Circling the Taps: My Roundabout Journey to Co-op
by Irene Kim
“Can
I help you?”
I had returned, for the umpteenth time, to the Aqua ViTea taps to fill the bottles I had brought to support my son’s kombucha habit. I was happy to bring him his favorite treat from the Co-op. But the taps weren’t cooperating.
I knew enough from my very limited bartending experience to butt the tap up against the inside of the bottle. This minimized the amount of foam created by turbulent flow. But I was still getting about six inches of foam to each inch of kombucha. So, instead of filling my bottles at a single shot, I had the following procedure: Tap kombucha. Place bottle in basket. Walk around the store, looking for a department I hadn’t yet visited. Check if the foam had subsided. If so, return to the tap. If not, keep wandering.
I knew people must be wondering why it was taking me so long to collect so few items.
So, when the warm voice inquired if I wanted help, I looked up, ready to offer an explanation for why I kept circling the taps like a pathetic homing pigeon.
The first thing I noticed was the smile lines around kindly eyes. Long flowing white hair and beard. Like a cross between Santa Claus and David Crosby. Maybe a touch of Leland Sklar.
I explained my predicament, hoping he wouldn’t suspect me of some sort of elaborate theft scheme. He was sympathetic, wondering if there weren’t some better way to pour, or if the keg might be empty.
He firmly supported my determination to fill the bottles to the brim or never again return home. He wished me a temporary farewell as I went back to wandering the aisles.
“Do you have a Member number?”
Each time I returned, we continued talking. We bonded over our spouses, who had both died of terrible cancers, decades apart. He spoke fondly of his wife, a midwife whose clients so loved her that, when she fell ill, they brought meals to the household every day for over a year.
We talked about our kids. We talked about kombucha (which he slightly mispronounced). We talked about the Co-op.
I had no idea I was speaking with a member of the Co-op’s blue-blooded royalty. (I know the Co-op is democratic—let’s call it poetic license.)
I have deep Co-op roots, although membership eluded me for many years. I had discovered Honest Weight soon after I moved to Albany with my fourmonth-old son (he is now 19).
About 13 years ago, I became friends with another of the Co-op’s old guard: the late, great Mark Yolles. When the store moved near Harriet Gibbons, Mark brought us in for a tour. He was proud, if a bit conflicted about the shiny commercial newness of the space.
Membership
I always heard about the Co-op’s latest goings-on from another Honest Weight fixture: Kathy Koch, whom I had known since my boy could barely walk. Over the years, I watched her transition from an engaged, bike-riding Member-Owner to an engaged, bike-riding full-time employee.
I loved visiting the Co-op. But whenever asked the perennial checkout question, “Do you have a Member number?” I had to shamefacedly answer that I did not.
Last month, I finally struggled through the membership process. There were some snafus, first with the website form, and then with the email and orientation dates.
Then I learned that my kindly kombucha helper was doing the next orientation. I insisted on attending. I asked an unconscionable number of questions.
I finally learned his name in between visits to the kombucha tap. It’s Alan.
And I finally filled my bottles.
Reducing Plastic in Packaging: Environment Committee Takes on Plastics at Honest Weight
by Sam Long
At an Open Mic event held in June, Member-Owners (MOs) expressed concern over the prevalence of plastic packaging on products sold in virtually every department in the store. We want to address these concerns, which many MOs have brought up, and tell readers how a team has been working to create a solution.
For the past few months, Environment Committee (EC) members have been collecting data on plastic packaging at HWFC. They have determined that roughly 76.5% of store products contain plastics in their packaging. This subcommittee is working on a Plastics Assessment report to include their findings and recommendations.
EC meeting discussions have focused on having in-store workshops, including interactive activities such as a scavenger hunt to educate shoppers.
Bea’s Teas
by Brendan Byrne
The committee is also considering developing a Zero Waste–oriented tour of the store to give shoppers tips on reducing the amount of single-use packaging we take into our homes.
