December 2019 Honest Slate by Honest Weight Food Co-op

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.

decEMiber 2019

Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 honestslate@honestweight.coop • https://www.honestweight.coop/

“10 in 10” Member-Owner Incentive Continues! Sign up now for the 10 days before our busiest holidays! November and December are super busy and we love to have all hands on deck helping out and having a great time. We rolled out our new idea for incentivizing the time and fun that Member-Owners put in during November and it was a BLAST! We had 53 Member-Owners invest ten hours in the ten days before Thanksgiving and it was amazing! Shelves were full, customers were happy, spirits were high. Great job, everyone! Our three winners for the November challenge were Bill Cliff in the Front End, Chris Edwardson in Grocery, and Sharon Babala in Cheese. Congratulations and thank you!! Now we are running the Member-Owner incentive again in December to meet the store’s needs, promote a fun atmosphere in departments, and help Member-Owners meet their time commitments. In case you need details again, here’s how our “10 in 10” works: All Member-Owners who invest 10 hours in the 10 days leading up to Dec. 25 will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Co-op gift card. There will be three winners—that’s three chances to win a $50 gift card to the Co-op! The days covered in this incentive are Dec. 15 through Dec. 24. We’ll run the report, tally hours, and draw winners during the first week of January.

Who is eligible? Anyone who invests Mem-

ber-Owner hours. The idea is to get the most help into the departments during our busiest times of the year.

Where can a Member-Owner do shifts?

Since this is an incentive for helping the Co-

honestslate@honestweight.coop

op to run smoothly during the holiday rush, we are asking that Member-Owners pick up shifts in departments they are familiar with. There are also tasks that are quick to pick up and can fill in time while being super helpful. Contact Yevette at MemberServices@honestweight.coop with questions.

How can I sign up for a shift in the store

during this time? Reach out to the manager of the department you usually do hours in and set up your schedule. Don’t wait! If you need help reaching out to a department, please contact Yevette; you can find contact info for departments on our website or stop by the department.

What if my chosen department has no

shifts at times when I can come in? Many shifts are available across many departments and we are hoping to get as much coverage as possible, but if you need to seek hours outside your department or if you don’t have a “home department” please contact Yevette in Member Services and we’ll look for a place that you can contribute and be of value while having fun. Some quick ideas are Courtesy Clerk (Front End), Fronting (Grocery), Parking Lot or Café Attendant and Greeter (Member Services).

We’re well on our way to making this

our best season yet and YOU are a big part of that! Sign up now for your shifts and be part of the camaraderie and good spirit that keep us all invested in our cooperative. Thank you! —Yevette Buddeau, MOC (Member-Owner Coordinator)

CONTENTS Cookies & Folklore..................... 2 Survey Summary........................ 2 Wrap with Us ............................ 2 Relying on Paper Receipts......... 3 8th Step Offers Discount............ 3 Invitation to Staff....................... 4 Mercantile Magic........................4 Practice Freedom from Fear...... 5 Suggestion Box Q&A.................. 6 “Just Swirl It!”............................. 7 Notes of Appreciation.......... 7, 10 Governance News.................... 10 Do We Owe You?..................... 10 Committee Corner..... 8, 9, 11, 12 Co-Opportunities!.................... 12

Honest Weight Food Co-op

Holiday Hours: 12/24 12/25 12/31 1/1

7 am – 6 pm closed 8 am – 8 pm 10 am – 8 pm

Plan to Attend Our 2020 Membership Meetings: • January 26 • April 26 • May 31 • October 25 https://www.honestweight.coop/

December 2019

Honest Slate

Italian Cookies & Folklore



Join our Gift Wrapping Booth at the Troy Farmers Market! Do you love wrapping presents? HWFC is helping with a new initiative: a free gift wrapping service from 9am to 2pm each Saturday at the Troy Farmers Market, from now through December 21, as a way to encourage gift buying from small business owners. To help, email Amy Ellis at amy@

honestweight.coop.

su r vey Recap recap Back in September, we conducted a Member-Owner/Staff survey. Ninety people participated: 38% were dual-status Staff/MOs; 27%, MOs; Non-Owner Staff, 18%; and Owners, 13%. The top reason for being a MO—cited by half of the respondents—was community involvement, while 32% cited the discount as the most important factor. Almost everyone who took the survey—85 out of 90—is involved in other community organizations. It’s no surprise that our respondents felt that additional outreach and community involvement opportunities would entice more people to be active within the Co-op. Alas, most survey participants lacked interest in many of our governance opportunities.

By Erin Donahue

 In lieu of a sleigh

pulled by magical reindeer, La Befana is an old woman who flies from house to house on a broom, entering via chimney to leave small gifts for well-behaved children (and sometimes coal, garlic, or a twig for a naughty one!).



Fluffy, cake-like ricotta cookies were a

staple in my Sicilian grandmother’s kitchen every December. They embody my childhood winter memories at my grandparents’ house in Albany, where my grandmother prepared weekly Sunday Sauce for her eight children and their families. She’d replenish her supply of this holiday favorite until the New Year. She would make at least two batches—one with lemon juice and another with anisette. Other recipes use different extracts in place of lemon juice—try almond or vanilla. Gluten-free alternative flours work well in this recipe.

Here is her story. As she was doing some housework, she was interrupted by the Three Wise Men knocking on her door on their way to see the newborn baby Jesus. She provided them shelter for the night, but declined their invitation to join their journey, for she had too much work to do.

Be sure to leave a plate of these cookies for your favorite holiday gift-bringer. For many, this is the very busy, jolly Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, but those who follow Italian folklore may be leaving treats for La Befana on Jan. 5, the eve of la Festa dell’Epifania (the Feast of the Epiphany).



