Your co-op, October 2009

This article was originally published in October 2009

Fall Member Meeting

Tuesday, October 27, 5:30 p.m.
St. Demetrios Hall 2100 Boyer Ave. E., Seattle

See details on speaker

Board outreach

Talk to the Board events are key to the board’s ongoing outreach efforts. They are ideal, informal opportunities for our trustees to meet members and store staff informally.

“It’s an important part of our jobs as board members to connect with and get feedback from our members,” notes Member Relations Committee chair Buzz Hofford. This summer’s schedule had board members visiting our View Ridge, Edmonds and West Seattle stores.

“We’re trying this year to coordinate the board’s store visits with other scheduled community events, such as Bikes for Education at View Ridge, the Edmonds Healthy Living Fair and West Seattle’s 20th anniversary celebration,” reports Janice Parker-Theiss, Board Administrator.

Upcoming Talk to the Board All of the trustees look forward to meeting you at the Fall Member Meeting on Tuesday, October 27.

Board report

The board met on September 29 and continued planning for an October retreat devoted to education on several pertinent topics — finance, social responsibility and industry trends. The board also discussed plans for the October 27 fall member meeting. Based on the reservation totals so far, we anticipate another well-attended meeting.

Work plans for this year’s four standing committees, Board Development, CEO Evaluation, Finance, and Member Relations, were submitted for approval.

With the October 13 application deadline fast approaching, the nominating committee reported a high interest in PCC governance among its members. Interviews are to be conducted in early to mid-November, with a 2010 candidate slate to be finalized by the end of November.

Meet an organic dairy farmer

Jon Bansen, our fall meeting keynote speaker, and Andrew Dykstra, one of Organic Valley’s Washington state farmers, will meet shoppers and answer questions about organic farming. Our demo team will be on hand with treats and recipes.

PSE green energy

Join PCC in choosing clean power by enrolling in a “green” energy program with your home’s electricity provider. You’ll support development of renewable electricity projects that benefit the farmers and local businesses involved. See the insert in this month’s mailed Sound Consumer or online for more information and to sign up.

Next board meeting

The board will meet on November 24 at 5 p.m. at the co-op office. Member comment period begins at 7 p.m.

Also in this issue

Saving farmland with conservation easements, part II

Last month we discussed the benefits of buying conservation easements. The PCC Farmland Trust buys easements in lieu of purchasing property because they are less expensive and help ensure the land will be protected from future non-agricultural development. This month we continue to explore this idea, focusing on the trust’s pioneering work using easements for organic farming.

News bites, October 2009

Eat chocolate for heart health?, Trees breathe, Drop in rBGH use in California, and more

Letters to the editor, October 2009

Sustainable sushi, Grass-fed cattle, Diet sodas linked to diabetes, and more