Your co-op, April 2011

Notice of annual membership meeting

• Tuesday, April 26, 5:30 p.m.
  St. Demetrios Hall
  2100 Boyer Ave. E., Seattle

Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. RSVP by April 19.

Free parking • Directions are available online or by calling 206-547-1222 • Accessible by Metro Bus: http://metro.kingcounty.gov

We’ll begin the meeting with a wonderful meal highlighting the local, organic food available in our region. The board and management then will report to the membership on the state of our co-op, and the 2011 board candidates will be introduced. Each will speak briefly.

Our education topic for this meeting, the future of organic standards, is especially timely. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to allow unrestricted planting of genetically engineered alfalfa and sugar beets has raised great concern throughout the organic industry.

We’re especially fortunate that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and the National Organic Coalition (NOC) are holding hearings in Seattle this month, on April 25 to 29. For more information about the hearings and how you might observe or testify, visit our National Organic Standards Board meeting Web page.

Three respected figures with expertise in organics have agreed to join us at our annual meeting to answer questions about what’s ahead for organic standards.

Liana Hoodes is director of the National Organic Coalition. Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., is director, technical policy at Consumers Union. Michael Sligh is founding chair of the NOSB and Sustainable Agriculture Program director of the Rural Advancement Foundation International. They will discuss a range of issues in the organic industry today and looking forward.

Learn more about PCC’s annual meeting »

2011 election this month

VOTING IN STORES AND BY MAIL — APRIL 26 THROUGH MAY 19

PCC members may vote in person at the annual meeting on April 26, at any PCC store, or by mail for three of the following candidates:

• Carol Binder (management consultant) incumbent
• Julianne Lamsek (director of technology, KCTS 9) incumbent
• Michael LaBaw (president, Sound Telecom)
• Jane Repensek (vice president, Special Olympics Washington)
• Bruce Williams (director, HomeStreet Bank and Cascade Land Conservancy)

We’ve designated two dates during the election period when you’ll be able to meet all the board candidates in person. Make plans now to come out and discuss the values important to you. Some of our current trustees will be on hand, as will some of the nominating committee members.

For up-to-date election information, please visit the election area on our website. Be prepared early — read candidate statements today.

Meet the candidates

• Edmonds PCC, Saturday, May 7
  11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• West Seattle PCC, Thursday, May 12
  5:30 to 7 p.m.

Look for the special election insert inside the print May Sound Consumer, which will be mailed to active members in the last week of April (or read online now). It features photos and biographical information on the board candidates, along with campaign statements from the board and nominating committee candidates. Your insert also will contain your ballot.

Be informed — read candidate statements and view their videos ahead of the election.

Ballot count meeting

The ballot count meeting will be Monday, May 23 at 5 p.m. at the co-op office. Results will be posted online and in the stores by May 27.

Board report

There was no board meeting in February. The March 29 board meeting report will be published in the May issue.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be Tuesday, May 31 with public comments at 7 p.m.