PCC Board of Trustees report, March 2017

Board meeting

The Board of Trustees met on January 31 and heard reports from its Finance Committee, CEO Evaluation Committee and Bylaws Task Force. The board received a report from the management team on succession planning at PCC.

A representative of the 2016-2017 Nominating Committee attended to present the 2017 board candidate slate (see board election information). The board also recommended the following slate of candidates for election by the members to the 2017-2018 Nominating Committee:

• Janet Hietter (retired Human Resources Director)
• Sara Janus (Benefits Administrator, PCC)
• Don Nordness (Director of Operations, Country Save Products)
• John Sheller (Government Relations Manager, King County Library System; former PCC Board Member 2010-2016)

Board election

The Nominating Committee reviewed application materials, interviewed applicants for board service and consulted references. The committee nominated the following PCC members for election as trustees in the 2017 election to fill the three open seats and presents them here with a background note on each:

• Ben Klasky (President and CEO of IslandWood, an outdoor learning center serving children throughout the Pacific NW; prior service and leadership experience on many boards including KUOW; sustainability and corporate responsibility experience; MBA and masters in education)
• Stephen Tan (Environmental lawyer and partner at Cascadia Law Group; PCC trustee 2006-15 including two terms as board chair; service and leadership roles on nine local and national boards including the National Audubon Society, KNKX-FM and Washington Trails Association)
• Bruce Williams (Incumbent PCC trustee in his sixth year of service; leadership experience on 10 diverse boards in addition to PCC, including service as CEO, Board Chair and General Counsel for HomeStreet Bank; former Peace Corps volunteer; social responsibility, legal and finance experience)

You’ll learn more about the candidates in upcoming issues of the Sound Consumer and we will post the candidates’ biographical information and campaign statements on our website. We’ll also post brief videos of the candidates explaining why they want to serve on PCC’s Board of Trustees.

All candidate information will remain posted throughout the election period.

Voting will begin April 28.

Am I ready to vote?

Q: How do I know if I’m eligible to vote?

A: You are eligible to vote if your signature is on the original member application for your household and you are an active member of PCC Natural Markets (PCC). No one else may vote on behalf of you or your household.

Q: How do I know if I’m an “Active Member” and thereby eligible to vote?

A: You are an active member of PCC if you have a valid membership and you have purchased goods at PCC within the last 12 months. You may vote only if your membership is active as of March 27, 2017. This is the eligibility date set by the Board of Trustees. If you have questions, contact the PCC Co-op office at 206-547-1222 or email membership@pccmarkets.com.

Q: Who can run for election to the board?

A: Any active PCC member can apply to be considered for board service if the member is at least 21 years old and meets the eligibility requirements of PCC’s Bylaws section 3.3. The nominee selection criteria generally includes business leadership and acumen, community leadership, familiarity with the cooperative business model, experience with Policy Governance (the governance system by which the PCC board operates), prior board service, and a demonstrated commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Each year the board and management may also advise the Nominating Committee of other specific skills, competencies or experience they feel would most benefit PCC at that particular time. The goal is always to compose a highly qualified, diverse board that can operate effectively to guide our growing and complex cooperative business.

Q: Who chooses the slate of board candidates?

A: The Nominating Committee is responsible for evaluating application materials, choosing applicants for formal interviews, selecting candidates, and presenting a final slate of candidates to the board and to members. The PCC Board of Trustees appoints one trustee to serve on the Nominating Committee. All remaining members of the Nominating Committee are elected by PCC members in the annual election.

Q: Why are there only three candidates for three seats?

A: PCC’s Bylaws have long provided the Nominating Committee with the flexibility to choose a slate of candidates from available applicants based upon the Co-op’s current and anticipated needs. The Nominating Committee must nominate at least three candidates but is free to nominate more when appropriate. PCC’s Bylaws provide that, if there are the same number of candidates as open seats, members still have the opportunity to vote for or against each candidate. A candidate will be elected if the votes cast for that person’s election exceed the votes cast against that person’s election. If a seat is not filled at an election, the board may choose to appoint someone to that vacancy, but that person must stand for reelection the very next year in order to continue serving on the board.

The process of governing PCC, including electing qualified trustees each year, ultimately rests in the hands of the membership. Your board and Nominating Committee, and the Co-op’s dedicated staff, work on behalf of all members toward PCC’s continued success. Thank you for participating in our cooperative’s governance with your vote.

For more information on PCC’s Bylaws: pccmarkets.com/member/articlesbylaws/.

Next board meeting

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be on Tuesday, March 28 at 2:30 p.m. at the PCC Co-op office: 3131 Elliott Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121. The member comment period is during the first 10 minutes of the meeting and comments are limited to three minutes unless additional time is previously approved by the board chair.

For agenda planning, please email us at board@pccmarkets.com if you plan to attend.