Nana Elsie’s Holiday Cookies Makes about 70 cookies

 Ingredients



COOKIES ½ lb. unsalted butter 2 c. sugar 3 eggs 4 c. flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt 1 tsp. lemon juice 1 lb. whole milk ricotta cheese ICING 2 cups powdered sugar Lemon juice Water Sprinkles



After the Wise Men left, she changed her mind (chores can wait!), gathered some small gifts for the baby, and went out looking for them, trying to use the stars as a guide. She was unable to catch up with them—or make any sense of the stars—but she leaves gifts and treats for all children as she searches every year. La Befana even uses her magical broom to sweep up a bit before she flies on to the next house.

Directions 



Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl and set aside. Cream sugar and butter together in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs and mix. Gradually add dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly. (The dough will be very thick.) Add lemon juice and cheese. Mix until smooth. Drop by rounded spoonful onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until fluffy and cooked through. Cool on a wire rack. While the cookies are cooling, make the icing. Add sugar to a medium-sized bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of water to the sugar and mix together. If the icing is too thick, add a little more of each liquid. Dip cookies in icing and decorate with sprinkles before the icing dries.

Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop

December 2019

Honest Slate

How Many Trees Does it Take to Print a Receipt? If you ever need some light—or heavy—reading while eating lunch or drinking your coffee in the café, visit the suggestion board. It displays a wide variety of topics from Staff compliments to environmental issues. HWFC is ever evolving to reduce its carbon footprint and uphold sustainability standards while also achieving the business volume necessary to keep Honest Weight vital. One frequent suggestion is, “When are we going to switch to paperless receipts?” The short answer: Not for the foreseeable future. Keep reading to find out why! • There is no usable software for our current Point of Sale system (POS) to allow emailing receipts. Such a change would require an entirely new operating system and possibly even new equipment to accommodate that software. • Some cashiers are Staff but many are MOs who work only a few hours per week, thus requiring more individuals to cover the traffic. Since 90 to 100 cashiers operate the registers weekly, any change to the till process requires an immense amount of training time. • Many customers like to check receipts because of occasional incorrect prices in the system. Having a paper receipt immediately allows them a better chance to catch a mistake before leaving the store.

• The receipt also serves as a means to “officially” complete the transaction. By printing the receipt we ensure that the cashier has collected payment. • While returns could potentially be done with an electronic receipt, again, the current operating system is not capable of this function. • Emailing receipts would require customers to punch their email address on the keypad after every transaction, slowing down lanes considerably. With anywhere from 1,700 to 2,300 transactions daily, that extra one minute per transaction would add up to 38.3 extra hours every week!

By Courtney Semoff

Director of Operations Stephen Quickenton weighed in: “[Emailing] the receipt would add another step to the checkout process and slow things down further,” he noted. “Having a quick and friendly checkout is really important to us.” “I am happy to hear ideas,” added Front End Manager Katie Centanni. “I am all for saving paper, but I don’t think we are at a point [for this to] work very well.” All these points make sense considering those extra hours required as well as the major upgrade necessary to accommodate such a change. Even with these obstacles, however, the answer isn’t “never” but simply “Not now.” If anyone knows of a way to expedite this process that proves compatible with HWFC’s current equipment and operating system, please share that information. You could make this change possible!

The 8th Step Takes Cooperative Strides Local Coffeehouse To Provide Co-op Community Discount

The 8th Step folk/acoustic music collective at Proctors in Schenectady is pleased to offer the HWFC community a discount on tickets to two upcoming shows. We are excited to do so because the mission of the Co-op and the mission of the Step have much in common.

• Sat. Dec. 21 • 7:30 pm • Addy Theatre Sing Solstice!

Gregʼs bawdy Celtic drinking songs to Kim’s “S-o-l-a-r Power,” from Terryʼs rocking harmonica to Reggieʼs haunting guitar, the foursome draws the audience into their circle of warmth. An ancient mystical Morris dance opens the show in colorful costumes, marking the beginning of another year’s journey around the sun.

Kim & Reggie Harris and Magpie with Ade Knowles, African Drum Opening: Pokingbrook Morris Dancers

It’s Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Come gather for a bright, warm and wonderful musical celebration of the Season of Light that brings Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Yule and more in cultures around the world. We’ll welcome the gradual lengthening of days that begins with the dawning of Dec 22! This talented quartet creates a transcendent sound with stunning harmonies and instrumentals, alternately powerful, touching, funny, charming and hopeful of peace and justice in the new year. From

• Fri. Jan. 10 • 7:30 pm • GE Theatre Gangstagrass A monstrously exciting fusion (some would say, collision) of hip hop, bluegrass and country! Gangstagrass has toured internationally, blowing minds on main stages from SXSW to Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, a live stage act taking full advantage of the improvisational aspects of both hip-hop and bluegrass.

Founded in 1967 in Albany, the 8th Step is thriving in its 52nd season. For over five decades “The Step” has brought to Upstate New York, Western Massachusetts, the Hudson Valley and lower Vermont— and beyond—a steady stream of acoustic folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass and Celtic music; plus theater, dance and more!

HWFC community members will receive a $2 discount per ticket with no fees when purchasing from The 8th Step Ticket Line only by phoning (518) 434-1703. More information is available at https://www.8thstep.org/.

Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop

December 2019

Honest Slate

Mercantile Shines With All the Gifts You Need—and More By Courtney Semoff

Mercantile, also known as House-

wares, is HWFC’s most fluid department, covering most of our store’s inedible products with ever shifting inventory aligned to seasonal change: spring cleaning, gardening, BBQ, back-to-school, holidays, New Year’s resolutions, etc. Department Manager Emily Collins works hard all year to find new and exciting products, ensuring that they are fair trade, sustainable, and organic. HWFC has established long-term relationships with several vendors. Local business Tree-Free of Keene, NH contributes extensively to our greeting card section. Its production is entirely solar powered! “Currently, we are focused on using post-consumer recycled paper. About 35% of municipal solid waste by weight is paper and paper products. At Tree-Free, we are committed to reversing this trend.”