On June 24, the Environment Committee held a screening of We Are All Plastic People Now with 13 people in attendance. On July 11, an MO offered a Zero Waste workshop on making small, achievable changes in our everyday lives to reduce the amount of waste we produce.
The committee also met with interim Cooperative Leadership Manager (CLM) Dana Tomlin to communicate our desire to align the Co-op more closely with the ecological sustainability portion of the mission statement.
When completed, the committee’s report on plastic packaging will be shared with management, the Board, and the rest of the Co-op community. The report will include recommendations for improving Zero Waste efforts in our store.
If you want to help promote more sustainability in your Co-op, please consider attending an Environment Committee meeting or joining the committee! Member-Owners will receive time investment for attending committee meetings.
Please visit the “Committee Meeting Calendar” and “Zoom Links for HWFC Related Meetings” pages on the Honest Weight website for the most up-to-date information.
EC discovered that 76.5% of our store products contain plastic.
Quench Thirst with New In-House Products
A new beverage cooler greets thirsty customers in front of Juice and Java, stocked with cold drinks including iced tea, cold brew, chai, and lemonade.
The twist? All beverages are made and bottled in-house at HWFC.
This new program is the brainchild of Food Service Front of House Manager Bea S. Honest Slate had a few questions for Bea regarding its origins.
Back in October 2022, Bea noticed materials in the warehouse left over from a prior house-bottling program. She took the initiative and brought back a house-made and -bottled unsweetened iced tea, which occupied a single shelf on the Grab n Go wall. Shortly thereafter, Bea branched out into sweetened iced tea, at which point the program really took off.
The new beverage cooler was purchased in early 2024. With this additional space, Bea was able to experiment with and onboard new flavors.
As of early July, there were:
• 9 flavors of unsweetened iced tea
• 10 flavors of sweetened tea
• 3 flavors of chai
• 6 flavors of cold brew
• 10 flavors of lemonade.
Flavors rotate, incorporating holiday offerings. Among bestsellers are Strawberry Lemonade, Vietnamese Cold Brew, and Peachy Keen Sweetened Iced Tea. All recipes were created by Bea.
The tea and coffee are both brewed inhouse. Tea is sourced from SerendipiTea located in Manhasset, NY, and coffee grounds from Capital City Coffee Roasters in Gloversville, NY. The lemonade is made with
freshly squeezed organic lemons. “We make all of our drinks right at our Juice and Java station,” said Bea.
Bea is currently concentrating on expanding the program by adding house-made juices. She’s also brainstorming a deal in which customers will be able to save money when purchasing multiple drinks.
HWFC Coffeehouse Open Mic
Mon., Aug. 19, 6:30–8:30pm
HWFC’s café is filled with song, music, and readings every 3rd Monday! Coffeehouse Open Mic Night is open and free to Co-op Members and the public alike. Join us for an evening with local performers and artists in HWFC’s café. Performer sign-in starts at 6pm. All family-friendly performances are welcome!
B y the Bylaws MO Responsibilities, Rights, and Benefits
Welcome to the fourth installment of the Slate’s By the Bylaws feature. Each month, the Bylaws Panel (BLP) highlights different sections of the Bylaws. Previously, we discussed the objectives of the Bylaws (May), the food and product policy (June), and annual budget development and approval process (July). This month we delve into what it means to be a Member-Owner of Honest Weight Food Co-op (HWFC).
The Bylaws guide all aspects of HWFC governance. The document is long and detailed because it serves as a combination of a constitution, laws, and regulations. You, the Member-Owners of HWFC, approve all changes to the Bylaws and, as you may remember, the Membership approved a series of changes in 2023. The Bylaws are a living, breathing document that will need to be updated and/or amended from time to time as the needs of HWFC evolve. Clarity in Bylaws language is essential to ensure universal understanding. It is also important to appreciate that the Bylaws Panel does not make changes at will. Rather, the BLP explores potential changes only at the request of the Governance Review Council (GRC), the Board, or the Membership (see section 481 of the Bylaws).
