Your co-op, May 2010

This article was originally published in May 2010

PCC annual board election

Vote now — April 27 to May 20

PCC members are electing three board members and a new nominating committee.

The special election insert inside this issue of members’ home-delivered Sound Consumer contains your ballot, biographical information, and campaign statements from each candidate, as well as a candidate Q&A designed to inform your voting decisions. The insert also identifies who’s on the board right now, so you can see who the new trustees will be joining.

Look also for information on the candidates for the 2010-2011 nominating committee. They are Diana Crane, Janet Hietter, Don Nordness, Rick Riehle and Chantal Stevens.

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John Sheller being videotaped by Kevin Ray Smith of KRAYS Productions.

All of the campaign material also is available on our Web site.

Don’t miss the candidate visits to two of our stores — one on the west side and one on the east side — so you can talk one-on-one with all our board candidates. Some of our nominating committee candidates as well as some of the current trustees also will be on hand.

  • Saturday, May 8, 1 to 3 p.m., Edmonds PCC
    featuring lunches from the grill
  • Saturday, May 15, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Redmond PCC
    featuring a pancake breakfast

Meet the candidates — virtually and in person

You’ll be able to see and hear the candidates talk about why they’re running. Our Web site features brief video interviews with each candidate.

Member mailing

The May print Sound Consumer was sent to all active members, even those who request not to be on our mailing list, because we are required by law to notify all active members of the election.

Why should you take the time to vote?

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Stacey Donahue, PCC Board of Trustees

by Stacey Donahue, PCC trustee

Last year as a candidate, I was asked what we do as trustees and why it’s important for members to vote. These are important questions.

The board’s responsibilities include stewardship of PCC’s triple bottom line. We set strategic goals for our co-op, develop policies that guide management’s planning of all PCC activities, and monitor management’s efforts to reach those goals.

We bring to bear on our discussions and decisions our experiences from various disciplines in the business world. Board members also devote considerable time to learning about the grocery business and the many factors that impact it, and learning about the needs of the communities PCC serves.

As a PCC member, it is your right to choose those of us who do this work on your behalf. I strongly encourage you to spend a bit of time carefully reading the election materials. If you’ve got the time, come out to meet the board candidates. Ask questions about their values and how they view PCC’s future.

Most importantly, take time to vote.

Annual meeting – April 27

We’ll publish a report and photos of our annual meeting on our Web site by May 12 and in next month’s Sound Consumer.

Board report

The board met on March 30 and heard a report from PCC’s outside auditor on the 2009 audit, which showed PCC in solid financial condition. The 2009 annual report, including financials, now is available in stores and on our Web site.

Gilmore Research Group reported results of the recently completed member satisfaction survey, commissioned by the board. Four out of five members rated PCC a six or seven on a seven-point scale for overall satisfaction.

Management also presented reports on the strides it made in 2009 toward achieving PCC’s Ends. More details from both the survey and Ends reports will be published in the June Sound Consumer and on our Web site.

Also in this issue

News bites, May 2010

Soda tax helps weight loss?, U.S. allows GE sugar beets, Seven states probe Monsanto, and more

Insights by Goldie: Restarting organic standards?

During my term on the NOSB as a consumer representative from 2002 to 2006, I learned a lot — mostly that a peek behind the curtain at Oz isn’t necessarily what one imagines or hopes for! Congress had vested the NOSB with considerably more authority and a more extensive workload than is typical for other unpaid citizen boards.This appeared to rankle certain USDA career staff during my time there.