Your co-op, October 2001

New time and place for Ravenna neighborhood meeting

Tuesday, October 9, 2001, at 7 p.m.
at the old PCC Ravenna building
6504 20th Avenue NE.

The PCC board and management scheduled this meeting with interested PCC members and neighbors to review and gather input on proposals for use of the Ravenna store site. The board will make a decision on future use of the building at a board meeting after this date. Please contact the board administrator 206-547-1222 x126 or via email at board@pccmarkets.com for more information.

Board and members talk at membership meeting

Twenty-two PCC members met with board members on Sunday, September 16 at the University Heights Center to discuss a broad range of issues, from disabled parking (see box) to how sites are selected for stores. Board members were particularly interested in hearing good ideas from members on how to have better communication between the board and members on issues of concern to the membership. This is critical information the board needs to consider as it drafts policies to instruct management on the broad direction that PCC should take.

Discussion was lively as members told the board where they want new PCC stores and what information they want on signs and publications. There also were questions about existing stores. They asked how the board will develop the policies (called “Ends Policies”) to direct management; the board says it will work on those policies at a board retreat during the end of October.

If you have questions or comments for the board, contact members via email at board@pccmarkets.com , or regular mail at the PCC Office, 4201 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105. Or jot your thoughts on a member suggestion form in the store and staff will forward them to the board.

Report on board activities

The board met August 28 in special session with management to review proposals for the Ravenna site and prepare for the October meeting with neighbors. Both the membership linkage and the board development task forces met in August and September.

The linkage task force work included planning for the September 16 membership meeting and the October 9 Ravenna neighborhood meeting. It also discussed looking ahead for future opportunities to connect with members on important issues.

The development task force plans training activities for the board, including a two-day session with Miriam Carver, one of the architects of the Carver model of governance used by the board to structure its work.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 27 at 5 p.m. at the PCC offices, 4201 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. Time will be set aside at 7 p.m. for members to address the board. Please contact the board administrator, at 206-547-1222 if you’re interested in attending.

Looking for a few good leaders

by the PCC Nominating Committee: Genevieve Phillips, Stewart Rose, Nola Freeman, Melanie Porter, Reed Schilbach

It’s that time of year when the air gets nippier, the leaves change color, and — the PCC Nominating Committee gears up its search for candidates for the next Board of Trustees election!

Didn’t we just have an election? Yes, we did, but it takes time to recruit and get acquainted with potential candidates in order to present the best possible slate to the membership each year.

PCC is directed by a nine-person Board of Trustees elected by the active membership. Each trustee serves a three-year term, with three positions open for election each year. A trustee may serve no more than three consecutive terms.

The board’s primary responsibilities are to provide wise stewardship of the cooperative’s resources and leadership to maintain the success of a retail grocery co-op with more than $60 million in sales. The PCC Board follows the John Carver model of policy governance.

The nominating committee begins its work by talking to many people about serving on the board, providing them with the information they need to decide if board service might be a good fit, and assessing skills to see what is needed. In January, we’ll interview applicants and offer nomination to those whose experiences, interests, and skills indicate they would be successful board members. The election is held in May. The new board term begins in June, 2002.

Please below: “What the board does.” If it sounds like a match for you or someone you know, we invite you to apply and put your experience and skills to work providing leadership for the largest retail food cooperative in the United States. We look forward to meeting you! If you have questions about serving on the board or about the Carver model of governance, please contact the nominating committee through the board administrator at the PCC office, 206-547-1222 x126.

What the Board does

• Serve as trustees for and provide linkage with the member-owners and shoppers of PCC
• Establish two types of policies to guide management: Ends to provide direction, and Executive Limitations to prevent unacceptable actions
• Establish two types of policies to guide board actions: Board-CEO Relations to ensure effective communication between the board and management, and Board Process to ensure excellent board performance
• Ensure that all activities of PCC are carried out within the law, articles, and bylaws
• Provide wise stewardship of the member investment. What individual board members do
• Understand the board’s roles and responsibilities as stated in the bylaws
• Allocate sufficient time to prepare for each meeting. Trustees receive packets of written information in advance of each meeting
• Prepare for and attend all scheduled board meetings, held at least five to seven times per year, usually on the last Tuesday of the month, plus serve on one or more board task forces. Board meetings may average four hours; task force meetings — one to two hours
• Attend annual meeting each year, usually half a day in April
• Attend two daylong board retreats each year, usually one in summer and one in winter
• Visit stores regularly throughout term of office and attend PCC events when possible
• Time spent on board business may vary from month to month, averaging 10-15 hours per month, including preparation for meetings. Compensation
• Annual stipend
• Unique and valuable hands-on cooperative board experience.

Reminder on parking for shoppers with disabilities

Anyone parking in a designated disabled parking spot must display either the blue permanent disabled parking permit, or the red temporary disabled parking permit, hanging from the rear view mirror. There are no exceptions. Violators will be towed by PCC at the car owner’s expense.

All store staff have been reminded that this is the law and the policy at PCC and PCC apologizes to any of our shoppers who have been inconvenienced by inconsistent application of this policy in the past. If you experience any difficulties in reporting a violation to store staff, please contact Nancy Taylor, Director of Human Resources, at the PCC offices, 206-547-1222 x123, or email: nancyt@pccmarkets.com.

If you believe you qualify for either a temporary or a permanent disabled parking permit, you may obtain an application and further information about it at any Washington State Vehicle Licensing Office, or online at www.wa.gov/dol/vehicles/dpfaq.htm.