“HWFC is a destination spot for gifts. We’ve got you covered!” Plan Toys products uphold HWFC’s mission. Its practices include sourcing from rubber trees; which are kiln-dried, chemical-free, and uses formaldehyde-free glue. This company relies on solar energy and uses organic color pigment, water-based dyes, soy ink, and recycled paper. Plan toys is dedicated to practicing eco-efficient manufacturing. What more could you ask for in a toy for your child? “Sustainable Play is a fundamental foundation of how Plan Toys nurtures creative minds, bringing children to understand what nature gives back to them.” Supplying most of HWFC’s candles, Sun Beam offers a wide variety of essential oil scents, including a beeswax option! Located in Ithaca, NY Sun Beam proudly and prominently advertises its environmental ethics on its website; it’s a hand-crafted, solar-powered, certified living wage employer providing carbon-neutral shipping. And the company contributes 30% of the profits of The Candle for Peace to humanitarian organizations.

HWFC carries these three vendors all year long. The fourth is a cold weather friend! Andes Gifts—a clear favorite by how quickly they sell—is a longtime vendor. All those warm and cozy hats, gloves, and scarves are handcrafted by “[hundreds] of indigenous women residing in the highlands of both Peru and Bolivia.” This company does not subscribe to the first-world habit of outsourcing production to third-world countries where labor laws and basic human rights may be violated for the sake of increased production. Instead, Andes Gifts abides by fair trade principles and pays a fair wage to the hundreds of rural knitters who hand-craft their products. (I bought a set of mittens and hat last year and it’s still going strong—and so warm!) Started only last year, gift baskets became an immediate success at the Co-op. Emily expressed excitement about this year’s gift basket offerings—like the new cat-themed basket that “can’t be kept on the shelves!” Mercantile also stocks a cheese-themed basket offering accessories for a fancy holiday cheese spread (cheese not included); and the Sustainable Basket—a returning favorite providing an HWFC-branded utensil set for which Emily is responsible for bringing to the Co-op. It features a silverware set, chopsticks, and a reusable straw. Even on its own, the utensil set makes “a great gift. It’s a great way to reduce the impact of plastic and disposable utensils.”

While some goods are local (generally within 250 miles), Emily would

Gift choices supplement everyday selections in our Mercantile aisles.

like to source from more vendors right in our own backyard. If you have a craft that meets store standards and would be interested in seeing your product at HWFC, you can complete the Vendor Application form here or pick one up at the front desk. Once that is submitted it will be directed to the proper department for review.

Honest Arts News: Please join us on January 12th, 2020 for an Opening Reception in our Gallery Space. We’re also still looking for historical images of the Co-op, especially from the original store. Please email us at HonestArtsCommittee@honestweight.coop. And as always, enjoy the gallery space. Happy holidays from the Honest Arts Committee!



attention: Staff

HWFC Employees, we would like to

hear from YOU in 2020. Honest Slate covered all of Honest Weight’s dozen or so sections over the last 14 months with contributions from many department managers. Now it’s your turn to step on the soapbox! What rocks your department? What experiences or concerns would you like to share? Email honestslate@honestweight.coop for guidance on submissions. Our team can interview you, write about your position, or publish your contributions. Just reach out— and see you among the aisles!

Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop

December 2019 pple slices dusted with cinnamon presided alongside pastries at the Membership Committee’s table of treats during Honest Weight’s Meet the Candidates session on a late October Sunday afternoon in the Community Room.

But more important things were happening at the front of the room. About 18 people attended this pre–Membership Meeting event. Several posed thoughtful questions in an uplifting discussion moderated by Elections and Nominations Committee member Karen Roth. Two MOs would be nominated and elected from the floor at the meeting later; yet as of that afternoon only John van Bladel had applied for a GRC seat. He took the opportunity to outline his vision for the Honest Weight workplace. John has worked as Staff in Grocery for four years but has been a Member-Owner since 2009. Describing the Co-op as an organization committed to an “outrageously progressive mission, even for these times,” he conveyed deep respect for “amazing people with good intentions” and described our store as a model workplace. “People have come here and found refuge.” Stressing the need to maintain a robust democratic process, John suggested that we ask ourselves: “Who are we as a Co-op?” and “How do we treat each other?” Outlining a holistic approach to communicating effectively, with a focus on our higher mission, he reminded us that “we’re not a fiefdom.” Rather, “MOs have a wealth of knowledge” that can benefit our Co-op community.

Some questions & answers

Honest Slate

GRC Candidate Campaigns for Compassion Staffer-MO’s Platform Promotes Freedom from Fear Advocating a cultural shift for employees, John van Bladel: • believes people’s hearts and minds are in the right place • prefers using the word ‘honest’ over ‘transparent’ • sees a need to model meaningful dialogue • supports a non–fear-based culture

Asked about his vision for HWFC, John

quipped, “Well, it’s not like I came up with this on a Ouija board in my basement.” “These are hard discussions.” Karen and John detailed how a phenomenon called ACE (adverse childhood experiences) can have an impact in the workplace. Explaining how some people do not respond well to traditional management style, they advocated a compassionate approach, tying in a second concept: that of implicit bias, or how we all see things in a certain way based on our personal experiences. ACE can be triggered by physical abuse, neglect, or observation of either. It may affect one’s overall development and health, according to Karen; the goal would be to avoid re-traumatizing individuals in the workplace. “The ‘gotcha’ culture is not helpful.” Can GRC influence management style? Are we sufficiently motivated to communicate

by Carol Ostrow

Compassion is often perceived as a weakness in our society.

clearly? These are broad questions for just one candidate. But all change starts with intention and commitment. John told a story about one day when he was working and he discarded a coffee cup left on a shopping cart. The customer whose cart it was returned and took umbrage. According to John the conversation went something like this: Customer: Did you throw my coffee out? John: Yes. Customer: Well, then you are an a$$#%l&!! John: And you are inappropriate.

