May 2025

May 6, 2025, Board Meeting Recap

May flowers and college graduations!

The Moscow Food Co-op Board of Directors held their May Board meeting on Tuesday the 6 at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center from 6 - 8 p.m. Present were seven of eight Board members, our General Manager and Board Administrative Assistant, and two Co-op owners who presented packets listing concerns to the Board (See below).

The General Manager presented her monitoring reports for the Global B3 Asset Protections policy and the B5 Treatment of Customers policy. The B3 monitoring report covers insurance, liability, asset risk protections, property and asset security, owner information protection, contract risk protection, and public image protection. Derek Bruce and Mike Cunningham from Troy Insurance were on hand to explain insurance details and answer questions. Data and explanations were presented by the General Manager to show how the Co-op is protected in each of these areas. The Board found the monitoring report very detailed and unanimously accepted the monitoring report showing compliance with the policy.

The monitoring report for B5 policy provided data and explanations of the systems in place to hear customer opinions, preferences, product requests, complaints, and suggestions. In addition, there were explanations of how the Co-op provides a safe and nondiscriminatory environment. The Board unanimously approved the B5 monitoring report showing compliance with the policy.

There were no Board policy monitoring reports available for review.

For our Board education work, we are reading and discussing “US History in 15 Foods.” Erin Tomlin, our meeting facilitator, led a discussion on the green bean casserole chapter and highlighted how it tied into a very gendered consumer ideology as well as a showpiece for American food industry. Joseph Charles led the discussion on the Spam chapter, which described the success of the American food industry and how Spam, Shoulder of Pork and Ham or Specialty Process Army Meat, or Super Pink Artificial Meat, was an important food for US and Allied Troops during WWII because protein was often lacking in their diets. We are reading this book as a Board to help educate ourselves on how we can best serve our community as described in our Ends policy (see below).

For our Study and Engagement Series, the Board heard from members of the Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Club, Jesse Spohnholz, Heather Pettit, David Lin, and Elise Stacy. Through volunteer efforts, the club has been very active in maintaining and promoting roughly 22 miles of snow skiing trails at the Palouse Divide, formerly known as the North South Ski Bowl. Maintenance includes removal of fallen trees and trail grooming. The group has instructors, group lessons, and offers a free ski day where equipment rentals are at no cost. The group also conducts one-day ski trips, such as one near Bald Mountain Lookout, which consists of a ski trek nine miles out with a stop for hot cocoa at the turn around point before returning. The Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Club is a nonprofit group that provides a wonderful opportunity for people to get out in the winter and enjoy the snow. More information can be found on their webpage at https://palousedividenordic.org/.

Our Study and Engagement Series helps Board and staff members become better informed about issues and activities that affect our community. One of the Seven Cooperative Principles states that we have “Concern for Community,” and listening to people describe issues of concern in our community is directly tied to our Ends.

If you have questions or comments regarding these recaps, please email me your thoughts at mthorne@moscowfood.coop. It would be good to know that they are reaching our owners.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2025, at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (411 S Main St, Moscow, ID). The meeting will run from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Current Co-op owners can attend in person or via Zoom. To attend via Zoom, contact the Board’s Administrative Assistant at boardadmin@moscowfood.coop for more information and to RSVP.

Further information about our Board meetings is at https://www.moscowfood.coop/board- meetings.

Sincerely,

Mark Thorne, Board President

Moscow Food Co-op Ends Policy

The Moscow Food Co-op is at the heart of a thriving, healthy, and inclusive community where:

1. We embody and embrace cooperative principles and values.
2. All community members have local access to environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and

healthful choices.

March 2025

March 4, 2025, Board Meeting Recap

Daffodils are coming out of the ground!

The Moscow Food Co-op Board of Directors held their March Board meeting on Tuesday the 4 at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Present were all nine Board members, our General Manager and Board Administrative Assistant, and one Co-op owner present on Zoom.

The General Manager presented her monitoring report for policy B1, 2024 fourth quarter Financial Conditions and Activities, and for policy B2, Planning and Financial Budgeting. The B1 report showed that fourth quarter sales growth rebounded from the third quarter and were also higher compared with 2023. Sales growth and income, as well as all other financial indicators, were positive showing that the Co-op is in good financial position heading into 2025. The General Manager also presented her 2025 work plan showing financial and management goals and priorities. The work plan was well prepared and takes into consideration risk assessments that could affect the Co-op, as well as important training and development needs. The Board unanimously approved both B1 and B2 monitoring reports.

The Board approved monitoring reports for policies D3, Delegation to the GM, and D4, Monitoring GM Performance. In these policies, the Board authorizes the General Manager to develop plans, policies, and practices for managing the Co-op as long as they use reasonable interpretations of the Executive Limitations (B policies) and Ends policies set by the Board and by which the Board monitors and evaluates the General Manager’s performance. These policies give the General Manager, and only the General Manager, authority and responsibility to manage the Co-op in the best possible manner as long as certain constraints are not violated. Our policies are available for everyone to read on the Co-op webpage under the “Meet Your Board of Directors” tab and then “Board Information.”

