use of single-use plastics. Please bear in mind that compostable containers are more expensive. Q: Could you please list the salt % on the soups per serving? I need to watch my salt. A: Our soups are made from scratch inhouse. We do not have the capability to measure salt per serving. Q: Today was our first day here. Loved the store, especially cashier Donna. So friendly and helpful—we are definitely coming back to see her! A: That’s sweet! We’re happy to welcome another new customer. We hope all your future visits are equally pleasant. Q: Can we please discontinue purchases of goods with plastic [soda & beer ] rings? A: We’ll take a look at the plastic rings and will speak with our vendors about options.
August 2019 Q: Please consider carrying Fruition Chocolate. Made in the Catskills. Wins international awards. A: Thanks for bringing Fruition to our attention. We’ll look into their chocolates. Q: More smoothie selections, like chocolate peanut butter. A: That sounds delicious! We have some new selections coming soon. We’ll keep chocolate peanut butter in mind as well. Q: Front End Kelly is great! A: We agree! She adds the fun to bring our professionalism to the next level. Q: Why is it more expensive to buy bulk soap ... than to buy a new plastic bottle? This is counterintuitive + bad for the environment. Q: Why does bulk soap cost more than purchasing a new bottle? A: This should not be happening. We will fix it. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Q: Can we get a bottle filling water fountain to replace the current one? Thanks! A: We’re looking into a water bottle filling water fountain. Q: Justin, Bulk; Jen, Produce; Elyse, Cashier; Barbara & Didi, Courtesy. 1st time in store—All these people terrific! A: Welcome to the store! We’re glad you appreciate our workers as much as we do! Q: Can we sell Stephen P’s AMAZING chocolate peanut butter CBD cake in the Bakery? A: At this point, we are not putting CBD in any prepared foods. We will continue to offer Stephen’s peanut butter cake without CBD on occasion. Q: First time shopper. I was carrying my plants into the store; Peggy explained we have a holding place for plants and you can continue to shop. Get a ticket and pay in store. Much appreciation. I will be back. Great customer service. A: We’re happy to hear about your pleasant experience! Thanks for taking the time to let us know. 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
August 2019
tor
Administra
continued from page 5
Tyler stressed the value of these get-togethers as vital to the Board’s ability to fine-tune itself. By meeting out of the public eye, Board members can sit down and talk like any group and tend to its workload. “The Board needs a confidential space. Everyone needs to be able to speak their mind.” •Are you planning to stay for a while? “Yes. I can see myself staying for the duration.” Board appointments and elected seats are rotational by nature. Ideally, each term runs for 3 years and three seats become available each year. Tyler has seen only one three-year term completed, notably that of Carolynn Presser. Consequently he’s motivated to remain in place to provide continuity and “because I owe it to HWFC—I feel responsible as a Member-Owner.” He describes his role as a conduit. His job is to convey all information; he stresses that he is neither a gatekeeper nor an editor. To get a message to the Board, always email Tyler directly. If someone sends a note just to one Board member, it’s likely to get lost.
“We have no choice but to succeed.” Maintaining high commitment is not always easy for governance, noted Tyler. “When things get difficult I like being in the trench with them,” he remarked, noting that optimism is key. “We have no choice but to succeed.” Board and committee members come and go over time; so it’s feasible that certain projects may be tended to by the Board Administrator that might otherwise be postponed. Tyler expressed hope that professional development benefit Board members in the future. “The Board should come up with resources for a supplementary course,” he suggested. Existing training covers basics; perhaps additional workshops could offer ideas for relating to Membership effectively, for example.
“We can’t have a power vacuum.” How can Board members balance their approaches once they’re elected, put aside previous assumptions, and stay neutral? Are there training sessions or continuing education for elected Board members? “There is a line item in the budget for staff development…Essentially, the Board is charged with asking Management: ‘How can we help you do your job better?’” Additionally, nonprofit government resources such as forums and websites are available; and occasionally, individual Board members seek higher education on their own. The Board’s Governance Development Initiative should also soon offer avenues for Board members, and MOs, to obtain additional skills.
“This Co-op needs a full Board. As a $28 million company, it’s responsible for [sustaining] nearly 200 Employees as well as its Membership.” About our Administrator: Tyler, who was a history major, related that his city of residence, Mechanicville, had a paper mill until 1971. During his senior year at SUNY he worked part-time at the Center for Disability Services in Albany, where he met now-husband Justin; and he joined HWFC in September of 2012. As an historian, Tyler appreciates handling HWFC archives, taking responsibility for organizing 45 years’ worth of material. He finds past meeting minutes and publications revealing; especially, he added, the years directly preceding 2013’s relocation that trace decisions and cultural shifts. Shortly after that move to our current location, Co-op archives were compromised. Tyler has been restoring those records and estimates that all historical minutes dating back to 2008 and all original hard copy Coop Scoop editions will be uploaded to Honest Weight’s website by fall of this year.
