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Looking at Leadership: What Will Work for HWFC?
“Lead with grace, curiosity, and assuming good intentions.”
Interim CLM Dana Tomlin answers questions from HS to help our community better understand and appreciate important changes underway at HWFC.
Q: Can you summarize briefly what organizational, cultural, &or operational needs you have identified so far, and reasons for remaining longer?
A: I was asked to stay on with HWFC (remotely) in order to support the work we began when I was onsite. This work includes organized sales that departments are working together to execute, continuing to build on systems that we created such as promotional materials, and supporting the management team in operational decisions. The Board and I are working together to ease tension spots and build a strong, clear foundation for the hiring of the new CLM. I’m also supporting the marketing team and staff through this transition. Transitions are hard so I have been there to help ease the store through this time. I have a lot of grocery, training, and service experience and it has been my honor to work with a team that is hungry to learn. I enjoy that a lot and it is what keeps me coming back!
Q: What changes have you initiated, and what more needs to happen for us to reset our compass and thrive? Aside from the pandemic and inflation, what else has kept sales flat that we have the power to change?
A: We are increasing sales in the store by focusing on well-priced items that change frequently, in order to get customers back in the store and excited about what we are offering. This process has pulled the management team together to work on cross merchandising, building promotional displays, getting signs made, and making dynamic, engaged sales decisions.
We also need to make sure we have the right items, at the right time, for our customers to purchase. We have requested an assessment from NCG [National Co+op Grocers] for our center store to help us get an outside perspective on next steps, which we can combine with our institutional knowledge, and make a plan for going forward. We also worked together to make decisions that were previously hard for the operations team to make, such as a loitering plan, moving along some purchases for repairs and equipment, and providing some clarity on systems to help with internal processes.
Q: Is there leadership training especially geared for co-op managers (including integrating Membership resources)? If so, are there plans for implementation?
A: Definitely. There are a couple of sources that we are looking into. We are looking at one right now to help guide managers through good management practices like clear expectations and leading with facts. Another great training focusing on grocery excellence that I have recommended but we haven’t committed to focuses on grocery store basics such as margin, building displays, etc.
We need to create a strong foundation for the management team so that we can move the store forward as a group. We are also looking for training for all levels of staff including development, customer service, and other onboarding tools. Sharon and I are working together to tie this work in with onboarding for Member Services and the operations staff.
Q: What advice would you give potential managers, staff, MOs, and the Board?
A: This organization would do well to embrace these 3 tenets in everything we do: lead with grace, curiosity, and assuming good intentions. This would go a long way to help move us forward, together. Grace means letting go of old stories, allowing people the space to change, and understanding that we are not all perfect and have off days. Leading with curiosity means trying to understand other people’s why, asking questions to make sure you don’t make assumptions, and letting people tell their own stories. Assuming good intentions—this ties into leading with curiosity but takes it further.
Oftentimes, we assume the worst of people. This can be based on rumors we have heard, experiences we have had with people that were “like them,” or even our own biases and preconceptions. All 3 of these work together and it is okay to mess them up! I know I do and, when I do, I reset and say “hey, I want to lead with curiosity here.” This is all about trying to be better each day and in each interaction.
Get to Know An MO: Meet Terry Tamer
by Marilyn Paarlberg
In the most common understanding of the word, language is a system for people to communicate. But language is also a conveyer of human culture, stories, and ways of thinking. If it’s not too much of a stretch, one could say that language speaks many languages. That’s the sense behind the common idiom “You’re talking my language.” In other words, “I resonate with your ideas and values.” This meaning of language takes our interactions to a level beyond sharing a common tongue.
HWFC Member-Owner Terry Tamer speaks several languages, in both senses of the word. He can communicate in English, French, Spanish, and Italian, but he also “speaks” languages that reflect his values and perspectives; that make him who he is.
Terry is originally from Cadyville, New York. He graduated with a French major from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1970. Like many young American men at the time, Terry faced the possibility of being drafted and sent to fight in Vietnam, a prospect he dreaded. He considered becoming a conscientious objector, but that option didn’t feel quite right.
