What does the board do?
A nine-person board elected by the Active Membership directs PCC. Each trustee serves a three-year term, with three positions open for election each year. A trustee may serve no more than three consecutive elected terms. Two additional trustees may be appointed by the board of trustees for a one year term. An appointed trustee may serve no more than two consecutive appointed terms. For more information please see Section 3.4 of PCC’s Bylaws. The board’s primary responsibilities are to provide wise stewardship of the cooperative’s resources and oversee the continued success of the nation’s largest natural foods co-op with more than $259 million in sales in 2015. The PCC board conducts its business using the Policy Governance® model, as do the boards of many cooperatives throughout the country. This governance model allows the board to focus on the broad direction of the co-op through policy-setting. The trustees hire and oversee a CEO who is responsible for all day-to-day operations of our co-op.
Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees
- Develop, evaluate and oversee the implementation of policies that provide direction to the co-op, guide management and govern the board’s own actions and the relationship with the CEO.
- Evaluate the CEO based on those policies.
- Maintain communication with the members of PCC Natural Markets.
- Fulfill their fiduciary responsibility to the members of the co-op.
Expectations of the Individual Trustee
- Trustees are to understand the board’s roles and responsibilities.
- Trustees are to prepare for and attend all scheduled board meetings, which are held usually on the last Tuesday of every other month. Board meetings may average three to four hours. Trustees receive packets of written information in advance of each meeting.*
- Trustees typically serve on one or more Board committees, which meet periodically during the year.
- Trustees are to attend the annual meeting.
- Trustees are expected to participate in one or two daylong board retreats each year.
- Trustees are expected to visit stores regularly throughout term of office and attend PCC events.
* Time spent on board business may vary from month to month, averaging 20 hours per month, including preparing for and attending board and committee meetings, and board study.