The Co-op welcomes all interested owners to confirm candidacy in our next board election cycle. There will be three open seats on the 2025 election ballot. Candidate applications are due Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.
Completing their terms are board members Bill Iverson, Bee Lutz and Carl Peterson. Continuing their terms are Piper Wood, president; Brennan Allsworth, vice-president; Hannah Breckbill, treasurer; Nathan Dietzenbach, secretary.
Expectations and Compensation for OCC Board members
Board member commitment requires one open meeting per month. Terms are three years in duration; seven individuals simultaneously serve in differing board capacities. Board member compensation consists of $150 per month. Payment is completed via a deposit into the membership account of each board member. Learn more about the process, and reasons, surrounding Co-op owners’ majority votes securing this compensation here https://oneotacoop.com/2024-election-ballot-includes-board-compensation-bylaw-amendment/ and here https://oneotacoop.com/2024-election-results/.
Among board goals is sustaining an accountable and transparent relationship with co-op owners. It is also charged with the hiring, salary parameters, delegation of responsibility and accountability of the general manager. The directors provide fiscal oversight, continue to clarify OCC values and are tasked with envisioning and securing Oneota Co-op’s future for generations to come.
The Oneota Community Food Cooperative (OCC) Board of Directors is responsible for the long-range viability of your co-op. This is accomplished through the myriad of skill sets each elected member brings to the position. Collectively, these abilities merge to become the voice of overall direction for the ownership. Our board is best served by having representation as diverse as the Co-op itself.
Following is a sprinkling of some of the attributes board members have contributed: an interest in locally produced food and goods; a commitment to cooperative values; love of community-building; financial oversight skills; industry knowledge and/or business expertise; critical thinking capacities; policy formulation and articulation abilities; data “geeks”; foodies, farmers and much, much more.
How your co-op is governed
Oneota Co-op practices Policy Governance, also known as the Carver model for 1970’s founder John Carver. Policy Governance defines and guides organizational relationships. Basic OCC tenets include the following: members are the owners of the business; owners elect board members to direct their co-op; the board is responsible for the general manager; the general manager is responsible for store operations and staff; the staff serves shoppers. It is understood that many of these shoppers may be owners.
Policy Governance is designed to separate individual roles. This separation facilitates business functionality. Board members remain accountable to the ownership; the general manager remains accountable to the elected governing body. This is accomplished through: clearly written policy; providing the general manager the authority to implement said policy; accountability by all parties.
Thankfully, you will be joining a governing body that has been shaped for decades by many who have served before. Serving on the board doesn’t mean re-inventing the wheel; it means it’s your time to conceptualize and implement how the wheel continues to move forward.
Application packets may be found at our registers or by clicking here Inquiries may be directed to OCC Board Vice President Brennan Allsworth at oneotaallsworth@gmail.com.
2025 BOARD ELECTION CALENDAR:
