Honest SLATE
Recap: January Membership Meeting
A hardworking governance team brought HWFC’s recent events and news into alignment as they prepped, planned, and produced January’s Regular Membership Meeting (RMM). Over 235 participants attended. “So many people are here tonight.”
• Welcome to our new HR Director, Margaret “MJ’” Naughton! MJ is a longtime shopper at the Co-op. She replaces Katie Centanni.
• Honest Weight has hired Peter Waldmann to begin as CLM on March 7. He accepted the position in mid-December.
• Dana Tomlin is no longer full time in her interim position; Shawn Mack will serve as our transitional store manager as well as Operations Manager to bridge the gap until Peter begins.
• With our Controller currently on leave, the Finance Department is working with the assistance of Capital Bookkeeping Cooperative, a small local business operated by Honest Weight Member-Owners.
Published monthly by the Communications Committee to promote transparency, report without bias, and sustain community.
feBruary
2O25 feBruary 2O25 feBruary 2O25 feBruary 2O25
“The Marketing Manager position will be filled once Peter arrives,” Shawn told Honest Slate. “The same goes for [Outreach]. Amy has programs lined up for the next few months, but we will not be taking on any new initiatives until the position is filled.”
• Bread buyer Catherine Geyser, who serves on the Nutrition and Education Committee (NEC), emphasized the uniqueness of our Food and Product Manual (FPM), reporting that when we discontinue items containing banned ingredients, “Customers get it, and they agree, and they thank us, so I’m amazed that people have not gotten upset. They have embraced it!”
“It runs in the best way we have for capitalism.”
• Grocery Manager Tom Gillespie expressed pride in customer deals and savings; Shawn explained “Super Great Deals.”
• Honest Weight participated in a Field Day promotion benefiting NATIFS (North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems), to offer training, educational workshops, and support for indigenous entrepreneurs.
Get to Know an MO: Meet Leona Kassoff
by Marilyn Paarlberg
In his famous poem “The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost imagined someone looking back at a choice made between two divergent paths, a decision that affected the rest of their life. Member-Owner Leona Kassoff made a crossroads choice years ago, not in a “yellow wood” but in St. Louis, Missouri, a decision “that has made all the difference.”
Unlike the person in Frost’s poem, though, Leona isn’t “telling it with a sigh.” Quite the opposite—she relates her story with an infectious, broad smile. “I have never regretted it,” she assures. Her decision made positive dif-
ferences in her own life and that of her family, her community, and even Honest Weight Food Co-op.
Colorado-born, Leona soaked up the scenery until she was five, when her family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. She acknowledges that her childhood impressions of Colorado were enhanced by later family visits there, but credits the state with planting the first seeds of her appreciation for environmental stewardship and focus on healthy living. Port Huron, she reminisces, had a small-town, pro-community feel, a value that has also played out in her adult life.
“Such joyous holiday shopping—well done!”
• Operational updates revealed Meat and Seafood improvements and training along with Bulk signage upgrades.
• Front End Manager Morgaen Hansen described “Two great holidays with all hands on deck,” citing a cheerful vibe throughout.
• It was requested that the Board convey information to MOs in more accessible, consistent ways ahead of meetings.
• Support was expressed for more staff to become MOs.
• Produce Manager Brendan Kelly, who has also served on the GRC, shared a document regarding annual raises
Customarily, Membership Meetings have included one block of time dedicated to open discussion. In July 2024, the Board approved having a second discussion period, to last 10' and 15', respectively.
As always, people questioned Zoom chat function rules. While chat is officially for technical issues, many customarily raise questions that enhance discussion, might otherwise have gone unanswered, and provide an opportunity for less constricted virtual dialogue.
2 Honest Slate February 2025
Get to Know an MO
continued from page 1
Leona graduated from Cornell University where she majored in economics, although, she admits, “I really loved literature.” Ithaca had a decidedly cosmopolitan, “hippy dippy” feel after small-town Port Huron, which Leona loved (think Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead). It was in Ithaca where she first learned about farmers’ markets, which continued to pique her interest in the benefits of a healthy, farm-to-table diet.
While at Cornell, Leona met her future husband, who was from Albany. They married and continued their educational pursuits here; Leona enrolled in a master’s program in Public Administration at SUNY. She completed an internship at the State Senate, where she was active in lobbying for children’s health care issues.
During that time, Leona’s husband received a one-year fellowship grant to study in St. Louis, which led them to the place where their first child was born, and where Leona’s life-changing, “two roads diverged” decision was made.
Although she had fully intended to return to her career back in Albany, having no academic or professional responsibilities in St. Louis freed her to focus on nurturing their newborn child. She looks back at that gap year as a kind of cocoon, an experience from which she emerged with the surprise realization that she wanted to continue being a stay-at-home parent.
Having made her “no regrets” decision, she and her husband returned to the Capital District forty years ago and settled in Delmar, where Leona continued to care for their young (and growing) family. In her spare time, she channeled her training and commitment to children’s health into extensive volunteer work. Her active support and involvement in community advocacy has also been modeled and passed on to her now adult children (who, she quips with delight, are also “Deadheads,” having listened to the band in utero!).