John then immediately decided to make amends by procuring the shopper a fresh cup. In fact, coffee happened to be free for Staff that day—but he opted to pay for it as a gesture of goodwill. “We are all equal,” the new GRC member offered in conclusion. “Bring your thoughts to us.”

Takeaways:

Q &A

• We are about more than just profit and people are not disposable. • Evoke more honest communication by admitting fault with no penalty. • Let’s come to a better way of practicing apart from the Bylaws themselves. • Let’s advocate for changing the culture for the better.

—from Member-Owners at Oct. 27’s Meet the Candidate Session Mollie: Why run for the GRC instead of the Board? John: Time investment for Board work is too great for my [availability]. Richard: What do you see as the GRC’s function? John: To ensure democratic policies and procedures and that the Board stays within the Bylaws; to oversee what goes on; and to avoid any dualistic perspective involving an “us” and “them” outlook.

Joe: How do we deal with actions that may go “off the tracks”? John: We need to deal with actions from a compassionate point of view and raise awareness of how individuals’ backgrounds may affect their present-day responses. Karen: One reason Board meetings take so long is that we allow discussion. Does the GRC see any role in moderating Board meetings? John: We can certainly influence Board members to improve efficiency. And if you are on the Board, why would you not want help? Carolynn: Do we presume goodwill on everyone’s part? John: Yes!

Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop

Honest Slate

Q&A

From the Suggestion Box Don’t see your comment here? Check the bulletin board in the café. Q: Please stop the use of plastic on the bags + packing in the bakery. A: We’ve been asking our vendor for a biodegradable option for the window bags, which help the cashiers verify the contents. Q: The customer service desk staff and MO are so helpful! A: That’s very nice of you to take the time to compliment us. It’s gratifying to receive positive feedback. Thanks! Q: Could the Co-op please look into showing the movie The Biggest Little Farm? It’s such a delightful film. Thank you!  A: Thank you for the suggestion. We’re looking at bringing some films into the Coop. We will definitely add that title to our list. Q: The food court has been doing a fantastic job with stocking, speedy and efficient! Good job! A: Thanks a lot. We’re happy that you’re happy. Q: Please don’t be cheap using canola/sunflower /safflower oils on hot bar. Olive oil Please! Thank You! A: Some recipes call for a neutral-flavored oil. We mainly use olive oil at the hot bar. Q: Provide a feedback survey after each Orientation Session. A: Thank you for your suggestion. We’ll take it under consideration. Q: Why are we buying cups + scarves from China? Is that buying local or thinking GREEN? A: We have no scarves from China in our fair trade scarf selection. We do our best to source locally made and sustainably produced items in accordance with our buying policy.

Q: Hey HW. It’s cold outside & tea is great! Would you consider carrying tea bags on the tea bar that are not in plastic mesh bags…microplastics  are not good for me or the environment. Thanks! Q: Judith Enck and further research state that nylon tea bags release small amounts of plastic into the body. Please replace café tea w/ more sustainable and healthy tea bags. Thanks! A: The tea bags that we offer for sale in the café are made with Tearoad Soilon, which uses biomass materials (polylactic acid) that are rendered into fibers and woven together. Please visit the website of the bag manufacturer for more details. HTTP:// www.teabagfilter.com/support/soilon.html

Q: Almond flour–only baked goods for those [of us] off of grains. Coconut flakes for sweetener. Delicious Endless Possibilities. A: You may want to try Paleo Twix or our Paleo Banana or Paleo Date Banana Breads. We make our Bumble Baby daily. Please be aware that our grain-free options typically sell quickly. Feel free to ask a bakery worker for help in finding selections that meet your nutritional needs. Q: Organic Celery @ the Co-op is $4.99. It’s $1.99 @ Whole Foods. I tend to shop where I can get all my food & your celery is no longer an affordable option. A: Please be aware that many conventional supermarkets use a sophisticated mixed margin system to sell staple produce below cost in order to improve their price image. We appreciate your feedback and will review our costs and work to get as close to our competitors as is economically viable. We are a local, home-grown, member-owned co-op. Across the Produce Department, our local and organic prices remain ultra-competitive.

December 2019 Q: Our kitchen staff are overworked and underpaid. They cook amazing food from scratch and earn less than our competitors. They deserve better! A: Thank you for your suggestion. We agree that our food service staff do an excellent job. We appreciate their work and want to do everything that we can for them. We have implemented a living wage plan and our entry level wage is $1 above NYS minimum wage. Q: Hello! Why do we use plastic sample cups? A: We use only paper sampling cups for our store demos. Some of our vendors may still be bringing in their own plastic cups. Q: Add a public recycling receptacle. A: We have recycling bins at our front entrance and also in our café. Q: Please sign up to Common Energy and start saving $$ and the environment right away. Any other long[er] term sustainable energy plan can be adopted in the future. Act Now! Thanks! A: Thank you for your interest in sustainable energy. We are not eligible to participate in Common Energy as a user with demand metering. Q: Please get new alternative dairy products by Violife. Best non-dairy cream cheese I’ve ever had. A: We are currently stocking some new arrivals from Violife. Please let us know if there are any varieties that we should carry. Q: The “meat yellow brick road” stickers on the floor are tacky, ugly, and offensive. A: We’re trying to have some fun and have also received positive feedback about this. Q: Keep up the good work! A: Thanks! We try. Q: Thank you for not playing music in the store. Q: The Co-op should play music to keep customers + member workers happy + in a good mood! A: Our public address system lacks the audio fidelity to provide a pleasant musical experience. 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

December 2019

Q&A continued from page 6

Q: Irving, the new security man, is awesome. Very friendly! Q: Kudos to Irving the Security Person. He’s so “there,” so positive, so attentive, so on top of his responsibilities. Such a great attitude upon entering + exiting the store. He has a great personality for the Co-op. I hope he gets lots of hours on the job!! Q: I just want you to know that Irving from Allied Services does a great job + his boss should know it. He’s always so pleasant + up. A: That’s great to hear! We’ll share your feedback and will have him here as much as possible. Q: Bread Alone bagels all seem to have added sugar (and little texture, imo). Can tasty, no-added-sugar bagels be available? A: Please bear in mind that some sweetener is needed to allow some doughs to rise. Bread Alone does make breads with little or no sweeteners (sourdoughs). At this point, Bread Alone is the only vendor that makes bagels that meet our buying policy.

