Each month, The Merc Co+op Board of Directors shares the decisions and topics discussed at their most recent meeting, or upcoming opportunities for engagement — promoting transparency and accountability with co-op owners.
Owner Appreciation Days 2025
Hans Carttar
From Hans Carttar, Board Member
Greetings from The Merc Co+op Board of Directors. April was a busy month and we hope every one of our member owners was able to take full advantage of April’s bi-annual Owner Appreciation Days discount. It is one of the most valuable ways your co-op can say thank you for your participation. In April and October, owners can save 20% off one shopping trip.
As part of Owner Appreciation Days, fellow board member, Mark Sprague and I held a tabling event in Lawrence to spend some time connecting with owners as they visited the store. We connected with over 20 owners and potential owners, handing out snacks and listening to their stories about how the Merc has touched their lives. It was a wonderful way to spend a beautiful spring day.
Also in April, volunteers from the Merc joined other community members and organizations as part of the Kaw Riverbank Cleanup. This annual project is led by Friends of the Kaw (one of our MercWorks non-profit partners) and results in the removal of two to six tons of battery cases, tires and other garbage every year. Once again, this year’s efforts were truly rewarding. Not only did Merc owners who participated in this annual cleanup effort benefit by helping make our planet a little more beautiful, but they also were eligible to receive a Merc discount for their efforts. Merc owners and their households — regardless of number of members of their household or age — who volunteer with an approved MercWorks partner can receive a store coupon in the mail the month following volunteering. It's our way of giving back to the folks who give, and another way our co-op supports the local organizations that create meaningful, lasting impact in our community. To find out more about the MercWorks owner volunteer program, click here.
April was indeed a special month for owners. Being a member owner of The Merc Co+op comes with many additional benefits beyond the financial benefits I mentioned above. To find out more about the perks of ownership and the process to apply, simply click here.
We hope to welcome you to the family of Merc owners in the near future!
Board Members Mark Sprague and Sofía Galarza Liu with co-op Outreach Specialist Britt Redmond at the 11th Annual Friends of the Kaw River Clean Up.
About the Board
The Merc Co+op's Board of Directors is comprised of nine co-op owners who are elected by the general ownership and serve a three-year term. Any co-op owner can run for a board position.
The board creates a set of policies to govern themselves and the General Manager, who provides the group with regular reports on store operations. The board delegates all operational matters to the General Manager.
Board Meetings
All co-op owners are invited to attend monthly board meetings. Early in the agenda, the board reserves ten minutes of space to hear from owners who wish to address the board.