November 2020 Honest Slate

Honest Weight Food Co-op’s Community Newsletter for Membership • Staff • Governance • Management

Honest

Published monthly by the Communications Committee to promote transparency, report without bias, and sustain community.

SLATE

NovemBer 2O2o Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667

honestslate@honestweight.coop • https://www.honestweight.coop/

Membership Elects Employee to GRC, Passes Manual Revisions During Meet the Candidates sessions and the well-attended Oct. 25 Membership Meeting, Brendan Kelly shared that he has previously been involved in the democratic side of the Co-op, having participated in governance by serving on the Personnel Committee. His only opportunity for an elected seat lay with running for the Governance Review Council (GRC) because he works as Produce Department Manager, and our Bylaws prohibit managers from serving on the Board of Directors.

That evening, Brendan became the newest GRC member. See all results at right, including two ballot measures passed by the Membership.

CONTENTS About Accountability ................ 2 Self-Care for Winter................... 3 HWFC Goes Solar!..................... 3 New Book Group....................... 4 Vegan vs. Primal........................ 5 10-in-10 Program Returns..........6 Q&A............................................7 Plastic Recycling Redux.............. 8 The Perks of Composting.......... 9 Board Decisions....................... 10 Committee Corner................... 11 Co-Opportunities..................... 12

NYS COVID Alert App:

Download to get exposure alerts and help protect your community while maintaining privacy.

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-alert-ny

Stop the Spread. honestslate@honestweight.coop

VOTING RESULTS

from the October 2020 Remote Membership Meeting Vote 2: Proposed FPM Changes

We were pleased to have 152

Member-Owners in attendance at HWFC’s remote Membership Meeting.

(Food & Product Manual)

134 Valid Ballots cast 119 voted Yes {approve proposed changes} 15 voted No {reject proposed changes}

Vote 1: Proposed Bylaws Changes Section 330.4 to Section 330.4(a) to 330.4(c)

This change to the Food & Product Manual passed with 88.8% of the total votes cast.

131 Valid Ballots cast 112 voted Yes {approve proposed changes} 19 voted No {reject proposed changes} Bylaws Section 600 states: “These Bylaws and the Certificate of Incorporation may be accepted, amended, or repealed only by approval of two-thirds of those Member-Owners present and voting at a Membership Meeting called for that purpose pursuant to Sections 342 and 343.”

112 is 85.5% percent which is greater than the two-thirds of the required threshold to change the Bylaws; this revision passes.

Vote 3: Elect one (1) Member to the GRC (Governance Review Council)

130 Valid Ballots cast 84 votes for Brendan Kelly 46 votes for Steve Golub Brendan Kelly was elected to the GRC with 64.6% of the votes.

Thank you to all who joined us at this Membership Meeting.

—Honest Weight Food Co-op Board of Directors

)

Please note: data recorded from “nonconfidential” votes by phone or Survey Monkey were used only for October 2020’s voting/counting process and will not be “data-mined” or used for any other purpose.

Member-Owners:

Don’t miss these opportunities to work with the Bylaws Panel (BLP) and the Membership Committee on proposed changes! Attend any of these Zoom feedback sessions: Bylaws Panel: Sunday Nov. 15 • 2–3 pm Tuesday Nov. 17 • 5:30–6:30 pm Membership Committee:

Sat. Nov. 14 • Noon–1pm

Wed. Nov. 18 • 7–8pm

10~in~10

Returns in 2020!

Is anything the same as last year?

The 10-in-10 incentive for Member-Owners is pretty close!! Keeping safety at the forefront of our plans, we’re working to cover as many shifts as possible during the 2020 holiday season. Sign up for your shifts as early as possible. See full info, page 6.

https://www.honestweight.coop/

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November 2020

Honest Slate

Membership Focuses on Accountability Committee to Propose Manual Changes in January After months of canvassing, the Membership Committee (MC) developed a proposal for revising our Member-Owner manual; feedback sessions are scheduled this month to encourage further conversation.

Revising the system Change takes time, and at any co-op it also, optimally, takes many voices. At January 2020’s Membership Meeting, MC took the first steps by leading a lively conversation around the topic of time investment, from which it compiled a great deal of feedback.

The two issues arising most consistently were lateness and absence, aka “chronic lateness” and “no-call/no-show” (missing a shift without proper notification).

After that meeting (but prior to the pandemic), in-store tabling successfully garnered yet more suggestions from management, Staff, and Membership for identifying ways to remain responsible to each other in taking our time investment seriously.

Next, the committee geared up for work sessions to create a proposal designated for a vote at Jan. 31, 2021’s Membership Meeting.

MOs can help steer this proposal now by attending a feedback session (&or emailing comments to membershipcomm@honestweight.coop). It’s an excellent time to let your voice be heard by participating directly in policy discussion!

Membership Committee Accountability Feedback Sessions:

Sat. Nov. 14 • Noon–1pm Wed. Nov. 18 • 7–8pm

Then MC will review feedback, consider updates, and revise prior to sending the Board results for December’s Board meeting, with the intention for final voting at January’s Membership Meeting.

What’s the problem?

If you don’t call or show up and there’s no MO available to cover, your workload ends up on the shoulders of an already fully scheduled, busy Employee, which obviously creates unnecessary tension. In a cooperative relying on participants to run smoothly, MOs need

“We have developed what we believe is a fair and reasonable process by which Managers, MOs, and the MOC can move forward if an MO is not respecting their time investment.”

—Cara Benson, MC chair

Revisions will give department managers a structure to provide feedback.

A

PROPOSED:

B One paragraph will move down.

CURRENT: Like many Member-Owners, you may end up completing more hours than the minimum you need each month to reach your target discount. In that event, extra hours are banked so that absences and vacations won’t affect your discount.

If your weekly scheduled time investment falls on a holiday and the store is closed, the hours do not need to be made up. These hours will be entered into your bank.

If circumstances arise and you must cancel your scheduled time investment, we expect at least twenty-four hours’ notice. Be sure to learn your department’s policies and procedures regarding absences and use of substitutes.

You may periodically take a break from your monthly or weekly time investment and rely on any banked hours to obtain your target discount. When you have depleted your bank of hours, you will revert to Owner status and to the Owner discount of 2%.

In the event you take an extended leave of absence, the Co-op is not obligated to hold a time investment opportunity or time slot for you. When you return from an extended absence, you must complete the monthly or weekly hours needed for your discount to be effective the following month. However, you may place your account on hold by full calendar month by contacting the Member-Owner Coordinator or by talking to a Front End manager at the Customer Service Desk, preferably before the 1st of the month.

