Consider Running for the Board!

Want to help guide the Wedge’s future? Do you care about membership and how the Wedge can continue to thrive in a changing business environment? A strong, knowledgeable board is essential for the health of our co-op.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Running for the Board:

1 You want to make a contribution to your community. Most people who serve on the board mention this as a primary motivation. The Wedge Co-op maintains a tradition of community involvement in a number of ways, including Wedgeshare, a philanthropic program created by the board of directors in 1997. Having a strong and vital food co-op is an important part of what makes our community a great place to live.

2 You want to give something back to your co-op. Maybe you shop at the Wedge because you’ve made dietary changes, or are committed to making a more positive contribution to the health of the environment. Maybe the financial benefits of membership are an important reason for your patronage. Whatever your reasons, board membership provides an opportunity to actively support the growth and success of the Wedge.

3 You have talent and energy to share and are interested in professional development. The Wedge board of directors is a team of seven people who work with the General Manager. Each director makes a unique contribution, drawing on professional experience from diverse occupations. Past and current board members have included business executives, accountants, community organizers, lawyers, self-employed or small business owners, administrators from the non-profit world and students - all united by their desire to use their talents in a new context.

4 You want to be actively involved in representative democracy. The Wedge Co-op is a member-owned, member-governed business operating according to internationally-recognized cooperative principles. Democratically governed, the Wedge is a unique example of a different kind of organization- one in which each member has a say in its governance. Learning about the national and international coop movement, and the ways in which it tries to "grow" democracy, is one of the benefits of being a board member.

5 You will be able to answer the question "Just what does the Board DO anyway?". Maybe you have wondered just how the Wedge and its board of directors operate. Serving on the board gives you insight into this process. Board members represent the Wedge to the public, ensure that member assets are protected, oversee the work of the General Manager (the only employee the board supervises directly), review and approve management plans, and envision and plan for the Co-op’s future. The board does not get involved in day-to-day operational decisions, such as product selection or pricing.

As a board member, you are focused on the future, and on ensuring that our best values and practices are carried forward as the Co-op grows.

Applications and information about Board responsibilities are available at the Customer Service Desk or will be mailed upon request. To receive an emailed application, send your request with "Board Application Requested" to wedgebodasst@yahoo.com You must be an active member in good standing to run for the board. Completed applications are due by noon on Friday, July 11, 2003. The nominations committee will review applications and present the slate of candidates to the membership for its consideration. Ballots and candidate profiles will be mailed in mid-October.