Longtime Honest Weight Member Gayle Anderson Retires Leaves Versatile Legacy of Leadership as Employee, MO, Officer Gayle Anderson is many things to many people and to write anything definitive about her lifetime Co-op association would be futile. Her involvement spans roles from Member-Owner and Membership Coordinator to Produce Manager; she also served on the Board. First, look through the Coop Scoop archive for issue 5 (January 1977). There you will see her name atop a 26-person list showing the fledgling buying club’s inaugural membership fee collection! Next, fast forward 36 years to June 2013 and the grand opening of Honest Weight’s third and current storefront. Gayle was introduced to me then as the Co-op matriarch, the through line to its founding. She was likely working long overtime hours to ensure the next group of newcomers would get things right. My main contribution as the new Produce Receiver in 2013 was primarily a willing-

E THIS IV G w i r S l It st SWIRL: A u ! Stirrers J Avoid wooden

ness to reliably show up to the store at 4 am. Amongst my initial interactions with Gayle was sheepishly asking her to help me tell the cucumbers apart from the zucchini amidst unlabeled boxes from local farmers. She was very kind about what must have seemed like a terribly distressing lack of knowledge regarding the fundamentals of produce. I have always known Gayle to be kind; others may also remember her no-nonsense attitude and implacable work ethic. I’ve been fortunate to know someone who cares deeply for her “girls” as a loving mother to her brood of chickens; is an avid patron of local music, theatre and literature, and a devotee of Fedco Seeds (and its founder C.R. Lawn). Gayle will officially retire from her Co-op employment on Dec. 22, but by no means will this mark the end of her association with the institution that she’s helped carry through thick and thin. —Brendan Kelly

Have you seen this sign at the coffee station?

Cinnamon

Here’s what the whirl is all about.

Add your sugar and creamer before your coﬀee and eliminate the need for a wooden stirrer!

So please consider this eco-friendly alternative: pour milk and sweeteners into your cup before dispensing coffee or hot water.

And if you’re settling in at the café for a while, don’t forget to use or ask for a mug instead of a disposable cup when you order or self-serve.

(

as much as we do. Honest Weight is committed to reducing the amount of waste generated—and we know you are, too!

(

We’re glad you love coffee and tea

are made from trees!

ir l I t t Sw us

stirrer waste.

wirl It! S t s

From the Suggestion Box

Honest Slate

“Stirrers are like tiny trees. Swirl your mix-ins instead!”

Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop

8 Nove m B e r 2 0 1 9 This article provides a summary of preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors for the Board meeting of November 12, 2019. See the Board meeting packet for details. December’s Committee reports appear in this edition on pages 11 and 12. All committee reports are available on the HWFC website upon Board approval. Finance Committee (FC) ∙ CFO Erin Martin reported: HWFC sales up 2% over same period last year (slightly under budget); all department sales are up (except Food Services); and CDPHP health insurance costs for 2020 projected to increase 26% (other health insurance options being explored). ∙ Will coordinate with Board to develop calendar for Finance 101 training sessions (to begin after Thanksgiving). ∙ Discussed intention to request that Board consider new strategic planning process. ∙ Power generator ordered ($134,000 for unit and installation, to be done Feb. 2020). ∙ Concluded previously agreed upon process and guidelines for staff bonuses should be followed, including benchmark of 20% [Editor’s note: the correct figure is 25%] of excess profit over EBITDA. Sales and Fiscal Performance (for the 3 months ending Sept. 30, 2019) ∙ Ordinary Income decreased $48,846 or 25% to $148,799 vs. $197,645 ($82,389 over budgeted amount of $66,411). ∙ Net Income decreased $58,084 or 65% from $89,161 to $31,077 ($56,823 over budgeted $25,746). ∙ Costs of Goods were up $60,908 or 1.6% at $3,973,192 vs. $3,912,285 (under budgeted $4,000,350 by $27,158 or 0.7%). ∙ Overall Gross Profit was up $68,672 or 2.5% at $2,802,175 vs. $2,733,503 last year (over budgeted $2,788,747 by $13,428 or .50%). Gross Margin was 41.4% vs. 41.1% last year (under budgeted 41% by 0.4%). ∙ Total Expenses were up $117,517 or 4.6% from $2,653,376 to $2,535,859 (under budgeted $2,722,336 by $68,960 or 2.50%). HWFC Ownership Statistics (as of Oct. 31, 2019) ∙ 12,688 Owners (29 new members and 7 redemptions, largely due to geographical relocation).

