By: Alicia Trout, OCC Board Vice President
Greetings member/owners of the Oneota Community Food Co-op. The 2017 Board election is upon us and we need your vote. This year, 2017, we have two positions to fill on the Oneota Co-op Board of Directors as Alicia Trout and Scott Hawthorn complete their terms on the board.
Board candidates for the 2017 election include the following (five) individuals to fill the two, 3-year term slots on the Co-op Board: Randall Duvall, Scott Hawthorn, Bridgette Hensley, Lilly Jensen, and Emily Neal. An abbreviated candidate statement for each individual can be found in this Scoop publication as well as a calendar for the remaining election period.
The members/owners of the Oneota Co-op have the responsibility to review the candidate statements and vote for your Co-op Directors during the month of March. The full candidate statements can be found on the Co-op website (www.oneotacoop. com) and are included with electronic voting materials online. Candidate statements are also available at the Co-op Customer Service Desk and posted on the bulletin board in the Oneota Co-op foyer. Plus, join us as we get to know these candidates at an informal reception on Wednesday, March 8th at the Co-op from 5:30-6:30 pm. Please thank these candidates for their willingness to serve on the Oneota Co-op Board of Directors.
All members in good standing as of February 1, 2017 will be/were mailed a detailed letter containing election details, announcement of the Annual Meeting of the Membership, and a personal ID and password unique to each member/owner which will be used by the member/owner to vote electronically in the 2017 election. If the Co-op has record of a valid email address for any member/owner in good standing as of February 1st, they will also receive an election email from Simply Voting. If any member in good standing receives a letter containing their electronic voting materials and wishes to instead submit a paper ballot, there will be paper ballots available for pick-up at the store during business hours. In addition, if a paper ballot needs to be mailed we will be happy to do so by request.
Any member/owner who becomes a member in good standing after February 1st, but before March 1st, will be mailed a letter announcing the election details and date of the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Membership, 2017 Candidate Statements, and a paper version of the 2017 ballot for returning to the Co-op.
Any member/owner who becomes a member in good standing after March 1st, but before the end of business on April 1st, will be given a letter announcing the election details and date of the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Membership, 2017 Candidate Statements, and a paper version of the 2017 ballot for returning to the Co-op.
If you do not receive election materials and believe that you should, please call the Co-op at 563-382-4666 to verify your address and membership status.
Completed ballots, electronic and paper, must be received at the Co-op no later than 8:30 pm on Saturday, April 1st.
The Annual Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, April 20th at 7:00 pm and will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah. All member/owners of the Co-op are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting. The meeting will include a presentation by Oneota Co-op General Manager, David Lester, recapping the previous year and plans for the year ahead. There are always delicious snacks and beverages as well.
Click here to read about the 2017 Board Election Candidates!