This month we highlight sections 310 (Member-Owner Responsibilities), 320 (Member-Owner Benefits), and 330 (Membership Rights). Sections 310 and 320 are brief. Each MO must fulfill their time investments as set forth in the Member-Owner Manual (310.1) and are expected to stay informed about Co-op activities and attend Membership Meetings (310.2), as well as to actively further the purposes of the Co-op as described in the Mission Statement and section 100 of the Bylaws.
Section 310.4 reminds Member-Owners that management has the authority to prohibit anyone from entering the store for engaging in unlawful conduct relating to HWFC or another violation relating to HWFC. An affected Member-Owner may appeal this decision to the Board. The Board is obligated to determine by a vote of two-thirds of all
Honest Weight’s Bylaws Panel explores potential changes only at the request of the Governance Review Council (GRC), Board, or the Membership.
sitting directors whether the management’s action was appropriate. The Board may also revoke the MO’s membership.
Section 320 concerns discounts. Each Member-Owner may receive the relevant discount in place (weekly or monthly) as approved by Membership (320.1). Additionally, section 320.2 provides that the Board or the Membership may establish additional benefits that would be available to the Owners as a whole or to those Member-Owners who qualify for the benefits based on defined and objective criteria such as length of service or annual hours invested.
The Bylaws Panel seeks MOs with institutional knowledge of whether Membership has ever approved various discounts & coupons available for non-Owners.
The Membership Rights section (330) is one of the most important parts of the Bylaws. As such, it is much longer than the two sections just discussed, taking up two pages of the document. This section firmly establishes the ultimate authority of the Membership over HWFC. Membership may delegate authority to the Board and management but such delegation must be specific and all residual authority remains with the Membership (330.1).
Each Member-Owner has the right to vote at Regular Membership Meetings and on referenda (330.2). Member-Owners have the right to compete for election to the Board or the GRC, with some exceptions, including conflict of interest issues, alcohol license requirements, and a prohibition from serving concurrently on the Board and the GRC (330.4[a] and 330.4[c]).
Section 330.5’s subparts lay out a broad range of Membership authority. Membership has final approval of:
• Discount policy, but may delegate product margins to management;
• The nature, range, and number of time investment opportunities;
• The Member-Owner Manual and the Food and Product Manual;
• Annual operating and capital budgets; and unbudgeted cumulative major expenses that are 1 percent or more of the annual operating budget.
We have already noted our interest in learning more about implementation of current discount and coupon policies.
Sections 330.6 and 330.7 pertain to Member-Owner communications. These sections were added in response to efforts by the Board in the mid-2010s to restrict such communication. MOs have the right to communicate with one another on an ongoing basis about issues relevant to HWFC (330.6). They also have the right to petition and to express issues of concern to both Member-Owners and Owners relating to the mission, operation, &or governance of HWFC (330.7). The Member-Owner Manual describes how these communications would occur.
Understanding these responsibilities, benefits, and rights is crucial to appreciating Member-Ownership at HWFC. While the GRC is tasked with monitoring adherence to the Bylaws, robust Member-Owner involvement remains paramount to HWFC’s success.
Visit the website to access HWFC’s Bylaws Currently appointed members of the Bylaws Panel are co-chairs Julie Cohen and Cathy Holmes, Saul Rigberg, Lieta Washington, Rich Beer, Margaret Vorih, Joe Frisino, and Daniel Hoh. Contact the Bylaws Panel at blp@honestweight.coop for further information.
Take an Encore:
Planting Your Fall Garden
by Robin D. Schatz
If your garden is anything like mine, your lettuce, peas, and spinach have long since succumbed to the heat, and you’re moving on to harvest tomatoes, peppers, string beans, cucumbers, summer squash—and more.
Depending on where you live and how warm this autumn shapes up to be, you’ve got roughly two months left to appreciate your frost-sensitive crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, and string beans. (These days, in one of the disturbing benefits of climate change, my pole beans can keep producing well into October.) But that doesn’t have to mean the end of your gardening season—with a little forethought.