Among the many examples of her community involvement over the years, Leona was
active in a cooking committee that benefited residents of a homeless shelter. She is a member of a local CSA, an invaluable experience that cemented the importance of knowing where food comes from.
Leona’s home is the CSA pickup location, and she accepts voluntary produce donations from other members for placement in area community refrigerators. She also trains therapy dogs for school and health care settings, and loves seeing the undeniably positive results, stressing that “the science is there!”
When she isn’t serving the community, Leona enjoys live music, travel, gardening, and cooking. She especially loves the women’s book group that she and a lobbyist friend cofounded 30 years ago. “It’s not just about the books,” she warmly explains, “it’s the conversation and richness of women’s lives.”
Where does HWFC fit into this story?
Although she had never been part of a food co-op until moving to the Capital District, Leona soon became aware of HWFC from other parents in her children’s play groups.
She joined when the store was still at its original Quail Street location and remembers that there was a supervised “kids’ care” play area just inside the entrance, where shoppers could drop off their children for safe and trustworthy care while enjoying distraction-free shopping.
She became an MO early on at the Central Avenue store and began to invest time in the Cheese Department as her schedule allowed. (As others have done, she fondly remembers former Cheese Department manager Gustaf, describing him as a “Pied Piper” of cheese and food.)
hWhat drew her in to becoming an MO? “I was attracted by the discount, for sure,” she recalls, “but also because the Co-op was simply a nice place to be among good, solid, like-minded people.” That bond became especially galvanizing for Leona after Covid. She recalls feeling somewhat lost and fearful as things gradually opened up again. It was a disorienting time; reentry into some of the givens of pre-pandemic life was fraught with uncertainty. In hindsight, Leona reflected
that it was the people and atmosphere at HWFC that eased her back into public life. She appreciated how seriously the Covid protocols and precautions were observed, and simply being back with people she had come to admire and with whom she felt kinship was the boost she needed.
It was also the Co-op’s community outreach that brought her back. Leona remembers that her MO training orientation had been conducted by a founding member of HWFC, and how impressed and drawn in she was by the trainer’s enthusiastic, sometimes passionate explanations about the Co-op’s community-focused mission. Leona joined the Co-op’s Outreach Committee—a natural fit for someone with her child- and family-focused sensibilities.
Outreach activities take her to community groups, libraries, schools, summer camps, and more, where she brings the message about healthy food to adults and children. She especially loves her time spent with a class of children of immigrants, introducing them to some of the new and unfamiliar foods they might find in school cafeterias, friends’ homes, or restaurants.
Asked what she’s learned about herself during her time as an MO, Leona admits that she’s a natural take-charge sort of person, and often falls into that role in other groups and organizations. At the Co-op, she enjoys not having to organize. “There are plenty of really good managers here,” she laughs, “and I’ve discovered that’s just fine with me!”
After hearing about some efforts to which Leona has given her time and advocacy over the years, it becomes increasingly clear that who she is at heart, along with the values instilled by her life experiences and training, are lived out in pursuits that benefit not only her own family, but children and parents in the wider community in significant ways.
Would this have been possible had she taken a different road back in St. Louis? Who knows. But the one she chose clearly led to opportunities that have enriched the lives of others, and that has made all the difference for her, those around her, and the HWFC community. Thank you, Leona!
Febr uary 2025
Book Club Recap: Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
by Irene Kim
Robust attendance and lively discussion marked the first in-person meeting since the pandemic.
The book for Jan. 16’s meeting, Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, is about unplugging oneself from the “productivity treadmill” to rest and rejuvenate. About 15 people attended an energetic, passionate discussion. The subject matter resonated even with those who hadn’t read the book.
Facilitator Cara Benson explained reasons for choosing this title for the group’s first in-person meeting since the pandemic. The recent presidential election had left many folks exhausted and afraid. “I thought it was a good time not to retreat,” she stated.
She wanted a book about self-care within a the context of community, to think about self-care as a political act.
A poet and performance artist, author Tricia Hersey believes strongly in using rest to recharge our minds, bodies, and spirits and to reconnect with community. She was heavily influenced by her grandmother, Aura, who would periodically shut her eyes for about 10 minutes. Aura insisted on taking her short pause from whatever work she was doing to focus on herself and tune out the rest of the world. As a young child, Hersey understood taking this time for oneself.
Society expected Aura to work, work, work, refusing to make space for wellness. Taking a rest was a way to push back against the expectations of her employer and of society. “The world is overly dependent on exploiting the work of Black women,” Cara explained, adding that capitalism and white supremacy are two powerful interlinked systems that have spawned our ethos of working to exhaustion. Those at the pyramid’s bottom are most heavily exploited.
But everyone else in our society is exploited and exhausted, too—from the day laborer who punches a clock to the small-business owner who must wring dollars out of every second of the day. Our ethos tells us that we
are producers and to feel guilt for “wasting” our employer’s time by resting, even if we are our own boss.
Resting is a deliberate refusal to work unceasingly, mindlessly, to exhaustion. Cara pointed out that each of us is entitled to insist on taking care of ourselves, solely by dint of having been born. Rest can be an act of defiance, and it can be small, like Aura’s 10 minutes.
Some pointed out the book’s religious and spiritual point of view; Hersey, who studied theology, reveres and invokes her ancestors. One MO described empowerment as taking power for oneself, rather than having someone else grant it.
Hersey’s words conveyed messages that one participant had not heard before; as a rule, they were used to working unceasingly. Despite accomplishing something, they felt fatigued—not enriched or connected.
Rest means staying in the here & now. Some attendees related this to meditation, quietude, and long walks. One mentioned quiet time, listening to Chopin piano pieces, practicing mindfulness and focused breathing to arrive at another level of calm “at flow.” Others mentioned deliberately moving more slowly rather than rushing from one chore to the next.
Restoring rest can lead to greater creativity. Creativity is crushed by systems that treat us like quarter horses, someone suggested. Another mentioned that creativity engendered by rest led them to dreams and new solutions. Cara cautioned against seeing rest as simply a vehicle to increase productivity.
Connecting one’s own rested well-being with that of the community is also integral to practice. Being in a “grind” culture may erode an entire community’s resourcefulness. The U.S. has historically suppressed Black people’s inventiveness, forcing them to work incessantly. Some mentioned Marx’s critique of capitalism.
One shared that it was painful to learn how parts of society had victimized others. Another felt that the repeated mention of white supremacy and capitalism without doing a deeper dive into specifics was frustrating. Others disagreed; the book had become a New York Times instant bestseller and didn’t need marketing gimmicks to succeed.
Some agreed with the choice to repeat “white supremacy,” because the phrase is not said out loud frequently enough. Since the book is about systemic oppression, we should name it. At the same time, some attendees agreed that certain buzzwords tend to elicit a knee-jerk reaction.
As a performance artist, the author was likely deliberately repeating phrases as poetry, perhaps to emulate a lullaby. For one reader, it evoked evangelists’ speech patterns.
White supremacy hurts all of us because it prevents us from seeing everyone’s true worth, Cara added. The book is for everyone, not just for Black people; rather than labeling people “racist,” the author explains how racism has hamstrung our whole society.
The book calls for positive resistance to enrich individuals and society rather than a negative kind, such as stealing from one’s employer. Even if they felt justified, they might also feel shame. But rest, they said, is empowering, not belittling. Rather than feeling pessimistic or acting destructively, they can feel positive about themselves and their neighbors.
This book’s questions include: What do you feel called to do? How can you create space to heal? What needs healing? Can you unplug in smaller moments? How is your heart? What story are you telling yourself? Can you find a more liberating story? How can you create rest in this moment? Are you ready to change?
The next book selection is What if We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures, by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. Book Club will meet at the Co-op March 20 at 6pm.
By the Bylaws
Board Decision-Making: Efficiency Vs. Democracy
Welcome to the eighth installment of “By the Bylaws.” Each month, the Bylaws Panel (BLP) highlights a different section of the Bylaws. Previously, we covered the objectives of the Bylaws (May), the Food and Product Policy (June), the annual budget process (July), the responsibilities, benefits, and rights of Member-Owners (August), Referenda and Membership Meetings (September), the Governance Review Council (October), and Terms and Election Process for the Board of Directors (November). This month we are covering various ways the Bylaws authorize the Board to make decisions.
The Board oversees the Co-op’s governance and strategy, and your participation ensures that its decisions reflect our community. Those of you who have volunteered to serve as a Board director appreciate the position’s many challenges and responsibilities. An engaged director could easily invest 15 hours a week addressing the myriad issues presented by a $30 million retail business with about 200 employees and 700 Member-Owners. Honest Weight Food Co-op is guided by principles of transparency, collaboration, and accountability.
Bylaws and other governance documents obligate the Board to support open, transparent, and cooperative decision-making processes and structures. For example, Bylaw 440.7 states, in part: “Membership requires the Board to make all policy decisions at noticed open meetings at which there is an opportunity for a robust discussion between and among the Directors of the Board and meeting participants, regardless of whether the Board believes the issue is not controversial.”
Not surprisingly, democracy at HWFC is often messy and time-consuming, but there are occasions when the Board simply must have the opportunity to talk privately among themselves. Other occasions may require a quick decision.
The Bylaws attempt to balance democracy and efficiency. As Member-Owners, you play a vital role in this process, and understand-
ing how your Board of Directors operates is essential. Here’s a breakdown of key Bylaws related to Board meetings, governance, and Executive Committee, simplified for clarity.
Board Meetings: Ensuring Transparency Monthly Meetings
The Board is required to meet at least once a month in an open and noticed meeting. This means that details about the meeting (time, place, and agenda) are posted at least one week in advance, allowing everyone to stay informed and involved. (Bylaw 440.1)
Participation
All Member-Owners, Owners, and Staff are welcome to attend and participate in these meetings. However, only elected Board Directors can vote on decisions. (Bylaw 440.2)
Quorum for Decisions
For the Board to make official decisions, a quorum—more than half of the sitting Directors—must be present. If the quorum is lost during a meeting, no official business can be conducted until it is re-established. (Bylaw 440.3)
How You Can Contribute
Adding Items to the Agenda
Do you have a topic or issue you’d like the Board to address? Submit your request in writing at least three days before the meeting to have it added to the agenda. (Bylaw 440.4)
Rules and Decisions
Board Rules
The Board has flexibility to create rules for conducting meetings, as long as those rules don’t contradict the Bylaws. (Bylaw 440.5)
Sharing Decisions
Formal decisions made by the Board are posted both in the store and on the HWFC website within a week of the meeting. This keeps everyone informed about key outcomes. (Bylaw 440.6)
Decision Making Special Considerations
Acting Outside of Meetings
While most decisions must be made in open meetings, there are rare exceptions:
Meet our Bylaws Panel! Back row: Lieta Washington, Rich Beer, Saul Rigberg, Brett Robert Front row: Margaret Vorih, Cathy Holmes, Julie Cohen. Not pictured: Daniel Hoh. Photo by Steve Holmes
