The Co-Operator the Monthly Newsletter of the East End Food Co-Op • Pittsburgh, PA Local Foods Success Story by Heather Hackett, Marketing & Member Services Manager
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Vol. 25: Issue 09 • September 2014 The Co-operator The monthly newsletter of the East End Food Co-op • Pittsburgh, PA Local Foods Success Story by Heather Hackett, Marketing & Member Services Manager Some of you may be aware that Septem- brands also include Parkhurst Dining, A few Co-op managers, including my- Jamie Moore: The introduction of our ber is Local Foods Month. When you Cura Hospitality, Six Penn Kitchen, self, had the opportunity to talk about FarmSource program in 2002 pioneered think of local foods, though, you may Porch, and Smileycookie.com. Even our aspirations for expansion with the creation of the infrastructure needed not think of Eat’n Park, a regional chain if you are a native Pittsburgher who Eat’n Park Hospitality Group’s Direc- to get local products from the hands of restaurants that serves more than 50 grew up dining at Eat’n Park when it tor of Sourcing and Sustainability, of our suppliers onto the plates of our million guests every year. These popular was still only a local novelty, there may Jamie Moore, earlier this year at the guests. Through our FarmSource program, annual Pennsylvania Association for we work with more than 150 local farm- Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) Farm- ers and producers. The differentiator of ing for the Future Conference. Moore’s this program is that we have defined what primary responsibilities with ENPHG “local” means to us. are to source ingredients, assist with continued on page 6 sustainability initiatives, and be active within the community; plus he has served on the PASA Board of Direc- tors and is a certified organic crop inspector. He was excited and encour- aging of our growth because he knows firsthand, from his 13 years working with ENPHG, what a positive impact a growing business committed to clean, healthy foods and giving back to the community can have. I was so inspired by the accomplishments Moore recounted to us during our discus- sion that I asked him to share with our members what the company is up to now as a demonstration of what positive establishments started as a single car- still be some aspects of the ENPHG’s growth looks like. hop style restaurant right here in Pitts- operations that might surprise you, like burgh in 1949, and have since grown their commitment to local sourcing and Heather Hackett: Jamie, can you tell our into the entire portfolio of foodservice sustainable practices, along with the readers a little bit more about Eat’n Park’s concepts that comprise the Eat’n Park importance they place on giving back to commitment to local sourcing, and how Hospitality Group (ENPHG). ENPHG’s the community. you go about fulfilling this commitment? IN THIS ISSUE: CO-OP DEALS FLYERS: September 3rd – September 16th September 17th – September 30th CO-OP NEWS 2-3 MEMBERS ONLY: Be sure to use your 10% quarterly discount by September 30th! HE OOD OU AT T F Y E 4 The next quarter goes from October 1st – December 31st. IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ON YOUR PLANET 5 BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The next meeting will take place on Monday, September 22nd at 7 PM. Join us for the Annual Meeting on September 7th, 5-8 PM. FOR YOUR INFORMATION 6 More information is on page 2. STAFF NEWS 7 NEW MEMBER ORIENTATIONS: To register, call 412.242.3598 ext. 103 or email [email protected] CAFÉ MENU 8 HOLIDAY HOURS: On Monday, September 1st, the Co-op will close early at 7 PM, UPCOMING EVENTS 8 and the Café will close at 6 PM. East End Food Co-op • 7516 Meade St. Pittsburgh, PA 15208 • www.eastendfood.coop • 412.242.3598 • Open to Everyone, Every Day 8 AM – 9 PM DO NOT DELAY NOT DO DATED MATERIAL: DATED PERMIT NO. 1800 NO. PERMIT PITTSBURGH, PA PITTSBURGH, PAID Pittsburgh, PA 15208 PA Pittsburgh, U.S. POSTAGE U.S. 7516 Meade St. Meade 7516 NONPROFIT ORG. ORG. NONPROFIT East End Food Co-op Food End East CO-OP NEWS GM Report Board Corner by Justin Pizzella, EEFC General Manager by EEFC Board of Directors By now, you may have already heard we can no longer continue the Volun- Greetings, members! There’s been a lot of historic Union Project (801 N. Negley that the Co-op is ending the Volunteer teer Program. interesting work happening with the board’s Ave., Pittsburgh). The Annual Meeting Program. It was with deep regret that we Member Linkage Committee (MLC) and will kick off with music, socializing, came to this decision, and we will miss The General Manager and the Board of Annual Meeting Committee, and we are and an awesome—and FREE!—Co-op having non-staff members involved so Directors have mutually decided that excited to share the news with you. catered buffet dinner. After that, there directly in the business operations. We September 14, 2014, will be the last day will be a brief report on Co-op opera- truly appreciate every moment of time, that our member-owners can volunteer On Sunday, June 13, the MLC had tions and finances, short introductions skills, ideas, and energy that each of our at the Co-op. This has not been an easy planned to do an outdoor “Potluck with from the 2014 board election candi- volunteers contributed. decision. The conclusion that we have the Board” event at Frick Park, but the dates, and an update on the Volunteer reached saddens all of us, but we also uncertain weather forecast led us to Program. It is our hope that these dedicated indi- have a profound responsibility to protect move the event indoors to the Co-op’s viduals, along with all of our members, the Co-op. Administrative Office’s Training Room. Following these presentations from will join us at the Annual Meeting on The potluck was attended by about 18 Co-op staff and directors, members will September 7th to learn more about the We’ve formed many wonderful relation- members, staff, and directors. The goals hear from our featured speaker, Mark circumstances that led to this decision ships with our volunteers over the years, of the meeting were to clarify the role of Goehring, a co-op consultant from CDS and ask any questions they may have. and some of these generous member- the board, communicate the board’s posi- Consulting. Mark specializes in leader- One of the best things about the Volun- owners have been with us for a very, very tion on expansion, present the evaluation ship development and is a masterful teer Program is that it allowed members long time. We were happy to celebrate criteria for expansion, and hear opinions facilitator on the topic of co-op com- to have direct participation in our Co-op. our volunteers last year at our Annual and ideas from attendees. Information munity engagement. He will give a The Annual Meeting will also offer a Meeting because we appreciated what a about membership and expansion was presentation on the topic of expansion unique opportunity to take part in a great avenue for both participation and presented on posters made for this event, and how the EEFC can benefit from a group exploration of other methods for exploration into the Co-op world the which were used to help facilitate discus- participatory business model. Members participating in your Co-op, facilitated program provided, and it served many of sion among members. will then have an opportunity to par- by Mark Goehring of CDS Consulting. us well. Unfortunately, we must all take a ticipate in an interactive group exercise (More information is in this month’s deep breath and close that chapter in our After much spirited and insightful con- on this theme. “Board Corner.”) history in order to ensure our continued versation from this and past MLC events, success in the future. it is clear that members want more input Please mark your calendars and stay on For those members who did not partici- on the Co-op expansion, in addition to the lookout for more Annual Meeting pate in the Volunteer Program, below is We thank each and every one of you for increased opportunities to communicate announcements over the next few the letter that we sent to all of our exist- your many contributions of time and with the board. Now that the MLC has weeks. This year’s meeting will be a ing, eligible volunteers late last month. support during these past 35+ years, collected a good amount of data and great opportunity to voice your opinions _________________________________ without which the Co-op would never member feedback from our member link- and thoughts to the board, and we want have gotten so far. We now ask for your age activities this year, we have begun re- to hear from you. We really hope you Greetings, Co-op Volunteer, understanding at this critical time in our searching more effective ways to enhance will join us! cooperative journey. member-board communications. Some Regretfully, we must inform you that the great examples brought to us by our mem- If you can’t make it, or you’d like to share East End Food Co-op’s Volunteer Pro- Justin, the General Manager, is available bers include making MLC event flyers your thoughts with directors outside of gram must be terminated. Unfortunately, to answer any questions you may have available at check-out and enhanced use the Annual Meeting, members are always current labor laws and corresponding regarding the implementation of this of social media to communicate informa- welcome to email the board at boarddir@ insurance requirements in the Com- change.