Instead, he decided to enlist in the army. After basic training, he attended the Defense Language Institute in California where he learned to speak Spanish, and then he was sent to the Panama Canal Zone, where the U.S. Army School of the Americas was originally located. He gained full fluency in Spanish there, a skill that would prove to shape his life and work.
After concluding his military service two years later, Terry was hired and trained by the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) as a Spanish-speaking correctional officer, and was sent to work at Attica Correctional Facility.
He soon received a lateral transfer to the position of correctional counselor trainee, and upon earning a graduate degree in counseling from SUNY Brockport he was promoted to be a full correctional counselor at Attica.
What’s the difference between a correctional officer and a correctional counselor? Simply put, officers are charged with enforcing and maintaining safety within the prison walls. Counselors are treatment specialists responsible for helping incarcerated inmates gain the tools they need to lead a productive life upon release.
One might say that officers speak the language of security, while counselors speak and teach the language of rehabilitation and support. It was a language that came naturally to Terry, and in which he proved to be fluent.
Terry served as a counselor at Attica in the Family Reunion Program for about 10 years, overseeing and assisting inmates and their families to foster healthy and supportive relationships during incarceration that would nurture positive outcomes. During that time, he earned yet another degree, this time in Foreign Language Education from the University at Buffalo.
After Attica, Terry transferred to Groveland Correctional Facility and then later to Collins Correctional Facility, where he started a program for adolescent sex offenders. In 1987, he accepted a promotion to become a correctional services guidance specialist at the DOCCS Central Office in Albany, where he was given the responsibility of initiating sex offender counseling throughout the Department of Corrections.
Reflecting back on his career choice, Terry affirms that it was a good fit. “I felt like I was in the right place for me.”
Retirement in 2002 gave Terry more time to communicate in some of the other languages he’s good at, including that of outdoor sports and recreation. He loves to ski, both downhill and cross-country. Canoeing and running are also in his wheelhouse.
To be clear, his love of spoken languages has never left him, either. Not satisfied with the “Duolingo level,” Terry has a trip to Bologna
coming up, where he intends to hone his command of Italian in immersive language classes.
Clearly, Terry’s career was devoted to fostering better communities. He speaks community, and that language didn’t go dormant when he retired. It’s what first nudged him toward Honest Weight Food Co-op. He says he respected the Co-op’s reputation for being committed to the neighborhoods outside its doors, and he was curious. That curiosity led him to become an MO in 2011.
He invested time for a short while in the Produce Department at the Central Avenue store, but a friend encouraged him to move to Cheese. This seemed like a natural fit, given the fact that so many cheeses come from France, Spain, and Italy, whose cuisines he knows almost as well as the words to describe them!
Terry gratefully credits the former cheese counter manager at the Central Avenue store, Gustav Ericson, for teaching him to speak cheese. (Among Terry’s favorites are Parmesan, Romano, and Manchego— why are we not surprised?)
Terry enjoys being an MO because it exposes him to all sorts of “good stuff”—not just healthy and diverse foods but the people he meets and with whom he works.
“I consider people interesting, and there are so many interesting people here.” He also appreciates that HWFC isn’t “in it for the money,” but emphasizes the welfare of the community it serves.
Upon reflection, Terry sums it up. “I enjoy providing a service to the community. It’s how I have understood my role during my whole career, and I’m glad to continue that service at HWFC. The Co-op is good for me, and good for the people around me.”
Asked how he would respond to the question, “Why become an MO?” Terry replies, “Why not?!” Why not, indeed, Terry. You’re talking our language!
Breaking News: Openings on the Governance Review Council (GRC)
by Sarah Lewis
It happens only once a year openings on the Governance Review Council (GRC) for Honest Weight Food Co-op. This year there are opportunities for two Member-Owners (MOs) to join the GRC. Nominations are being sought for those openings; elections will be held at the October 27 Regular Membership Meeting (RMM).
At the outset, what does the GRC do? Per HWFC’s Bylaws, the GRC promotes “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.”
That’s a relatively broad and somewhat general description, but what does it mean in practice?