So much of a gardener’s energy gets focused on preparing the spring garden. Often, we forget that the fall is another chance to grow those cooler-weather crops. It’s not too late to think about what you can plant this month to tide you through the autumn, and even into early winter.
For the
most part,
we’re working with the same crops we planted in the chilly months of early spring, when the ground was first soft enough to work with a hoe or trowel. Garlic is the exception, as it needs to be planted in October for the next season. But there’s a big difference. In spring, we timed our planting based on the average last frost date and how long the plant would take to produce food. Now, we’re looking at the onset of the first frost, the first signs that winter is on its way. It’s tricky because you also must deal with summer heat, which some seedlings don’t appreciate. For certain fast-growing crops, such as radishes, it doesn’t hurt to wait until September.
But don’t rule out sneaking in another round of bush beans or other heat-loving plants, if you’re quick about it. Just check your seed packet to see how many days you have to plant it before your average first
frost. Some varieties mature more quickly than others—you’d be pretty safe with anything that takes 50 days or fewer to bear a crop. Planting a late batch of zucchini or cucumbers isn’t totally out of the question, either, if you start now. Bonus: you might have fewer beetles to contend with.
And if you don’t get around to planting now, take heart. Some of the plants you put in the ground in springtime, such as kale, chard, and Brussels sprouts, are cold hearty and will happily keep on producing beyond the first frost. Kale, in fact, will get even sweeter after a frost.
It just takes a little bit of planning, and a small amount of space, to put in some crops for your fall enjoyment. Here’s how to get started.
What to Plant
Unless you’ve started your own seeds for autumn crops indoors, you might not have any seedlings to plant. They’re hard to come by at this time of year in commercial greenhouses, and in my case, I’ve just been too busy tending to a very prolific summer garden to worry about starting anything indoors. So my autumn planting is focused on things I can sow directly: carrots, beets, arugula, lettuce, radishes, snap peas, and the like.
Assuming you’re starting from seed, look at what you’ve got on hand. If seeds are older than a few years, you can test whether they are still viable by moistening a paper towel and putting some seeds on it. Fold it up and place it inside a sealed container or plastic bag. Check over the next week or so to see if they are sprouting. It’s not too late to still find some seeds at Honest Weight Food Co-op or at various online retailers. Some nurseries have already begun to get in their stock for the coming season.
Where to Plant
In my case, I usually have a few beds with empty spaces, freed up by spent plants. I also like to utilize the partially shady spaces underneath my tomato plants for mesclun and other greens. (Just be sure to provide plenty of water.) If you’re a container gardener, you probably have a few pots or containers that are free.
When to Plant
Pay attention to your region’s average first frost date, as this will give you a good idea of whether a particular crop will have enough time in your region to grow and produce food. Seed packets usually contain information by U.S. Department of Agriculture zone or with a color-coded map of planting times. For the Albany area, the National Gardening Association says you’ve got a 50% chance of a 32-degree frost by Oct. 3 and an 80% chance by Oct. 10.
You can plug in your zip code here: https://garden.org/apps/frost-dates/ Check your plant hardiness zone here: https://garden.org/nga/zipzone/?zip=12413
Note: the USDA updated hardiness zones in 2023. I was surprised to discover I am no longer in Zone 5, but instead in Zone 6B.
Extending Your Season
Use row covers, hoops with row covers, or cold frames to keep your fragile plants warm as the temperature drops. Check out https://hudsonvalleyseed.com/collections/ fall-gardening or https://www.gardeners. com for ideas and products.
Fall planting sometimes feels like an afterthought to me, because I’m still so focused on my summer crops. But I’ve learned that planning ahead has its benefits. It means I can roll with the changing seasons and still have some fresh, homegrown food to eat when the cold winds start to blow.
Q & A Q & A SUGGESTION BOX
Suggestion Box answers are provided by HWFC managers and departments.
