Honest Weight Food Co-op
BYLAWS 

Approved January 28, 2018
Honest Weight Food Co-op Bylaws v.1.28.18
BYLAWS OF THE HONEST WEIGHT FOOD COOPERATIVE, INC. Bylaws adopted April 1980; Fully revised Bylaws adopted June 2003; Amended, June 2005; Amended, January 2009 Amended, April 2009 Amended, April 2010 Amended, April 2015 Amended, October 2016 Amended, January 2018

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Table of Contents 50
Name
5
100
Purposes of HWFC
5
120
Objective of Bylaws
6
150
Food and Product Policy
7
240
Definitions
8
260
Owner Information
8
280
Owner Benefits
9
300
Membership
9
310
Member-Owner Responsibilities
11
320
Member-Owner Benefits
11
330
Membership Rights
12
340
Decisions by Referenda and at Meetings
14
341
Referenda
14
342
Regular Membership Meetings
16
343
Special Membership Meetings
19
343.6
Notice for Special Membership Meetings
21
400
Board of Directors
22
410
Terms and Election
22
415
Removal of a Board Member for Cause
25
430
Review of Board Actions by Membership
29
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440
Board Meetings
30
450
Officers
31
451
Election
31
452
Executive Committee
31
453
Duties of the President
32
454
Duties of the Vice-President
32
455
Duties of the Secretary
33
456
Duties of the Treasurer
34
460
Standing Committees of the Board
35
461
Elections and Nominations Committee
35
462
Finance Committee
36
463
Membership Committee
37
464
Personnel Committee
37
465
Nutrition and Education Committee
38
466
Communications Committee
38
470
Governance Review Council
39
471
Bylaws Panel
44
500
Management
47
501
Staff
47
600
Amendment and Repeal
48
Mission Statement
49
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50 50
Name The name of this organization is the Honest Weight Food Cooperative, Inc. (HWFC)
100
Purposes of HWFC
100
The purposes for which HWFC was formed are:
100.1
To provide food products, family products, and other household products and personal supplies for its Owners, Member-Owners, their families, or guests as authorized under Article 2 of the Cooperative Corporations Law of New York State.
100.2
To perform services connected to the purchase, storing, distribution, and selling of food products with priority given to unprocessed, organic, nonGMO, locally produced food in order to supply such food products at low cost to interested persons in the community;
100.3
To provide a forum for health and nutrition education;
100.4
To support local, small-scale farming and local producers through our purchasing practices;
100.5
To encourage sound ecological practices;
100.6
To practice and encourage fair employment policies;
100.7
To promote cooperatives as viable economic alternatives;
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100.8
To provide additional services and support to progressive community projects when feasible and appropriate;
100.9
To bring people together through cooperative action; and
100.10
To allow Member-Owners an opportunity to contribute talents and abilities in a cooperative effort.
120
Objective of Bylaws
120
The objective of these Bylaws is to emphasize that the health and welfare of HWFC depends on a working cooperative relationship among the Membership (with active participation on committees and other governance entities and final approval of all policies), the Board of Directors (with corporate fiduciary and policy development obligations), and Management and Staff (with responsibility for day-to-day store operations). It is the intent of the Bylaws to balance the rights and responsibilities of each of these components of the HWFC community. The Bylaws are especially intended to encourage participation in the governance of HWFC. Trust and respect are foundational principles of HWFC and these Bylaws.
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150
Food and Product Policy
150.1
HWFC is committed to providing the most nutritious food obtainable at the lowest price and to educating the community about nutrition and health.
150.2
HWFC shall prioritize for sale in the store locally produced, unprocessed, whole organic, nonGMO foods and other products. Preference shall be given to food and other products that are produced in environmentally sound and socially responsible ways.
150.3
Priority shall be given to ordering, displaying, and selling food in bulk to protect our environment from excessive packaging and to conserve natural resources.
150.4
HWFC shall maintain a Food and Product Manual that contains an explanation of the guidelines used for product sold at HWFC and reasons particular products are not carried.
150.5
Purchasing policies of HWFC shall be consistent with the guidelines provided in the Food and Product Manual.
150.6
Products shall be clearly labeled as specified in the Food and Product Manual.
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240
Definitions
240.1
An Owner is an individual who has purchased a membership share or a share of stock in HWFC prior to April 2016, or a “certificate of membership” (know at HWFC and hereafter referred to as a “certificate of ownership”) in HWFC after January 2018.
240.2
A Member-Owner is an Owner who is current with her/his ownership interest payments and chosen time investment at the end of the previous calendar month.
240.3
The Membership is comprised of all MemberOwners.
