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Take an Organic Valley Farm Tour, August 22nd —pg. 11 First Alternative NATURAL FOODS CO-OP CommunIty market monthly AUGUST 2015 Volume 36 • Issue 8 Samples & Demos from: Brew Dr. | Co-op Kitchen Greenwillow Grains | Hot Winter Sauce STORE Planet Verde Smart | Chicken | Tofurky SOUTH Q-Tonic | Zaidalia and more Door Prizes Pouring Free Samples: Live Music FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 Save 10% on all regularly priced items from Block Party alcohol merchants. Not 4:30-7:30 PM combinable with case discount or sale items. NWILLOW - EE G OW TO R R H G A K I ATUR L N E E U S F E B S ILLED R E CH EC E IP E H Pg. 4 Pg. 5 Pg. 7 Pg. 12 S C the most PhotoGraPhed Barn In amerICa "What was the barn like before it was photographed?" he said. "What did it look like, how was it different from the other barns, how was it similar to other barns?" —Don Delillo, an excerpt from the novel White Noise www.firstalt.coop Illustrations by Stev Ominski north Corvallis: 2855 nW Grant ave. | South Corvallis: 1007 SE 3rd St. | Open daily 7am-10pm board and manager reports Joel Hirsch Board of Directors Cindee Lolik Frank Worrell General Manager NCG from the from the Managers Board of directors August is going to be a busy month at your It’s my turn to write this month's First NCG is basically a co-op of co-ops. (Again, Co-op. As you read this, we are in the midst Alternative Board of Directors article. One more about this on the next page —ed.) of preparations and training on our new thing I've done every other time I've written Although this relationship hasn't been Point of Sale system. (Point of Sale, or POS, is this is to talk about you, our Owners, getting without some criticism, NCG understands grocery store vernacular for our cash register involved with this special enterprise that so our business model—like the need for our systems.) many of us hold so dear. Product Selection Guidelines, which are Yes, we're finally replacing our old register This month, in addition to that, I will also talk definitely not based on profitability—and system—installed sometime in the last about some of the ways our management have helped us become more efficient and century—for an up-to-date new system that relationship with National Co+op Grocers profitable as a co-op, and to secure new lines fits the bill when it comes to efficiencies, (NCG) has been of benefit to our Co-op, and of credit and capital when we were faced ability to report on sales, quicker check out. review why this relationship was necessary. with a serious cash shortage. First, though, I want to welcome our two new Some of changes NCG, along with the First Board members, Richard Cunard and Kathy Alternative team, have been instrumental in Berg, and say farewell to two long serving and are: well-loved Board members, Toni Hoyman • A complete management reorganization and Claire Pate. This was Claire’s second time put in place at the beginning of 2015. Our soon to retire Point of Sale System serving on the First Alternative Board, and • Cost of living wage adjustments for all staff Toni has served for over a decade. We are happy to have the assistance of the at the beginning of 2015. Centralized Services Manager from National Our annual owner rendezvous is being • Significant changes to the deli area at the Cooperative Grocers in this process, and to held at the Osborn Aquatic Center, South Store that have opened the area up be able to draw on the experiences of two august 2nd, from 5-8:30pm. Come beat and improved the shopping experience. Okay, the current system isn't this old of our sister co-ops—Food Front in Portland the summer heat and enjoy a swim and a root • The development of a new four unit Catapult, as it's called, complies with all and the Ashland Co-op—who have been beer float. This event is free to all Owners’ financial reporting format for each business Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards and using the system for some time. Another households. unit: North, South, Kitchen, and Admin. features state-of-the-art monitoring options example of how we are all stronger together. • An assessment and reorganization of the to protect the Co-op and you, our loyal (more examples on the next page —ed.) marketing department. customers, from those nasty data breaches While we are excited for this change, we The efficacy of these changes are reflected we keep reading about in the news. are also cognizant of the fact that it will take in these benchmarks for success at First Of course, we had already taken steps to a little while to get used to this brand new Alternative in 2015: make sure your credit/debit purchases