How do Member Items work? • Member items are the closest thing the Board has to a town hall or forum. • A Member Item may be submitted with the sole intention of initiating a discussion. • A Member Item may also include an action item: requesting the Board to take a vote and render a decision following discussion.
Thoroughly invested Tyler wants MOs to understand how vital the Co-op’s success is to the many households depending on it for their livelihoods. Underlining the extent to which Staff—and Member-Owners—rely on Honest Weight, he recalled former Board President Carolynn Presser’s oft-repeated mantra, “196 families.” For him it’s especially real: husband Justin works at Honest Weight as the Bulk Department Assistant Manager, so theirs is a 100% HWFC-employed household. Our Board Administrator views his former work environment as beneficial to his current vantage point. As a pre-load supervisor, he said, people would “talk to the shirt”—in other words, speak candidly to him, viewing him as a company rep rather than as an individual. He quickly came to understand that “100 times out of 100, that person will feel better for having spoken up.” Regardless of how strongly messages were conveyed, he never felt that it was directed at him personally and never discouraged open lines of communication. —Carol Ostrow with Tyler Varese
• To reach HWFC governance, email:
BoardAdmin@honestweight.coop • All Board decisions and minutes are available to read online once approved. • The approval process for minutes takes up to two months; decisions are also published monthly in Honest Slate.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop
8
Honest Slate Checking out
do we owe you?
Checkout
& customer service What do young couples, savants with statistical savvy, and tiny tots with treasures all have in common? They collectively create community in our own checkout lines—where Honest Weight cashiers ring up your purchases, answer questions, engage customers and often manage to make multitasking look easy.
The Co-op has money waiting for a
number of individuals who we cannot find. 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.
Druis Beasley Nishi Beharry Gillian Eastwood Eva Foitzik Joseph Gietl Lauren Holden Mark Pranys
Have your shopping trips at Honest Weight been enhanced by checkout experiences? Do you have a favorite cashier whose line you seek out? Who relates to your children or helps you maximize savings? Starting now, we will collect and share comments and anecdotes about your checkout experiences for occasional Honest Slate stories, potentially creating a feature that keeps on giving. Example: At least two cashiers possess remarkable memory and calculation skills. Have you met them?
Email honestslate@honestweight.coop
any time with “Checkout Story” in the subject line. Cashier contributions are equally welcome; and any items may be published anonymously.
Lily Ringler Elias Saifan Shavon Taylor Kimberly Truitt Elizabeth Yoquint Daren Zal
you tell us! • Have you attended a recent Honest Weight-sponsored class or event that made a difference for you? Tell us about your experience! • You can submit a few paragraphs; or our editorial team can help frame your story with a short interview. • Share the learning and enjoyment with the HWFC community! Email honestslate@honestweight.coop with “Class story” in the subject line.
thanks August editors + contriibutors: Yevette Buddeau Stephanie Conde Elisa Grimm Dan Hurlbut Don Kennison
Annette Kramer Erin Martin Rick Mausert Lorraine Orsini Carol Ostrow
Olivia Pettit Rhoda Pickus Courtney Semoff Janet Sorell Tyler Varese
Suibmissions Policy We welcome articles & contributions; desired maximum length is 500 words. Material is published at the discretion of the Hon est Slate team; only signed work is accepted; and 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 pre-approval. Contact honestslate@ honestweight.coop with questions, comments or suggestions.
August 2019
Board Meeting Decisions HWFC’s Board of Directors approved the following at the 6 p.m. Board Meeting August 6, 2019: •Updating the Reimbursement Policy in the Employee Manual. •The allocation of $200 from miscellaneous expenses for use by the Honest Arts Committee to display archived material. •Adding development of a Moderation Workshop to the Membership Committee work plan. •Approving updates to the Anti-Harassment Policy reflecting changes in the law—pending the Governor’s signature on legislation passed by the NYS Senate & Assembly. •Adoption of the Personnel Committee’s proposed working definition of “supervisory employee” for Bylaw 410.3(c). •Edited job description for Staff Representative to the Personnel Committee: allowing the Staff Rep to the Board to act as an alternate to the Staff Rep to the Personnel Committee. •Acceptance of a proposal as edited to add to the Election & Nominating Committee work plan.
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 ©2019 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 2019
Honest Slate
COMMITTEE C O R N E R HWFC Meeting Summaries
by Stephanie Conde
This article provides a summary of preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors for the August 6, 2019 Board meeting. See the Board meeting packet for details. Full committee reports are routinely posted and available on the HWFC website upon Board approval.