240.4
A certificate of ownership is an indicator of ownership in HWFC, and is equivalent to a membership share, share of stock, or certificate of membership. These terms are interchangeable at HWFC, and are commonly referred to as ownership interest.
260
Owner Information
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260.1
Any New York State resident 18 years of age or older shall be eligible to purchase a membership share or share of stock (prior to April 2016) or a certificate of membership or certificate of ownership (after January 2018).
260.2
The Board, with approval of the Membership, shall establish the price of a certificate of membership or certificate of ownership and the terms on which it may be purchased.
260.3
A membership share or share of stock (prior to April 2016) or a certificate of membership or certificate of ownership (after January 2018) may be redeemed based on the conditions in place at the time of purchase.
280
Owner Benefits
281
Each Owner is eligible to receive the relevant Owner discount. From time to time there may be extra discounts or opportunities for all Owners.
300
Membership
300.1
Share purchase, now known as certificate of ownership has been moved to “Owner Information� section 260.1.
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300.2
Certificate of ownership price has been moved to “Owner Information” section 260.2.
300.3
Time investments shall be recommended by the Board and upon approval of the Membership, shall be detailed in a Member-Owner Manual. The Board has discretion to modify time investments on a case-by-case basis.
300.4
These Bylaws permit the creation of a special household time investment, which shall be defined and explained in the Member-Owner Manual.
300.5
A Member-Owner may suspend her/his Membership at any time upon written request, as detailed in the Member-Owner Manual.
300.6
Ownership of a certificate of ownership, coupled with current payments of ownership interest and completion of a time investment, and as detailed in the Member-Owner Manual, may allow the benefit of a discount as recommended by the Board and approved by the Membership.
305
“Shareholder Benefits” section has been moved to new section 280.2 and retitled “Owner Benefits.”
305.1
Section 305.1 referring to the Building Blocks program has been repealed. The program has been terminated.
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310
Member-Owner Responsibilities
310.1
Each Member-Owner shall fulfill time investments in accordance with the MemberOwner Manual.
310.2
Each Member-Owner is expected to keep informed about and take part in HWFC activities, particularly Membership Meetings.
310.3
Each Member-Owner is expected to further the purposes of HWFC as described in Section 100 and in the HWFC Mission Statement.
310.4
A Member-Owner, like any other person, may be prohibited by Management from entering the store for engaging in unlawful conduct relating to HWFC or other violation relating to HWFC. The Member-Owner may appeal this action to the Board, which shall determine by a vote of two-thirds of all the Directors whether the conduct at issue warrants this action and/or revocation of Membership.
320
Member-Owner Benefits
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320.1
Each Member-Owner is eligible to receive the relevant Member-Owner discount, recommended by the Board and approved by the Membership, based upon the MemberOwner’s fulfillment of her/his time investment.
320.2
The Board or the Membership may establish additional benefits that are available to the Owners as a whole or to those Member-Owners who qualify for the benefit based on defined and objective criteria, such as length of service or annual hours worked.
330
Membership Rights
330.1
The Membership has ultimate authority and responsibility regarding the operation of HWFC. The Membership may delegate authority to the Board and Management. Such delegation shall be specific and all residual authority shall remain with the Membership.
330.2
Each Member-Owner had the right to vote at Membership Meeting and in the Membership Referenda, including voting for the election and/ or removal of Boad members and members of the Governance Review Council (hereafter “GRC”).
330.3
Only the Membership may vote to amend the Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation.
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330.4
Member-Owners have the right to run as candidates for election to the Board and to the Governance Review Council, except as noted in Section 410.3. A Member-Owner may not serve on both the Board and the GRC concurrently, except in the case of a Board member serving as the Board liaison to the GRC.
330.5
The Membership has final approval of:
330.5(a)
Discount policy, and may delegate product margins to our management;
330.5(b)
The nature, range and number of MemberOwner time investment opportunities in HWFC;
330.5(c)
Member-Owner Manual and Food and Product Policy Manual;
330.5(d)
Annual operating and capital budgets; and
330.5(e)
Unbudgeted cumulative major expenses that are one percent (1%) or more of the annual operating budget.
330.6
Member-Owners have the right to communicate with each other on an ongoing basis about issues relevant to HWFC. The means and method of communication shall be included in the Member-Owner Manual.
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330.7
Member-Owners have the right to petition each other and to express issues of concern to Member-Owners and Owners relating to the mission, operation or governance of HWFC. The means and methods of petitioning shall be included in the Member-Owner Manual.