In the event of sickness or disability, you must email the Member-Owner Coordinator if you wish to name a non-Owner to shop for you.

C

Paragraphs will be added (see website).

to support operations thoughtfully so the message is to reinforce our cultural expectation. Belonging to a co-op means striving as individuals to preserve the organization’s well-being. We need to be accountable to each other.

To date, time investment expectations have been without a system for dealing with infractions. If an MO is not adhering to expectations (i.e., being chronically late or absent without notice), there needs to be a consequence for the system to work fairly.

What’s the proposed outcome?

Assuming that there’s already been a conversation between an MO and their assigned department manager lacking resolution, the Manager has the ability to ask the Member-Owner Coordinator (MOC) to start a documentation process, informing the MO that their absence was unexcused.

The process can be appealed, but two unexcused absences may result in disqualifying the MO from investing time in that department for six months, meaning the MO would need to find a different department to invest time in.

MC’s proposal would let department managers decide what works for each of them and what’s reasonable. Naturally, a certain amount of leeway will be factored in.

“We realized in talking to Managers that we couldn’t impose one policy for everyone,” Cara said. “What works for Grocery doesn’t work for the Front End. Cashiering requires

If you are injured during your time investment, please complete an Accident Report which you can find at the Customer Service Desk.

In the spirit of cooperation and fairness, during a time-investment, all M-Os are expected to contribute to the best of their ability. M-Os are supporting the operation of the HWFC with their commitment. If circumstances arise and you must cancel your sched-

uled time investment, we expect at least twenty-four hours’ notice. Be sure to learn your department’s policies and procedures regarding absences and use of substitutes.

If an absence by a M-O is deemed unexcused by their department manager, the manager has the right to notify the MOC, in writing, to start a documentation process. The MOC will inform the M-O of such documentation as soon as possible.

Two unexcused documented absences within 6 months may disqualify a M-O from continuing to invest time in that department for a period of 6 months.

Chronic lateness that impacts the functioning of the department may be reported as an absence.

Membership Committee Action Timeline: • 06/19–02/20: discussed time investment issues, tabled, compiled feedback.

• 11/20: hold Accountability Feedback sessions, review input.

• 12/01/2020: submit results for Board approval.

• Now–01/21: seek input via more Zoom sessions and email.

• Jan. 31, 2021: Regular Membership Meeting VOTE a certain punctuality, [whereas] Grocery is more flexible and spontaneous.”

“We count on each other,” Cara continued.

“There is always flexibility. What we’re proposing provides room. Sometimes the bus is late, or maybe you have an emergency” but unexpected events require communication.

The emphasis is on accountability in relation to one another.

The committee is also addressing MO Manual revisions made prior to COVID-19 (previously proposed at the Jan. 2020 RMM but ineligible for voting due to ballot errors).

Two items will be proposed for a vote: cleaning up some language around MO conduct training, and references to anti-harassment policy. MOs can offer feedback on these proposed revisions at November’s sessions or anytime via email.

The Membership Committee will make the proposed revisions available on HWFC’s website after Nov. 10’s Board meeting.

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

November 2020

Honest Honest Weight Weight Goes Goes Community Community Solar Solar

by Deanna Beyer

Let the Sunshine In!

Honest Weight Food Co-op is happy to announce that we will be 100% Community Solar Powered beginning in early 2021. We are working with a local company, Bullrock Community Solar, to achieve this exciting goal. This collaboration is a result of a member-driven initiative to shift the co-op toward more sustainable energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and protect the future of our planet.

You might be wondering, “What exactly is Community Solar?”

Community Solar is unique in that the power generation system derives its energy from a large number of solar collection panels. These “solar farms” are typically located on large remote tracts of open land.

The electricity generated on these farms is channeled directly into the area’s power grid, allowing it to be used by anyone once they subscribe to a community solar program.

Self-Care for Winter It’s that time of the year again when the clocks have just “fallen back.” Daylight savings time ended at 2 am on Nov. 1. The good news is that we gained an hour; the bad news is that this can be a particularly difficult time for many people. Time change can have a strange impact on the natural rhythm of our bodies. Many people have difficulty transitioning back to fewer hours of daylight, resulting in feelings of anxiety, irritability, and depression. There are lots of strategies for working through the winter, making this time of year easier to manage. Here are a few simple things that could be helpful.

Eat foods that are high in mood-boosting nutrients like magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. Magnesium is a mineral that plays a big role in making your body work right, but your body does not make it on its own. Pumpkin seeds, squash, avocados, dark chocolate, whole grains like oats, and salmon are rich in magnesium. Most of these same items are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty fish, like tuna, is a great source of vitamin D, as are mushrooms, and getting direct sunlight. Sun is one of the best sources of vitamin D. So...get outside! Particularly in the morning. Seeing light in the morning can help

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Honest Slate

by Susan Andrews

reset your body’s clock. Making a walk part of your morning routine can have great benefits beyond physical exercise, which is also a helpful tool for managing moods. If a walk isn’t possible, try eating your breakfast in front of a window. Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast first thing in the morning. Food tells your body it is the start of the day.

Shut down phones and electronics in the evening. Your body requires darkness in order to produce more melatonin, so reducing exposure to electronics that emit blue-wave light helps you fall asleep—and stay asleep. Sleep experts recommend shutting down electronics at least two hours before bedtime. You should also change your smartphones and tablets to “night” mode in the evening so you’re not absorbing blue lights. And stick to a sleep schedule, even on the weekends.

And be good to yourself. When feeling low, consider a warm bath or shower, a cup of tea, a good book, or engaging music. Buy yourself some colorful flowers or take a laugh break, using your phone or tablet to tap into a comedy podcast, cartoons, or jokes. But most of all, stay in touch with others. Being connected to friends and family is still one of the best strategies available.

The amazing benefits of using Community Solar: • Clean, renewable, and safe • Generates zero carbon emissions • Available to any National Grid customer • No need to change providers • Renters and homeowners can both participate • Requires no rooftop/backyard panel purchase or rental • NO cost to join, participate, or opt out • No long-term commitment • Up to 10% reduction on your current electric rate Honest Weight’s Environment Committee, comprised of both Staff and Member-Owners, spent the past year carefully reviewing and vetting local solar providers. They eventually made the recommendation to move forward with Bullrock Solar, one of the most experienced and respected solar companies in the Northeast with deep New York roots.

Honest Weight will draw from Bullrock’s nearest solar farm located in Castleton, NY. The great news is that Honest Weight Member-Owners and customers are invited to join us and make the switch to clean solar energy! By signing up, you can experience all of the benefits of Community Solar with no cost or long-term commitment.