December 2019

Honest Slate

COMMITTEE C O R N E R HWFC Meeting Summaries ∙ 872 Member-Owners contributed 7,818 hours (floor, office, governance, outreach and community room/education). ∙ Board and Committee hours were likely underreported as 330. ∙ 127 Owner, 63 Non-Owner Staff employed. Governance Review Council (GRC) ∙ Determined Board was misinterpreting Bylaws 420.4 (evaluation of senior managers at least annually) and was not in compliance. Advised Board to comply with language in 420.4. Requested Board provide: schedule of pending reviews of senior managers); date(s) review(s) are/were scheduled; and date(s) when review(s) were completed. [Editor’s note: According to the BOD, the GRC was informed that the CCO is the only senior manager and is the only person they evaluate. The CFO, DOO, DHR and MD report to the CCO. This information is published in the Board Manual; the GRC received this document in 2018.] ∙ Determined Board’s issuance of a contract without specifying a six-month review was not a Bylaws violation. ∙ Found no violation of Bylaws 430.1 (action taken by Board may be referred to Membership for approval/disapproval on request by Petition for Referendum or Special Membership Meeting within 45 days of such action pursuant to section 341 or 343) since a petition could have been filed during the 45 day period but was not. [Editor’s note: Bylaws section 453.4 enables the Board to sign contracts on behalf of HWFC.] ∙ Found no violation regarding alleged improper edits to Board meeting minutes. Minutes from April were not approved in May; minutes from May were approved at the June Board meeting. ∙ Is reviewing and will address (at Nov. 11 meeting) a Member-Owner’s concern over plan to purchase 450kW generator despite a lengthy report from Environmental Committee arguing a 300 k/w generator could adequately supply the store at a lower cost. ∙ Organizing historical records continues. Personnel Committee (PC) ∙ Continues revision of Employee Manual’s time and attendance policies.

by Stephanie Conde

Bylaws Panel (BP) ∙ Requested Board review suggested language changes to Bylaws 330.4 as well as proposed elimination of Bylaws 461.2 (revisions consolidate the content). Revisions include: MOs must declare their intent to run for an elected position by completing a Nomination Form prior to the Membership Meeting or by being nominated (or self-nominated) from the floor during the time allotted for floor nominations. Nominees not present must confirm their intent to accept before the end of time allotted for floor nominations. ∙ Held tabling sessions Nov. 6, 13 and 14. Environment Committee (EC) ∙ Compiled details for Honest Slate article on store generator recommendations. ∙ Communicated with Member Services about new Member-Owner positions. ∙ Communicated with Department Managers about sustainability coordinators in each department for monthly meetings. ∙ Attended presentation on recycling and waste management in the Capital District by Neil Seldman, national expert on waste reduction and recycling and co-founder of the Institute on Local Self-Reliance. Elections and Nominations Committee (ENC) ∙ Continues GRC election planning (call for candidates, drafting election ballots, drafting Bylaws revision and Member-Owner change ballots). ∙ Requested Board provide earlier slot for ENC to encourage membership to attend GRC election, vote, and run for a seat. ∙ Board approved ENC writing, distributing and collecting open-ended survey to identify barriers to GNC and Board service. ENC drafted survey. ∙ Agreed to standard questions for all candidates at Meet the Candidates sessions. Drafting questions. ∙ Developing ideas for artwork and content of future Calls for Candidates. Plans to collaborate with Marketing. May use Georgia Julius’ “What’s Fresh” Coop Scoop article, continued on page 9

Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop

Nove m B e r 2 0 1 9 continued from page 8

which encourages Member-Owners to run for Board seats and provides information on role of HWFC’s Board. ∙ Postponed posting March 2019 Governance Workshop slides to website (to focus on GRC election). Developing additional content and publicity about slides’ availability. ∙ Considering dates and topics to present to 2020 Governance Workshop facilitator. Planning video and/or audio recordings of workshop.

Clean Air Law Public Comment Session Set for Albany Dec. 16

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COMMITTEE C O R N E R

Honest Slate

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December 2019

Support the Albany County Clean Air Law: Date: Monday, Dec. 16 • 6:30 pm Place: Albany County Courthouse, William J. Conboy Legislative Chambers, 2nd Floor, 16 Eagle St, Albany. The entrance is at the back of the building on Lodge Street. See a map here: https://goo.gl/maps/Pb4TREVkW4jnq3wv8

Happy  Holidays from 



You can also contact legislators to let them know you support the law. Here are some helpful links: •Albany County Legislators:

www.albanycounty.com/legislature/legislators.aspx

Honest Arts Committee (HAC) ∙ Reviewed logistics for next curated shows. Discussed future themes (vertical, celebration, birthdays, New York). ∙ Will issue call for large pieces within next month. ∙ Finalized 2020 Work Plan for Board approval, including: (1) retaining current schedule of ten-week exhibits and twoweek interim shows; and (2) making archived materials available for rotation for interim shows. ∙ Requested Board appoint Board Liaison to Arts Committee.

•Questions and answers on the proposed law: www.energyjustice.net/files/ny/AlbanyCountyCleanAirLawFAQ.pdf

•Text of the proposed county Clean Air Law:

http://app.albanycounty.com/legislature/publicmeetingdocs/20191119/19-LLI.pdf

—submitted by Grace Nichols

Membership Committee (MC) ∙ Will focus on Member-Owner Manual changes for January (including new NYS anti-harassment law and Member-Owner accountability). ∙ Tabled during Oct. Membership Meeting. ∙ Discussed: (1) calls to Members who attended orientation; (2) tabling at Homegrown Happening; (3) Coffee House follow-up (volume/disruption concern); (3) focus on workshops delayed in favor of Member-Owner Manual revisions; and (4) Co-op Trick or Treating. ∙ Requested Board approve changes to MC’s work plan, including allowing MC to play larger collaborative role in planning Homegrown Happening and other public events. ∙ Will explore Moderation Workshop in the future (current focus is Member-Owner Manual revisions). Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop

Honest Slate

Board Appoints Newest Director

Find joy

ACE Scores Support Within Committee

in Community

After the Communications Committee’s planning meeting for this month’s Honest Slate edition, team member Erin Donahue responded favorably towards the introduction of ACE awareness at the Co-op, describing it as “a new, inclusive perspective that is most welcome.” [See page 5 for this story.]

Plan to attend our 2020 Membership Meetings:

• January 26 • April 26

• May 31

• October 25

Honest Weight Food Co-op

A Word of Thanks

Ursula Abrams joined the Board of Directors in November 2019. Photo by Drea Leanza.