Q. Recycle containers for brown glass jars & containers.
A. Thank you for helping us to realize that we left “brown glass” off the list of recyclable nonclear glass. Brown glass can be recycled with the green and blue glass.
Q. Involve Member-Owners in HWFC merchandise design! Have a contest or solicit input for NEW, fresh imagery for T-shirts, hoodies, + caps. Great for morale to make it a community effort! Let’s not limit ideas to one “department.”
A. This is an interesting idea. We’ll take it into consideration.
Q. What happened to the bike pump/station? Please reinstall!
A. We have it in temporary storage. It will be relocated soon.
Q. Why did you replace the beautiful chalkboard signs on the endcaps? The generic new signs are dull in comparison.
A. We need to be more flexible in order to change the signage in a timely manner to reflect our themes.
Q. We love the new takeout section! I ♥ sandwiches.
A. Cool! Please also check out our daily hot sandwich specials in the rotisserie case.
Q. How often does the veggie cooler spritz the produce? It seems excessive!
A. Our water “spritzes” every 6 minutes for 30 seconds. We’ve found that works well at that setting at this time. It’s a new system and we will surely need to make further adjustments.
Q. Mushroom bacon: seen on TV Shark Tank.
A. We carry MyBacon, which is made from mushroom mycelium in Green Island, NY.
Q. The falafel is awesome! But y’all need to make more! 3x I’ve gone in at 6pm and sold out every time. Please make more.
A. Thank you! Duly noted. We will put more into production.
Q. I love the plant-based peanut butter! PB! PB! Am I right.
A. Cool! We love it too! We welcome any additional comments.
p.s. all peanuts are plant-based!
Q. Zayre is always full of cheerfulness & curiosity in his service.
A. We are lucky to have him! Thanks for your kind words!
Q. I ♥ the music outside—can we play it inside?
A. We appreciate that you like the music out on the patio. We currently have no plans to play it inside the store. [See previous newsletter issues for full coverage of this topic, including initial management efforts, staff/ Membership response, and outcome]
Q. Dan + staff are doing an excellent job!
A. Thank you so much! Stay tuned for new menus and our pop-ups!
Did You Know?
Honest Weight Food Co-op has the largest Bulk Department in the Northeastern U.S.
Q. Phil is the best in Bulk. Serves with purpose and pleasure and efficiency. ♥
A. Yes! Thank you! We’re glad that you took the time to comment.
Q. Corn quesadillas please!
A. Are you looking for a gluten-free tortilla or corn in the quesadilla?
Q. Please put a box up front (by the exit door) for kids’ lunch donations. Thx.
A. We always have a box up front for the Food Pantries for the Capital District. They provide food for a number of recipients including school lunches.
Q. Please get more SMALL carts.
Q. Need more small carts.
Q. More smaller carts, please! They’re always gone because everyone wants one. Why big ones? Thanks.
A. We have done our research, selected a vendor, and are awaiting a quote. We expect to receive them by the end of summer.
More new small-sized shopping carts are expected soon.
Honest Slate 6
Board Decisions
The HWFC Board of Directors approved the following at August 6’s 6pm Board Meeting:
• July 2, 2024, Board meeting minutes.
• Honest Arts Committee’s request for funds, pending CLM review.
• Membership Committee work plan as presented.
• A plan for the BOD to create a direct-report contractor SOP.
• HWFC’s 2023–24 Annual Report to consist of the annual auditor’s report and be posted on the website.
• CLM job description.
• (Affirmed) approved contracts for CLM Search & Hiring Support.
• (Affirmed) the Board-appointed contact team (Kim Kaiser, Neil Rice, Steve Golub, and Wendy Hord) to work with CLM search & hiring support.
