Your co-op, October 2005

PCC’s fall member meeting

Wednesday, October 19, 7 p.m.
Center for Urban Horticulture
University of Washington
3501 N.E. 41st Street, Seattle, WA
Free parking • Metro bus routes 25, 65 and 75

Following a delicious dinner from one of PCC’s delis, the agenda for the meeting will include an opportunity for members to question the board and management on any PCC-related issues, as well as an educational segment on how to make the most of your nutrition dollars. PCC’s nutrition educators Goldie Caughlan and Rita Condon will lead the discussion. The segment will be a fun, information-filled hour beginning with a lively interactive quiz to help you see what you already know about buying smart. We’ll have some instructive demonstrations, as well.

Directions to the Center for Urban Horticulture are available here or by calling 206-547-1222. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Please RSVP by October 12 by calling 206-547-1222 or by email: and please indicate the number of people in your party.

Help for Katrina victims

PCC donates $20,000 for relief efforts

PCC Natural Markets has donated $15,000 to Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOA/WW) and $5,000 to Farm Aid to support relief efforts from Hurricane Katrina.

The VOA/WW donation will be used to send a crew of 10 local volunteers to relieve VOA affiliates who have been taking care of residents at a home for developmentally disabled adults. The 69 group-home residents were evacuated to Texas after being forced to leave New Orleans. Many affiliate workers had no opportunity to contact and care for their own families since the evacuation.

“We have been partners with the VOA for many years through our support of the Greenwood Food Bank in Seattle,” says Tracy Wolpert, CEO, “and we’re happy we can help affiliate VOA chapters directly involved in post-hurricane recovery.”

The donation to Farm Aid is for its Disaster Fund Hurricane Relief program. Farm Aid says losses in crops, livestock and farm buildings could be a breaking point for many family farms. PCC’s donation will help the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, the Louisiana Interchurch Conference, and the Farmers Legal Action Group provide assistance to farm families.

PCC also would like to acknowledge the Organically Grown Company (OGC) for responding to the need for disaster relief. Started as a cooperative of northwest organic farmers nearly 30 years ago, OGC today provides more fresh, organic produce to PCC than any other single vendor. We salute:

• Tom Lively, OGC’s senior account representative, and David Lively, OGC marketing director, for the idea and organization of a collaborative effort, and for donating a pallet of Bartlett pears.
• Columbia Gorge Organic, for donating a pallet of Gala apples.
• Dovex, for donating a pallet of Gold Supreme apples.
• Grimmway/Cal Organic, for donating 16 pallets of baby carrots.
• Springfield Creamery, for donating two pallets of yogurt.
• Cross Creek Trucking, for donating trucking from Oregon to San Antonio.
• H. E. Butt Grocery Company for distributing the food sent.

Construction detours near Fremont store

A detour route is available to bicyclists due to closure of the Burke-Gilman Trail for the Fremont Bridge Approach Replacement project. The detour will be in effect until the trail is reopened in 2007. It maintains an east-west route through the heart of Fremont along N. 34th Street between Stone Way N. and Phinney Avenue N. On Sundays, the detour between Evanston and Phinney will shift one block north onto N. 35th Street to accommodate the Fremont Sunday Market.

More information is available at www.seattle.gov/transportation/fremontbridgeapproaches.htm

Help from the Cooperative Development Foundation

Cooperatives can and will play a significant role in the social and economic recovery from the hurricane that hit Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. They provide infrastructure, access to credit, and access to markets, all of which will be critical as the rural economies of these three states move from dependence on the initial relief efforts to long-term sustainable recovery.

The Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) will partner in this fund drive with its colleagues in the cooperative community, both nationally and in the region.CDF will take no administrative fee for funds raised to assure that 100 percent of the funds donated reach the people that need help. A prime point of contact for CDF in the affected area will be the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, which will help to identify the needs of farmers and farm cooperatives and help CDF coordinate this effort with the wider cooperative community in the affected area.

Talk to the board

These monthly face-to-face conversations with members are an important outreach activity for the board. Our trustees had a great opportunity to visit with members and vendors at the Issaquah Healthy Living Fair with more than 7,000 visitors over two days.

Board member Kanwal Kaur (left) especially enjoyed sharing the good news about PCC Redmond with members and patrons.

Newly elected board member Linnea Noreen participated there in her first Talk to the Board event. “The Healthy Living Fair was fabulous!” she says. “Everyone loved the chance to try new products and learn more about the companies with whom we do business. Quite a few people were excited about the news of PCC Redmond (opening in spring 2006).”

Board report

There was no board meeting in August. Look for the report on the September 27 board meeting in the November Sound Consumer. The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, November 29 at 5 p.m. at the co-op office. Member comment period is at 6 p.m.