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Download the Summer 2008 Newsletter Co-op's Democratic Model Helps Upgrades Localized Marketing Annual Meeting Report: Strategic Plan Michael Pollan on the Spinach Scare New Board Members New Staff New Products
Astoria Co-op Calendar of Events
Board Meeting 6:00 pm
Sat., 7/26 Lughnasa Festival 10:00 to 4:00 at the Blue Scorcher
Sat., 8/9 Owner Recognition Day Share Owners get 5% off
Wed., 8/27 Product Sampling 4:00 pm Board Meeting 6:00 pm
Thurs., 8/28 Owner Recognition Day Share Owners get 5% off
Sat., 9/13 Owner Recognition Day Share Owners get 5% off
Wed., 9/24 Product Sampling 4:00 pm Board Meeting 6:00 pm
Thurs., 9/25 Owner Recognition Day Share Owners get 5% off
Lughnasa Festival The Co-op will be participating in this year's Lughnasa Festival on Saturday, July 26th. We are taking on the organization of the farmers� market portion of the event. It allows the Co-op to further develop relationships with local farmers while helping out our local cooperative bakery, The Blue Scorcher. If you are a local grower or just want to participate in the festival planning, please let us know. Stop by the store or give us a call at 503.325.0027. Share Owner Appreciation Day Effective August, there will be two Owner Recognition Days! All owners receive a 5% discount on the second Saturday and the fourth Thursday of the month on all their purchases made that day. This replaces the discounts given to members and volunteers on all purchases previously. Come in and see what's happening at your co-op! Food Tasting & Board Meetings Don't miss our food tasting events on the fourth Thursday of each month starting at 4:00 pm. We will be sampling new products and dishes prepared from ingredients available at the Co-op. The board of directors invites you to stick around and attend board meetings starting at 6:00 pm. How to find our store
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Left: Mick Mitchell stocks donated shelving from Food Front. Right: People's Co-op IT Manager Doug Zilm troubleshoots the new register with Manager Matthew Stanley.Co-op's Democratic Business Model Makes Upgrades Workby Matthew Stanley, General ManagerIf you have dropped by the Co-op recently, you may have noticed several changes throughout the store. The produce department has a new dry-rack display that is more attractive and easier to shop. We have added four feet of grocery shelving and an end-cap shelf to the floor, thereby facilitating improved product display and the ability to expand product selection. Of course, everyone has seen the new register system up and running. It allows us to see individual items on the screen as they are rung up and improves the maintenance of our membership database. We will also be seeing a new bulk herb display provided by the Frontier Co-op. These changes would not be possible without a cooperative business model. Our democratically governed organization makes us part of a larger community of co-ops across the country. Installation of the register system was successful because the People's Co-op of San Diego donated a week's time from their IT manager, Doug Zilm. Grocery shelves and produce racks were donated by Food Front Co-op in Portland. People's Co-op of San Diego most recently sent their head merchandiser, Jon Gire, to offer his expert eye to our store. These co-ops truly practice their cooperative principles, in this case, cooperation among cooperatives. As our store continues to grow, we will certainly do so with the help of other cooperatives. As a member-owner, know that when you shop at the Co-op you are participating in something that is locally owned and governed, but that at the same time, connects us to a much larger community of like-minded people that is growing across the country. |