Board of Directors website page: https://www.honestweight.coop/ page/board-91.html
• For Honest Weight committee meeting Zoom links, visit this page: https://www.honestweight.coop/page/committee-meeting-calendar-322.html
• For all other HWFC-related meetings: https://www.honestweight.coop/page/zoomlinks-for-hwfc-related-meetings-420.html
Editors & Contributors
David Bulnes
Brendan Byrne
Stephanie Conde
Elisa Grimm
Don Kennison
Irene Kim
Notes & Quotes
From August’s Board meeting
Financial Pic: Higher Sales, Less Inflation HWFC ended last fiscal year on a positive note, exceeding its previous year over year (YOY) record. At 5%, it’s the best the Coop has done in several years, according to our Controller Todd Jackson. Monthly sales were up 9% YOY, higher than the 6% target.
These numbers are a “fantastic start to the fiscal year,” stated Todd. “It’s so nice to feel that sales are valued. Being able to support the Co-op values and mission makes all the difference...we’re finally seeing some [positive] numbers.”
According to financial info presented, we also gained savings via lower costs for employee benefits this past year.
Self Checkout (SCO) Scores
Costing just $3K more than budgeted due to some extra site prep, SCO is working well, accounting for 25–28% of all checkout transactions.
Super Great Deals Wins Big Operations Manager Shawn Mack delivered a Super Great Deals update, explaining that certain items are discounted up to 30–50% at a low profit margin.
As well as appealing to consumers by offering attractive prices, this initiative supports our growing Membership by purposefully drawing in non-owner customers. Success-
august 2O24
Contact honestslate@honestweight.coop with questions, comments, or article suggestions.
Submissions Policy
Sharon Lastique
Sam Long
Carol Ostrow
Anastasia Rodgers
Robin Schatz
Janet Sorell
ful product sales to date have included bulk trail mix and hydration packets; almost all inventory was sold, Shawn reported.
Interim CLM Dana Tomlin credited Super Great Deals as “a chance to loop in new people—that they are seen, heard, and welcomed—and to make sure they know that this store is different from other stores.”
These discounts start each Wednesday and often continue past the initial week-long window.
“I love the scorecard,” Dana added, crediting the Food Service & Meat departments for the “largest changes in what they do and how they deliver” via merchandising and promotion.
3 months is the desired timeline to hire a new CLM (stay tuned).
25% or more of all HWFC checkouts are done via SCO.
33 attended August’s Board meeting.
100+ community members attended July’s staff-MO taco party.
559 Member-Owners invested time during July.
Over 11,000 Owners belong to HWFC.
Statement of Purpose: for articles & contributions:
• Preferred maximum length is 800 words.
• Material is published at the discretion of the Honest Slate team.
• Only signed work is accepted. Items are edited for length, grammar, & style.
• We may consider unsolicited material but encourage submitting ideas first.
• Letters to the Editor do not require preapproval.
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 ©2024 Honest Weight Food Coop; no material appearing in Honest Slate may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of HWFC.
COMMITTEE CORNER
This column provides a summary of preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors (BOD) for its Aug. 6, 2024, meeting. See Board Meeting packet for details. Full Board-approved committee reports are posted on HWFC’s website.
by Stephanie Conde
Nutrition and Education Committee (NEC)
∙ Resuming tabling for Food and Product Manual (FPM) to make manual more visible.
∙ HWFC’s Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Policy was adopted 7 years ago and needs updating. Seeking to ensure GMO policy aligns with current HWFC standards and customer expectations.
Membership Committee (MC)
∙ Received update on BLP activities.
∙ Looking for meeting room for in-person meetings beginning in September.
∙ Shared drive drop box isn’t working well; account must be linked to someone’s phone number.
∙ MC members are welcome to answer emails received through MC mailbox; should ensure everyone is included.
∙ Sam attended BOD meeting and shared update. BOD approved time at October Regular Membership Meeting (RMM) for Bylaws Manual changes with 10-minute open discussion before and after meeting.
∙ Looking into whether MO Manual survey went out.
∙ Discussed Open Mic follow-up: transparency; hybrid meetings for Open Mic and other MC activities (some virtual and some in-person meetings will continue).
∙ Farm visits and buying policies may more appropriately be NEC/FPM request rather than BOD.