340
Decisions by Referenda and at Meetings
340.1
Decisions may be made at Membership Meetings or by Referenda, except for elections and removal of Directors, amendments to the Bylaws or Certificate of Incorporation, and voluntary dissolution of HWFC, which may occur only at Membership Meetings. Decisions made at Membership Meetings and by Referenda have equal authority.
341
Referenda
341.1
A Referendum shall be held in response to a request by a petition to the Board signed by 4% of the Membership. The President of the Board shall acknowledge in writing the receipt of such petition to the Member-Owners who submitted the petition within seven days of its receipt.
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341.2
The Board may initiate a Referendum by a twothirds vote at a Board meeting provided that it does not address questions or issues already the subject of a referendum petition by MemberOwners.
341.3
The Board shall determine standing Referenda voting procedures, which shall be included in the Member-Owner Manual and may be amended from time to time. Voting procedures shall be fair and reasonable and shall ensure that matters to be voted on are explained in a clear and concise fashion.
341.4
The Board shall cause Notice for each Referendum to be posted in a prominent location in the store and, except pursuant to Section 341.5, mailed by first-class mail to all Member-Owners no later than 32 days from the date of receipt of the petition. The Referendum shall be held at least 10 days but not more than 21 days after the mailing of the Notice.
341.5
An individual Member-Owner may waive the mailing requirement for Referenda by requesting in writing on a form authorized by HWFC that she/he elects to have her/his Notices delivered at HWFC or electronically. Upon receipt of such executed form, Notices shall be delivered as requested within the time period established in Section 341.4.
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341.6
Pursuant to Section 470.2(d), Notice of a Referendum shall, at a minimum, state the dates of the Referendum, whether it was initiated by the Board or by Member-Owners, and, based upon the petition submitted to the Board, the subject matter of the Referendum and a brief summary of arguments supporting and opposing the matter.
342
Regular Membership Meetings
342.1
The Board shall schedule and conduct four Regular Membership Meetings each year: an Annual Membership Meeting in April during which elections to fill vacant Board of Director positions shall take place; a Budget Meeting in June; a Bylaws/Governance Meeting in September or October during which elections to fill vacant Governance Review Council positions shall take place and proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be considered; and one additional Membership Meeting generally in the winter.
342.2
A quorum of 10% of the Membership is required to start a meeting.
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342.3
A quorum, once established, is presumed for the remainder of the meeting, and cannot thereafter be challenged. Votes are counted on the "yea" or "nay" votes actually cast. Abstentions are not considered in the vote count.
342.4
The Board shall be responsible for setting the agenda and for conducting all Regular Membership Meetings as well as for providing Notice pursuant to Sections 342.7, 342.8, and 342.9.
342.4(a)
Member-Owners may request that the Board place specific items or issues on the formal agenda. The Board shall place an item on the agenda upon receipt of a petition that requests an item for inclusion on the agenda and that is signed by 4% of the Membership, provided that the Board receives the petition in adequate time to comply with Section 342.7. The President of the Board shall immediately acknowledge in writing the receipt of such petition.
342.4(b)
The GRC may request that the Board place any specific item or issue related to its duties and responsibilities on the formal agenda of any Regular Membership Meeting, without the need for a petition, provided that the Board receives the request in adequate time to comply with Section 342.7.
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342.5
The Annual Membership Meeting shall be held in April. It shall include the election of Directors, an annual report prepared by the Board, an auditor’s report, and such other business as may be necessary.
342.6
Member-Owners shall vote to approve the budget at the Annual Budget Meeting.
342.7
Notice for each Regular Membership Meeting shall be posted in a prominent location in the store and, except pursuant to Section 342.8, mailed by first-class mail to all Member-Owners at least 10 days but not more than 60 days earlier than the date of the meeting. For amendment of the Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation, Notices shall be mailed at least 20 days but not more than 60 days prior to the meeting.
342.8
An individual Member-Owner may waive the mailing requirement for Regular Membership Meetings pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 341.5. Upon receipt of such executed form, Notices shall be delivered as requested within the time period established in Section 342.7.
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342.9
342.9(a)
343 343.1
Pursuant to Section 470.2(d), Notice of a Regular Membership Meeting shall state the place, date, and time of the meeting. It shall also state that it is a Regular Membership Meeting as established by the Bylaws and give the purpose of the meeting, including any matters to be voted upon. In addition, the Notice shall state that prior to adjournment of the meeting a period of at least 15 minutes will be allotted for open discussion on any topic pertaining to HWFC during which time no binding vote can be taken. Member-Owners are required to conduct themselves with civility and cooperation at Membership Meetings. Standards and consequences for unacceptable behavior are specified in the Member-Owner Manual. Special Membership Meetings A Special Membership Meeting may be called by the Board, or by the Governance Review Council for the limited purposes set forth in Section 470.2(e), with the entity calling the Special Membership Meeting establishing the agenda.