Finance Committee (FC) • Moved committee meetings back 15’ (start time now 5:15) to facilitate member schedules. Will revisit this issue in the fall. • CCO Mausert provided brief financial review of Co-op’s financial position. 2019-20 FY budget was overwhelmingly approved at last Membership Meeting. Last year’s revenue increased by 3% (1.5% over budget); expenses and EBITDA also increased. • In March 2020, HWFC will begin charging $.25 per large paper bag (with handles). • An FC member will write to request the Board begin one of our periodic Strategic Planning Initiatives. • Discussion of a new low-income discount (for EBT food stamp shoppers) yielded no decision: discount goals and measurement unclear; data to evaluate proposed 8% discount impact unavailable; mixed views on a new unearned discount—especially while all employees are not yet paid a living wage). HWFC Ownership Statistics (June 2019) • 12,603 Owners (including 22 new Owners; 8 redemptions largely due to relocation). • 129 Owner Employees; 63 Non-Owner Employees. Governance Review Council (GRC) • Reviewed GRC meeting rules of conduct. • Requested Board ask Finance Committee to review 1% trigger for purchases and suggest a trigger more in line with current/ larger budget (budget is considerably larger than when trigger was last reviewed). • Asked Bylaws Panel to amend Bylaws 461.2 so eligible candidates not present when nominated from the floor must provide written proof of acceptance to the person making the nomination (proof would be provided to ENC prior to ballot collection). Solution would eliminate votes being siphoned off by uninterested nominees; let interested candidates meet 25% threshold. • Historical Document Archive work continues.
• Preparing response to Board’s Jan. 2019 request for help updating Board Manual/Standard Operating Procedures/Guidelines and Procedures Manual per Bylaws 470.2(b) and 470.1 (response will include advice on hiring Contractors vs Time Investors). Will request Board advise GRC of anticipated milestone dates and describe Board’s process to complete revisions. • Reviewed procedures now used by Personnel Committee to update Employee Manual. Bylaws Panel • Continues review and revision of Section 471 [the section addressing the Bylaws Panel] (near completion). • Will organize all Panel Reports to Board by year and organize all work products submitted to Board on Bylaws Google Drive. Membership Committee (MC) • Continues revising Membership Manual. • Discussed Moderation Workshop, Member-Owner Engagement (needs assessment). Nutrition and Education Committee (NEC) • Preparing content for Annual Report. • Editing and updating Meat and Poultry Standards. Estimated completion before Jan. 2020 Membership vote. Environment Committee (EC) • Anticipates MO Dan Spilman’s report on HWFC energy usage and energy conservation audit in August. • Received financial information on relevant renewable options and incentive programs from NYSERDA energy storage program manager and NYSERDA consultant. • Awaits proposals from local natural gas generator dealer and Direct Energy’s parent company’s division on power backup systems and renewable energy installations. Will contact other energy storage/solar contractors and generator dealers. • Met with Management on Zero Waste and related issues (recycling, organics diversion/
9 composting, waste reduction, etc.) Follow-up meeting planned for August. • Continues seeking pallet wrap collection; no resolution yet. Contacted UNFI office/ warehouse in NH (which supplies HWFC), CCO Mausert asked NCG to include wrap recycling in their contract, and Stephen contacted several companies that offer plastic film recycling. • Created communication flow chart in response to questions at July EC meeting. • Continue review of cleaning chemicals used at HWFC; will present brief report to Management and Board. Elections & Nominations Committee (ENC) • Welcomed new member Paula McKeough who will enter ENC products and deadlines into a scheduling tool to facilitate tracking and adjusting timelines. • Reviewed Oct. GRC Election timeline (Aug. 12-Oct. 27). Assigned tasks and set deadlines including close of nominations. • Received Board approval to repeat Governance Workshop in early Mar. 2020. A proposal to record the workshop will be available for the Jan. 2020 ENC meeting. • Received Board approval for production of pre-Membership Meeting slide show and coordination with other committees. Planning will be discussed at next meeting. • Received tentative Board approval for Board Recruitment Presentation at Jan. 2020 meeting. Drafting presentation and setting deadlines tabled to future meeting. • Board agreed one of its members will regularly invite Membership Meeting attendees to participate in HWFC governance. Based on feedback, ENC will develop a framework for Board member remarks. • Board agreed to help identify potential future Board members. Future ENC meetings will address how to facilitate this. • Meeting monthly to develop Elections Procedures Handbook; expect draft ready 01/20. • Awaits input from Bylaws Panel on GRC’s request that Bylaws Panel review Bylaws related to ENC responsibilities. ENC will follow up with Bylaws Panel. Meanwhile, ENC will review the Elections and Nominations Manual and report needed changes to conform Elections and Nominations Manual to proposed Bylaws changes. continued on page 10
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
Memiber-Owner share Announcements
Care to
August is the time for vacations and relaxing...but please make sure that you let your department know with plenty of advance notice if you will be taking time off. We all depend on each other to help keep our cooperative friendly and productive! August is also a great time to ride your bike, walk, or bus to the Co-op for your shift. We’re halfway through the six-month trial period of our Eco-Commuter program and we’d love to get more Member-Owner involvement. Member-Owners can stop by the Customer Service Desk to fill out an Eco-Commuter form and receive up to one hour per month (or .25 hour per shift for up to four shifts) for choosing an eco-conscious mode of transportation to their shift. Plus, we’ll be helping to keep our air cleaner, and how can that be bad?! For more general tips on keeping our air cleaner, visit the DEC website by going to https://www.dec. ny.gov/public/43563.html.