∙ Discussed MO Manual outreach for July wellness event and August speed networking event.
∙ Sharon Lastique was hired as full-time Membership Manager.
∙ Submitted 2024–25 work plan for BOD review.
∙ Considering changing monthly meetings to 4th Wednesday each month.
Anti-Racism Committee (ARC)
∙ Finalizing work plan.
Governance Review Council (GRC)
∙ BOD liaison suggested standard operating procedure (SOP) be added to BOD Manual for handling direct-report contractors (following June’s discussion with Honest Slate managing editor). Requested BOD consider adding SOP to BOD Manual for handling direct-report contractors to provide consistency in how BOD contracts with and processes reviews and renewals of such contractors.
∙ Discussed inquiry about BOD’s use of emergency powers to contract with interim CLM. BOD liaison reviewed process followed by BOD and believes it was proper.
∙ Reviewed current Conflict of Interest (CoI) statement for BOD members in light of inquiry concerning potential conflicts of interest and discussed whether GRC and/or BLP members should sign similar CoI statements, and whether GRC members should sign confidentiality statements.
∙ Discussed Finance Chair’s response to GRC’s request for input on whether 1% spending threshold in Bylaws Section 330.5(e) remains appropriate.
Bylaws Panel (BLP)
∙ BLP member attended MC meeting. MC wants monthly update of BLP work.
∙ Looking into updating Bylaws to correct typos.
∙ Working on developing agenda for September’s joint GRC meeting.
∙ Next Honest Slate article on Member-Owner (MO) responsibilities, benefits, and Membership rights [see page 3].
∙ Looking into posting BLP-related Honest Slate articles on BLP webpage.
Personnel
Committee (PC)
∙ Discussed swapping existing holiday for Juneteenth; open MO positions on PC; and staff vacation payout changes.
∙ Discussed suggested topic of staff wearing headphones while working.
Honest Arts Committee (HAC)
∙ Welcomed new committee liaison.
∙ Future art shows include: Nina Stanley’s paintings, Chris Eckardt’s photos of Mexico, “Poetic License,” and the Schenectady Photographic Society.
∙ Reviewed committee’s previous work plan and discussed what new work plan should contain.
∙ Requested BOD authorization to spend approximately $175 on additional art hanging materials (from Systemic Art) to create hanging system on wall above shelving that displays energy bars. New system could display art associated with gallery shows or standalone artwork, such as material reflecting HWFC history or artwork developed as part of HWFC community engagement projects. Advantages over HWFC’s current system include added flexibility in terms of what can be hung and more security for hung pieces.
Elections & Nominations Committee (ENC)
∙ BOD is discussing possibility of conducting hybrid (in-person and Zoom) Membership Meetings (RMMs). ENC liaison requested BOD consider logistics, technology, and personnel capabilities to run effective hybrid meetings since previous remotely attended meetings had generally been poor quality. Shared concern with BOD that hybrid meetings require two sets of ENC members while ENC has relatively few members. Liaison suggested BOD consider interpreting results from June RMM survey differently. The survey allowed respondents to select Zoom, In-Person, or Other but not hybrid meetings. ENC requests BOD seek feedback from committees before deciding to provide hybrid RMMs.
∙ Discussed areas for improvement for next RMM: some communication contacts with Interim Membership Manager, having all voting artifacts prepped before meeting (including phone vote template for receiving phone votes on night of RMM), and enhancing electronic voting procedures and steps to reduce time extracting final details. One suggestion was utilizing ChatGPT as it provides great advice and is free.
∙ Chairs introduced ENC work plan to newest members, reviewed last year’s plan to help generate discussion and develop this year’s work plan.
8 Honest Slate
C o - o p p o r t u n i t i e s:
by Sharon Lastique, Membership Manager (MM)
Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Sharon Lastique, the new Membership Manager and 15-year Member-Owner of Honest Weight. As a 35-year plant-based eater and health coach, I am passionate about ensuring access for all members of our community to clean, local, nutritious food and products. I was the Membership Administrative Assistant from June of 2023 until my new role as Membership Manager on July 22.