In other business, the Board briefly discussed scheduling for the spring retreat and planning for the Annual Meeting. The Board discussed chapters six and seven of the book “US History in 15 Foods,” which we are reading as a group project. The subjects in these chapters were the development of Jell-O and peanuts as food items and how social, economic, and political issues, including slavery and the industrialization of meat processing, played roles in these becoming common and accepted foods. We are reading this book as a Board to help educate ourselves on how we can best serve our community as described in our Ends policy (see below). In addition, we reported that our three-day Board food drive raised well over $300 to help replenish shelves at the West Side Food Pantry! Nice work Co-op folks!

For our Study and Engagement Series, the Board heard from Alondra Ibarra, Evelina Arevalos, and Victor Canales-Gamino, representing the University of Idaho College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). The program provides financial, academic, and supporting services for students in their first year, or their families, who have had migrant/seasonal farmwork backgrounds. For academic assistance, CAMP helps students with class registration, course requirements, study hours, grade requirements, and provides help for students still in high school to prepare for college work at the University of Idaho. In addition, during their annual Farmworker Awareness Week, March 25-31, CAMP brings to light the issues that farm workers encounter. During this event students and organizers collect protective clothing for people working in fields, increase awareness of violence protection for female farmworkers, hold a blood drive, and provide a venue for people’s stories to be heard. Overall, migrant and seasonal farmworkers endure harsh and difficult conditions to provide much of the food that nourishes us all, and respect and gratitude for their work is the least we can offer. More information can be found on their webpage at https://www.uidaho.edu/current-students/college-assistance-migrant-program.

Our Study and Engagement Series helps Board and staff members become better informed about issues and activities that affect our community. One of the Seven Cooperative Principles states that we have “Concern for Community,” and listening to people describe issues of concern in our community is directly tied to our Ends.

If you have questions or comments regarding these recaps, please email me your thoughts at mthorne@moscowfood.coop. It would be good to know that they are reaching our owners. The next Board meeting is scheduled for April 1, 2025, at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (411 S Main St, Moscow, ID). The meeting will run from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Current Co-op owners can attend in person or via Zoom. To attend via Zoom, contact the Board'sAdministrative Assistant at boardadmin@moscowfood.coop for more information and to RSVP.

Further information about our Board meetings is at https://www.moscowfood.coop/board-

meetings.

Sincerely,

Mark Thorne, Board President

Moscow Food Co-op Ends Policy

The Moscow Food Co-op is at the heart of a thriving, healthy, and inclusive community where:

1. We embody and embrace cooperative principles and values.
2. All community members have local access to environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and

healthful choices.

February 2025

February 4, 2025, Board Meeting Recap

Snow has finally arrived along with some cold temperatures! Let’s be careful out there!

The Moscow Food Co-op Board of Directors held their February Board meeting on Tuesday the 4th at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Present were seven of our nine Board members, our General Manager, Board Administrative Assistant, and one Co-op owner present on Zoom.

The General Manager presented her monitoring report for policy B1, Financial Conditions and Activities policy, for third quarter, 2024. The Co-op has transitioned to a new financial records reporting system, which delayed monitoring of this policy until February. The report showed that sales growth did not meet our preset target; however, this was also seen in other similar sized stores in our corridor. Increases in prices and uncertainty in an election year were discussed as possible reasons for the decline in sales growth. On the bright side, our net income was positive for the quarter and reports from the GM indicated December sales were up 5% from 2023. The Board approved the monitoring report as presented. Additional and interesting details from the January meeting can be found in the General Manager’s FYI report on the Meetings and Minutes page of the Co-op’s webpage.

The Board reviewed policies D1, Unity of Control, and D2, Accountability of the GM, and accepted the monitoring reports in compliance with policy language. The D1 policy prohibits individual Board members from directing the GM, unless authorized by the Board, and limits unauthorized requests for information by individual Directors or committees that would disrupt operations or be an undue burden on staff or resources. The D2 policy assigns accountability of the Co-op’s performance to the GM and prohibits the Board from evaluating or instructing staff other than the GM. Our policies are available for everyone to read on the Co-op webpage under the “Meet Your Board of Directors” tab and then “Board Information.”

In other business, the Board voted to approve our election slate for the 2025 Board election, which includes current Board members Candis Claiborn and Kelsey Manning. Because there were only two qualified candidates for three seats, the Board will consider appointing a third Director sometime after the election. Furthermore, the Board discussed chapters four and five of the book “US History in 15 Foods,” which we are reading to help us better understand the relationships between food and social structures in our country. We are reading this book as a Board to help educate ourselves on how we can best serve our community as described in our Ends policy (see below). We also are planning to conduct a Board-driven food drive to help replenish food bank shelves that have gone a bit bare since the holiday season.

For our Study and Engagement Series, the Board heard from Bex Riehm from the Latah Human Rights Task Force. The Latah County Human Rights Task Force is a community-based grass-roots organization that works to lift up human rights and dignity for all individuals, to educate and ensure fairness, and to stand against hate and bigotry. Activities have included the Human Rights Day at the Moscow Farmers Market, Martin Luther King Annual Breakfast, Rosa Parks Art and Essay contest, K-12 activities, and health and wellness presentations. The Latah County Human Rights Task Force is welcomed and supported in our area, but financial donations are needed. Participation is open to everyone, and more information can be found on their webpage at https://www.humanrightslatah.org/.