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343.2
A Special Membership Meeting may also be called on request by a petition to the Board signed by at least 4% of the Membership. The petition must provide an explanation of each item to be included on the agenda of the meeting but need not provide the exact wording of the potential agenda item. The President of the Board shall immediately acknowledge in writing the receipt of such petition.
343.3
The Board shall provide such logistical support as is requested by the initiators of the meeting, including, but not limited to, the provision of meeting space and assistance with mailings and emailings for any Special Membership Meeting. The initiators shall schedule and conduct any such meeting.
343.3(a)
The Member-Owner petitioners of the Special Membership Meeting shall have full authority to draft and publish the Notice of meeting and to conduct such meeting.
343.3(b)
The Member-Owner initiators of the petition shall be responsible for the taking of, editing and final approval of the minutes of the Special Membership Meeting. The Board shall receive such minutes for filing at the next Board Meeting, and publish them to the Membership within three days of such meeting.
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343.4
A quorum of at least 10% of the Membership is required to start a meeting.
343.5
A quorum, once established, is presumed for the remainder of the meeting, and cannot thereafter be challenged. Votes are counted on the "yea" or "nay" votes actually cast. Abstentions are not considered in the vote count.
343.6
Notice for Special Membership Meeting
343.6(a)
Notice for each Special Membership Meeting shall be posted in prominent locations in the store and, except pursuant to Section 343.7, mailed by first-class mail to all Member-Owners no later than 21 days from the date of receipt of a petition. The meeting shall be held at least 10 days but not more than 21 days after the mailing of the Notice.
343.6(b)
For amendment of the Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation, Notices shall be mailed at least 20 but no more than 60 days prior to the meeting.
343.7
An individual Member-Owner may waive the mailing requirement for Special Membership Meetings pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 341.5. Upon receipt of such executed form, Notices shall be delivered as requested within the period established in Section 343.4.
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343.8
Pursuant to Section 470.2(d), Notice of a Special Membership Meeting shall state the place, date, and time of the meeting and that the Notice is being issued by or at the direction of the Member-Owner petitioners calling the meeting. It shall also give the purpose of the meeting, including any matters to be voted upon, which shall be based upon the petition submitted to the Board. In addition, the Notice shall state that prior to adjournment of the meeting a period of at least 15 minutes will be allotted for open discussion on any topic pertaining to HWFC during which time no binding vote can be taken.
343.9
A spirit of cooperation must be maintained in Special Membership Meetings as in regular Membership Meetings.
400
410 410.1
Board of Directors Terms and Election The Board shall be composed of nine Directors. Any Member-Owner is eligible for election to the Board, except as noted in Section 410.3. Elections shall take place at the Annual Meeting. To be elected to the Board, a candidate must receive a plurality of at least 25% of those voting in the election.
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410.1(a)
In the case of a tie between two or more candidates, in which the tie will interfere with the filling of a seat, all candidates involved in the tie will be notified of the results and asked if any of them wish to resign their candidacy. If no agreement can be reached between the candidates, then the following action will take place: A game of chance will decide the race – either a coin toss or drawing of straws, depending on the number of candidates involved in the tie. In the event that this scenario is necessary and if any of the candidates are not present, a member of the GRC will represent the candidate (for board elections). In the event of a tie for GRC elections, a board member will represent the candidate.
410.2
Successful candidates take office immediately upon certification of the election results. Directors’ terms shall be staggered on a rotating basis so that there are three sets of three-year terms. The Board shall seek to assign by consensus newly elected Director(s) to any partial terms. If no consensus is reached, then any partial terms shall be filled by the choices of the newly elected Directors in order of their vote total, with the Director receiving the greatest number of votes having first choice.
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410.3(a)
No Director may serve for more than six consecutive years. A Member-Owner who has served as a director for six consecutive years may serve on the Board again after a mandatory two-year hiatus during which she or he has not held a seat on the Board of Directors.
410.3(b)
No more than two employees may serve on the Board at any given time.
410.3(c)
A Member-Owner who is or becomes a supervisory employee at HWFC may not simultaneously serve on the Board.
410.4
If any vacancy on the Board occurs at any time after the election at an Annual Membership Meeting, the Board or the Membership have the option of filling the vacancy but are not obligated to do so.
410.4(a)
The Board by a two-thirds vote at a Board meeting may appoint any Member-Owner to fill a Board vacancy, as long as the Member-Owner is not ineligible to serve by virtue of Section 410.3. Such appointment shall expire at the next Annual Membership Meeting. The remainder of the term shall be filled by election as specified in Section 410.1.