Over the years I have served on the Environment, Membership, and Anti-Racism committees and on the Ombuds Panel created to support fair process for MOs and employees regarding internal conflict management processes. I have also invested time as a Member-Owner in the Produce Department, Grocery Department, and the Deli.
As I step into the management role, increasing Member engagement and planning exciting events, I seek an assistant to take on administrative tasks. Our mission-based team serving our Membership and the greater Capital Region community seeks a team member who is passionate about natural foods and committed to promoting anti-racist and DEI efforts. Previous cooperative experience is preferred.
This position is on site 20 hours per week. To apply please follow this link and complete the application at: https://recruiting.myapps.paychex.com/appone/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=6401820
Member-Owner Opportunities:
Meat Department special incentive: to boost our support of the Meat Department, we are offering double hours for all shifts from Aug. 12 through Nov. 12. MOs must sign up for a weekly shift and complete their shift consistently. Customer service tasks include taking orders and wrapping meat. Monday–Saturday shifts between 10am and 6pm are available. Contact TonyGuzek@ honestweight.coop or call 518.482.2667 x 257.
Food & Product Demo Support: do you love food and sharing it with people? We are expanding our in-store sampling activities and are offering double hours for all shifts Aug. 12 through Nov. 12. High demand days are Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday in Produce, Meat, Cheese, and Grocery. Contact Sharon in Member Services to be added to the directory for this opportunity at memberservices@honestweight.coop.
Seeking MO with woodworking skills for a special project resurfacing the café tables. Contact KarlBraun@honestweight.coop
Produce Department seeks an MO for a morning shift between 7am–11am. Contact BrendanKelly@honestweight.coop.
committee corner Member-Owner Updates
continued from page 7
Finance Committee (FC)
∙ Reviewed progress to date this fiscal year.
∙ Discussed HWFC Investment Policy, which has not been looked at critically in several years.
Environment Committee (EC)
∙ Zero Waste. Discussed hosting a movie night on regenerative agriculture. Considering follow-up discussion about We Are All Plastic People Now movie, including recommendations for reducing plastic while shopping and at home. Commend new signage and display in Bulk about reusable jars; would like to connect and partner with staff on this. Electronic collection event with refurbisher Elfun Electronics tentatively scheduled for October. Continuing to compile Plastics Assessment on HWFC’s current use of plastics packaging; planning article for Honest Slate [see p. 2].
∙ Work on Sustainability Manual has slowed during summer; small group to resume bimonthly meetings in September.
∙ Continuing ongoing analysis of HWFC energy usage and bills; energy costs are down 5% this year compared to the first six months of last year.
Shoppers Helpers program is back! If you love greeting folks and assisting them in navigating the store, contact memberservices@ honestweight.coop to learn about being a customer service ambassador. Wednesdays and weekends are high demand.
Membership Cooking Squad: we are planning communal meals requiring a team to cook and bake for Members and guests. To be added to our directory for this time investment opportunity, contact memberservices@honestweight.coop
Interested in joining HWFC’s team as an employee? Check out our Employment Page.
∙ Co-chairs will begin developing work plan for next calendar year.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEIC)
∙ Working on 2024–25 work plan.
Strategic and Long-Range Planning Committee (SLRPC)
∙ Discovered posted Zoom link for SLRPC meetings was incorrect and HWFC Committee Calendar didn’t list any SLRPC meetings. Plan to coordinate with Member Services on future meeting announcements to reach wider audience.
∙ Worked on replicating University of Wisconsin (UW) National Co-op Grocers (NCG) survey (conducted 2 years ago). Comparison of 2 sets of data may show direction HWFC is trending. Were assured a current version of email addresses used in constructing prior survey is available. Second survey will proceed dependent on current cost quotes from UW and available budget funds.
∙ Discussed conducting second Customer Address and Transaction(CAT) survey in which customers were asked 2 questions; tabled until UW survey is underway or complete.