By the Bylaws
continued from page 4
1. Administrative tasks or process-related decisions (e.g., scheduling or agenda preparation).
2. Confidential matters, such as personnel issues, contract negotiations, or legal matters.
3. Emergency actions needed to protect the health and safety of the Co-op, its Member-Owners, Owners, or Staff.
These actions must follow specific guidelines and be recorded for transparency. Decisions made in emergencies are reviewed and voted on at the next open meeting. (Bylaws 440.7–440.8)
Private Executive Sessions
Sometimes, sensitive matters require private discussions. The Board can hold an Executive Session during an open meeting to discuss topics like legal issues, employee matters, or negotiations. A record of these sessions is kept confidential but may be disclosed if deemed necessary by unanimous Board agreement. (Bylaw 440.8(b))
Emergency Actions by the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is made up of the Board’s four Officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. This group plays a critical role in ensuring the Co-op’s operations are protected during urgent situations. By design, the Executive Committee should meet only rarely.
What is
an
Emergency?
An emergency is defined as an urgent, sudden, and serious event or an unforeseen change in circumstances that requires immediate action. This could include threats to the financial, physical, or social health of the Co-op, Member-Owners, or employees.
When Can the Executive Committee Act?
Under Bylaw 452, the Executive Committee is authorized to act on behalf of the entire Board in emergency situations when:
1. A properly noticed open Board meeting cannot be scheduled in time.
2. Immediate action is necessary to address the emergency.
The scope of these actions can include:
• Policy matters under exigent circumstances.
• Administrative or process-related issues when efforts to involve other Board directors have been unsuccessful.
Transparency and Accountability
Any actions taken by the Executive Committee must be:
1. Reported to the full Board, Membership, and staff as soon as possible, with an explanation of the decision.
2. Reviewed, discussed, and affirmed at the next open Board meeting during the “Affirmation” portion of the agenda.
If the action involves confidential matters, only the summary may be shared publicly to protect sensitive information. (Bylaws 452.2–452.3)
Officers and Leadership
The Board selects four Officers from among its Directors: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These roles are chosen annually after the April Membership
Membership Committee to Offer Series on MO Manual
Hello Honest Slate readers,
As an educational tool, the Membership Committee is beginning a series of articles that will walk us through the different sections of the Member-Owner (MO) Manual. We hope to increase awareness and comprehension of the manual’s content.
What do you find confusing in the MO Manual? If you have any specific questions or want to discuss the manual, the Membership Committee currently meets monthly on second Fridays at 10am via Zoom. We can be reached by email at MembershipComm@honestweight.coop; or always feel free to reach out to our Membership Manager, Sharon, at MemberServices@honestweight.coop
So let’s dive right in!
Here is some information about the MO Manual to get us started. Its most recent edition was produced on Jan. 31, 2021. At 34 pages long, its final two pages list the written principles adopted by the International Co-op Alliance. It is hoped that every-
Meeting. If an Officer resigns, the Board elects a replacement to serve the remainder of the term. The Officers also make up the Executive Committee, which is vital in ensuring continuity during emergencies. (Bylaws 450.1–450.3 & 452.1)
Your Role in the Process
Honest Weight Food Co-op thrives on the active participation of its Member-Owners. Whether it’s attending Board meetings, submitting agenda items, or simply staying informed, your involvement helps shape the future of our Co-op.
Have questions or want to learn more? Join us at the next noticed open meeting or visit the HWFC website for updates and resources. Together, we ensure the Co-op remains a transparent, inclusive, and thriving community!
one remembers from their orientations that we strive to follow the principles, but we do not formally participate in or pay dues to any organization on an international level.
From my understanding, the MO Manual is meant to be simpler to understand than our Bylaws. Bylaws get into the fine details of the governing structure of our cooperative, taking precedence .The two documents do not contradict each other.
Changes to the MO Manual are suggested by the Membership Committee and approved by HWFC Members at a Regular Membership Meeting (RMM).
The MO Manual comprises five sections:
1. Honest Weight Food Co-op Mission Statement and Purpose
2. Joining Honest Weight Food Co-op
3. Governing the Store We Own
4. General Co-op Policies
5. Membership Meeting Conduct
We look forward to helping serve you these fun articles each month!
Sincerely,
Sam Long, Membership Committee
Calendula
by Erin Ethier
Also known as “pot marigold,” calendula (Calendula officinalis) is my all-time favorite flower to work with. Used everywhere from folk medicine to clinical herbalism to homeopathic care, calendula is in the aster family. The entire orange or yellow flowerhead is used; it is a very resinous flower (which means that it is sticky) and that is where a big part of the medicine comes from. If you harvest some yourself, your fingers will feel tacky and sticky afterward.
The plants are annual here in the Northeast but will reseed each year. I save the seeds and plant them in new places in the spring. The flowers open in the morning with the sun and close at night as the sun sets. I like to harvest in the afternoon when I know the flowers are dry.
I typically dry the flowers and then use them to make oil. If using them fresh to make oil I prefer to cook the oil and flowers on low heat in a crockpot and then put the strained oil into the freezer. I find the fresh oil isn’t as shelf stable as when I make oil using the dried flowers. I do, however, prefer to use fresh flowers to make tinctures.
I love calendula for personal skincare. Its flavonoids and carotenoids help to prevent skin damage from UV rays. With antiinflammatory, astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties, it relieves inflammation and skin irritation, helping to keep skin hydrated. Calendula can aid in the healing process, as it relieves stagnation of fluid and inflammation, and may prevent infection and bacterial growth.
Cooling and soothing to the skin, calendula has long been used in treating cuts, burns, bites, sprains, rashes, and sunburn. It can be used for lacerations and puncture wounds too. Other herbs that blend well with calendula for wound healing are St. John’s Wort and yarrow.
Aside from wound care, herbalists use calendula for sluggish liver, GI problems such as leaky gut, food intolerances, and problems with the gallbladder, as it is believed the herb acts as a lymphagogue that can help clean the lymphatic system. As a bitter, it may also help to stimulate digestion.
What calendula does for our skin is very similar to what it can do to our GI system. Those same vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, and astringent properties may also have a positive effect on ulcers. If you are interested in using calendula for ulcers, I recommend working with an herbalist; dosing needs to be precise as its bitter properties can irritate ulcers if not used properly.
Calendula may also prove useful for the immune system when one is sick and rundown. Maybe you haven’t quite gotten over a cold and still feel off and are having a hard
Cheese & Specialty Brings A-Game To Egg Game
by Brendan Byrne
HWFC’s Cheese and Specialty Department learned in October 2024 that Feather Ridge Farm would be retiring from the egg business.
At the time, Feather Ridge supplied about 1/3 of all eggs sold in HWFC, selling 836 dozen of its large eggs in October alone; so the farm’s decision created a huge gap in egg inventory. And to make matters worse? The department had only two weeks to fill it.
Honest Slate spoke with Shelby T., our Cheese and Specialty Manager, about the recent shake-up. While HWFC had a long relationship with Feather Ridge, the farm’s owner gave scant detail on why he offered so little notice.
This wasn’t the first time the Cheese and Specialty Department has had to deal with a sudden dearth of eggs. During the bird flu out-
time bouncing back. If so, calendula can be helpful in the ridding of metabolic waste including dead cells following a sickness.
As an emmenagogue (uterine stimulant), calendula can also be used to treat stagnant or painful menses, and as such it is not recommended for internal use while pregnant. However, calendula can be used externally during pregnancy, and it is also beneficial after labor to help with any tears as it may help to soothe the mucus membrane.
You can find calendula in the Co-op’s bulk herb section as well as a variety of products containing calendula in our Wellness Department.
HWFC does not provide medical advice. Please check with a health care practitioner before treating any condition. See page 6 for all policies and full disclaimer.
break of early 2022, eggs were hard to come by. Supply chain issues complicated this shortage by making chicken feed extremely expensive. Cheese and Specialty brought its A-game to the egg game, and HWFC became one of the few grocery stores in the Capital Region that had affordable eggs or eggs at all during the outbreak.
HWFC’s Food and Product Policy complicates any search for a new egg producer. A core tenant of the HWFC ethos, the Food and Product Policy is outlined in the Co-op’s Bylaws. It prioritizes local production, environmentally and socially responsible production, and whole, organic, non-GMO food. The Co-op only sells eggs that are cage-free, humanely raised, and locally produced. As Shelby stated, “Finding like-minded companies isn’t easy, but they are out there.”
After much research, the Cheese and Specialty Department narrowed down the search to two companies: Red Gate Grocer in Ithaca and Nature’s Yoke in New Holland, PA. Red Gate, however, could not keep up with the Co-op’s demand, so Nature’s Yoke was ultimately chosen. Nature’s Yoke eggs have now filled the gap Feather Ridge left behind. Yet, as Shelby notes, bird flu is on the rise again and further shocks to egg production may be expected down the line.
SUGGESTION
BOX
Q & A Q & A
Suggestion Box answers are provided by Honest Weight managers and departments.
Q: Would it be possible to put a sign by the eggs to say that cartons can be recycled at the front desk? I would never have known if I hadn’t asked! Thank you for recycling egg cartons!
A: Thanks for the suggestion. We’ll discuss sign options with our marketing team. As a reminder, we do not take plastic or Styrofoam cartons. We’re happy to reuse the cardboard ones.
Q: Can we have small shops around town with our deli, produce, and dairy (mini coops)?
A: We appreciate your enthusiasm! For now, we will maintain our focus on this location and our ESP [Empire State Plaza] satellite location. This type of expansion is not in our foreseeable future.
Q: Could you please please please continue to carry Revolutionary Earthy Majestic Sprouted Hummus and White Mountain nonfat Bulgarian yogurt? Thank you very much in advance!!!