It’s super easy to participate! All you need to do is sign up. Bullrock will analyze your past electricity usage and reserve a portion of the solar farm’s expected output to meet your expected usage. Bullrock communicates your usage information directly with National Grid, which then reduces your electric bill accordingly. You continue to pay your utility bill as usual. Pretty simple.

As a thank-you for your participation, Bullrock will either send you a $25 Honest Weight gift card or donate $25 to The Sky Is Not Limited, a nonprofit using solar to power water projects in rural Tanzania.

We all know that climate change is happening. It is critical that we continue to find ways to use sustainable, renewable energy and reduce our impact on the planet. Honest Weight is committed to doing our part.

Join us and make a difference in our community!

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

One for the Books:

November 2020

Membership Committee Launches Pilot Reading Group

by Carol Ostrow and Erin Donahue

Keep your community spirit stoked this winter with a new HWFC book group conceived and hosted by the Membership Committee (MC)!

•Debut title: Grocery Story by Jon Steinman •Anyone can participate: Shoppers, Owners/MOs, Staff

In his 2019 book, Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants, author Jon Steinman analyzes the current structure of the food retail sector, its domination by corporate giants, and how co-ops serve as an alternative that can enhance local food-based economies and provide greater food access for all.

“For me,” Steinman writes in the opening pages of Grocery Story, “reimagining our food system means becoming aware of when and how we react to the challenges— to the actions of big food [industry giants that dominate our food systems]. It’s about first retracing our path prior to charting a course of action. It’s about asking whether or not we’ve given ourselves sufficient time to consider that the health of a tree or plant is almost entirely in the care and attention we bring to its roots.”

Steinman visited Honest Weight in April 2019 during a months-long book tour. “I re-

ally care about my local food system and the food system abroad,” Steinman, of Nelson, British Columbia, said during the visit. “The conversation became about getting local food into people’s kitchens.”

This choice struck the Membership Committee as “substantive and pertinent enough to kick off the series,” said committee chair Cara Benson. With logistics pending, the committee is announcing plans now so that readers can plan ahead.

Committee member Stephen Winters is currently in contact with the Albany Public Library to research possibilities for additional availability of copies locally.

Where can I locate this book?

•Six copies of Grocery Story are currently on order for Honest Weight and instructions for borrowing copies will be announced later this fall.

Will you be answering yes to one of our daily COVID-19 questions or do you have questions?

Have you:

• Experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the past 14 days?

• Tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days?

• Been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 within the last 14 days?

• Traveled to a state in the past 14 days that is subject to NYS’s post-travel quarantine order?

If the answer to any of these questions is

yes:

• Contact your medical provider and/or contact your county health department, or call NYS’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-364-3065 • Staff: Notify your supervisor and our Benefits Administrator Mary Lou Nolan-Gilham at MaryLou@honestweight.coop • Member-Owners: Notify your department that you are scheduled to invest time in and Yevette Buddeau, our Member-Owner Coordinator, at memberservices@honestweight.coop.

•The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza https://www.bhny.com/ open Monday–Saturday: 10–5, Sunday: 12–5 • 518-489-4761 BHNY will offer copies at 20% off for HWFC community members.

•Online ordering is available from New Society Publishers’ website with various options: https://newsociety.com/books/g/grocery-story Available in print, digital, and audiobook formats:

•Paperback $19.99

•PDF $13.00

•EPUB $13.00

•Audiobook $31.99 How will this project work?

• MC will facilitate bimonthly book discussions via Zoom sessions, with plans to announce a kickoff date by December • Simply interested? You need not be a Member-Owner to join the discussion; anyone can read and participate!

• Circulate it forward! Readers who purchase a copy are encouraged to share with friends • It’s not complicated!

“There’s no pressure to study in depth,” Cara stated. “Even if you just read one chapter, engagement with the book is the goal.”

While the committee is still configuring the process, the plan is to convene every other month, discussing a new book each time.

Additionally, MC is open to other committees offering suggestions and/or co-sponsoring discussions.

If you have a book title in mind to suggest, contact the Membership Committee at MembershipComm@honestweight.coop.

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

November 2020

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Honest Slate

Food for Thought :

Vegan versus Primal

by Joyce Chicoine, Nutrition and Education Committee We thought that it would be interesting to compare a whole-foods, plant-based diet, outlined in Gene Stone’s Forks Over Knives (2011), with the Primal diet described in Mark Sisson’s The Primal Blueprint (4th edition, 2019). The Primal Blueprint is longer, with recipes appearing in a separate cookbook, whereas Forks Over Knives includes 125 recipes within the same book. In addition, Forks Over Knives was written as a companion to a video documentary of the same name, which we watched as well.

Forks Over Knives describes the most serious health concerns faced by Western society. It explains the science behind a whole-foods, plant-based diet and how it alleviates many of these concerns. The authors say that this way of eating is “good for your health, good for animals, and good for the environment” and explain how to transition to such a diet.

Several points made in Forks Over Knives are irrefutable: that cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes are major health concerns in our society, for example. In numerous cases, such diseases have been prevented, or even reversed, with dietary changes alone. It is also clear that eating whole fruits, vegetables, and grains is much healthier than a diet of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor processed foods. Furthermore, there is ample evidence that meat and related products from animals raised in “Confined Animal Feeding Operations” (CAFOs, also sometimes referred to as “factory farms”) are not healthy for human consumption.

The China Study, a landmark study led by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, in collaboration with researchers at Oxford University and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicines, is a cornerstone of the argument for a completely vegan diet. The team conducted a 30-year investigation of the “health and nutritional habits of 6,500 Chinese adults in 65 rural villages” whose diets were consistently low in fat and high in fiber and plant material (FOK, p. 35, electronic version).

They then compared the data with that of American men and concluded that Amer-

ican men are 17 times more likely to die from heart disease than rural Chinese men.

They also concluded that “maintaining a whole-foods, plant-based diet can minimize or reverse the development of chronic diseases.”

While this study has been well received in the vegan community, it is not without its critics. One such critic, Denise Minger, shares Campbell’s concern about Big Pharma’s role in scientific research, and admires his “philosophy towards nutritional research and echo[es] his sentiments about the dangers of scientific reductionism.”

However, she discusses flaws in Campbell’s data analysis and questionable leaps in logic in great detail in her blog. According to Minger, “The China Study is a compelling collection of carefully chosen data. Unfortunately for both health seekers and the scientific community, Campbell appears to exclude relevant information when it indicts plant foods as causative of disease, or when it shows potential benefits for animal products.”

Still, the whole-foods, plant-based Forks Over Knives Diet can reap astounding benefits, as was experienced by the seven individuals featured in the documentary and book. In addition to reduced hypertension and weight loss, their lab tests revealed reductions in total cholesterol and blood glucose. One man was able to stop taking six different medications while maintaining improved health. All reported increased energy and a greater sense of well-being.

