Candidates sought for 2026 board of directors
By Brennan Allsworth, board vice president
Another election is just around the corner at the Co-op and we welcome all interested member-owners to consider running for our board of directors! There will be two open seats on the 2026 election ballot. As of April next year, two board members will be completing their terms: Hannah Breckbill, treasurer; and Brennan Allsworth, vice-president.
For those community-minded individuals out there who wish to serve, please submit an application for candidacy by Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
A reflection on our last election
A little note from your board vice president here: I would like to thank our entire membership for providing such an excellent group of candidates last year. We needed to fill three seats last election cycle, and we had six people on the ticket. Watching the applications roll in last year and feeling the excitement of community participation was inspiring. I hope that we as a co-op continue to grow thanks to the participation of our wondrous, diverse membership. Hooray for co-ops and local foods! And here’s to another terrific group of folks applying for our board this fall.
Expectations and compensation for board members
The Oneota Community Food Cooperative (OCC) Board of Directors is responsible for the long-range vision of our co-op, clarifying and working towards our values, fiscal oversight, being responsive to the member owners, and more. The board fulfills these responsibilities through the myriad skills and experiences 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.
Board member commitment requires one 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 deposited 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 and here.
Following is a sprinkling of questions one might ponder before applying:
- Do you have a passion for the Co-op mission and/or commitment to cooperative values?
- Do you like caring for your community and neighbors?
- Are you interested in lending your expertise to help local businesses thrive?
- Do you like policy formation and critical thinking?
- Do you have a curiosity for governance systems and policy formation?
- Are you skilled at financial oversight?
- Are you looking for a way to deepen your connection to local cooperatives and the regional food system?
Are you a member-owner who possesses skills not listed above? We fully encourage you to run for the board and share your diverse skillset.
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, and 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.