A: We plan on continuing to stock Revolutionary Earthy Hummus. The White Mountain nonfat Bulgarian yogurt is a very slow seller, and we will no longer stock it in the cooler. You may want to preorder cases of 6 to share with your neighbors.
Q: Please partner with the food pantry for donations at the register.
A: We partner with the food pantries throughout the year.
Q: Rawmesan [dairy- & soy-free Parmesan alternative]. Will we be getting it again?
A: It’s back! Thank you for your patience.
Q: Can we stop putting items on the shelf that say “lemongrass” 4 the last ingredient. It’s lemongrass but it’s [sometimes only] a fragrance [instead of the herb itself]. It’s very misleading and upsetting. Thank you!
A: We encourage all shoppers to make their own decisions based on the manufacturer’s labeling information.
Q: What happened to the crispy onion rings? Please restock, thank you.
Q: Please bring back the packaged frenchfried onions.
A: They are currently out of stock with all of our distributors at this time. We will keep trying to get them.
Q: I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Jaxon @ Juice and Java is THE BEST!
A: Thanks so much!
Q: Please get NYS tart cherries back in the frozen section.
A: Our Seal the Seasons cherries are no longer available. We are actively looking for a tart cherry replacement.
Q: Please make the gochujang snickerdoodle cookies chewy like they used to be? ♥ (In case near Deli.)
A: When we bring them back in the seasonal cycle, they will be as chewy as the dickens.
Q: Can we get compostable bags for produce?
A: We tried them some time ago and they failed to serve our purposes. They cost 2x as much, and because they are designed to break down, they would fail with a wet load. Customers would double up the bags and our costs are now up 4x. We are still waiting for a bag that will work here.
Q: American Express gives 6% back on groceries but not with the Co-op. Only 1%. Is there anything [our] Co-op can do to change this?
A: Credit card companies assign stores into categories. We have Wellness and Bulk departments, and they are in the “specialty store” category. That’s why they give only 1% back for purchases here. We cannot change that.
Q: The safety straps on the carts are not loose enough even for a baby. Can they be lengthened?
A: We will keep an eye out for faulty straps. The ones we saw looked fine.
Q: The new carts are perfect! Thanks for listening!
A: We’re happy to help.
Q: Please sell happy mood busting drinks!!
A: We’re changing up our Juice and Java selections and every one may lift your spirits! New coffee flavors are coming February 3!
Q: Shelby in Cheese is amazing!! So helpful !! Thank you, Shelby. ♥
A: Thank you! As a certified cheese professional, she is instrumental to our team.
Q: There are so many cheeses in the world. Can we please have more variety and someone who is familiar with them to sample?
A: Thank you for your suggestion. Did you know that our Cheese Department has over 300 varieties of cheeses? Was there one that you were looking for? If so, please contact our Cheese and Specialty manager Shelby and she will try her best to accommodate your needs or find a cheese that fits what you seek. Anything you want to know about cheese? Shelby can help! We can also sample any cut and wrapped cheeses. Please just ask and our staff can accommodate.
Honest Slate 8
Board
Decisions
During February 4, 2025’s HWFC Board of Directors meeting, the BOD:
• Affirmed the vote to assign Shawn Mack the title of Operations Manager/Transitional Store Manager January 20, 2025, through March 3, 2025. Compensation beginning on Jan. 20, 2025, and ending on March 7, 2025, will be based on an annual base salary within the HWFC CLM salary range.
• Affirmed the vote to accept the Columinate Ongoing Support contract for Dana Tomlin with the addition of a contract end date which is two weeks from the start date of the new CLM; and that an extension may be possible with mutual agreement.
• Decided to accept the Jan. 7, 2025, Board of Director Meeting minutes as presented.
• Decided to table the Beer and Alternative Beverage Buyer job description discussion to allow staff currently handling these tasks time to give input.
• Decided to table the SOP: HWFC Board Engagement of Independent Contractors agenda item and add for discussion in a Board work session, giving the Board more time to make an informed decision in the March 4, 2025, Board meeting.
COMMITTEE CORNER COMMITTEE CORNER
A summary of preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors (BOD) for its Feb. 4, 2025, meeting. See Board Meeting packet for details. Boardapproved committee reports are posted on HWFC’s website.
Our committees help us run Honest Weight. See if there is a committee for you.
by Stephanie Conde
Personnel Committee (PC)
∙ Discussed open seat on PC for Staff Representative and need for Committee Chair.
∙ Mandatory updates to Employee Manual—Lactation Policy and Prenatal Leave.
∙ Reviewing Employee Manual as a whole— cleaning up references, clarity/ease of use.
∙ Grievance procedure, peer review panel.
Finance Committee (FC)
∙ Discussed upcoming staff wage increases. Received little data before meeting and FC wasn’t able to conduct analysis. Briefly dis-
Phoning in?
To join any HWFC Zoom meeting by phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Board of Directors page: https://www.honestweight.coop/page/board-91.html
Committee meeting Zoom links: https://www.honestweight.coop/page/committee-meeting-calendar-322.html
All other HWFC meetings: https://www.honestweight.coop/page/zoomlinks-for-hwfc-related-meetings-420.html
feBruary
Contact honestslate@honestweight.coop with questions, comments, or article suggestions.