Our Study and Engagement Series helps Board and staff members become better informed about issues and activities that affect our community. One of the Seven Cooperative Principles states that we have “Concern for Community,” and listening to people describe issues of concern in our community is directly tied to our Ends.

If you have questions or comments regarding these recaps, please email me your thoughts at mthorne@moscowfood.coop. It would be good to know that they are reaching our owners.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for March 4, 2025, at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (411 S Main St, Moscow, ID). The meeting will run from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Current Co-op owners can attend in person or via Zoom. To attend via Zoom, contact the Board's Administrative Assistant at boardadmin@moscowfood.coop for more information and to RSVP.

Further information about our Board meetings is at https://www.moscowfood.coop/board-meetings.

Sincerely,

Mark Thorne, Board President

Moscow Food Co-op Ends Policy

The Moscow Food Co-op is at the heart of a thriving, healthy, and inclusive community where:

1. We embody and embrace cooperative principles and values.

2. All community members have local access to environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and healthful choices.

January 2025

January 7, 2025, Board Meeting Recap

A new year has begun with plenty of uncertainty, but with opportunities, for sure! The Moscow Food Co-op Board of Directors held their January Board meeting on Tuesday the 7 at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Present were eight of our nine Board members, our General Manager, Board Administrative Assistant, and our meeting facilitator. There were no Co-op owners present or on Zoom.

The General Manager presented her monitoring report for policy B6, Staff Treatment and Compensation for 2024. The policy states that the GM must not treat staff in a way that is unfair, unsafe, or unclear. The B6 Policy is extensive and includes seven sub-policies, each with specific components including elements such as staff safety, having a discrimination-free workplace, and compensation. Data for the monitoring report are collected through staff surveys conducted every other year by a person from Columinate Consulting and is not employed by the Co-op. Survey responses are not traceable to individual employees and are confidential. The Board only sees the average scores for each survey question, which are compared to a compliance benchmark. Scores presented this year were collected two years ago, therefore were the same as presented last year. A new survey will be conducted this year, and results will be presented to the Board at the January 2026 Board meeting. The monitoring report was accepted in compliance with the policy by the Board. In addition, the General Manager presented financial information for the fourth quarter which shows positive sales growth compared with 2023 in both October and November. December sales data are not out yet but will be reviewed at the February Board meeting. Additional and interesting details from the January meeting can be found in the General Manager’s FYI report on the Meetings and Minutes page of the Co-op’s webpage.

The Board accepted its Global D policy monitoring report in compliance. The D policy covers the connection between the Board and Management and simply states that The Board’s sole point of delegation for the operations of the Cooperative shall be the General Manager. This policy prevents Board members from directing or evaluating any employee other than the General Manager. The Board also approved a set of questions and a scoring matrix for evaluating candidates for the upcoming Board election.

In other business, the Board discussed the first four chapters of the book “US History in 15 Foods,” which we are reading to help us better understand the relationships between food and social structures in our country. We are reading this book as a Board to help educate ourselves on how we can best serve our community as described in our Ends policy (see below).

For our Study and Engagement Series, the Board heard how we can support the Black Student Union at the University of Idaho. The Black Student Union is a student-run organization open to all students and strives to create an ideal intellectual, cultural, and social environment for students at the University of Idaho through awareness, education and action. The Black Student Union ensures that students not only have a safe haven to go to but also provides student academic support. With the loss of state and university support for Black students, students need to know they are welcome and have a place at the University of Idaho. One way we can support the Black Student Union is to attend the upcoming Black Excellence Gala being held January 31 at 7 pm at the Pitman Center International Ballroom. Furthermore, we can assist financially by purchasing tickets for students to attend. The Black Student Union can be contacted by email at bsu@uidaho.edu or by phone at (208)-885-7716. More information can be found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BlackStudentUnionUI/. Tickets for the Gala can be purchased through Venmo which can be accessed using a QR code found on their Facebook page.

Our Study and Engagement Series helps the Board and staff members become better informed about issues and activities that affect our community. One of the Seven Cooperative Principles states that we have “Concern for Community,” and listening to people describe issues of concern in our community is directly tied to our Ends.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for February 4, 2025, at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (411 S Main St, Moscow, ID). The meeting will run from 6 - 8 pm. Current Co-op owners can attend in person or via Zoom. To attend via Zoom, contact the Board Administrative Assistant at boardadmin@moscowfood.coop for more information and to RSVP.

Further information about our Board meetings is at https://www.moscowfood.coop/board-meetings.

Sincerely,

Mark Thorne, Board President

Moscow Food Co-op Ends Policy

The Moscow Food Co-op is at the heart of a thriving, healthy, and inclusive community where:

1. We embody and embrace cooperative principles and values.

2. All community members have local access to environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and healthful choices.