Candidates were asked to list their occupation, education, special interests and to write a short essay in which they answer these questions:

Why do you believe members should choose you to represent them?

In what areas should the Board be putting its attention in the next five years?

What else, if anything, would you like to share with the membership?

Keesha Gaskins

Occupation: Executive Director, League of Women Voters Minnesota

Education: B.A., Criminal Justice/Political Science, St. Cloud State; J.D., Northeastern University

Special Interests: Politics, public service, environmental justice

The members should choose me to represent them, because I represent the community. I am a longtime Minneapolis resident, both south and north side. I am committed to supporting the mission and values of the Wedge Co-op with a particular interest in the Trusteeship Committee.

I have solid experience with board service, customer service, and I understand and embrace the fiduciary responsibilities required of board members.

The Wedge Co-op is a cornerstone of the Minneapolis community and can do even more to reach out to populations currently not availing themselves of the good food and quality education around nutrition. I believe that over the next five years the Board should look to expanding its reach into multi-cultural communities, expanding educational options and maintain the high quality of product offerings, customer service, and store management.

I have a long history of commitment to social, political, and economic justice and nowhere do these issues hit closer to home than at the dinner table. Working with the Wedge Co-op gives me an opportunity to bring my values and skills to an institution that has a demonstrated commitment to the same.

Fred Grieco

11-year incumbent seeking fifth term

Occupation: Home dad of 12-year-old daughter; COO of Mary Hayes Grieco's counseling, workshop, public speaking and writing business; publisher of her book, Be A Light: Illumined Essays for Times Like These

Education: B.S. and M.S., Education, Queens College (CUNY). Reflective Leadership Program, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

Special Interests: Co-op philosophy and how to make it work in daily life, computer tinkering, healthy and whole relationships with my wife, children and grandchildren; being surrounded by wild nature

I am so pleased and grateful for the success that we as a community have attained. It took all of us - from those visionaries of the past to those of the present. It is with this understanding that I would like to continue working on the Board.

I will: 1) continue to keep alive in our daily business the spirit of our co-op values and principles; 2) work to strengthen our infrastructure so that the overall organization of the Wedge remains strong. We must maintain our high integrity as we go through changes internally and in the culture around us.

In my past service, I have been a steady voice for the primary importance of member-owner education and empowerment. It is very important to me that members maintain control of our co-op, and that it doesn't get lost in corporate thinking and attitudes, as has happened to some other co-ops around the nation. I am passionate about the Wedge being a leader in fairness to workers, vendors and farmers, as well as informed and vigilant about authentic organic standards and our commitment to sustainability. Regarding infrastructure, I want to improve the processes for WedgeShare, GM evaluation, and Board nominations.

Patrick O'Boyle

Occupation: Owner, Fire-Formed Consulting: independent consulting in continuous/quality improvement area with emphasis on Baldrige-based criteria, ISO standards implementation and internal quality audit programs

Education: B.A., Organizational Management & Communication, Concordia University

Special Interests: Healthy eating/living - organic food, sustainable agriculture, camping, fishing with grandchildren, meditation

I have a strong interest in organic foods, healthy living, and sustainable agriculture - along with a unique background in business and farming/agriculture. Because of my interests and experience, I feel I would make a valuable contribution to the Wedge as a board member. Specifically, I am committed to maintaining and enhancing member satisfaction through ongoing communication and effective follow-up action.

My experience that supports this role:

• Past owner/operator of "O'Boyle Raspberries" - 14 yrs, a family owned farm
• Extensive Quality Assurance experience - Minnesota Quality Award & MBNQA
• United Way Campaign Chair & Co-Chair (2 years), with over $300K in contributions
• Current business practice that assists organizations in achieving high performance

In the next five years, I believe the Wedge should continue supporting and expanding its focus on community outreach programs, fair trade practices and sustainable agriculture. In addition, the Wedge needs to continue efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, with a long-range goal of becoming a leading organization in the industry.

I fully support the mission of the Wedge and want to be a part of the organization's successful future. I would consider it an honor to represent you on this board.

Brenda Pfahnl

Occupation: Cooperative Fund of New England (prior to moving back to MN in June)

Education: B.S., Community Economic Development, University of Minnesota/Goddard College; M.S., Community Economic Development, Southern New Hampshire University; M.B.A., Finance, SNHU.

Special Interests: Nutrition and food production, fair trade and sustainable development, community development, community finance, gardening, tennis

Thank you for your consideration! I'd consider it a privilege to represent you by serving on the Board. I hope to put my past experiences in the cooperative movement and community finance to serve the Wedge community.

I am a native Minnesotan and long time advocate for cooperativism as a tool for community development. I have been a food co-op member for twenty-five years, most recently in New Hampshire. Before returning home to Minnesota (in June) I was employed by the Cooperative Fund of New England where I had the opportunity to work with many cooperatives throughout New England. As a volunteer I have served on the Boards of the Concord Food Cooperative and Nesenkeag Organic Farm.

Looking into the next five years at the Wedge, I feel that all of our cooperative actions should be driven by three things: our mission, the wishes of the membership, and the Cooperative Principals. We must strive to remain financially healthy. On a personal level I feel that we should continue to support local and organic food systems to assure a safe, delicious and healthy food economy. We should strive to be innovative and thoughtful about how we will continue to grow.

Sarah Wovcha

3-year incumbent seeking second term

Occupation: Attorney and Non-Profit Executive Director

Education: B.A., International Studies, Macalester College; J.D., University of Minnesota; M.P.H., Harvard School of Public Health/Kennedy School of Government

Special Interests: The health of the environment and sourcing healthy, sustainably grown food

The Wedge, grounded in sustainable, healthy food, respect for employees, member empowerment, and environmentally sound practices, reflects my own world view. As Executive Director of a successful nonprofit, I manage challenging issues like those encountered by the Wedge: growth, sustainability in a competitive environment, and increasing economic pressures. My training in law and public health relates to Wedge priorities: environmental health, sustainable food, and fair trade. As a Wedge Board member I champion issues such as these. I want to serve the Wedge because my management and organizational development skills and knowledge of sustainable food help the Wedge remain at the forefront of cooperatives.

I would like the Board to expand support for programs, like WedgeShare, that give back to the community in tangible, significant ways. I will also address important issues such as fair trade and local food. The Wedge must remain engaged in topics that affect our farmers and environment, like Midwest flooding, which the Wedge aptly responded to with Sow the Seeds. Finally, the Wedge should seek ways to increase membership from diverse communities.

In spare time I work on my own organic food production: in my garden with husband Jeff and children Eli and Oliver.