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410.4(b)
The Membership may elect new Directors, with the restrictions in Section 410.3, to fill vacant positions at the next Regular or Special Membership Meeting, whichever occurs sooner. Directors so elected shall take office immediately upon certification of election results and serve for the remainder of the term. If a vacancy was filled by the Board, the Membership may replace the Board appointee at the next Regular or Special Membership Meeting, whichever occurs sooner.
415
Removal of a Board Member for Cause
415.1
Failure to attend four consecutive Board meetings, or at least three-fourths of the scheduled meetings in a year, is grounds for removal from the Board. Upon notice to the absent Director, the Board by a two-thirds vote at a Board meeting may remove that Director from the Board.
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415.2
In compliance with Section 63, or any revision, of the New York State Cooperative Corporations Law, any Member-Owner may bring charges against a Director by filing them in writing with the Secretary of the Board, together with a petition requesting removal signed by five percent of the Membership. The Membership may thereupon remove the Director by an affirmative three-fourths vote at a Regular or Special Membership Meeting held pursuant to Section 342 or 343, provided that at such meeting not less than ten percent of the entire Membership vote.
415.3
Automatic Forfeiture of a Director's position on the Board.
415.3(a)
Failure to pass the background check screening of the New York State Liquor Authority, or convictions of actions that would result in the loss of the HWFC liquor license, will result in automatic forfeiture of that Director's seat.
415.3(b)
If at any time, for any reason, any Director is no longer a Member-Owner in good standing of HWFC they will immediately forfeit their seat on the Board.
420
Responsibilities. The Board is empowered to act pursuant to Section 330.1 on behalf of the Membership in furtherance of the purposes of HWFC as set forth in these Bylaws:
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420.1
The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to protect the assets of HWFC and to ensure that HWFC conforms to applicable laws and regulations.
420.2
The Board is responsible for facilitating longrange planning and major policy decisions of the Membership by:
420.2(a)
Recommending decisions on Annual Budget, major policy decisions, and objectives to the Membership;
420.2(b)
Providing Membership access to minutes, policies, manuals, and financial reports;
420.2(c)
Publishing a monthly Membership newsletter;
420.2(d)
Encouraging Member-Owners to participate in Board committees and at Board meetings; and
420.2(e)
Implementing decisions made at Membership Meetings.
420.3
The Board is empowered to establish terms and conditions of employment, to be contained in the Employee Manual approved by the Board, provided that:
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420.3(a)
For employees who are not probationary or temporary employees or consultants, the Employee Manual shall include the concept of progressive discipline and a grievance procedure. In cases of suspension or termination for reasons regarding performance, the grievance procedure shall provide employees with the right to an impartial hearing, conducted by a neutral person or panel of neutral persons with decision-making authority to sustain, modify, or reject the suspension or termination. Exercise of this right shall not constitute waiver of any legal rights employees may have; and
420.3(b)
The Manual shall state that no employee is to be disciplined without just cause.
420.3(c)
The Board shall publish the current Employee Manual and make it accessible to MemberOwners.
420.4
The Board is empowered to create, revise or abolish any management structure and hire and dismiss senior managers. The Board is also empowered to develop job duties and responsibilities for these positions in addition to those duties and responsibilities set forth in Section 500. The Board shall perform an evaluation of senior managers on at least an annual basis.
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420.5 420.5(a)
The Board shall create full-time and part-time positions with job descriptions. The Board shall appoint and supervise a Member-Owner Coordinator to service the needs of Member-Owners.
420.6
The Board shall appoint two persons, who may be Directors or Member-Owners, to the Bylaws Panel.
420.7
If the Membership does not approve a new annual budget proposed by the Board, the Board and Management shall adhere to the previously approved annual budget and shall present the Membership with a revised annual budget within three months of the Membership’s decision.
430
Review of Board Actions by Membership
430.1
Any action taken by the Board may be referred to the Membership for approval or disapproval on request by petition for a Referendum or a Special Membership Meeting pursuant to Section 341 or 343. The petition must be filed with the Board within 45 days of any such action.
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The President of the Board shall immediately acknowledge in writing the receipt of such petition. The GRC may also call a Special Membership Meeting to submit an issue to the Membership, but without the need for a petition (section 470.2.e). 440
Board Meetings
440.1
The Board shall meet at least monthly. The time, place, and agenda of the meeting shall be posted at least one week in advance.
440.2
Any Member-Owner may attend and participate in a Board meeting, but only Directors may vote.
440.3
Five Directors shall constitute a quorum.
440.4
A request by a Member-Owner for a place on the agenda must be submitted in writing to the Board at least three days in advance of a meeting.
440.5
The Board may adopt its own rules for its meetings with the exception that no rule may contradict the Bylaws.
440.6
Formal decisions made by the Board shall be posted in the store and on the HWFC website within one week of the Board meeting.
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450
451
Officers Election
451.1
The Board shall choose a President, a VicePresident, a Secretary, and a Treasurer from among the Directors, not to include those who are also employees, to serve one-year terms as Officers at the first Board meeting following the Annual Membership Meeting.
451.2
Terms shall expire at the first meeting of the Board after the next Annual Meeting.
451.3
The Board shall choose a replacement for any Officer who resigns before her/his term expires.
452
Executive Committee
452.1
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Board.
452.2
In emergency situations only, a minimum of three members of the Executive Committee may act in the name of the Board.
452.3
The Board shall review any such action taken at its next meeting or as soon as practical.
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453
Duties of the President
453.1
The President shall be responsible for the facilitation of meetings of the Board.
453.2
The President shall ensure that there is effective communication between the Board, its committees, Management, and the Membership.
453.3
The President shall act as the liaison between the Board and Management when authorized by the Board.
453.4
The President may co-sign (with the Secretary or any other officer authorized by the Board) any contracts or other legal documents on behalf of the HWFC when authorized to do so by the Board.
453.5
The President shall chair the Executive Committee.
453.6
The President shall perform such other duties as deemed necessary by the Board.
454 454.1
Duties of the Vice-President The Vice-President shall perform the functions of the office of the President in the event of the absence or disability of the President, as determined by the Board.
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454.2
455
The Vice-President shall perform such other duties as may be delegated by the President. Duties of the Secretary
455.1
With the assistance of the GRC, which is described in Section 470, the Secretary or her/ his designee shall:
455.1(a)
Ensure that a complete and thorough record of all Board meetings, Membership Meetings, and Referenda is kept; and
455.1(b)
Maintain a current record of these Bylaws and official policies.
455.2
The Secretary shall give, or shall cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the MemberOwners and of the Board.
455.3
The Secretary or her/his designee shall ensure that full and complete records of Membership are kept.
455.4
The Secretary or her/his designee shall be responsible for maintaining the official archives of HWFC.
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456
Duties of the Treasurer
456.1
The Treasurer shall advise the Board concerning the financial condition of HWFC and related financial matters.
456.2
The Treasurer shall ensure that Management keeps HWFC books according to generally accepted accounting principles.
456.3
The Treasurer shall ensure that an annual audit or fiscal review is made.
456.4
The Treasurer shall serve as Board liaison to the Finance Committee, which is described in Section 462.
456.5
The Treasurer shall serve as the liaison on financial matters between the Board and Management.
456.6
The Treasurer shall ensure that quarterly financial reports are rendered to the Board. These reports shall be made available to the Membership. A summary of such quarterly reports accompanied by an explanatory narrative shall be made available to all Shareholders as soon as possible after being prepared.
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460
Standing Committees of the Board
460.1
The following Committees shall be standing Committees of the Board: Elections and Nominations, Finance, Membership, Personnel, Nutrition and Education, and Communications.
460.2
The Board shall recruit Member-Owners to serve on these Committees and may establish such other Committees it deems appropriate. Only Member-Owners may serve on Committees. At least one Director shall participate on each Committee and serve as the liaison between the Committee and the Board. Each Committee may select its own chair, preferably not a Board member. The authority of each Committee shall be limited to making recommendations to the Board for Board approval and/or action except as described in these Bylaws.
461
Elections and Nominations Committee
461.1
The Elections and Nominations Committee shall be responsible for recommending new Board members to fill openings as they occur and for recommending Board candidates to the Membership.
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461.2
No decision of the Elections and Nominations Committee shall preclude the right of any Member-Owner to be nominated or selfnominated at a Membership Meeting.
461.3
Best practices of the Elections and Nominations Committee shall be set forth in a written manual subject to approval by the Board.
462
Finance Committee
462.1
The Finance Committee shall advise the Board on financial matters and long range planning.
462.2
The Finance Committee shall ensure that the annual budget is prepared for approval by the Board and then submitted to the Membership for approval.
462.3
The Finance Committee shall monitor the financial performance of HWFC against the approved budget and other financial indicators and will ensure that a narrative report is prepared for the Membership on a quarterly basis.
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463
Membership Committee
463.1
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for producing and updating a Member-Owner Manual that shall be approved by the Board and submitted to the Membership for approval.
