Your co-op, April 2004
This article was originally published in April 2004
French experts visit the Fremont PCC
The World Affairs Council, under the auspices of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Program, recently asked PCC to host four French agricultural experts on a fact-finding tour.
The visitors represented a full spectrum of expertise: Claude Soude, director of the Office for International Affairs and Agricultural Policies; Frédéric Delport, representative of Directorate for Economic and International Policies, Ministry of Agriculture; Philippe Blanchet, farmer and member of board of directors of France’s main farm union, FSNEA; and Yves Tregaro, Ph.D., agricultural economist. They were interested in PCC’s involvement in sustainable and organic farming, environmental conservation, as well as animal health and food safety.
PCC Nutrition Education Manager Goldie Caughlan, Fremont store director Raymond Glandon and the board’s Sustainability Task Force Chair, Alex Rist, led the guests on a store tour. They explained PCC’s close ties with local vendors to support a regional economy, our history with organic and natural food, and the co-op’s extra steps to certify all seven PCC stores as organic retailers.
Frédéric Delport offered, “I was very impressed by the quality of the food and by the nice environment. I wish there were a PCC Natural Markets close to my house in Paris, France. I like the links that you created with local producers, and I think it is important to make us feel that food is grown by people in the field, using biological processes and that it is not fabricated by some industrial processes.”
Board of Trustees election May 3 to 28
Nominating Committee announces 2004-2005 board candidate slate
After several months of exhaustive recruiting and thorough screening, the nominating committee has named the following PCC members as board candidates in the May election: Ernie Hughes, Alex Rist, Bill Roach, Chantal Stevens and Julie Tempest.
PCC members will meet and have the opportunity to question the candidates at the annual meeting. Campaigning will begin in the stores after the annual meeting. The election dates are May 3 through May 28.
Look for the Election Special insert in the May Sound Consumer for biographical information and campaign statements from all the candidates. The May Sound Consumer will also include your ballot and voting details.
Board report
There was no board meeting in February. The March 30 board report will be published in the May Sound Consumer.
The next scheduled board meeting is Tuesday, May 25 at Issaquah PCC. Please contact Janice Parker, 206-547-1222, if you plan to attend. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. with time set aside as usual for member comment at 7 p.m.
The board is planning the agenda for the PCC annual membership meeting. In addition to reports from the board and management, the candidates for the upcoming election will be introduced to the membership.
The annual meeting will provide members a preview of a new program, Urban Herbs, which is co-sponsored by PCC and Seattle Tilth. The program will feature workshops on growing, harvesting and storing herbs, and will culminate with FoodWorks classes on cooking with herbs. The board is very supportive of this program as it demonstrates a commitment to promote sustainable food practices, especially in an urban setting.
Notice of annual membership meeting
Sunday, May 2, 2004 at 1 p.m.
The Donald Graham Visitors Center
Washington Park Arboretum
2300 Arboretum Drive, Seattle
Free parking • Metro Bus routes: 11, 43 and 48
Directions to the Donald Graham Visitors Center in the Washington Park Arboretum
From East of Lake Washington:
- Drive west on Hwy. 520 across the Evergreen Point Bridge.
- Take the first exit onto Lake Washington Blvd. E. — Southbound.
- Turn left at the stop sign and go one block to the next stop sign, enter left turn lane.
- Turn left onto Foster Island Road; follow signs to the Visitors Center.
From I-5 Northbound or Southbound:
- Take exit #168B (Bellevue/Kirkland). You are now on Hwy. 520.
- Take the first exit — Montlake Blvd./UW
- At traffic signal, go straight. You are now on Lake Washington Blvd. E.
- Follow until you come to an all-way stop sign. Continue straight.
- Follow to the next stop sign. At stop sign, enter left turn lane.
- Turn left onto Foster Island Road and follow the signs to the Visitors Center.
Free Parking:
- Park at the north end of Arboretum Drive E. and Foster Island Drive.
By Metro Bus:
- Route 11 stops on E. Madison at Lake Washington Blvd. E. This is south entrance to the Arboretum.
- Routes 43 and 48 stop on 24th Ave. E. at E. Lynn Street. Walk a few blocks along E. Lynn Street across the Wilcox Bridge into the Arboretum.
Questions: Please contact us at 206-547-1222.
Talk to the Board
These in-store visits offer a unique opportunity for the board and members to have a dialogue about the current and future course of the co-op. “The board members are sincerely interested in getting member input on the ‘big-picture,'” says Linkage Task Force Chair Kim Norton. “We know that PCC’s members are smart, concerned people. This kind of event is one way we can converse directly with them about issues like the growth of the co-op and PCC’s focus on sustainability practices.”
Upcoming dates:
- Saturday, April 3, 2 to 4 p.m. Issaquah PCC
- Saturday, May 22, 2 to 4 p.m. Fremont PCC