During the past year, the GRC’s activities included:
1. discussing the Bylaws requirement that MOs vote on certain budgetary items;
2. addressing concerns raised by staff about management items;
3. reviewing the Board’s actions with regard to certain management positions & independent contractors;
4. discussing the Board’s conflict of interest policy;
5. considering the procedure to implement specific discounts; and
6. assisting with vote counting at all HWFC elections.
The GRC also a) considers alleged violations of HWFC Bylaws by the Board, management, Bylaws Panel, or Membership, and b) determines whether issues related to the GRC’s duties and responsibilities should be brought to the attention of the Board &or entire Membership.
“Serving on the GRC has given me a new appreciation for the complexities involved in running the Co-op and the commitment of all who keep it going.”
The GRC meets by Zoom at 7pm on the second Monday of each month. Meetings generally last 1 to 2 hours. Additionally, each month one of the GRC members attends the HWFC Board meeting and reports back at the next GRC meeting to keep us updated on Board actions and discussion.
Every month, each GRC member spends about 3 hours on GRC items, which includes time at monthly meetings and reading and responding to emails about the agenda and other items being considered by the GRC. The GRC member who attends the Board meeting gains additional hours for the length of that meeting. GRC terms are three years, which go by quickly.
In addition to 2 member openings on the GRC, we also need an MO to be our note taker. The note taker attends and takes notes of our meetings (but does not have a vote on GRC decision items). After each meeting, the note taker prepares minutes based on those notes and drafts the agenda for the following meeting. Our current note taker is now also a member of the GRC, has templates for everything the note taker must prepare, and can explain time frames and procedures around the minutes and agenda.
Being a GRC member is a great way to earn MO hours, learn about the Co-op’s internal workings, and help with HWFC governance without leaving your home or spending a big chunk of time.
Whether you’re new to the Co-op, have been a Member for years, and/or have invested time in the store and want to contribute to HWFC in a different manner, the GRC is a
Reminder
As we approach the presidential election, we remind everyone of our policy on politically affiliated apparel in the workplace. It’s essential to maintain an inclusive and welcoming environment for all customers, regardless of their beliefs.
To ensure we represent the Co-op professionally, we ask all employees and Members to refrain from wearing political clothing or accessories while on duty in customer-facing roles.
Let’s keep our focus on our mission: welcoming everyone and providing the best food and customer service possible to our community. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
perfect way to get involved. It’s also an excellent stepping-stone to test the waters and figure out if you want to be more involved in Co-op governance, perhaps by serving on a committee, the Bylaws Panel, &or Board.
If you have interest in potentially joining the GRC or being its note taker, we highly recommend you go for it, or at least explore it further. The GRC looks forward to welcoming new members and receiving their input as we review governance items impacting the Co-op. Feel free to reach out to us by email (grc@honestweight.coop) if you have any questions.
“The GRC provides the Board insight into its work from an engaged but disassociated group of individuals. This input has helped the Board reorient at times over the years.”
Our next meeting is Monday, October 14, at 7pm... ...and we’d love to have you join us then to get a feel for what we do. We hope to hear from you &or see your name on the GRC nomination list.
Quotes were provided by current GRC members. See page 4 for more insight into this important governance group from the BLP.
B y the Bylaws Focus on our Governance Review Council (GRC)
Welcome to the sixth installment of Honest Slate’s “By the Bylaws” feature. Each month, the Bylaws Panel (BLP) highlights a different section of HWFC Bylaws.
Previously, we covered objectives, Food and Product Policy, annual budget process, responsibilities, benefits, and rights of MOs, and Referenda & Membership Meetings.
In recognition of this month’s RMM election to fill GRC vacancies, we now turn to its purposes and responsibilities, focusing on Section 475 (Governance Review Council). Due to its critical role in maintaining the integrity of HWFC governance and its need for independence from the Board, GRC’s 5 positions are filled by MOs elected to 3-year terms by the Membership.
The GRC is an essential part of HWFC governance. Empowered by the Bylaws, it serves as a safeguard for Member-Owners, the Board, and Management processes, procedures, and decision-making.
History: Why Was GRC Created?
