by Abbey Reinhardt, Vice President, Board of Directors
We want you… to join us on The Merc Co+op’s Board of Directors.
Everything special about the summer season finally feels like it's right at our doorstep—including our excitement for the 2023 board election season.
Have you ever considered joining the board? Serving as a board member for The Merc Co+op is my first Board of Directors experience, and I feel like it has set a really high bar for any other board out there. I am so glad I made a (somewhat last-minute!) decision to run in 2021.
As a neighbor to the Kansas City, Kansas store, I was thrilled when it opened in my community. After the co-op opened, I found myself here multiple times a week. And, I soon realized that if I became a co-op owner, I could really demonstrate my excitement and support for its presence in my community. Soon after that, I learned a little more about the co-op's Board of Directors—a group of co-op owners who share my love for The Merc, and who have all stepped up to represent owners' and shoppers' ideas and interests in the store.
I feel so appreciative that enough of my fellow co-op owners voted for me to join this board. (There's one big perk of co-op ownership, by the way. Voting in the annual board election is always a satisfying experience). And, during my two years of serving with this team, I've had so many great experiences. I'm writing to you all this month to share my take on just a few of the best perks and advantages of board membership:
Members attend monthly board meetings. These take place both virtually and in-person in both of our stores. Our meetings are a chance to hear what's new with each other, to share some great food and drinks together, and to be among the very first people to hear about everything that the talented staff has planned. This includes special events, changes and improvements to the stores and products, and relevant topics in our communities that help shape the success of the co-op. I come out of every single meeting having learned something new!
The Merc Co+op also rewards its board members with a 15% discount on everything we shop for in the store. This discount, in exchange for our volunteer service, really makes a difference when I buy my family's groceries. And, I am thankful to the co-op for making this possible for us.
Another way the co-op rewards its board members is with special events and professional development opportunities. These include annual board retreats—this year's retreat took us to the beautiful Armitage Education Center in Lawrence where we spent a day in tranquil surroundings with some great food and conversation. And, some of my fellow co-op board members are looking forward to attending this year's national co-op conference, the Consumer Cooperative Management Association's convening next month taking place in Sacramento, California. The co-op’s financial support of these opportunities means that attendance is an option for every board member. So, membership on the Board of Directors really can take you to some exciting places!
If something here sounds interesting to you, why not run for the board this year? The application is available now, in both stores and on the website for you to submit any time of day or night. Our board also has an election committee that would be happy to talk with you and hear your thoughts or questions about our board. Please reach out to us via email or through our online contact form, and we'll be in touch with you soon.