The Primal Blueprint is not just another diet book. It’s about a healthy lifestyle. Mark Sisson, who also maintains a popular blog and owns the food/supplement business Primal Kitchen, admits that he is not a scientist or a doctor, but “an athlete, coach, and student on a lifelong quest for optimal health, happiness, and peak performance.” While most of his recommendations are based on the lifestyle and eating habits of our primal/paleolithic ancestors, he also references modern scientific findings and medical doctors when appropriate.

Sisson is not shy about challenging conventional wisdom when it comes to health.

For instance, Sisson recommends against including whole grains and for including saturated animal fat in the diet. “Grains,” he says, “drive excess insulin production, fat storage, chronic inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, and heart disease.” He also says that cholesterol is only a problem when oxidation and inflammation are also present. Similarly, he challenges conventional wisdom regarding exercise (“inconsistency is key!” and “move frequently”) and sun exposure (important for meeting vitamin D needs).

Sisson breaks down the Primal lifestyle into 10 “laws” and recommends a whole-foods, minimally processed diet. Rather than being strictly regimented, the Primal Diet allows for some “personal preference and self-experimentation.” While the Primal Diet is similar in concept to the Paleo diet, Sisson emphasizes that the main reason to avoid “certain modern foods” is because they are “unhealthy,” not necessarily because they were unavailable to our ancestors.

The biggest difference between Paleo and Primal is that the Primal Diet can include whole-fat dairy products from humanely raised, grass-fed animals, whereas the Paleo Diet advises against all dairy products.

Primal Blueprint Laws:

1) Eat Plants and Animals 2) Avoid Poisonous Things 3) Move Frequently 4) Lift Heavy Things 5) Sprint Once in a While 6) Get Plenty of Sleep 7) Play 8) Get Plenty of Sunlight 9) Avoid Stupid Mistakes 10) Use Your Brain continued on page 6

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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10~in~10 Returns November 16–25!

With the Co-op’s busy season and high November-December sales volume, we’re re-running our Member-Owner incentive to help fill the store’s needs, promote a fun atmosphere in departments, and help MOs meet their time commitments.

Here’s how it works: All MOs who invest 10 hours in the 10 days leading up to Thanksgiving will be entered into a $50 Co-op gift card drawing. There will be 3 winners—3 chances to win! This incentive lasts from Nov. 16 through Nov. 25. We’ll run the report, tally hours, and draw winners during the first week of December.

•Who is eligible? Anyone who does MO hours. The idea is to get the most help into the departments during our busiest time of the year while keeping safety in mind. Keep your six-foot distance, wear your mask correctly, and come help keep the store stocked and vibrant.

•Where can I do shifts? As an incentive to help the Co-op run smoothly during the holiday rush, we ask that MOs pick up shifts in departments they are familiar with. With that said, some tasks 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 store shift?

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. Find department contact info on our website or stop by the department.

•What if my chosen department does not have shifts at the times I can come in?

Shifts are available in many departments and we hope to get as much coverage as possible. If you need hours outside your department or lack a “home department,” contact Yevette and we’ll look for a place where you can contribute and be of value while having fun.

Some quick ideas are Courtesy Clerk (Front End), Fronting (Grocery), Parking Lot Attendant (Member Services), Outside Counter/ Cart Cleaner (Deli Dan) or Turkey Orders and truck unloading (fast-paced tech skills and heavy lifting required for Meat).

Honest Slate Vegan versus Primal continued from page 5

Sisson also discusses insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas in response to elevated blood glucose. High insulin sensitivity helps maintain a healthy blood glucose level. Sisson recommends enough carbs (from vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds) to enable the body to store glycogen in muscles and the liver, but not so much that the glycogen gets converted to triglycerides and stored in fat cells. We can do this by following the Primal Blueprint Laws for diet and exercise.

In his discussion about cholesterol, Sisson refers to the work of medical doctors.

In a nutshell, they stress the importance of LDL (low-density lipoproteins, often referred to as “bad cholesterol”) particle size.

Small, dense LDLs, which can result from a high-carbohydrate diet, are associated with increased oxidation and inflammation and increased triglyceride levels, which is said to clog arteries. Larger, more buoyant LDLs are associated with a lower-carb diet and are considered harmless. Rather than focusing on total cholesterol and LDL numbers, Dr. Cate Shanahan recommends following the triglyceride-to-HDL (high-density lipoprotein) ratio, which she says is “perhaps the best way of monitoring heart disease risk.”

3.5:1 is good. 1:1 or better is “superior.”

Macronutrients refer to carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. The Forks Over Knives Diet is high-carb, low-fat. The Primal Diet limits carbohydrates by cutting out whole grains and legumes, which contain “anti-nutrients” like lectins. Primal is not carbohydrate-free, however, as it includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. To make up for the reduced carbs and promote a feeling of fullness, healthy fats from animal and plant sources are allowed.

Fat does not have the same impact on blood glucose that carbohydrates have. Monounsaturated fats (such as olive oil) and omega-3 fats are recommended. Refined high polyunsaturated oils and chemically altered oils are not recommended because they cause oxidative damage. Adequate protein consumption is important for building and

November 2020 Forks Over Knives describes the most serious health concerns faced by Western society. repairing tissues and organs, but like the authors of Forks Over Knives, Sisson cautions about the hazards of CAFOs. However, instead of avoiding meat products altogether, Sisson recommends humanely raised, pastured, grass-fed animals.

It may surprise some that the Primal Food Pyramid base comprises vegetables and not meat. Local, pasture-raised meat and animal products are next, followed by healthy fats, and then “moderation” foods such as fruits, starchy vegetables, and high-fat dairy. The top of the pyramid includes herbs, spices, and supplements.

Sisson recommends a few supplements because of the challenges of modern life, but admits that a dedication to healthful choices and effective stress management may be enough. Sisson suggests a multivitamin/mineral supplement, omega-3 fish oil, probiotics, prebiotics, a protein powder supplement (as a substitute for processed carbs at snack time), and vitamin D (if it’s difficult to get sun exposure).

What the Two Diets Have in Common Both books recommend eliminating highly processed foods containing a lot of manmade additives and eating more whole fruits and vegetables. Both acknowledge the hazards of eating animal products from factory-farmed animals. Consuming fewer toxins reduces risk of cancer. In addition, by reducing the amount of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods, a healthier weight is maintained with less risk for diseases such as type II diabetes and heart disease. Finally, both books include several examples of individual success stories—and are unquestionably a vast improvement over the Standard American Diet.

HWFC does not provide medical advice.

Please check with a health care practitioner before treating any condition. See page 10 for all policies and full disclaimer.

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

November 2020

Q &A Q: Many sale items ring up full price.

A: Sometimes there are glitches in our P.O.S. [point of sale system]. We do our best to fix them as we become aware of them.

Q: The containers used at times in both Deli & Produce that have the tear off zipper ARE NOT USER FRIENDLY *!!!!!* for those of us w/arthritis &/or weaker hands. REQUIRE A KNIFE TO PRY OPEN!

A: Our tamper-evident containers are the industry standard for certain items such as cut fruit. We had to sub those containers for deli items as our usual was unavailable. We hope to return to containers that are easier to use.

Q: Relocate the [credit] card readers, either lower the shelf or pivot the shelf?

A: We’ll take steps to improve the accessibility of the card readers.

Q: I’d like to see the Russian spice tea bags back. Miss them! Was it the Choice brand?

A: It looks like the Russian Caravan flavor of Choice Tea has been discontinued by our distributor.

CHILL on the

DILL

Q: Chill on the Dill. Dill in Vietnamese noodles?

No. Just No. A: They sell very well.

We’re surprised to hear that we use too much dill. This is our first time hearing this.

Q: [Can you carry a] flour with a base made from cauliflower or other vegetable?

A: We do carry crackers, chips, and puffs by From the Ground Up. We also have cauliflower pizza crusts in the frozen aisle. We’ll keep an eye out for shelf stable vegetable flours becoming available.

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Honest Slate

from the Suggestion Box Q: Do we have enough produce cullers? 1) Green, red and white conventional potatoes, some mushy & growing. 2) [10/4] Sellby local maitake [mushrooms] 3) Moldy bulk carrots—very obvious! Maybe more?

A: We do cull on a regular basis. Thank you for bringing these items to our attention.

We donate to a variety of local charities.

Q: Run Wild makes the best non-alcohol beer. It’s only here intermittently. It would be great if it were stocked consistently.

Thanks.

A: We try to keep Run Wild in stock. Beer is not consistently available especially for unique items.

Q: Could you please look into getting (Goli) Apple Cider Vinegar Gummy?

A: We have ordered an apple cider vinegar gummy by Trace Minerals. Thanks for letting us know about the one by Goli. We can special order the Goli gummies through our Wellness Department.

Q: Michelle—cashier—is awesome. I forgot my wallet and she took care of me—the people here ALL so nice!!!

A: Thanks for letting us know about your good experience. We agree that Michelle is terrific. We think you’re nice too.

able. One container had a huge bunch of plain spinach not mixed in.

However, other times, they’ve been great.

The huge chunks and unmixed spinach are off-putting. Dips don’t taste as good because they aren’t balanced.

A: We apologize for the inconsistency at times in those dips. We will work on maintaining proper consistency.

Editors’ note: Once again, the Suggestion Box receives many queries about product delivery disrupted by COVID-19.

We assure readers that requests for nosalt varieties, canned soups, pumpkin, etc., do not go unheeded.

Shoppers are reminded that because the entire planet is currently undergoing an epic pandemic, it’s likely that distribution supply for some of Honest Weight’s products will continue to be adversely affected.

Spotted recently in Bulk:

Q: Please bring back Forager Project chips.

A: We have received 3 varieties of Forager Project chips as well as 3 varieties of Forager Project cereals and they are now stocked on our shelves.

Q: Can the Co-op carry Psilocybe Cubensis mushroom spores for “scientific research purposes only”?

A: No, we do not have a source for Psilocybe spores. Due to legal concerns, we prefer not to pursue one.

Q: I eat the vegan crab dip and spinach/ artichoke dip a lot. They are not consistent. The chunks of jackfruit in the crab dip were huge last time. The spinach dip one time had a piece of artichoke so big, it was literally ¼ of the contents. This time, the artichokes weren’t as big, but still size-

Q: I’d love to be able to find my preferred bread varieties more consistently. As a GF customer, I rely on Sami’s brand. Recently I discovered their “Low-Carb” GF bread on your shelves (and love it!) but have not seen it since. Is the pandemic affecting delivery?

Other Sami’s kinds are still there!

A: Please rest assured that we’re receiving Sami’s GF bread on Fridays. It is popular and moves quickly.

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

8

Honest Slate

?

November 2020

The Truth ABout Plastic Recycling Recapping a recent public radio/television investigation

On Sept. 11, 2020, a major exposé broadcast on NPR’s Planet Money and PBS’s Frontline revealed a decades-long scheme

by Big Oil to convince the public that plastic was not a problem alleging that most of it could and would be recycled. In fact, according to US EPA data, less than 10 percent of all plastics has ever been recycled.

In 2017, landfills accumulated 26.8 million tons of plastic, accounting for 19.2% of all municipal solid waste received.

To investigate corporate deception, NPR and PBS reporters reviewed internal industry documents donated to university archives by former executives and interviewed former industry officials.

The story begins with a crisis, but it wasn’t an environmental crisis that got the attention of the major oil corporations. Instead it was an image problem that executives feared would threaten their bottom line.

As plastics in our everyday lives became more and more ubiquitous, some became increasingly alarmed about what happened to discarded plastic; environmental groups and elected officials worked to regulate the industry.

Executives from large oil companies fought back with a major public relations campaign. In the 1990s, companies including Exxon, Chevron, Dow, and DuPont ran a $50 million annual ad campaign touting the wonders of plastic and telling consumers to recycle it.

Repeat a message often enough and people internalize it as the truth.

This PR cost was a drop in the bucket for an industry currently making $400 billion annually from new plastic production.

All the while, the industry apparently knew from internal reports that wide-scale recycling of the amount and types of plastic it was producing was unlikely. Not only is plastic recycling cost-prohibitive but the very nature of plastic makes recycling it impractical, perhaps even unfeasible. Ac-

cording to a 1973 scientific report commissioned by the oil industry, NPR reported that “a degradation of resin properties and performance occurs during the initial fabrication, through aging, and in any reclamation process.”

Reasons why plastic isn’t recycled: •Collecting and sorting used plastic containers is expensive, especially given the proliferation of different types of plastic; and these different types cannot be melted down together, which is the first step in the recycling process.

•Reprocessing used plastic to make recycled plastic degrades quality, preventing plastic from being recycled more than once or twice. Metal, on the other hand, can be recycled repeatedly.

•Making new plastic is almost always less expensive than recycling plastic.

Larry Thomas, a former president of the Society of the Plastics Industry, a powerful DC trade group now known as the Plastics Industry Association, explained to NPR that the oil industry undertook the PR campaign because “if the public thinks that recycling is working, then they are not going to be as concerned about the environment.”

Lew Freeman, a former colleague of Thomas’s, expanded on the statement, telling NPR that this “advertising was motivated first and foremost by legislation and other initiatives...being introduced in state legislatures and sometimes in Congress to ban or curb the use of plastics because of its performance in the waste stream.”

These plastic-promoting commercials had a dampening effect on recycling. The exposé reported how the PR campaign affected one small San Diego recycling facility in the early 1990s. Customers of a recycling business owned by Coy Smith saw ads and asked to recycle plastic, so Smith found a market and began accept-

by Tracy Frisch, Environment Committee ing soda bottles and milk jugs. That was manageable, even though Smith lost money on these items, because he was able to subsidize his losses by selling paper, aluminum, and steel for recycling.

When the industry started stamping the triangular arrow logo on the bottom of containers to signify recyclability, Smith’s customers responded by placing all kinds of plastic containers in their bins. They wanted to recycle and thought they were helping.

Instead, they were filling their bins with contaminated materials that could not be recycled and that, in effect, constituted trash to be disposed of.

Ever wonder why that

universal recycling symbol appears on most plastic? It is the result of the plastic industry’s lobbying effort in nearly 40 states to mandate the symbol on all plastic.

It sought to make all plastic seem recyclable.

According to NPR, a 1993 Society of the Plastics Industry report informed trade group officials that the symbol was being misused.

Such greenwashing continues to this day.

[Editors’ note: Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company’s products are more environmentally sound.]

The oil industry didn’t seek to influence the public—and public officials—only by running feel-good commercials about plastic.

It also funded projects to create the illusion that plastic recycling was ongoing. NPR investigators learned what happened to 10 or 11 projects that the industry began publicizing in 1989. Not one of these initiatives survived past the mid-1990s. A plan to recycle plastic in all national parks (now numbering over 420) was implemented in just 7 parks before it was discontinued. Other such projects lasted only a couple of years. These attempts to promote plastic recycling faltered because they didn’t make economic sense; yet this lesson had no effect on industry messaging. 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

November 2020

Honest Slate

Discovering Black Gold Making the Most of Compost

by Lynn Huntington Even after a hard frost you can capture every bit of goodness that your garden still has to offer through composting. Composting will give you a healthy start to future gardens and keep all of your spent plants out of the landfill.

There are many different ways to create a compost pile, from simple to elaborate.

Several methods are at work In our household gardens, but we favor simplicity. We have the space to just make a pile at the edge of the property and add to it. In a perfect scenario the pile should be turned to help generate the heat needed to break down weed seeds. We have never had the time to devote to that task so we just have a very large layer cake of compost and time does the rest…compost happens.

The pile is made up of leaves, grass clippings, vegetable kitchen scraps, coffee grinds, tea bags, weeds, and spent plants.

When we add kitchen scraps we toss some grass clippings, leaves, or snow on top depending on the time of year. The pile you make should be at least three feet tall and

plastic Recycling

BIG

continued from page 8

OIL

Big Oil is currently amidst a major investment binge to expand its plastic production capacity. As consumer demand for oil continues to decrease, the industry is seeking profits elsewhere. New chemical plants are being constructed to make plastic. But the oil industry is bringing back its discredited playbook, claiming that it will do better this time around now that we have new technologies and a greater ability to recycle all that plastic. New advertising has begun to air. Will we buy their claims anew?

Larry Thomas, the former plastic industry executive, knows better. “Nobody that is producing a virgin product wants something

three feet wide and should include green things like grass, weeds and garden plants, and some brown things such as leaves or straw. You can even add a little soil if you are digging for a new plant or tree.

Summer squash vines sprout from the author’s compost pile.

Other methods include wire bins, compost tumblers (see top left photo), and even worm composting (vermiculture) inside the house. We use all of these methods plus a bin made from recycled tires that sits right inside one of the gardens.

Compost should not smell or draw animals.

If the pile does create an unpleasant odor, the best remedy is to add more brown material like leaves or straw and give it more air by inserting a hollow tube into the pile.

Be sure not to add meat or dairy to your pile, as these can create bad odors and possibly draw animals to the pile. to come along that is going to replace it, “ he told NPR reporters. “Produce more virgin material—that’s their business.”

For more information, or to become active, visit https://beyondplastics.org.

Implications for customers: I. As a shopper, be mindful about purchas-

9 When you add that rich brown compost to your future gardens you are adding micronutrients, developing soil fertility, improving soil structure, and increasing water retention. My earliest garden mentor told me to feed the soil and then let the soil feed the plants.

Convinced? When you’re ready to start, a bale of straw and all of the plants and leaves coming out of your garden are all you will need to begin, and then you can add kitchen scraps as they are available.

In addition to adding about 15 yards of compost to all our gardens this year, we had an added benefit. We were unable to purchase the seed for a favorite summer squash this year and our saved seed failed, but our compost pile provided a bounty of Zucchino rampicante!

Zucchino Rampicante Squash

A leisurely collapsing of the thing into its possibilities— both bean and hollyhock, potato, zinnia, squash! the opulence of everything that rots.

—from “Compost: An Ode” by Andrew Hudgins

“The very nature of plastic makes recycling impractical, perhaps even unfeasible.”

3. For products that you believe may be questionably packaged by a vendor, contact that company directly and explain that you will not buy its product when packaged in a plastic container.

ing products packaged in plastic containers. In some cases, you have a choice. (For instance, you can buy nut butters and coconut oil in either glass or plastic jars. You can bring in glass jars from home to buy nuts and trail mix in bulk or you can buy them prepackaged by Honest Weight.)

4. Bring your own washed and sanitized

2. To voice concerns about products pack-

Committee will turn its attention to packaging at Honest Weight Food Co-op. If you want to get involved, contact EnvironmentComm@honestweight.coop. You can read the full NPR article here.

aged at the Co-op, contact the department manager via the Contact tab on the HWFC website or submit comments to the HWFC Suggestion Box at the Service Desk.

glass or metal containers for shopping in the Bulk Department. Don’t forget to stop at the Service Desk to get each one weighed so you have the tare [net container weight] for checkout.

5. In the coming months, the Environment

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

10 Board decisions The HWFC Board of Directors approved the following decisions at the 6 pm November 10 Board Meeting: •Member-Owners investing time on the floor or in admin from Nov. 10 until the next meeting of the Board of Directors will receive one-and-a-half (1.5) hours for each hour of time invested.

•Until the next meeting of the Board of Directors, Employees who are not absent due to COVID-19 related reasons may access sick time accruals without the need to supply a doctor’s note other than for compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

•Extend until the next meeting of the Board of Directors the suspension of the one-year service requirement and the requirement for a doctor’s note for those with a personal illness to use the Leave Transfer Bank Policy, with the modification that FFCRA eligible Employees are not eligible for the Leave Transfer Policy.

•On-site Committee meetings are suspended until the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

•Human Resources Director job title has been changed to Director of Talent Management, Diversity & Inclusion and the job description updated accordingly.

•The 10-in-10 Incentive Program for Member-Owners was instituted for the 2020 Holiday Season.

Save the Dates HWFC Membership Meeting Dates

2021 Membership Meeting dates: • January 31

• April 25 • May 23 • November 24

Dear Members and Staff of Honest Weight, I am very grateful for the care, concern, and thoughtfulness that you have shown me since Rita passed.

Thank you to the Membership Committee for leaving her death notice up all of these months. It has meant so much to see her picture on our bulletin board. The Co-op Community has been an important part of our life. This is a community where we share values and hopes for one another.

Where we were challenged to find common ground and deal with differences from which we grew as a couple.

I had hoped to have a Memorial for Rita this past summer but was unable to do so because of the risk involved. I am hopeful that next summer, sometime in July, I will be able to plan a gathering and will post a notice here.

Kindest regards, Chris Colarusso

Novem B er 2O2O Submissions Policy: Editors & Contributors: Susan Andrews Deanna Beyer David Bulnes Yevette Buddeau Joyce Chicoine Stephanie Conde Erin Donahue

November 2020

Honest Slate

Elisa Grimm Lynn Huntington Don Kennison Alex Mytelka Carol Ostrow Janet Sorell Tyler Varese

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.

• Items are edited for length, grammar, and style.

We may consider unsolicited material but encourage individuals to submit ideas first.

Letters to the Editors do not require preapproval.

Contact honestslate@honestweight.coop with questions, comments, or article suggestions.

Board Zoom meetings are first Tuesdays at 6 pm.

Log in online or by dialing 1-646-558-8656, then enter Meeting ID#: 893 5590 4979

Attention: Member-Owners 1.5 time credit for every hour invested on Co-op property will continue until the Dec. 1 Board meeting.

To donate hours to the Member-Owner hours bank, or to request a donation due to COVID-19 hardship, reach out to Yevette at memberservices@honestweight.coop.

WE Owe YOU

The Co-op has money waiting for a number of individuals whom we cannot locate. If you or anyone you know appears on the following list, the Finance Department urges you to contact the Co-op at your earliest convenience: finance@honestweight.coop.

Gillian Eastwood Eva Foitzik Timothy J. Cowper Maria Kuhsel Oliver Holecek

Stephen Dornbush Hank Adams Laurel Holden Mark Pranys Nishi Beharry

Lily Ringler Joseph Gietl Kimberly Truitt Elias Saifan

Statement of Purpose: Honest Slate is a platform for HWFC Membership, Staff, Management, and Governance: promoting transparency, reporting news without bias, and sustaining community.

Honest Slate articles are for informational purposes and are not intended to diagnose or treat disease. Opinions expressed in Honest Slate do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Honest Slate or Honest Weight Food Co-op.

All contents ©2020 Honest Weight Food Co-op; no material appearing in Honest Slate may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of HWFC.

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

November 2020

Honest Slate

COMMITTEE C O R N E R NovemBer 2O2O

by Stephanie Conde

Elections and Nominations Committee (ENC) •Discussed Board meeting date change; GRC to ask Board about handling MO questions during virtual June Membership Meeting (MM). All GRC election nominees (including from floor) may be asked to respond to MO questions. If none, suggested asking floor nominees questions appearing on nomination form to align with earlier nominee responses; or have them address questions in opening statements.

•Confirmed GRC election paper ballots finalized, shared with BLP, NEC, and MOC. Suggested improvements for next election: sending final, official documents (e.g., ballots) from ElectionsComm@honestweight. coop (not personal email) to impacted committees, MOC, and Board Administrator.

•Electronic ballot prep can be completed closer to MM; unneeded ahead of time. ENC to encourage MOs to ask candidates questions at scheduled Meet the Candidates (MTC) sessions. If questions do not fill designated hour, moderator will ask questions.

•Floor nominations: If no questions posed (and GRC doesn’t ask questions), ENC will be prepared to ask floor candidates questions from nomination form.

Nutrition and Education Committee (NEC) • Finalized Meat and Poultry language with minor changes Oct. 5. Obtained valuable feedback; more discussion planned. Hosted informational sessions on new updates Oct. 20, 21; Honest Slate published article explaining reasons behind changes in October.

•Food for Thought column: November Honest Slate will publish article comparing two books (Forks over Knives, promoting whole food, plant-based diet; and The Primal Blueprint, advocating ancestral type nutrition and lifestyle as most beneficial to health).

•Cooperation with Environment Committee (EC). EC suggested committees cooperate on overlapping issues (e.g., packaging concerns and guidelines). Requested Board’s permission to add to NEC work plan.

Personnel Committee (PC) •Approved Employee Manual legal updates.

•Requested BOD advise on how PC should implement changes to Employee Manual once Board approves policy? Include process explanation?

Antiracism Committee •Set goal to ready work plan by Dec. 2020.

Environment Committee (EC) •EC’s Community Solar initiative is in full swing! HWFC Marketing (working with EC) began informing Co-op membership of solar developments, providing signup opportunity. EC member shared photos of construction underway at Castleton worksite. Grateful to EC members dedicated to bringing this opportunity to the fore.

•Developed framework for Zero Waste educational presentation (to be offered to membership and Staff via live Zoom call and prepared PowerPoint). Hope to have

by Jan. 2021.

•Discussed Food and Product Manual (FPM) packaging guidelines with NEC; NEC interested in collaboration.

•EC member wrote Honest Slate article on plastic recycling (or lack thereof) as highlighted in NPR investigation.

•Working with (CCO) Rick and (CFO) Erin on utility bill analysis and termination (or expiration) of Direct Energy contract and subsequent plans.

•Providing feedback and information on store HVAC systems; offer continuing support on air filtration issues, best practices.

Communications Committee (CC) •Welcomed new writers/members.

•QA suggestion box feature: Due to many repeated requests and comments, now include statement re pandemic interrupting supply chain, affecting some delivery.

•December calendar places publishing very early in the month so all regular contributors are asked to submit articles early (by Nov. 21 instead of the usual 25th date).

Sharpen your pencils! Honest Slate copy for December is due November 21.

11 A summary of preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors for their 6 pm Nov. 10, 2020, Board meeting. See Board meeting packet for details. Full Board-approved committee reports are posted on HWFC’s website.

Sales and Fiscal Performance (for 3 mos. ending Sept. 30, 2020) •Ordinary Income increased $84,924 or 57% to $233,723 vs. $148,799 last year ($170,010 over budgeted amount of $63,914).

•Net Income increased $95,864 from $31,007 to $126,871 ($139,561 over budgeted loss of $12,690).

•Costs of Goods were up $184,229 or 4.6% at $4,157,421 vs. $3,973,192 last year (under budgeted $4,189,396 by $31,975 or 0.7%).

•Overall Gross Profit was down $18,329 or 0.65% at $2,786,846 vs. $2,802,175 last year (under budgeted $2,799,693 by $15,848 or 0.6%). Gross Margin was 40.11% vs. 41% last year (over budgeted 40%).

•Total Expenses were down $103,254 or 3.89% from $2,653,376 to $2,550,122 (under budgeted $2,735,980 by $185,860 or 7%).

•EBITDA increased by $22,475 to $320,610 v. $298,135 last year (over budgeted $149,134 by $171,475).

Membership Committee (MC) •Orientations: Online platform continues to work well. Researching cooperative service model to replace previous customer service video.

•Membership Engagement via Book Discussion: Bi-monthly Zoom pilot program to begin January 2021. First book: Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants. Initial article to get word out in November Honest Slate. [see page 4]. Open to entire Co-op community.

Ordering six copies to loan to participants.

•Phone MO Outreach. Calling MOs who invested time in-store between September and March but not since COVID. MOs encouraged, needed in-store (if able and comfortable). Inform of COVID protocol, current 1.5 hour policy, departments in greatest need. 200 calls completed or in the works.

•MO Manual Revision—Accountability. Included proposed revision for January MM vote in Board report. Article done for Nov. Honest Slate with proposed revision and 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

12

Honest Slate

Co-opportunities: mEMBER-oWNER

by Yevette Buddeau,

Member-Owner Coordinator (MOC) On the horizon we see the end of 2020 and in the distance between here and there we get to contemplate the substance of both the current and next years. It’s a doozie of a contemplation, right? Amongst all of the ups, downs, twists and turns, I have gratitude for the ability to be still in the contemplation. My wish for you is that gratitude may sit with you at times as we keep moving through the last few weeks of 2020.

Thanks to all who helped out with and attended the Membership Meeting on Oct. 25. It was a huge success! We are already planning for the January meeting and the Bylaws and Member-Owner Manual revisions to be proposed. Please attend one of the advertised feedback sessions to find out more and voice your feedback. Proposals are expected to be finalized for the December Board of Directors meeting, so November feedback sessions are the time to get any last feedback considered.

In October we lost one of our cashiers, Frank Tuttle. Frank’s last shifts were in September and his health declined rapidly; he passed peacefully on October 19. See his obituary here. We will miss Frank’s charm and reli-

COMMITTEE C O R N E R continued from page 11

opportunities for MO input. Zoom feedback sessions scheduled Sat., Nov. 14 (12–1pm) and Wed. Nov. 18 (7–8pm). Will ask Department Managers, Front End, All Staff for feedback. MC to revise and re-propose in December for January MM. •MO Manual Revisions—Anti-Harassment Policy, Trainings. Reviewed proposed revisions from January MM (previously invalidated due to ballot errors). Included proposed revisions for vote at January MM in report to Board. Is aware of Ad Hoc Committee’s footwork on Anti-Harassment Policy; prepared to revise if necessary for resubmittal to Board in December for January vote.

•MO Scholarship Proposal. Discussed new MO’s inquiry. Responded encouragingly that more specifics needed before moving forward.

Announcements

ability on Register 10 and our condolences go out to family, friends, and loved ones during this very hard time. To announce the passing of Member-Owners, please email memberservices@honestweight.coop.

Obituaries may also be posted on the Membership bulletin board at the store exit and will remain posted for 90 days.

Highlighted opportunities for time investments this month include: price checkers/shelf tag printers (StephenQ@honestweight.coop), outdoor counters/cart cleaners (DanH@honestweight.coop), and musicians with recording capabilities (Avery.hwfc@gmail.com). For complete details, see our Member-Owner Opportunities page on the website.

Don’t forget to schedule your shifts early for the 10-in-10 incentive! MOs who invest 10 hours in the store in the 10 days leading up to Thanksgiving will be entered into a drawing for one of three $50 HWFC gift cards [see p. 6]. The Co-op could use the help in the days leading up to our busiest holidays. Safety is important, so please watch for future incentives if the timing of this one is not right for you.

•Requested Board include these items for vote at January MM regarding MO Manual changes: Accountability, inclusion of AntiHarassment Policy, Trainings.

Governance Review Council (GRC) •Accepted its own Sept. 2020 minutes.

•Jim will continue to document historical records as a time investment.

•Shared September Board meeting info.

•Saul will share Proposed Bylaws Changes with Bylaws Panel: 461.1 •Discussed GRC coverage for Meet the Candidates sessions and vote count.

•Next meeting 7pm Mon., Nov. 16 (Zoom).

Honest Arts Committee (HAC) Planning 3 virtual shows: Renewal, Black Lives Matter, and Feast or Famine. Will invite previous artists to display their work in-store until regular exhibits are restored.

November 2020 Interested in joining Honest Weight Food Co-op’s Team as an Employee?

Check out our Employment Page.

Get to know the details of the Co-op you own! Are there things you think Owners need clarity on? Send ideas to memberservices@honestweight.coop and we’ll put out info to promote clarity around HWFC’s structure and processes.

For example, do you know that we have senior Owners and senior non-Owners at the Co-op? Anyone aged 65 years or more is eligible as a senior at the Co-op. We offer a senior discount of 5% every day and 8% on Wednesdays for senior Owners, plus the additional discount of 5% off local program items. If you are an Owner at the Co-op aged 65 or more, you should be getting 5% (or 8% Wednesdays) off of your purchases. Please stop by the service desk or email memberservices@honestweight.coop to update your account, if necessary. No need for a new application or a new card, we just update the account with your new senior status. Our senior non-Owners do need to fill out an application to receive a discount of 2% every day or 8% Wednesdays, with no opportunity to invest time, vote, or receive the 5% additional local program discount. Good to know!

Shoppers can order turkeys from HWFC until Mon. Nov. 16. See our flyer for fresh, local, healthy options!

Bylaws Panel (BLP) Finalized language as per Board requests regarding ENC responsibilities in Bylaws Sections 461, 420.3(a), and 420.4. Planned remote information sessions for feedback on all proposed language, scheduled Nov. 15 and 17.

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