Board of Directors

A nine-member Board of Directors guides the Community Food Co-op. This leadership and policy-setting group reports to the membership and is responsible for the planning, review and oversight of the Co-op.

The Co-op’s Board of Directors meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 pm at the Co-op Connection Building, 1200 N. Forest St., Bellingham. All members are welcome to attend.

Every Board meeting starts with a ten-minute member forum. If you would like to present a concern or proposal to the Board during the member forum, contact the Board President or Board Administrator. Download the most recent Board meeting minutes (PDF). Agendas, copies of the minutes, and any location changes are posted on the Board of Directors bulletin board at the front of the store.

To read PDF files you must have Adobe Reader. Click this link to download a free copy of Adobe Reader.

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors, contact Jean Rogers or call 360-734-8158. Board elections take place in the spring, beginning at the Co-op’s Annual Meeting.

Board of Directors 2005

Philip Buri, Chair 1997/2006*
Derek Long, Vice-Chair 2002/2008
Karen Thomas, 1996/2006
Judy Willis, 2004/2007
Brent Harrison, 1987/2007
Negash Alem, 2001/2007
Jo Ann McNerthney, 2005/2008
Steve Harper, 2005/2006**
Brooks Dimmick, Staff Rep. 2005/2008

* Board members are elected for three-year terms. The first year in each listing is the year the board member was elected.

**Steve Harper, appointed by the board, is filling out the final year of the three-year term vacated by Trey Culbertson.

Jean Rogers, Board Administrator
Holly O’Neil, Board Facilitator

Board Committees

Member Affairs Committee

The Member Affairs Committee (MAC) acts as an advisory committee to the Board on the relationship between the Co-op, its members, and the community.

The main topics that MAC addresses are monitoring trends in member input, providing a forum for members’ ideas and concerns, proposing initiatives for member linkage programs, and recommending organizations for the Co-op’s Community Shopping Days.

Any member can bring a concern or idea to MAC for consideration. To do so, contact the Committee Chair, Judy Willis, or the Board Administrator, Jean Rogers. Or contact Jean at 360-734-8158.

The Member Affairs Committee meets on the last Wednesday of every month at 5:30 pm at the Co-op Connection Building. Meeting times are listed in the Co-op newsletter and the agenda is posted on the Board of Directors’ bulletin board at the front of the store. The MAC will be composed at minimum of two Board members, one staff member and at least one member-at-large.

Download the most recent MAC meeting minutes (PDF). Hard copy is available at the bulletin board at the front of the store.

To read PDF files you must have Adobe Reader. Click this link to download a free copy of Adobe Reader.

Board Development Committee

The Board Development Committee (BDC) is responsible for recruiting Board candidates and planning and overseeing the Board election process. The committee creates candidate and election materials, and develops training activities for Board members. Other BDC duties include designing the Board’s strategic planning retreats, monitoring policies, reviewing proposed policy changes, and recommending the yearly slate of officers after the March Board election. One to three members-at-large can serve on this committee.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee acts as the Board’s oversight body in matters related to the Co-op’s finances. The committee monitors the Co-op’s financial status on a regular basis, ensuring the Co-op’s healthy financial condition and economic viability. One member-at-large may serve on this committee.

Executive Committee

The executive committee consists of a minimum of three Board members, including the president and the treasurer. The committee acts as the Board’s oversight body in matters relating to the general manager and is empowered to act on behalf of the Board for time-sensitive matters.

For any questions about the Board of Directors or its committees, contact the Board Administrator, Jean Rogers