463.2
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for coordinating Membership meetings and advising the Board on Membership participation in the ongoing operation of HWFC.
463.3
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for orientation of Owners.
463.4
The Membership Committee shall appoint two Member-Owners to the Bylaws Panel who are not also members of the Board, the Governance Review Council, or Management.
464 464.1
Personnel Committee The Personnel Committee shall be responsible for producing and updating an Employee Manual to be approved by the Board. The Committee shall make a comprehensive effort to inform the Membership of the contents of the proposed Manual.
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464.2
The Personnel Committee shall advise the Board and management on personnel matters as directed by the Board.
464.3
The Personnel Committee shall be comprised of three representatives of non-management employees selected by non-management employees, three representatives of management (including up to two Human Resources staff per job descriptions) selected by management, a member of the Board of Directors selected by the Board, and three Member-Owners selected by the Board.
465
Nutrition and Education Committee
465.1
The Nutrition and Education Committee shall be responsible for providing health and nutritional information.
465.2
The Nutrition and Education Committee shall be responsible for producing and maintaining a Food and Product Manual to be approved by the Board and submitted to the Membership for final approval.
466 466.1
Communications Committee The Communications Committee shall be responsible for providing information regarding HWFC to Member-Owners, Owners, and the general public.
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466.2
The Communications Committee shall be responsible for producing a regular newsletter and for any other means of communication that may be determined by the Board.
470
Governance Review Council
470.1
Purpose: The purpose of the Governance Review Council ("GRC") is to promote good governance, which in the context of HWFC means encouraging robust democratic, cooperative processes and structures in order to facilitate fair and open decision-making at all levels of HWFC.
470.2
Responsibilities
470.2(a)
The GRC shall provide advice, support, and analysis regarding any policy or Bylaws reviewrelated matter upon the request of the Membership, the Board, a Member-Owner or group of Member-Owners, or the Management.
470.2(b)
The GRC shall assist the Board Secretary in maintaining a current record of the Bylaws and official policies of HWFC.
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470.2(c)
The GRC shall review the policies and governance procedures of the Board and Management and shall monitor the actions of the Board for consistency and adherence to those policies and procedures and these Bylaws.
470.2(d)
The GRC shall review each Notice described in Sections 341.6, 342.7, and 343.8 before it is distributed to Member-Owners to ensure that it presents the issues in accordance with the Bylaws and to determine whether or not any proposal described in the Notice would violate the Bylaws.
470.2(e)
If the GRC concludes that there has been a violation of the Bylaws by any action of the Board, Management, the Bylaws Panel, or the Membership, or that such violation is pending, then it shall promptly notify the Board and, as necessary, may call a Special Membership Meeting to submit the issue to the Membership in accordance with Section 343 but without the need for a petition as described in Section 343.2.
470.2(f)
The GRC shall appoint two people to serve on the Bylaws Panel.
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470.2(g)
If, in the process of this monitoring function, the GRC discovers a problem with the Bylaws themselves, it shall notify the Bylaws Panel, as well as the Board, Management, and the Membership Committee, of the problem and may suggest appropriate changes. The GRC may go directly to the Membership, pursuant to Section 470.2(e), if the Bylaws Panel itself fails to adhere to the Bylaws.
470.2(h)
The GRC may place on the formal agenda of any Regular Membership Meeting any issue related to its duties and responsibilities without the need for a petition as described in Section 342.4.
470.3 470.3(a)
Structure and Process Five members shall comprise the GRC. Only Member-Owners as defined in these Bylaws are eligible for election to the GRC. To be elected, a candidate must receive a plurality of at least 25% of those Member-Owners voting in the election.
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470.3(b)
The term of office shall be three years; no Member-Owner may serve on the GRC for more than six consecutive years. A Member-Owner who has served on the GRC for six consecutive years may serve on the GRC again after a mandatory one-year hiatus during which the Member-Owner has not held a seat on the GRC. Terms shall be staggered so that no more than two GRC members shall have terms ending at the same time.
470.3(c)
The GRC may appoint Member-Owners to fill vacant positions provided that they are not ineligible to serve by virtue of the term limit and hiatus provision. No more than two positions may be filled by appointment at any one time. Such appointments shall expire at the next Bylaws/Governance Membership Meeting, at which time the Membership shall elect GRC members to fill the remainder of those terms.
470.3(d)
The GRC shall select its own chair.
470.3(e)
A majority of sitting GRC members shall constitute a quorum.
470.3(f)
The GRC will generally meet monthly. The time, place, and agenda of the meeting shall be posted at least one week in advance on the HWFC Web site.