The GRC emerged from the 2003 major Bylaws revision, drafted by the Board’s thenad hoc Bylaws Committee. The rewrite introduced the “Governance Committee” which served 3 main purposes: (1) ensuring no processes, procedures, or decisions violated our Bylaws or manuals; (2) monitoring Board meetings for adherence to rules of order and Bylaws; and (3) assisting the Board Secretary in maintaining minutes and records.
However, the structure of the Governance Committee—being a standing committee of both the Membership and the Board— proved problematic. The Membership appointed members, while the Board assigned a Director to serve as a liaison. Tensions arose as the committee frequently suggested improvements and interpretations, which the Board rejected and chose not to bring the matters to the Membership.
Eventually, after several years of discussion, the Board agreed in 2007 to propose to the Membership the creation of a new entity independent of the Board—the GRC. The late Mark Yolles, a longtime MO and former chair of the ad hoc Bylaws Committee, named the new entity. The Membership approved the GRC and elected the former Governance Committee members to serve on it.
What Is GRC’s Purpose?
As succinctly presented in Section 475.1: “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 to facilitate fair and open decision-making at all levels of HWFC.” Although simple in statement, its application is complex in a cooperative as large as HWFC.
What Are GRC’s Duties?
The GRC holds numerous responsibilities vital to HWFC’s governance. GRC members should be well-versed in the Bylaws and HWFC manuals.
· Providing advice, support, and analysis: GRC offers guidance on Bylaw or policy-related matters when requested by Membership, Board, MOs, or Management (Section 475.2(a)). This role is akin to a court weighing in on the interpretation of laws.
· Assisting the Board Secretary: the GRC helps the Board Secretary maintain current records of HWFC’s Bylaws and official policies (Section 475.2(b)). This was a major accomplishment of the GRC during the mid2010s.
· Monitoring the Board and management: the GRC reviews policies and procedures of Board and Management, ensuring adherence to the Bylaws (Section 475.2(c)). This requires active involvement, such as attending Board and Membership meetings.
· Reviewing RMM notices: The GRC ensures that Membership Meeting Notices comply with Bylaws and present no proposals that would violate them (Section 475.2(d)).
· Addressing Bylaws violations: if the GRC identifies a violation of the Bylaws by the Board, Management, BLP, or Membership, it notifies the Board. If necessary, the GRC may call a Special Membership Meeting (SMM) without requiring a petition, ensuring a swift resolution to governance issues (Section 475.2(e)).
· Appointing Members to the BLP: the GRC appoints 2 MOs (who are not Directors) to the Bylaws Panel (Section 475.2(f)), reinforcing its independence from the Board.
· Identifying Bylaw issues: should the GRC identify a problem, it notifies relevant parties and can suggest amendments. If the Panel fails to act, GRC may then approach Membership directly (Section 475.2(g)).
· Placing issues on meeting agendas: the GRC has the authority to place issues related to its duties on the formal agenda of any Regular Membership Meeting without needing a petition (Section 475.2(h)).
These responsibilities demonstrate the GRC’s role in safeguarding against governance errors and abuse of authority.
It’s Time to Participate in Governance: Run for the GRC
The BLP encourages every Member-Owner to participate in HWFC governance by serving on a committee, the Panel, the Board, or the GRC. Participating offers insights into how the Co-op functions, fosters a sense of community, and brings fresh perspectives to HWFC. We urge you to consider running for the GRC (see page 3 for more information).
Bylaws are designed to empower Member-Owners to take an active role in HWFC governance. Whether voting in a referendum, attending a Membership Meeting, or calling for a Special Meeting, your involvement is crucial to HWFC’s success. If you have any questions or need clarification, feel free to reach out to the Bylaws Panel, Board, GRC, Membership Manager, or consult the MO Manual. Your voice matters, and these Bylaws ensure that it is heard.
Q & A Q & A SUGGESTION BOX
Answers are provided by HWFC managers and departments.
Q: Love the Gochujang Snickerdoodle cookies. Please make them permanent. ♥
Q: Gochujang Snickerdoodle cookies ARE AMAZING. (In pastry case with brownies, donuts, etc.) Please make permanent, all the time !!!!!!!!! I bought the last four packs.