Submissions Policy
Editors & Contributors
David Bulnes
Brendan Byrne
Stephanie Conde
Erin Ethier
Elisa Grimm
Cathy Holmes
Don Kennison
Irene Kim
Sharon Lastique
Sam Long
Carol Ostrow
Marilyn Paarlberg
Anastasia Rodgers
Janet Sorell
cussed mandate for living wage but lacked data available to work with until minutes before the meeting. Considering whether we apply the NCG or MIT formulas for living wage calculations.
Nutrition & Education Committee (NEC)
∙ Discussed review of presentation at December BOD meeting.
∙ Discussed changes to Food and Product Manual (FPM), issues about Glyphosate in foods, and non-compliance process. Discussed monthly in-store tabling regarding questions about FPM.
continued on page 9
2025 Membership Meeting Dates: April 27 • June 29 • Oct. 26
Correction
January’s GRC article stated on page 2: “If someone feels Co-op Bylaws are being violated, they go to the GRC. If they want a policy created, they go to the GRC.” The second sentence should have read, “If they want a policy created, they go to the Board of Directors.”
Honest Slate is a platform for HWFC Membership, Staff, Management, and Governance: promoting transparency, reporting news without bias, and sustaining community. Statement of Purpose: for articles & contributions:
• Preferred maximum length is 800 words.
• Material is published at the discretion of the Honest Slate team.
• Only signed work is accepted. Items are edited for length, grammar, & style.
• We may consider unsolicited material but encourage submitting ideas first.
• Letters to the Editor do not require preapproval.
Honest Slate 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 ©2025 Honest Weight Food Coop; no material appearing in Honest Slate may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of HWFC.
COMMITTEE CORNER
continued from page 8
Communications Committee (CC)
∙ Reviewed material for February’s Honest Slate issue; planned March’s issue..
∙ Next copy deadline: Feb. 20.
∙ Next publishing dates: Feb. 7, March 7.
Membership Committee (MC)
∙ Discussed parental leave which has been raised recently by a couple of MOs as this may have been looked into in the past.
∙ Discussed LIME Program and Discounts. Several MC members will look into low income discount programs.
∙ Discussed survey. Drafted letter to BOD. After MC members review the letter, it will be sent to BOD.
∙ Discussed orientations. Both Zoom and in-person meetings are planned this month and filling up nicely. Two people are interested in becoming facilitators and will connect with Sharon to work out next steps.
∙ Thanks to Sharon for filling Yevette’s shoes. Expressed appreciation for many events Sharon planned. Received report (Our Epidemic of Loneliness & Isolation: The US Surgeon General’s Advisory on Healing Effects of Social Connection & Community) reinforcing the need for more activities to allow Owners to connect with each other. MC could not carry this out and hold this many in-person events without Sharon’s help. As an added benefit, bringing people into HWFC increases shopping.
∙ Discussed upcoming events including Jan. 19 Member Social. Agreed that a survey discussion could be done at one of the monthly gatherings (February or March).
∙ Discussed investment time. Lines are blurry regarding investment time for attendance at events. Help is often needed to set up, clean up, table, promote committee and Co-op, take names and emails, etc. Other times, MC members just go and socialize. If MC members are going to an event to assist and earn investment time, it would be helpful if they reach out or sign up ahead of time.
∙ Welcomed Danielle as new MC member.
Honest Slate
Governance Review Council (GRC)
∙ Appointed Brett Robert to Bylaws Panel to serve out term ending May 31, 2026.
∙ Noted correction to December 2024 BOD report: Sam Raj led December GRC meeting and Janet Sorell took minutes.
∙ Noted two items of potential interest to BOD: Conflict of Interest/Confidentiality Agreement for GRC members continued to generate discussion and a concern about the inclusion of fiduciary in the draft. Decided to request BOD Administrator ask Coop’s attorney for guidance on use of word “fiduciary” in this context.
∙ GRC accepted BLP’s suggestion to take topic of MO discounts to Membership at April RMM as well as issue of 1% budget threshold. Both discounts and budgetary thresholds are intended for Member discussion and information only.
∙ Requested BOD provide a progress report on its development of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for BOD Manual’s topic on Independent Contractors who report to BOD. GRC understands BOD has draft SOP/internal instructions and consideration of these has been on BOD’s agenda for its working meetings for a couple of months. GRC respectfully requests projected completion and implementation dates.
Bylaws Panel (BLP)
∙ Welcomed new member Brett, appointed by GRC.
∙ Discussed referrals received from GRC. Sent email response to GRC recommending policy development and Membership vote on whether MO discounts can be restricted as well as Bylaws changes for how salary changes are implemented. Discussed proposed changes to Bylaws; need better understanding of how salary increases are structured.
∙ Discussed “Meet the BLP” event scheduled Jan. 25, 10am–12pm in Community Room (included in January Honest Slate).
∙ Next topic for Honest Slate is BOD Meetings Sections 440, 450 and 462.
Elections
& Nominations Committee (ENC)
∙ Discussed BOD updates and next steps. Informed ENC of outcome of two BOD requests stemming from December committee meeting and next steps for discussion. Requested BOD support the ENC’s request
to have voting language sent to ENC at least 30 days prior to RMM. If in agreement, ENC recommends including this statement in a revision of Nominating and Voting Guide.