Board Decisions At HWFC’s Board of Directors meeting on 12-03-19 at 6 pm, the Board approved the following decisions: • Affirmed the election of Janet Sorell as President, Ursula Abrams as Vice President, and Avery Cotton as Secretary. • Approved the Honest Arts Committee’s proposed 2020 work plan. • Accepted the Bylaws Panel’s proposed revisions to Bylaw 330.4 to be presented for a vote at the January 26, 2020 Membership Meeting. • Approved the Marketing Director job description as revised.

In mid-November, the Board of Directors accepted Nate Horwitz’s resignation from the Board. Nate was appointed to the Board in October 2017 and elected in April 2018. His term would have ended in April 2020. Nate also served as President of the Board. Since July, his job with NYS had become especially time-consuming. He wrote, “When I started the NYC-based project I am currently working on, I had no idea it would run for so long, but it’s clear to me now that it will continue until near to the end of my term, so I think it makes most sense for me to resign now.” We are very sorry to see him go. We’ll miss Nate’s vast wealth of HWFC knowledge, his equanimity, and his congeniality. Much appreciation for your time with us, Nate!—Janet Sorell

*decemIber 2O19 * Submissions Policy: * * Editors & Contributors: * * * *  Mathew Bradley Yevette Buddeau Stephanie Conde Erin Donahue Elisa Grimm Brendan Kelly Don Kennison

Drea Leanza Grace Nichols Carol Ostrow Saul Rigberg Courtney Semoff Janet Sorell Tyler Varese

December 2019

We welcome articles & contributions. Preferred maximum length is 500 words. Material is published at the discretion of the Honest 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.

Erin reported that “ACEs and trauma were the key topics” for her recently planned professional training seminar focusing on children and families. “It is great to see these concepts being considered in the workplace,” she added.

do we owe you? The Co-op has money waiting for a number of individuals who 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 Eva Foitzik Timothy J. Cowper Maria Kuhsel Oliver Holecek Stephen Dornbush Hank Adams Alyssa Gallagher Estelle Fach Susan Fuss

Laurel Holden Druis Beasley Mark Pranys Nishi Beharry Lily Ringler Joseph Gietl Kimberly Truitt Elias Saifan Timothy Long

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

December 2019

Honest Slate

COMMITTEE C O R N E R HWFC Meeting Summaries decemBer 2019 Nutrition and Education Committee (NEC) ∙ Tabled Food and Product Manual on Nov. 7; will forward feedback to relevant departments. ∙ Provided postcard-size glyphosate brochure samples to Board for feedback. ∙ To submit update on Meat and Poultry to management by late November. Environment Committee (EC) ∙ Discussed contents of and edited article for Honest Slate on EC’s involvement in research for store generator and questions on decision-making procedures. ∙ Reviewed and discussed Sustainability Coordinator job description. ∙ Researched green energy alternatives; met with CCO and CFO to discuss energy purchase contract. Reviewed electricity pricing, solar farms, and solar farm terms. ∙ Requested 20 minutes on December’s Board meeting agenda. Sales and Fiscal Performance

(for the 4 months ending Oct. 31, 2019)

∙ Ordinary Income decreased $18,693 or 7.5% to $232,282 vs. $250,975 ($109,386 over budgeted amount of $122,896). ∙ Net Income decreased $25,449 or 25% from $102,085 to $76,635 ($74,918 over budgeted $1,717). ∙ Costs of Goods were up $67,351 or 1.3% at $5,331,108 vs. $5,263,757 (under budgeted $5,386,008 by $54,900 or 1%). ∙ Overall Gross Profit was up $75,286 or 2% at $3,772,553 vs. $3,697,267 last year (over budgeted $3,768,691 by $3,862 or .10%). Gross Margin was 41.4% vs. 41.3% last year (over budgeted 41.2%). ∙ Total Expenses were up $93,980 or 2.7% from $3,446,293 to $3,540,271 (under budgeted $3,645,795 by $105,524 or 2.9%). Personnel Committee (PC) ∙ Continues revision of Employee Manual’s time and attendance policies. ∙ Reviewed and discussed proposal to consolidate Sick, Personal and Holiday time.

by Stephanie Conde

Governance Review Council (GRC) ∙ Welcomed two new members and shared GRC Code of Conduct. Elected Janis Adams GRC Chair unanimously. ∙ EC member alleged that recent generator purchase wasn’t fiscally responsible (larger/more expensive than needed). Discussion: (1) generator was in budget approved by membership; (2) smaller unit would not have met the store’s energy consumption needs unless other (non-budgeted) energy saving measures were employed (not Member-approved); and (3) purchased generator will accommodate store’s current configuration. ∙ Discussed Board decision not to ask lawyer whether a Board-approved contract would remain enforceable if a Member-Owner challenges contract. Discussion included: (1) Under Article 430.1 members hold final authority and can override Board decisions, even contracts; (2) would HWFC be held legally responsible?; (3) suggested Board consider adding contract language indicating contract wouldn’t be final until after Member-Owner contested period has passed. ∙ Board Administrator suggested edits to GRC PowerPoint presentation at Membership Meetings since it becomes part of HWFC’s corporate record: (1) Slide 5— Board evaluates CCO; remaining senior managers are evaluated by CCO, not by the Board; (2) Slide 7—GRC reviewed an allegation that Board minutes were improperly edited and found no violation—GRC will correct the slide; (3) Slide 8—Re GRC’s review of EC’s claim of Aug. 2019 Energy Audit, “proving” ability of Co-op to be supplied in an emergency by a 300kW generator, Board suggested use “alleging.” GRC report will retain EC’s complaint language. ∙ Gave thumb drive of GRC historical data to Yevette so her volunteer can scan documents.