Membership Committee tabling Keep your eyes open for the Membership Committee tabling in the store and looking for YOUR feedback! What you have to say about our Co-op matters and we want to hear it. The purpose of the Membership Committee is to promote Member-Owner participation in the Co-op, preserve the rights and roles of Member-Owners, and search for solutions to Member-Owner issues and concerns. While ideas on any Member-Owner related topic are welcome, the committee is currently especially interested in comments and ideas about Member-Owner accountability in the Co-op. The next tabling session at the Co-op will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 10 at the tabling station next to the Juice and Java bar. Email the Membership Committee comments via membershipcomm@honestweight.coop. Are you a businessperson seeking to promote your enterprise and boost positive community? Become part of our Community Connections Program, promoting our ties to local businesses. We feature participants in new Owner orientations, in the store, and on our website; and participating businesses offer perks of their choice to HWFC Own-
ers. If you’re interested or know someone we can invite to become involved, please reach out to Yevette at MemberServices@ honestweight.coop.
MO o p p o r tun itie s We love to see you in the aisles! Our highlighted Member-Owner opportunities this month are in the Front End and the Deli. Cashiers are needed for shifts Tuesday through Sunday afternoons; more shifts are available on Saturdays and Sundays. The Deli is looking for prep help for the wonderful meals and dishes that they put together from scratch, various shifts available and lots of fun to be had! For cashiering, reach out to Katie@honestweight.coop, and for Deli reach out to DanH@honestweight.coop. [See related article on p. 2.]
Interested in joining Honest Weight Food Co-op’s Team as an Employee? Check out our Employment Page.
Trash-Talkers needed! Surprised? We’re
looking for Member-Owners committed to environmental sustainability for help in the Café: making sure diners get the recycling, compostables, and—you guessed it—the trash into the correct bins. This helps prevent contamination going into the recycling and compost. To sign up for shifts doing this fun and interactive task, contact Yevette at MemberServices@honestweight.coop.
Calling all gardeners! As we head for autumn and the coming winter, we are preparing for our seasonal garden party to get the Co-op’s garden beds all cleaned up and ready for the upcoming slow-growth season. Bulbs and seeds that need the winter weather before spring will be planted. Watch for the clean-up party dates to be announced.
Homegrown Happening is next month! We want to see you at the Sat. Sept. 28 festivities! [See ad, page 2.] To sign up for a Member-Owner shift and help out, email Yevette at MemberServices@honestweight.coop.
August 2019
COMMITTEE C O R N E R continued from page 9
Personnel Committee (PC) • Employee Manual revision continues (disciplinary process, standard operating procedures, attendance policy). • Submitted proposed Harassment Policy changes to Board based on NYS law changes • Submitted recommended “supervisor” definition with distinction based on HWFC’s reporting structure. Individuals with direct report(s) should be considered managers. • Will update policy on attendance and time away from work. Communications Committee (CC) • Helping with Honest Slate survey ideas. • Collaborated on Food Services article. • Suggestion box continues to gain traction with readership; editing training continues. • Board Slate contributions now optional. • Requested Annual Report copy from committees, managers, Board before Aug. 15. Honest Arts Committee (HAC) • Extended RHYTHM show deadline 1 week due to limited number of entries. • Call to Staff for interim “short” show. • Seeks larger pieces to hang around store. • Seeks gallery promotion (front end announcements, advising customers, Membership Meeting announcements). • Creating Archive Show of HWFC photographs, articles and memorabilia to display periodically. Archived material is being selected; framing will be an expense.
“We have no choice but to succeed.” See page 7.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop