OCTOBER 2016 VOLUME 37 • ISSUE 10 THYME COMMUNITY MARKET MONTHLY ENERGY BAR BEANS FOR COMMUNITY SPOOKY GOOD SIDE BY SIDE BAGS 2017 FOOD LAND FAIR TRADE COMPARISON ELECTION TRUST DESSERTS 3 4 7 12 ommunity Celeb op C ratio A Co- n toberfest October 7th from 4-7pm North and South Stores FOOD • DRINK • MUSIC Grilled local veggies, brats & tofurky Free samples throughout the store North Store South Store manager reports from the Who Owns the Co-op? new Owners GENERAL in August! MANAGER 45 Cindee Lolik General Manager cooperative, which just held their You! It’s Co-op Month! 77th Annual Meeting; and Pioneer Telephone which has been serving The Co-op’s Local A time to celebrate your Co-op and the communities from the Willamette spirit of cooperation in Oregon, the United Valley to the Oregon Coast for Designations States, and around the globe. Did you know over 65 years. With 46 years that there are over 30,000 cooperatives in under our belts this year, we’re the United States that provide approximately adolescents compared to them! Local Six 2 million jobs and can boast 256 million Groceries from the members? We are proud of our cooperative counties closest to heritage and our over 11,000 Owners right Some of those folks are, unfortunately, looking for enthusiastic dedicated Owners home: Benton, Linn, here in the Valley, and we’re celebrating by unaware that they are members of a co-op. to do so! Another benefit of being a Co-op Lane, Marion, and Polk reaching out to our customers this month When I was doing new staff orientation Owner is that once a month, on a day of your sessions, one of my favorite questions to to encourage those who are not Owners choosing, you can shop and receive 10% off ask was, “do you belong to any co-ops?” to become Owners. The benefits are many all regularly priced items in addition to all the Local Direct Groceries that are There would always be one or two new and go beyond just owning a share in a vital, great Co+op Deals and Co+op Basics that thriving food co-op. delivered direct to us employees who would say no then retract the Co-op has each and every day. We call it by their grower or that when asked if they were members of Two of the primary benefits: being an Owner Owner Appreciation Day. producer. a credit union—and with such great credit gives you a voice in your Co-op. Our Board If you are already an Owner, thank you. If unions in Corvallis it’s no surprise that many of Directors consists of a group of Owners, you’re considering Ownership but haven’t of them chose to do their banking at one. elected by Owners, and their mission is to Local Oregon yet taken that step, we’d be happy to talk to Credit Unions are cooperatives. they operate help guide the vision of the Co-op, and to Groceries that are you about why it’s such a great idea, and to under the same principles of cooperation as give direction to management to fulfill that born and raised right help you with the process—just ask any of your Co-op. vision. As an Owner, you vote for those Board here in the great state our staff how to join. It’s not only credit unions, there is also members who represent you. As an Owner of Oregon Consumers Power Inc., an electric you can also run for the Board—we’re always Happy Cooperative Month!! from the BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Williams Board Secretary Welcome to fall. October, when the leaves The reset of the North store is complete, changes to our policies to allow Owners are turning, the pumpkins are orange, and and is drawing quite a bit of attention. I’m to sit on multiple committees in limited the kitchen overflows with the bounty of the sitting there as I write this article. Go check circumstances. We will also be compiling a garden and orchard. it out. list of skill sets and professional competencies Our co-op’s produce section is also The Ten Rivers Community Food Land Trust of Board members. overflowing with the bounty of harvests from project is an awesome group we heard from Financially, although July was a little slow, our local growers, many of whom sell direct recently. Their goal is to make land affordable we’re keeping our heads above water and to the Co-op, bringing you fresher produce at to young farmers who didn’t inherit farmland looking to improve significantly on last year. lower prices and more income for our local by holding the land in trust while they use One thing you have