Merc Notes
Get Involved - Run for the Board
It is Board election time again and this is the chance for you to step up and get involved in your co-op by serving on the Board of Directors. The board is not involved in the daily operations of the store; rather they are responsible for hiring and evaluating the co-op's general manager and writing policies that guide the work of the GM through Policy Governance. One of the best things that the board gets to do is to brainstorm about what the Merc will look like in the future. Directors have a duty to represent the owners at large (not a particular constituency), and to act in the owners' best interests.
Eligibility, expectations, and qualifications for board members include:
- A Merc owner in good standing at least 18 years of age.
- A 3-year commitment to the board.
- Preparation for and active participation in monthly meetings
- Attendance at board training sessions and annual owner meeting.
- Ability to learn to understand financial statements.
- Access to the internet and availability to respond to frequent board e-mails.
- A genuine interest in co-operative values and principles.
- A willingness to take responsibility for board duties and to work together with understanding, mutual support and respect.
- An ability to keep information and materials confidential. Integrity, flexibility, common sense.
- Must state all potential conflicts of interest on application and must not have an overriding conflict of interest.
- Ability to make decisions in a group setting and ability to support a group decision.
- Leadership and facilitation skills.
A strong and successful cooperative depends on a highly functional and effective Board of Directors. In order to ensure that such a board is in place, candidates for board positions will be asked to attend an informal interview meeting with members of the current board.
Candidates who the Board determines to have the ability to work well under the Policy Governance model and in a consensus environment will receive a "Board's Endorsement" designation when they are presented to the owners during the election period. Candidates without this designation may also run.
Take the first Step - request a nominations packet by stopping by Customer Service Desk, or call or e-mail The Merc. Please provide complete information and return your application no later than 5pm, March 30 to Customer Service. Voting will occur in May with the two highest vote-getters announced at the General Owners Meeting on June 4.
Iwig Dairy needs your empties!
Because there is a shortage of Iwig bottles being returned to the dairy, we are sometimes unable to get all the Iwig milk we need.
Please return your empties and we'll send them to Iwig to fill with fresh, local milk. Thank you!
Check out our Owner's Bonus Buys
This is just a reminder about a new benefit for our Owners - Owner Bonus
Buys - special pricing on a variety of items every month.
We offer these deals in addition to the Co-op Advantage Program (CAP) sales
that are featured every month in the full color flier that comes in your
Merc News. Look for a listing of Owner Bonus Buy savings in the Merc News,
or click the link below. And look for the Owner Bonus Buy tags throughout the
store. It's just one more way of saying "thank you" to our Owners and one
more reason for you to become a Merc Owner today!
Owner Bonus Buys
Save With Merc On-Line Coupons
Every month we'll be offering special savings on products throughout the
store with coupons you can print from the Merc's web site. Go to our
Specials page and click on the link for On-line Coupons.
Wellness Wednesday
The first Wednesday of every month
Save on all your health and body care needs.
You'll receive a 5% discount on vitamins, supplements,
body care products, bulk herbs and bulk teas.
