New Book Group

4 One for the Books:

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

ally care about my local food In his 2019 book, Grocery Story: The Prom- system and the food system ise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery abroad,” Steinman, of Nelson, Giants, author Jon Steinman analyzes the British Columbia, said during current structure of the food retail sector, the visit. “The conversation its domination by corporate giants, and how became about getting local co-ops serve as an alternative that can en- food into people’s kitchens.” hance local food-based economies and provide greater food access for all. This choice struck the Membership Committee as “substantive and pertinent enough “For me,” Steinman writes in the opening to kick off the series,” said committee chair pages of Grocery Story, “reimagining our Cara Benson. With logistics pending, the food system means becoming aware of committee is announcing plans now so that when and how we react to the challenges— readers can plan ahead. to the actions of big food [industry giants that dominate our food systems]. It’s about Committee member Stephen Winters is first retracing our path prior to charting a currently in contact with the Albany Public course of action. It’s about asking whether Library to research possibilities for addior not we’ve given ourselves sufficient time tional availability of copies locally. to consider that the health of a tree or plant is almost entirely in the care and attention Where can I locate this book? we bring to its roots.” •Six copies of Grocery Story are currently on order for Honest Weight and instrucSteinman visited Honest Weight in April tions for borrowing copies will be an2019 during a months-long book tour. “I re- nounced 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.