A: We’re glad you liked them. They were a special for Korean week. They will return.
Q: How about a counter near the miso to be able to scoop it out without precarious placement?
A: You are welcome to ask a worker for assistance. We will fill a container or provide a space for you to work on your own.
Q: The coffee is wonderful, but the agave bottle is always sticky. Can it be put in a dispenser?
A: Maple, honey, and agave are all sticky. We do our best to wipe them throughout the day.
Q: Keep making NJ Crumb Bun...very good!
A: Thank you so much! We hope to continue these in the future.
Q: Please have broccoli salads every week BUT with NO bacon (which is not healthy).
A: We have two broccoli salads on our full menu. Bacon-free fire cider broccoli salad (V/GF) is a regular feature on our fall menu along with bacon broccoli and cashew salad (GF).
Q: Fourth request. Your coffee cups are lined in plastic. They are not compostable. Please replace with non-plastic-lined compostable cups. UNHEALTHY! Thanks!
A: We have not seen an unlined cup and ones with linings use plastic. Do you know of a commercial option? We can check with our distributors if you know of specific brands.
Q: There are large floor stains by kombucha.
A: What can we say, our store wears our stories. Yesterday’s spilled kombucha is today’s modern art.
Q: Welcome back to Produce, Brendan.
A: Thank you! Brendan is very happy to be back.
Q: Please get sugar and cinnamon dispensers with smaller knobs for coffee bar. So much came out all at once that I couldn’t taste the coffee and had to dump it and start all over. Thank you.
A: We will look into finding other tops.
Q: Hungarian Shepherd’s Pie. Thank you!!
A: You’re welcome! Thanks for letting us know!
Q: The food here is so disgusting, burned, and unhealthy.
A: Interesting perspective. This is not our typical feedback. Our chefs put great pride in their work, and we welcome constructive criticism. Please feel free to give details on the specific dishes.
Q: GuS’s soda contains caramel color.
A: We’re looking for a replacement for the ginger ale. We have discontinued the cola.
Q: No baby changing stations in restrooms!!? OMG
A: We have a baby changing station in the first customer restroom [look for the large sign on the door].
Q: Shopping on Saturday morning 9/7/24. Everyone was bringing their A game. A delightful time!
A: Nice! Very kind! We’re happy to hear that. Thank you very much!
Q: Make self checkout 20 [items] or less.
A: In order to keep the express checkout moving, we plan on keeping it at 10.
Q: Co-op used to have a better selection of cards. Current choices seem to be from a commercial card purveyor. Former selection seemed to be more “co-op-y” in style.
A: Have you seen our Greymount cards from Delmar? Or Petal People from Saratoga; Great Arrow from Buffalo; Wildflower Graphics from Greenwich, NY? We switch them out often.
The Mystery of Apeel
by Irene Kim
A recent question in HWFC’s inbox: do any items sold at the Co-op have Apeel coatings?
The bottom line: Produce Dept. manager Brendan Kelly says that HWFC does not carry anything treated with Apeel.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the product, it is a food coating made by Apeel Sciences (https://www.apeel.com/). The company claims that Apeel’s two products Edipeel and Organipeel are made with plant products and enhance the peels of fruits and vegetables—their natural layer of protection—by making them less permeable to oxygen and thus more resistant to spoilage.
Applied to produce such as avocados and cucumbers, the waxy coating is said to extend fruit and vegetable shelf life, cut down on single-use plastic use, and ultimately reduce food waste.
While these are admirable goals, the product appears cloaked in mystery. For instance, the Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI) approved Organipeel as a fungicide, but the only fungicidal ingredient in Organipeel is citric acid, which is present at only 0.66%. We have little insight into the remaining 99.34%.
We do know that the coatings contain monoand diglycerides, which are human-made trans fats. These ingredients come from grapeseed oil, but Apeel has reported to the FDA (https://www.fda.gov/media/135999/ download) that it uses ethyl acetate and heptane as solvents to process the oil.
