Candidates sought for 2027 board of directors’ seats

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 2027 election ballot. As of April next year, two board members will be completing their terms: Piper Wood, board president; and Erin Shaw, member at large.

For those community-minded individuals out there who wish to serve, please submit an application for candidacy by Saturday, January 9, 2027.

A reflection on our last election

Hello from your board vice-president! 

How time does fly folks, as we all know. And as that time goes by, it brings about a new election for our great board of directors. We have been overjoyed with our past few elections because there has been such incredible participation from you all. We have had contested elections the past three years in a row – wooh! 

The past few years have been very productive for your board of directors. We carry on the great work from our predecessors and continually refine, improve, and reflect. Some recent accomplishments include starting our Grow the Good grant to support local farming and farm production, assessing and implementing compensation for our board of directors following a vote of the membership, reviving monthly potlucks, revamping our monthly meetings to allow more reflection and conversation, and hosting the Principles in Practice series in celebration of the 2025 United Nations Year of the Cooperative.

We hope that once again, our members – you! Yes, you! – step up for the call this upcoming election cycle. Join the fun. 

Joining your Co-op’s board of directors is an excellent way to work towards a better Co-op, a better Decorah, and a better region. Hooray for local foods and cooperation!

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, and participation on board committees. 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 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.

Oneota Co-op 2027 Election Calendar:

Candidate recruitment/self-nomination – ongoing

Candidate applications and statements due for all candidates – Saturday, Jan. 9, 2027

Board reviews candidates as necessary – Saturday, Jan. 9 through Sunday, Jan. 24

Final deadline for all candidates for name inclusion on ballot – Monday, Feb. 1, 2027

Candidate forum – (TBD)

Ballots and candidate statements with announcement of annual meeting presented to members in good standing – Monday, March 1

Voting ends at end of business day – Thursday, April 1, 2027

Administrative ballot counting – Early April

Election results announced – After ballots are counted, results are posted in-store, on the Co-op’s website, sent out via our e-newsletter, and announced on social media – in April following ballot counting

New board members start service – April board meeting (TBD)