were system, so we ask for your patience and • Attain a positive net income secure by temporarily switching out our support as we learn its ins and outs. Thank • Reduction of discounts you in advance, from all of us here at your credit/debit card terminals in June and July. Owner Rendezvous 2014 • Sale of rental property owned by the The new Point of Sale will have all the same Co-op. Co-op, proceeds of which went to pay protections built in, which will simplify the First Alternative Co-op is more than just down our debt. credit/debit process and allow you to once a neighborhood grocery store. Being an • Increase of accounts payable again swipe your own card. Owner and shopping here is about more • Reduction of inventory than supporting a locally-owned business, it's • Refinance long term debt by end of 2015 We are making the switchover in the slower an ethical choice and a lifestyle choice. months of August and September so we can The process hasn't been painless, and it's all be experts by the time everyone gets back Our enterprise is about more than commerce. still a work in progress, but so far it's been to town in late September. We contribute to the quality of life here a success. We are stronger for it, and getting in our community in more ways than just even stronger still. having the best produce department in town, organic or otherwise. Those responsible for The Board now meets on the fourth Tuesday its management have much to consider; not of every month at 6pm at the South Store. only how to improve everyone's experience Each meeting opens with a designated time in these stores we all love to shop, but also as for Owners like you to come and speak. You a business that employs nearly 150 people in can also write us with your thoughts and our community—people who depend on its ideas. We certainly think things are better, continued existence. but we want to know what you think. Please, let us know. It's precisely because we are not a traditional Checking out, a long time ago in a co-op not at all far away business, where profit is the only motivation, We hope you are having a wonderful that banks have difficulty extending us credit summer and hope to see you at the Owner and operating capital. Rendezvous at Osborn Aquatic Center! The Co-op Thymes is published on the 1st of each month. Correspondence and submissions are welcome. Send by e-mail or ‘snail mail’ to addresses listed below. Welcome to the Board! thank you and farewell! Deadline for all submissions is the 15th of the prior month. Opinions expressed in The Co-op Thymes are strictly those of the writers and do not represent an endorsement by, or official position of, First Alternative Co-op, its Board, managers, or Owners, unless specifically identified as such. The same is true of claims made by paid advertisers. The Co-op Thymes is a free publication available at First Alternative and at other locations in the Corvallis area. It can also be viewed online at www.firstalt.coop. Editors ............ Adam Payson, Jessica Brothers Design/layout ....... Adam Payson Photography ....... Adam Payson, Emily Stimac kathy Berg richard Cunard toni hoyman Claire Pate owner relations Committee Finance Committee STORE LOCATIONS & HOURS Tuesday, Aug 4th - 12:15pm Wednesday, Aug 12th - 5pm north store 2855 NW Grant Ave., Corvallis, OR 97330 • (541) 452-3115 South Store meeting room North Store meeting room south store: 1007 SE 3rd St., Corvallis, OR 97333 • (541) 753-3115 TINGS Board recruitment & Board of directors E hours: Open 7 days a week, 7am-10pm Elections Committee Tuesday, Aug 25th - 6pm • ME Thursday, Aug 20th - 6pm South Store meeting room Web site: www.firstalt.coop Email address: [email protected] CO-OP BOARD • North Store meeting room Owner comments welcomed in first 10 Editor’s email: [email protected] Fa Board’s email: [email protected] minutes. 2 The First Alternative Co-op Thymes August 2015 stronger together the seven Cooperative Principles: 1. ......Voluntary and open membership 2. Democratic member control 3 ....... Member economic participation STRONGER 4 .........Autonomy and independence 5. .......Education, training, information 6. .Cooperation among co-ops +TOGETHER 7 ..............Concern for community the sIxth PrInCIPle: CooPeratIon amonG Co-oPs Cooperative collaboration helps us stay strong and spread the message Gather 'round folks, here comes the sixth From hindsight Came the Principles The evolution of the world outside of the The buying power we have as a group is far and penultimate cooperative principle— Nowhere in the "Laws and Objects" is the list cooperative enterprise necessitated an beyond what any one of us would have on Cooperation Among Co-ops.