The coatings also contain trace amounts of heavy metals. In addition, the lack of transparency around Apeel’s ingredients raises concerns with some consumers about possible allergens and even possible toxins. And while the coatings do work to keep oxygen out and moisture in, we do not yet know much about how this barrier might affect produce in other ways.
continued on page 6
Honest Slate 6
Board Decisions
The HWFC Board of Directors approved the following at Oct. 1 ’s 6pm Board Meeting:
● October’s meeting agenda.
● Sept. 3, 2024, minutes.
● A change in November’s Board of Directors meeting date from Nov. 5 to Nov. 12 due to a conflict with the US national election. The meeting time of 6pm remains the same.
● Personnel Committee 2024–25 work plan as submitted.
● Personnel Committee’s proposed amendments to the vacation buyout section of the HWFC Employee Manual as presented.
● Adding in perpetuity the BOD President as signatory to the HWFC Banking Resolution Document in addition to BOD Treasurer and Controller.
● Affirmed the Board’s Sept. 17, 2024, vote on wording of the Regular Membership Meeting Finance Report Standard Operating Procedure.
Board of Directors website page: https://www.honestweight.coop/ page/board-91.html
HWFC committee meeting Zoom links: https://www.honestweight.coop/page/committee-meeting-calendar-322.html
Committee calendar:
https://www.honestweight.coop/page/committee-meeting-calendar-322.html
continued from page 5
Apeel suffered from a case of mistaken identity last year, when a social media post claimed that the coatings could cause eye and skin irritations. The Associated Press debunked this claim, explaining that the author of the post conflated an unrelated cleaning product (confusingly, also called Apeel) with the food coatings.
Brendan clarified that HWFC’s distributors do not provide HWFC with anything treated with Apeel. In a communication to Honest Weight, a representative from Four Seasons Produce Inc. wrote, “We don’t purchase products with Apeel coating. We have made [it] clear to our vendors that we will
not accept it. If we were to have any items, we would have them marked so everyone is aware, similar to what we do with the GMO items that we may carry.”
UNFI, in a similar statement, said, “Our UNFI fresh produce professionals are aware of Apeel preservation technology, but in 2023 instructed our grower partners that all product that they provide to UNFI is to be Apeel free. Our position has not changed, and we continue to communicate this policy with our supplier base.”
The jury is still out on Apeel. But rest assured that the question of Apeel’s merits versus shortcomings is not an issue for HWFC at this time—that is, apart from seeing variations of the question pop up in our inbox!
GE Elfun Computer Rehab Drive
Sat., Oct. 19 · 10am–2pm • Under the tent on HWFC’s Patio
Upcycle your unwanted computer gear...
...for REUSE. This is preferable over recycling old computers for scrap. Elfun Computer Rehab refurbishes used computers and accessories, and donates them to schools or nonprofit organizations that cannot afford new computers.
Our Environment Committee has teamed up with Elfun to bring this event to HWFC! Elfun accepts computers of all kinds, including desktops, tablets, and laptops and peripheral equipment (chargers, cables, drives, accesso-
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Contact honestslate@honestweight.coop with questions, comments, or article suggestions.
Submissions Policy
Editors & Contributors
David Bulnes
Brendan Byrne
Katie Centanni
Stephanie Conde
Elisa Grimm
Don Kennison
Irene Kim
Sharon Lastique
Sarah Lewis
Carol Ostrow
Marilyn Paarlberg
Saul Rigberg
Anastasia Rodgers
Robin Schatz
Janet Sorell
Dana Tomlin
ries), printers, flat screen computer monitors OVER 19 inches (Not CRT monitors).
Elfun’s Mission
•Help bridge the digital divide by providing FREE computer systems to schools and nonprofit organizations that cannot afford to buy new equipment.
•Extend the useful life of computers that are no longer wanted by businesses through REUSE rather than recycling them for scrap materials.
Statement of Purpose: for articles & contributions:
• Preferred maximum length is 800 words.
• Material is published at the discretion of the Honest Slate team.
• Only signed work is accepted. Items are edited for length, grammar, & style.
• We may consider unsolicited material but encourage submitting ideas first.
