January Coop Updates and General Meeting Reminder

January 22, 2021

Hello Fellow Coop Members,

We hope this latest update from your Coop finds you and your family healthy and safe. We are grateful that 2020 is over and welcome a new year that holds the promise of the vaccines and hopes that together we are beginning to see a light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. However, the Coop anticipates having to operate under at least some of the constraints of the COVID pandemic during most, if not all, of 2021.

The General Coordinating team, with the rest of the staff, continues to plan for the transition from “contingency” mode to the “new normal” at the Coop, including when and how to resume the member-labor requirement. And we remain focused on some key principles while we do this important planning work: 1) ensuring a safe environment for Coop staff and members; 2) providing consistent access to healthy food at a reasonable price; 3) supporting member-owner participation at all levels of the Coop; and 4) managing the business so that the Coop can continue to operate for the long term. We look forward to working with all of you to meet the challenges and opportunities in 2021.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATIONS

January marks the kick-off of the 2021 election season for the Park Slope Food Coop Board of Directors with an open call for nominations to the Board. All member-owners are welcome to place their name in nomination (i.e. self-nominate) for the two open Board of Directors positions. The Coop is seeking a slate of candidates that reflects the rich diversity of the Coop membership.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 1. 

Voting will begin in late May and is completed at the Annual Meeting on June 29. Further information about voting in the Board of Directors election will be sent to each member-owner later this spring.

For more information on the nomination process and the Board:

https://www.foodcoop.com/board-of-directors-nomination-process-open/

COOP CLOSED FOR YEAR-END INVENTORY ON JANUARY 31

The Coop will be closed on Sunday, January 31, for our annual year-end inventory. Unlike previous years when large groups of member-workers could be recruited to count the inventory in a few hours, this year staff will be working solo or in socially-distanced pairs over the entire day to get this once-a-year job done. The restrictions of social distancing and limits to the number of people on the shopping floor require us to close the Coop in order to give the staff sufficient time to do an accurate count of the entire inventory.

JANUARY 26 GENERAL MEETING

The Coop’s next General Meeting is on Tuesday, January 26, at 7:00 pm via Zoom. Come to hear the monthly financial report and make your voice heard in the Coop’s democratic governance system.

* To participate in the January GM, you must register by 5:00 pm on Tue., Jan. 26: https://www.foodcoop.com/gmsignup/

*Members who pre-register, and are eligible to attend, will receive a Zoom invite and GM materials via email on Jan. 26 after 5:00 pm.

* Get prepared for the GM by reading the meeting agenda here: https://www.foodcoop.com/gmagenda/

* No work credit is given for your virtual participation.

WORK SHIFTS AVAILABLE

Additional shifts at 6:00 am unloading trucks have been added to the voluntary member-labor system. The Coop needs members to work in the early morning at 5:30 and 6:00 am to help unload trucks and put away deliveries. For members who like to work later in the day, there are 8:30 pm stocking shifts or case maintenance shifts available Monday thru Thursday. These shifts are perfect for members who want to limit their exposure to others and work at a quieter time in the Coop day. And we still have needs at 8:30 pm on Sunday for inventory and case maintenance. Please check out the shift calendar in Member Services for all the open slots.

CHANGE TO SHIFT INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Because the Coop is looking for members to work these early morning or evening shifts, we changed the incentive program to encourage member participation on these important shifts. If you work a shift that begins before 7:00 am or at 8:30 pm, you will earn one extra shift credit for every 4 shifts completed. Only work completed on shifts meeting at these times will earn the extra credit. All credits earned will be placed in your FTOP bank and will be available to use when the member-labor requirement is resumed.

CART RETURN HOURS HAVE CHANGED

The cart return service (“walkers”) is now available Monday – Wednesday from 1:30 pm – 6:45 pm and Thursday – Sunday from 8:30 am – 6:45 pm. Please plan your shopping accordingly. If you take a Coop cart during the hours that the cart return service is not available, we request that you return the cart as soon as you are finished with it. Please do not keep it at your residence because the Coop has a limited number of outside carts for members to use.

Thank you for your continued support of the Coop and the Coop’s staff who’ve worked tirelessly for months making the Coop a welcoming, safe place for all. As essential workers, many staff have been able to secure appointments to get the vaccine and some have received their first dose. Relief and hope are shared by all.

Stay safe! Wear your mask! Watch your distance!

Ann Herpel on behalf of the General Coordinators