done to reduce expenses environment. Several of us will be going to farmers. A win-win arrangement. Peppers, and improve it. (More on pg. 7) The Board is voted to allow electronic voting. This the Provender Co-op Cafe conference in kale, eggplant, pears, and other local produce is working on a formal statement of support will save the Co-op thousands of dollars in Hood River. This is a great opportunity to are in abundance, many are on sale. Be sure for this project. printing and postal expense every year. You share knowledge with other co-ops. I always to go through our produce section. In our meeting last month we had a financial will still be able to vote by printed ballot if learn new ways of thinking and managing at The Co-op has been busy in other areas as training seminar led by our very capable Jim that is your preference. Thank you. this event. well, with the retrofit of LED lighting replacing Smith, a review of our financial condition, October being National Co-op Month, We have commissioned a market study by fluorescent bulbs and ballasts. More light, agreed to change banks (finally), committed on Friday, October 7, the Co-op is holding Cooperative Development Services to help less power, longer life, no flicker—what’s to a significant pay down of our emergency an event called Co-optoberfest, at both us consider ways forward. We should have not to like. loan from NCG, and considered minor stores, from 4-7 pm. Bring a friend and help results from that study this month. Your them become an Owner of your favorite thoughts and suggestions on this important cooperative. Board members will be in subject are always welcome. Leave a note attendance. The Co-op Thymes is published on the 1st of each month. Correspondence and at customer service, mail, email, or come submissions are welcome. Send by e-mail or ‘snail mail’ to addresses listed below. The Board is looking forward and sideways to talk to us in person. We always love to Deadline for all submissions is the 15th of the prior month. Opinions expressed in The find ways to meet our ever changing market hear from our Owners. 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 Board of Directors Committee Meetings Schedule locations in the Corvallis area. It can also be viewed online at www.firstalt.coop. Editors ............ Adam Payson, Joel Gustafson Owner Relations Committee Finance Committee Design/layout ....... Adam Payson The primary conduit for communications Reviews, analyzes, and makes Photography ....... Adam Payson, Emily Stimac and relations between Owners and Board. recommendations on financial matters. Illustrations ........ Julia Lont, Stev Ominski Wednesday, Oct. 5th at 11:30am Wednesday, Oct. 12th at 5:30pm in the South Store meeting room in the North Store meeting room Board Recruitment & First Alternative Store Locations & Hours Elections Committee Board of Directors NORTH STORE 2855 NW Grant Ave., Corvallis, OR 97330 • (541) 452-3115 Works to enhance Board performance Comprised of elected Owners, the Board SOUTH STORE: 1007 SE 3rd St., Corvallis, OR 97333 • (541) 753-3115 and recruit qualified candidates. puts cooperative principles into action. HOURS: Open 7 days a week, 7am-10pm No Meeting in October. Tuesday, Oct. 25th at 6pm www.firstalt.coop • [email protected] Web site: Email address: Meetings will resume in September in the South Store meeting room Editor’s email: [email protected] • FA Board’s email: [email protected] 2 The First Alternative Co-op Thymes October 2016 energy bar comparison, lotus foods, staff anniversaries SIDE BY SIDE ENERGY BAR COMPARISON Fat Protein Non- Added Why it’s special (where it lands on taste Brand Kosher Vegan Raw Paleo GF Yadira Ruiz (g) (g) GMO Sweetener scale) Sunbow Produce, Primal Strips 3 11 Cane juice Has an excellent “meat” texture. (3) Thymes contributor Vegan Seitan Whether you’re a student going from school Brown sugar and It’s made with Bison meat. Sweet and smoky, 12 11 to extra-curricular activities and all-night Epic fruit juice juicy cranberry chunks. (4) study sessions, or a busy parent trying to Sugar (in the Made/produced by Native Americans. Buffalo 2 7 balance everything for everyone, or a person Tanka Bar cranberries) meat. Soy free, good texture, fruit chunks. (2) on the run because that’s how you do— Brown rice syrup, Clif Bar Nut lacking the time to eat a wholesome meal is 11 7 tapioca syrup, Low glycemic index.