• Letters to the Editor do not require preapproval.
Honest Slate is a platform for HWFC Membership, Staff, Management, and Governance: promoting transparency, reporting news without bias, and sustaining community.
Honest Slate articles are for informational purposes and are not intended to diagnose or treat disease. Opinions expressed in Honest Slate do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Honest Slate or Honest Weight Food Co-op.
All contents ©2024 Honest Weight Food Coop; no material appearing in Honest Slate may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of HWFC.
COMMITTEE CORNER
A summary of preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors (BOD) for its Oct. 1, 2024, meeting. See Board Meeting packet for details. Full Board-approved committee reports are posted on HWFC’s website.
by Stephanie Conde
Personnel Committee (PC)
∙ Continued discussions of MO openings, swapping Juneteenth for Easter as a store holiday, vacation payout, headphone use in store, and PC work plan.
∙ Requested BOD approve PC work plan and updated verbiage in Employee Manual allowing staff to request vacation time payout at any time during the year.
Communications Committee (CC)
∙ Discussed raising MO awareness of Honest Slate (HS) newsletter. Confirmed HS inclusion in Membership orientation material.
∙ Discussed offering presentation about HS for RMM (first presentation was June 2019). Will request time on June RMM agenda.
∙ Chair consulted with Membership Manager to streamline reporting of committee hours. Updated link, advised CC members.
Elections & Nominations Committee (ENC)
∙ Discussed preparation for October RMM’s GRC election. Completed walkthrough of remaining tasks for due dates and assignees. Confirmed coverage for Meet the Candidates sessions, RMM, and vote count. (Post-meeting, Paula reached out to BOD and GRC for representation at Oct. 28 vote count.) Sharon offered to help with publicity and recruitment efforts to help support ENC in Marketing Manager’s absence.
Expects ballot preparation for GRC election to be straightforward, for both paper ballots and electronic (Survey Monkey) versions. Plans to update Survey Monkey vote counting process document as well as paper and phone voting process documents and to combine all three. Established long-term goal to cross-train on each vote counting method so more coverage would be available if the need arises.
∙ Reviewed open actions list for updates, resource assignments, and next steps.
Nutrition & Education Committee (NEC)
∙ Discussed Food and Product Manual (FPM) issues. Developing language for changes to FPM, primarily the GMO section. Plan continued promotion of FPM through tabling activities. Requesting change to website to ease customer access to FPM online.
∙ Working with Department Managers to identify products out of compliance with FPM and taking steps to discontinue selling those products.
∙ Discussed two Consumer Reports studies on lead content in food products made specifically for children. Decided more research is needed before developing an action plan.
Governance Review Council (GRC)
∙ Discussed agenda topics for joint meeting with Bylaws Panel (BLP).
∙ At GRC’s request, ENC will run elections for two open GRC seats at Oct. 27’s RMM.
∙ Planning article for October HS encouraging MOs to consider running for GRC &or to become GRC’s note taker.
∙ Requested update on status of BOD’s preparation of standard operating procedure (SOP) for direct-report contractors.
Bylaws Panel (BLP)
∙ Provided BOD Administrator with resources to help clarify 2023 Bylaws revisions to aid effort to update BOD Manual.
∙ Held joint meeting with GRC on Sept. 23. Agenda included: (1) Touch base on GRC history and allow open discussion on roles. Recognize the “bylaws and practice should be in harmony” clarification in the Bylaws which allows current practice as is—draw a line, set reasonable parameters. (2) Clarify allowance of management to restrict MO discount (language in Bylaws allows Management to decide margins). Discuss need for clarification when language is to be used for marketing to reach other populations and the composition of those other populations. (3) Discuss management raising salaries without prior BOD knowledge; usually, BOD would vote and approve raises.
∙ Discussed preparation of next HS article. Saul will write about Bylaws Section 475.
∙ Discussed new business. Cathy reaching out to Membership Manager Sharon for more information on 2-minute presentation of what BLP does.
∙ Discussed review of task delegation and future referrals, as needed.