∙ Brainstormed ideas for BOD election publicity including guerilla marketing tactics, education/promotion through Honest Slate, through in-store networking, “pitching” at BOD and RMMs (emphasizing that a point of growth is happening at Co-op with new CLM coming), a paper and electronic “evergreen” brochure, visiting committees to see if they may suggest any candidates for BOD, etc. Discussed ways to recruit new BOD candidates. Karen advised that ENC used to do its own publicity for elections, primarily through workshops. Asked BOD for publicity support suggestions/recommendations in the absence of Marketing Manager so ENC can be more coordinated with BOD election publicity and strategy heading into 2025.
∙ Discussed BOD recruitment efforts. Specifically discussed ENC visiting committee meetings to request help finding people to run for BOD.
Environment Committee (EC)
∙ Discussed Zero Waste education. Moving forward with plan to show of “Common Ground” film (about regenerative agriculture) at Madison Theatre. Need help promoting film and getting publicity in Coop outreach materials and possibly local papers. No date is set; looking at April as possible month.
∙ EC member has been researching refrigerants and the need to comply with NYS DEC law to reduce refrigerant emissions contributing to climate change. Through North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC), HWFC may be eligible for grant funding to defray costs of necessary upgrades. EC member/engineer and energy expert has laid out steps necessary to move this work forward and has shared that work with operations and management. There may also be future funds available for retailers to modify equipment to use climate-friendly refrigerants.
∙ Subgroup on Environment/Sustainability Manual (ESM) is finalizing work on survey; once edits are made, will share with BOD liaison. New EC members are interested in working on ESM and will be oriented to the work.
10 Honest Slate
by Sharon Lastique, Membership Manager (MM) memBer-owner
Happy February!
Thanks to all who attended our January Membership Meeting; we had record level attendance with over 270 people. We shared robust discussion about the many transitions at Honest Weight. It is critical to the Co-op’s survival that we foster and maintain strong Member participation in governance. To that end, I remind you to save the date of April 27, 2025 @ 6pm on Zoom for our April quarterly Membership Meeting where we hold Board elections.
Stay tuned for more details about upcoming info sessions where candidates will have an opportunity to share why they are running for Board office. If you are interested in learning more about running for the Board, reach out to the Elections and Nominations Committee ElectionsComm@honestweight.coop
Join us every 3rd Sunday for monthly Member Socials!
Member Potluck
1–3pm · Sunday, Feb. 16 · Community Room: Join our winter potluck to break bread and engage in community-building activities.
• Sign up to cook for, eat at, or both at the potluck using the link below.
• Enjoy light refreshments and community vibes.
• Learn about time investment opportunities while making new food-loving friends!
• Members providing a dish will receive 2 investment hours! Register by Clicking Here
Questions or recommendations: MembershipAdmin@honestweight.coop
HWFC Coffeehouse Open Mic
Mon., Feb. 17, 6:30–8:30pm
HWFC’s café is filled with song, music, and readings every 3rd Monday! Coffeehouse Open Mic Night is open and free to Co-op Members and the public alike. Join us for an evening with local performers and artists in HWFC’s café. Performer sign-in starts at 6pm. All family-friendly performances are welcome!
Immediate Time Investment Opportunities
Housekeeping: commit to a weekly evening shift from 7–10pm any night of the week, clean throughout the store, support the store closing team.
KarlBraun@honestweight.coop
Meat Department: customer service, wrap meat & fish. Saturday all day and Sunday afternoons are needed.
TonyGuzek@honestweight.coop
Produce: stock, prep, and clean. Afternoons Mondays, Friday, Saturdays, Sundays. BrendanKelly@honestweight.coop
Shopper’s Helpers: become a customer service ambassador. Greet and assist customers in navigating the store. All days available. memberservices@honestweight.coop
Book
Club
March 20 • 6pm • Community Room
What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures
“Our climate future is not yet written. What if we act as if we love the future?”
Books are available at Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza at 20% off for Honest Weight book club readers.
∙ Member Services has two loaner copies.
∙ Audiobooks and e-books available at the link above.
Spotify Premium subscribers: the audiobook is available to download and listen to for free (part of your subscription). Click here to find. Come talk, snack, connect! Join us the third Thursday of every other month!
MO Vendors Bring New Bread to HWFC
You may have spotted Jared Niemela and Byrdie Kraut—who recently joined the Coop as MOs—investing time in the Bulk Department. The couple has launched Anicca Bakery, based in Troy, with bread freshly delivered to the Co-op twice weekly (Monday and Wednesday mornings).
The name “Anicca” [ah-NEECH-ah] comes from the Buddhist concept of impermanence or evanescence. “If you think about it, nothing is permanent,” Jared told Honest
Slate. These partners specialize in challah and sourdough loaves, and Byrdie reports that their crackers are also available in Bulk.
On a recent Wednesday, shoppers gathered to sample Anicca bread and chat with these MO bakers. Some asked if Anicca has a storefront. The new business has been operating for only a few months, so for now, customers can arrange for pickup in Troy or purchase right at Honest Weight, your home-grown food Co-op.