New Member Orientation

The New Member Orientations are informational meetings designed for prospective Coop members. Pre-registration is required. You may pre-register on the Join the Coop page or through the Coop's Membership Office. All Orientations last approximately two hours, including a tour of the Coop and a Question and Answer session. If you join, you will be able to shop the following day. If you do not join the Coop within two years of attending the Orientation, you will need to attend another Orientation should you decide to join.

When are the Orientations held?

Remember, pre-registration is required and walk-ins are not allowed. New Member Orientations are held every Monday and Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m., every Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m., and every Sunday at 4:00 p.m.. Orientations begin promptly and last approximately two hours. Once the Orientation has begun, latecomers will not be admitted so please arrive on time. The Meeting Room (on the Coop's second floor) is open ahead of time for those who wish to arrive early.

Around Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's some Orientations may be cancelled. Check the Coop's home page and/or contact the Coop's Membership Office to confirm the Holiday Orientation schedule.


Can I bring my child to the Orientation with me?

Our preference (based 30 years of experience) is that children not attend Orientation: children have tended to become restless during the 2-hour Orientation. However, we will not prevent parents from attending if they have children with them. If your child gets bored and is disruptive you may be asked to leave. Orientation is a prerequisite of membership, and therefore prospective members must attend an entire Orientation (all the way through) prior to joining.

Can I put my child in the Coop's Childcare Room while I attend Orientation?

Yes, if there is space. The space in childcare is limited and we cannot guarantee that there will be a spot for your child. Preference for childcare spots will go to current members who are here working their shifts. Proof of identity is required to sign your child into the Childcare room.

Do all the adults in my household have to attend an Orientation?

Yes, all members of a household (adults over the age of 18 who share food and/or other household items) must attend an Orientation. However, housemates may come to Orientation separately. Once one member of the household has attended an Orientation and presented appropriate ID, the whole household may complete the process of joining. The members of your household who still need to attend Orientation have three months to do so. Remember, they will be asked to present appropriate ID when after the Orientation in order to complete your household's joining process.

Once I have attended the Orientation, how soon can I begin to shop at the Coop?

The following day. It takes up to several hours to process all the applications we receive each day and to enter your data into the Membership Database. As a result, even though you have selected a shift, your information will not be in the computer until start of business the day after you join.