Gifts of Basket Combinations Community Monthly for a Perfect DIY in This Issue: Holiday Season
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read all about it! dotcoop GLOBAL EXCELLENCE award, p. 16 e DECEMBER Co-op staff share 2013 e their favorite gift V o l u m e 3 4 • I s s u e 1 2 gIFts oF basket combinations Community Monthly for a perfect DIY In This Issue: holiday season. Board’s Month in Review: 2 General Manager Report, South good foode Store Manager Report, Giving Tree: 3 Entertaining Holiday: 4 Produce Picks, Donna’s Kitchen, Wine Buzz: 5 Co-op Classes, Recipe Demo Calendar: 6 DIY Holidays & Specials: 7-10 All About Staff: 11 Italian Dinner Health Services Guide & Unclassifieds: 12 Local Beer & Snacks South Town Art Walk, Economic Vitality Survey, Chocolate & Cheer Letters: 13 December Happenings: 14 Budget Bites, Winter Wellness & 3 Waters Project:15 Recipes—A Taste of Africa:16 YOUR VOTE: 2014 Beans for Bags Recipients! Heartland Humane society January - Mary’s River Gleaners Habitat for Humanity The Beans for Bags program is the Co- March op’s way of giving back to the community Court Appointed special Advocates when you save resources by using your (CAsA) own bags at the register. Homeless education Program 385 Co-op owners voted to award the April - Coastal Food Bank 2014 Beans for Bags donations to 16 June Community outreach local organizations. Ten Rivers Food Web Applications for the 2015 Beans for Bags How do I participate? nominations will be available in March Local 6 Connection - Bring your own reusable bags to the store 2014 and are due by September 1, 2014. July - Furniture share and take a bean for each one you use at the september Corvallis environmental Center If your organization is interested in senior Dog Rescue of oregon register. applying for the 2015 year, please contact - Place your beans in the towers by the exit. Outreach Assistant Yadira Ruiz with your - Choose the organization you wish to support organization’s name, the contact person CARDV October - south Corvallis Food Bank by putting the bean in their box. for the nomination form, email and phone number. Please send this info via December Chintimini Wildlife email to [email protected]. Co-op Recycling Center www.firstalt.coop FIRST ALTERNATIVE CO-OP PRSRT STD 1007 SE THIRD ST. US POSTAGE PAID CORVALLIS, OR 97333 SALEM, OR giving tree PERMIT #178 Parent Enhancement Program helps us help families, p. 3 board report the board’s First Alternative Co-op month in review Community Monthly Greetings, First Alternative owner Relations Committee (oRC) Co-op owners and friends! The ORC Board committee is redefining its charter. Here’s a brief report of Coordination of all events recently moved from ORC to the The Co-op Thymes is published on the 1st of each Melissa Hartley, highlights of the November Co-op Marketing Team; ORC had previously sponsored the month. Correspondence and submissions are welcome. Board Member Board meeting. The agenda Annual Owner Meeting and The Locavore’s Winter Table Send by e-mail or ‘snail mail’ to addresses listed below. was varied, with special events. Ideas such as assisting marketing activities, welcoming Deadline for all submissions is the 15th of the prior attention on the 2014 budget and Board goals for the coming new owners, sponsoring speakers/forums, advocating for a month. Opinions expressed in The Co-op Thymes are year. strictly those of the writers and do not represent an Co-ops Recognition Day in Corvallis, and developing board member Co-op talking points were agreed by the Board as endorsement by, or official position of, First Alternative owner guest comment Co-op, its Board, managers, or owners, unless appropriate to ORC. The committee will recruit owners to specifically identified as such. The same is true of claims Linda Kapuler directed questions to the Board regarding the join. made by paid advertisers. Co-op’s mission and guiding principles relating to genetically The Co-op Thymes is a free publication available at modified foods in the Co-op. The Board briefly discussed the Managing Owner Referenda First Alternative and at other locations in the Corvallis great importance of the GMO issue, and the president will Background: Bylaw 3.7 states: “ballots shall include any proper area. Owners may receive the paper via mail. It can draft a full response after further input. issues submitted by petition by … owners.” Lacking any other also be viewed online at www.firstalt.coop. procedure for determining what is a “proper issue,” the Policy Review of 2014 Budget Editors: Donna Tarasawa, & Emily Stimac Governance Committee determined that the Board must Design/layout: Emily Stimac, Jessica Brothers - We discussed Owner Sale Day (OSD) discounts. They are make that initial judgment. At the meeting, the Board voted & Alieta Train a considerable budget item—approximately 2.5% of our to add this procedure to Board Recruitment and Election Photography: Emily Stimac, Jessica Brothers, Alieta Train, total store sales is given back to owners in the form of this Committee (BREC) documentation: “The Board has the Donna Tarasawa & Owen Dell discount. Since OSD is tied to greater volume of sales, the obligation to determine if a referendum meets requirements GM wants to retain the 10% monthly discount on a day of bylaws 3.7.” In the future, BREC will forward owner chosen by the owner for 2014. referenda to the Board for this determination. - Two new proformas provide 5-year financial statement STORE LOCATIONS & HOURS forecasts for the Co-op. One version includes a new point soutH stoRe: of sale system; neither version includes a new roof for the Winter is a great time for planning. While you’re contemplating 1007 SE 3rd St., Corvallis, OR 97333 South Store. This is because options will be discussed during things this winter, you might consider running for a Board Phone: (541) 753-3115 Fax: (541) 753-8401 the year ahead. position in the spring. If you have the inclination, some time, Open 7 days a week, 7am-9pm - The Board’s portion of the budget passed, with some line and skills to share, BREC is looking for candidates, especially NoRtH stoRe: items eliminated. those with experience in business, finance, advocacy, and 2855 NW Grant Ave., Corvallis, OR 97330 other areas related to Board goals, to help plan the future of Phone: (541) 452-3115 Fax: (541) 758-4257 - Capital and other expenditures are being kept low for 2014 the Co-op. Open 7 days a week, 7am-9pm in anticipation of an additional grocery opening in Corvallis this month. Most of all, we wish you all a happy and healthy winter season Web site: www.firstalt.coop and new year ahead. email address: [email protected] Board Meeting Code of Conduct editor’s email: [email protected] The results of the Board retreat discussion on guidelines for FA Board’s email: [email protected] director conduct were approved. Natural Choice Directory ™ Board goals for 2013/2014 The Healthy Green Pages Willamette Valley Also stemming from the Board retreat, three sub-committees VISION STATEMENT were formed to study and recommend actions in these First Alternative aspires to be a cooperative model, areas: Capitalization, Non-Profit Foundation, and Strategic providing high quality natural and organic products Planning. All Board members are on at least one of these sub- in a community oriented store. committees, which will submit monthly reports to the Board. MISSION STATEMENT First Alternative is a community market aspiring Letter to Corvallis City Council. INSIDE! Green-Living Articles • Community Organizations • Business Listings Natural Choice Directory™ to be a model for environmental sustainability The Healthy Green Pages During the Board retreat, a letter to the City Council was ™ Willamette Valley Your Local Resource for Healthy & Green Living Choices n FREE through our purchasing and workplace practices. drafted, stating the Co-op’s desire to be included in future Annual 2013/14 Edition We: discussions regarding commercial redevelopment in South • seek to honor our traditions and build upon our Corvallis. The letter describes FA’s qualifications and track New! potential. record (43 years of business in South Corvallis, 9,000+ owners, • are committed to cultivating tolerance and 160 employees, and nearly $16 million in annual sales). First diversity in our operations. Visit our Mobile Alternative’s alliances with many community organizations are Directory Available • strive for excellence in our products and Your Local Resource forNOW! Healthy and Green Living Choices included. The letter is also being distributed via the City Council Calling for Sustainability…Everyday Visit us online: services, including wholesome organic foods, to members of the Economic Development Commission. HealthyGreenPages.com innovative education and community outreach, while offering high quality, local, organic and minimally packaged products whenever possible. • will act ethically and appropriately in our pricing practices. • seek to provide a democratic business climate, Co-op owners enjoy: fostering worker and Owner participation, according to cooperative principles. • Monthly Owner Sale Day Discounts • Electing Co-op Board of Directors THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES • Voting for Donation Recipients Voluntary and Open Me mbership wel me • Receiving Co-op Thymes via mail Democratic Member Control • Patronage Dividends as profitability allows Member Economic Participation Autonomy and Independence First Alternative Co-op • Community-owned business Education, Training, and Information • Support Owner Worker opportunities Cooperation Among Cooperatives welcomed 100 new owners • It’s refundable! Concern for the Community in October, for a total of To buy an owner share, please stop by Customer service or call 541-753-3115 or 9479 Co-op owners! 541-452-3115. we are the co-op 2 The First Alternative Co-op Thymes December 2013 manager reports, giving tree the season of giving: store improvement: help our friends and neighbors with we just keep raising the bar! efforts big and small In this season of plenty please take the There are also I love the winter.