Anti-Racism Committee (ARC)
∙ Continuing work plan review and revision.
continued on page 8
Membership Meeting
Contact our Membership Manager, Sharon, with any questions: memberservices@honestweight.coop or 518-482-2667 x 104 Thurs. Oct 24 • 7–8pm Sun. Oct. 27 • 1:30–2:30pm
All sessions via Zoom: find the link at www.honestweight.coop/membermeetings MOs will receive 2–3.5 hours for participating.
8 Honest Slate
C o - o p p o r t u n i t i e s:
by Sharon Lastique, Membership Manager (MM)
• Food & Product Demo Support – Do you love food and sharing it with people? We are expanding our food sampling program and are offering double hours for all MO shifts through the end of November. High demand days are Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday. Contact Sharon in Member Services to be added to the directory for this time investment opportunity.
• Shoppers Helpers program is back. If you love greeting folks and assisting them in navigating the store, contact Member Services to sign up to learn about being a customer service ambassador. Wednesdays and weekends are high demand.
• Membership Cooking Squad – We are planning communal meals that will require a team to cook and bake for Members and
COMMITTEE CORNER
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Environment Committee (EC)
· Discussed possibly hosting screening and discussion for the film Common Ground about regenerative farming. Screening rights are free to nonprofits but not businesses. Requested BOD advise whether HWFC has a nonprofit arm and any suggestions for other nonprofits to screen the film at HWFC.
· Discussed hope to create a video on “How to Shop without Plastics” which could be played in-store or on HWFC’s social media platforms. Hope to find MOs who have videography skills to invest time supporting this project.
· Discussed possibly adding product called Food Saver to housewares. If this becomes an option, would like to have store demonstration on how to seal different–sized glass containers to remove oxygen.
· Discussed HWFC hosting Elfun Computer Rehab collection event Sat., Oct. 19. Education Coordinator to help with promotion.
Member-Owner Updates
guests. Contact Member Services to be added to our directory for this time investment opportunity.
• Outreach – Do you love talking to folks about how great HW is? This role involves tabling at community events, school events, and sampling bulk items while educating the public about all things Honest Weight.
• Special Projects – Do you love administrative tasks? Got a knack for Excel and spreadsheets? Do you love calling folks and speaking about membership? Contact Sharon to get added to our list of Members who can support pop-up projects.
For all these opportunities, contact: memberservices@honestweight.coop
October Membership Drive
Join the Co-op & attend orientation during October to get an HWFC shirt plus a $25 GIFT CARD!
Join Today!
National Co-op Month Celebration Sun., Oct. 20 • 1–6pm in the teaching kitchen
Celebrate with food & beverage samples, educational workshops, and activities!
1–2pm • Drum Circle with Chrys 1–2pm • Biometrics Screening by Jeff 1–3pm • Face Painting with Nina 2–2:30pm • Qi Gong with Silvia 4–5pm • Group Orientation
· Sustainability Manual subgroup resumed.
· Energy experts plan to meet with Todd to determine how to best utilize utility analysis and to determine if there are opportunities for lowering peak charges. Considering how to best monitor energy consumption to ensure it matches with information from National Grid. Hope to find ways to monitor natural gas consumption.
· Discussed draft work plan to present to BOD in early October.
Honest Arts Committee (HAC)
· Discussed resounding success of reception for current show, Chris Eckardt’s photos of northern Mexico’s Copper Canyon. More than 20 attended; many had extended conversations with Chris.
Discussed next show “Poetic License” to run late September through mid-November, with reception scheduled Oct. 4 and subsequent
December show: Schenectady Photographic Society’s images with reception, Dec. 7.
∙ Decided to continue focus on reaching out to organizations and individual artists because calls for art were ineffective for several years. Would also like to try holding staff shows, including families of staff.
∙ Purchased hardware to hang signs, paintings, photos, etc., on wall above energy bars. Hardware delivered to Facilities Manager mid-August. Next steps include installation and discussions with management about their ideas for use of that space. Requested BOD query management about approximate hardware install date.
∙ Noted April meeting when management advised refurbishment of vestibule was top priority from marketing perspective and presented their design ideas. Requested that the BOD query management about plans for vestibule.