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470.3(g)
Any Member-Owner may attend and participate in a GRC meeting, but only GRC members may vote.
470.3(h)
The GRC may adopt its own standing rules for its meetings with the exception that no rule may contradict the Bylaws.
470.3(i)
Reports of GRC meetings shall be posted in the store and on HWFC's Web site within two weeks of becoming final.
470.3(j)
Failure by any GRC member to attend four consecutive GRC meetings is grounds for removal from the GRC. Upon notice to that member, the GRC by a majority vote may remove that member from the GRC.
470.3(k)
Any Member-Owner may bring charges against a GRC member by filing them in writing with the Secretary of the Board, together with a petition requesting removal signed by 4% of the Membership. The Membership may thereupon remove the GRC member by an affirmative three-fourths vote at a Regular or Special Membership Meeting held pursuant to Section 342 or 343, provided that at such meeting not less than ten percent of the entire Membership votes.
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471
Bylaws Panel
471.1
Purpose. The purpose of the Bylaws Panel (Panel) is to evaluate the merits of proposed Bylaws changes and to draft proposed amendments for consideration and possible approval by the Membership.
471.2
Responsibilities
471.2(a)
At the written request of the Board or the GRC, the Panel shall meet within 30 days after receiving such a request to discuss the merits of a proposed change to the Bylaws and, if the proposed change is deemed meritorious, the Panel shall complete its drafting of a proposed amendment for review by the Board, GRC, and Management within 90 days after having received the request.
471.2(b)
The Panel shall provide reports of its meetings to the Board, the GRC, the Membership Committee, and Management and shall arrange to make the reports available to MemberOwners. In particular, the Panel shall provide a report of its response to the Board and the GRC within 90 days following receipt of a request to evaluate the merits of a proposed Bylaws change.
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471.2(c)
The Panel shall provide to the Board, the GRC, the Membership Committee, Management, Staff, other affected committees, and MemberOwners, an opportunity for review, discussion, and revision of a proposed amendment. The Panel will consider these comments in preparation for presentation of the proposal to the Membership at a Membership Meeting, preferably the Autumn Regular Membership Meeting.
471.2(d)
In the Panel’s deliberations, it shall try to achieve consensus, but in the event that consensus is not possible it shall present to the Membership any proposed amendment, or argument for not adopting an amendment, which has the support of at least three members of the Panel.
471.3
Structure
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471.3(a)
The Panel shall consist of eight MemberOwners appointed to two-year staggered terms. The Board, the GRC, the Membership Committee, and Management shall each appoint two Member-Owners to the Panel. The Membership Committee’s appointees may not be members of the Board, the GRC, or Management whereas the other appointees have no such limitation. Appointees may be reappointed. In the event that a member cannot complete the term, another person may be appointed by the same entity that appointed the resigning member.
471.3(b)
The Panel shall select its own chair.
471.3(c)
Five Panel members shall constitute a quorum.
471.3(d)
A Director serving on the Panel shall have the responsibility of monitoring work hours of Panel members and reporting those hours for credit. If no member of the Panel is a Director, then the Panel’s Chairperson shall conduct this function.
471.3(e)
The appointees of the Board shall have responsibility for convening meetings of the Panel until a chairperson is selected and is accountable for ensuring compliance with this section of the Bylaws.
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500 500
Management Under the ultimate supervision of the Board, senior managers shall be responsible for fulfilling the purposes of HWFC and for managing store operations. In doing so, Management shall:
500.1
Make maximum use of the time investment as chosen by Member-Owners;
500.2
Prepare a monthly report for the Board that addresses financial performance, including deviations from the budget, personnel changes, and other pertinent matters; and
500.3
Ensure that all newly hired employees are educated about and oriented to the cooperative principles underlying HWFC.
500.4
Appoint two Member-Owners to the Bylaws Panel, who may be HWFC employees but not a Board Director nor a member of the GRC.
501 501.1
Staff The terms and conditions of employment shall be described in the Employee Manual. Employees who become Member-Owners have the opportunity to participate in governance of HWFC.
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501.2
Employee fringe benefits, as set forth in the Employee Manual, shall include, but are not limited to, the receipt by employees of a discount equal to that of a weekly time investment discount.
600
Amendment and Repeal
600
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.
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Mission Statement Honest Weight is a member owned and operated consumer cooperative that is committed to providing the community with affordable, high quality natural foods and products for healthy living. Our mission is to promote more equitable, participatory and ecologically sustainable ways of living. We welcome all who choose to participate in a community which embraces cooperative principles, shares resources, and creates economic fairness in an atmosphere of cooperation and respect for humanity and the earth.
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