11 This article provides a summary of preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors for the Board meeting of December 3, 2019. See the Board meeting packet for details. November’s committee reports appear on pages 8 and 9 of this edition. Committee reports are available on the HWFC website upon Board approval.

Honest Arts Committee (HAC) ∙ Submitted 2020 Work Plan including five shows with transitional shows between (historical pictures of Co-op). Bylaws Panel (BP) ∙ Proposed revised language for 330.4 to include: (1) use of nomination form for Member-Owners to declare intent to run before General Membership Meeting, and (2) requirement that absent Member-Owners must confirm intent to run prior to opening of ballot boxes. Elections and Nominations Committee (ENC) ∙ Reviewed Board revisions to ENC-proposed Bylaws; noted no objections. ∙ Discussed: (1) publicity for GRC Election (placement of future advertising for governance-related business will be in Member-Owner-focused publications; may request Honest Slate devote full front page to election, highlighting invite to run for office); (2) ENC reports to Board (streamlining reports, ended creation of meeting minutes, draft should be reviewed by ENC members to update contents); (3) 2019 Governance Workshop slides posted to HWFC website (aids to increase viewership will be developed); (4) Planning for 2020 Governance Workshop (February dates being considered, possible topics to be reviewed at Dec. meeting, possible videotaping of 2020 workshop); (5) summary of ENC governance survey to be created and reviewed at Dec. meeting; (6) at Board’s request, created outline for “How to Put on a Workshop;” and (7) Board and GNC recruitment (will investigate how long Board turnover has been problematic; future ideas will be explored, possibly broadened voting window at General Membership meetings or placing a ballot box at HWFC and related concerns— vote security, opening box after quorum reached). continued on page 12

Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop

Co-opportunities: As we reach the end of another yearly cycle, I’d like to express my gratitude for all the great times and conversations that I’ve been privileged to have with so many of you. These discussions and projects have included joys and challenges—plus everything in between—and it’s an honor to be in the mix with you all. Cheers and good health to another run around the sun!

We’re running our 10 in 10 incentive again for the month of December; it was a huge success for November! 53 people participated; with Member-Owners and Staff working together, we experienced what some deemed to be our smoothest Thanksgiving yet. Plus, we got to give away three $50 gift cards to the winners; see page 1 to find out who won.

Peak dates will

be Dec. 15-24. Every MO who invests 10 hours during those 10 days will be entered into a drawing for one of three $50 Co-op gift cards. We’ll draw December’s winners in early January.

Great idea: the recent snowstorm re-

minds us that Member-Owners and Staff can sign up for text alerts in case the Co-op has to make last-minute changes to hours. To join the text-alert list, send your name and owner number, along with your cell phone number and cell carrier, to MemberServices@honestweight.coop.

Do you know anyone who is having a tough time due to an illness or emergency over the holidays? If they have actively done their hours for 4 of the previous 6 months and are having trouble getting their time in due to an illness or household trauma, they may be eligible for a donation from our hours bank.

The hours bank

holds excess hours that have been relinquished when Owners leave the Co-op, and it’s a great perk to be able to help other Member-Owners in need while they get back on their feet.

December 2019

Honest Slate

memBer-owner Announcements For more info reach out to Yevette at MemberServices@honestweight.coop.

Don’t forget

to get your hours and payments in by the end of this month. Our next Membership Meeting will be Jan. 26 at 6 pm at the Ramada. In order to be eligible to vote, Member-Owners need all hours and payments up to date as of Dec. 31. Please don’t wait until the last minute. Your vote matters and we want to make sure you are eligible!

Reach out to departments you are fa-

miliar with for MO opportunities this month and help out with the super busy rushes. Contact info for departments is always available on our website at https://www.honestweight.coop/page/ member-owner-opportunities-101.html.

If you don’t have a home department

and need help finding a place for the 10 in 10, reach out to Yevette at MemberServices@honestweight.coop. Our highest need areas include the Front End, Housekeeping, Deli, and Dairy/Freezer in Grocery. We will also need extra hands at Staff holiday meals on Dec. 23 and 24. Sign up for the holiday meal helpers online at https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/4090e4caeaf29a2f49-holiday2.

We also seek Member-Owners to sup-

port local business at the Troy Farmers Market on the next two Saturdays. Email Amy Ellis at Amy@honestweight.coop to help wrap gifts at the Troy Farmers Market from 9-2 on Dec. 14 and 21.

Finally, it’s never too early to consider

running for the Board of Directors in April 2020! If you think it might be an interesting, challenging, and appropriate way for you to invest time for the Co-op, reach out to the Board via the Board Administrator at BoardAdmin@honestweight. coop or to the Elections and Nominations Committee at ElectionsComm@honestweight.coop to talk about it.

Honest Weight Food Co-op Holiday Hours: 12/24 7 am – 6 pm 12/25 closed 12/31 8 am – 8 pm 1/1 10 am – 8 pm

Interested in joining Honest Weight Food Co-op’s Team as an Employee? Check out our Employment Page.

decemBer 2019 COMMITTEE C O R N E R continued from page 11

Membership Committee (MC) ∙ Discussed Member-Owner Manual revisions and Anti-Harassment Policy at Orientations. ∙ Approved update to Member-Owner Manual on Co-op Conduct (p. 24) including reference to Anti-Harassment Policy. ∙ Approved change in Minor Infractions of Member-Owner Manual. ∙ Approved update to Member-Owner Manual on Managing Your Time Investment (pp. 16-17), including providing 24 hours’ notice to cancel scheduled time investment shift, right of managers to notify Member-Owner Coordinator of inexcusable absences (two such absences within six months may disqualify an MO from investing time in that Department for six months), and defining chronic lateness that impacts department functioning as an absence. ∙ Requested Board present changes to Member-Owner Manual as Items for Vote at January 2020 General Membership Meeting.

Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ honestslate@honestweight.coop