From the Board of Directors
Anthony Lang, Vice President — Board of Directors
It’s March Membership Madness here at The Merc Co+op and we’ve got some crazy deals for you. Join the co-op in March for an exclusive coupon during our owner drive. Plus, all new owners in March are entered into weekly drawings for gift cards! Join online or in-store.
So why join the co-op? There are plenty of reasons and incentives to become an owner of Lawrence’s one and only consumer-owned co-op that’s been in operation since 1974. Just click on the link to learn about the value of ownership. As an owner for over 20 years and a Board Member for 9 years, I’m going to break it down for you March Madness style with the Elite Eight Cooperative Principles.
The number one overall seed is Voluntary and Open Membership. This co-op is for everyone. Young, old, rich, poor, any color, any race, any diet, any taste. This is your community mercantile. You own it.
The number two seed goes to Democratic Member Control. Who doesn’t want control over where their food comes from? Members elect board members every year to represent their interests. Board members hold the General Manager accountable through policy governance. The policies set guidelines for how the store operates. This is execution at its finest and makes membership look easy.
Membership Economic Participation lands a surprising spot as the 3rd seed. Fundamentally, the real control over the products and services at The Merc Co+op is through shopping. Owner shoppers make up over 50% of the sales and significantly influence the products we carry. They also provide additional tax benefits to The Merc’s bottom line and keeps us very competitive in a tight grocery market. The financial incentives for owners are member discounts and annual patronage payouts. This surprising 3rd seed might actually win it all as the top reason to be an owner.
Coming in at number 4 is Autonomy and Independence. We are an independent, consumer-owned cooperative that answers to its members while partnering with the community to drive success. Autonomy allows us be leaders in our community for sustainability, environmental stewardship, food and social justice. We absolutely pack the stats in all these categories.
Education and Training is a solid number 5 seed. Unlike most non-profit boards or grocery businesses, we offer Cooperative Board Leadership Development 101 for all our Board members so they can govern with knowledge and understanding. We also offer online training to members who are interested in learning more about co-ops. Feeding the mind makes for greater democratic participation and a compelling reason to be an owner.
Cooperative among Cooperatives is a 6th seed because we are not alone here. We are a member of the National Co-op Grocers (NCG) that shares resources and knowledge with other co-ops across 40 states to optimize business operation and ultimately offer more value to co-op owners and shoppers everywhere. We leverage the collective purchasing power of over 168 co-ops and $2.8B in combined sales to maintain the highest quality products while keeping prices low for our members. I doubt this one’s going to win anyone over to join The Merc, but it’s good to know we’re not alone.
Concern for Community lands a lucky 7th seed. Community is what makes us more than just a grocery store. Our investment in local producers gives back 48% into the community for every dollar spent. We hire local and pay a living wage to recruit and retain the best cooperators around. Our Change for our Community program gives shoppers the opportunity to donate their spare change to local organizations every time they shop. In 2025, we — as a co-op community — raised $65,917. Since the program began in January 2014, we have raised over $760,000 for over 70 local nonprofits.
Rounding out the Elite Eight is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. DEI is going to be our surprise Cinderella that makes our co-op stronger and better. When you go into our store, you will see a variety of people, products and services available. Things are dynamic and continually changing. Our co-op continues to grow and evolve with the changing landscape and market conditions with the help of our DEI workforce, shoppers and members. Look for DEI to make a deep run in March as a Final Four reason to become a Member/Owner.
Most March Madness brackets will end in disappointment because there can only be one winner in the end. With a Merc Co+op membership you will not be disappointed, and everyone is a winner year over year with membership discounts, owner patronage and the pride of being part of an awesome community. My pick to win it all this year is the 7th Seed Concern for Community because we are The Community Mercantile and our impact to our Community is what makes us special. Join online or in-store.
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.