PCC Board of Trustees report, September 2011

This article was originally published in September 2011

Fall member meeting

3 people

(l-r) Trustee Maggie Lucas hosted members Kim and Julie Bussing enjoying the 2011 Annual Meeting last April.

Tuesday, October 25, 5:30 p.m.
St. Demetrios Hall
2100 Boyer Ave., E., Seattle, WA

Directions are available online, or call 206-547-1222 • Free parking • Accessible by Metro Bus: metro.kingcounty.gov • Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. • RSVP by October 18 online or by calling the PCC office at 206-547-1222.

Our fall meeting will be one of more than 100 “Food Day” events in the Seattle area. (More info at foodday.org.) The program, “Every Day is Food Day at PCC,” will highlight the ways PCC is working toward the Food Day objectives to:

  • Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods.
  • Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to agribusiness.
  • Expand access to food and alleviate hunger.
  • Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms.
  • Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing.

We will highlight our product standards, our local vendor relationships, and our efforts in nutrition education. We also will talk about the history and work of PCC Farmland Trust. Our members will have an opportunity to meet and question some of our producers, including the first PCC Farmland Trust farmer, Nash Huber.

Goldie Caughlan retires

Goldie & family

Goldie Caughlan (third from left) shared her retirement celebration with members of her family.

After 28 years of service, nutrition educator Goldie Caughlan has retired from PCC Natural Markets.

A passionate voice for organics, Goldie influenced countless shoppers young and old, helping them understand food choices, and nudging us toward better informed, healthier choices.

We expect to hear from her in the days ahead.

Board report

The board met on July 26. The agenda included a presentation from legal counsel on the trustees’ fiduciary responsibilities, and approval of the rosters for this year’s committees.

  • Maggie Lucas will chair the Board Development Committee.
  • Board chair Carol Binder will chair the CEO Evaluation Committee.
  • Katrina Basic will chair the Finance Committee.
  • John Sheller will chair the Member Relations Committee.

The committees will present work plans for approval at the September board meeting. The board also discussed plans for this month’s member meeting.

PCC Farmland Trust executive director, Rebecca Sadinsky, updated the board on recent activities and future plans. Sadinsky also requested permission to mail the trust’s annual fundraising letter to the PCC membership. The board unanimously approved.

The board honored PCC nutrition educator Goldie Caughlan, who retired after 28 years. Several trustees shared personal reflections on Goldie’s contributions to PCC, the organic industry, and the community-at-large. Goldie and her family joined the board for dinner.

Next board meeting

Tuesday, September 27 at 5 p.m. at the co-op office, with member comment period at 7 p.m. Member comments are limited to three minutes, unless a longer presentation is approved by the board chair prior to the meeting.

Board recruitment begins

The 2011-2012 Nominating Committee had its first meeting July 22 and elected Rick Riehle to serve as chair. Other committee members are Tom Monahan, John Sheller, Mary Simon and Chantal Stevens. They approved the timeline for the candidate selection process and board applications. They also reviewed the board job description and discussed recruitment vehicles.

PCC members are encouraged to look into board service as a way to contribute to the co-op’s ongoing success. This Policy Governance® board leads through policy development and monitoring management’s progress.
Learn more on our website »

The deadline for applications for the 2012 election is October 11. Contact
nominatingcommittee@pccmarkets.com
with any questions or to request an application.

Also in this issue

Organic Seed: A resource at risk?

While we may not think about seed when eating breakfast or helping our children into their cotton pajamas at night, seed is the foundational step in feeding and clothing ourselves.

Letters to the editor, September 2011

Farming and family values, GMOs in non-organic corn?, From Facebook, and more

Soil & Sea: reports from our producers

This month reporting on apples, nectarines, Washington peach producers, the organic grape crop, Reed avocados, wild mushrooms, sweet corn and peas, stone fruits, nuts, honeybee losses and the sustainability of yellowfin tuna.