An improving financial picture, two bylaw changes, two new board members, the awarding of the annual Jim Cassels award and suggestions from members were all part of the Greenbelt Consumer Cooperative (better known as the Co-op) annual meeting, held on November 9. Of the 122 who attended the meeting, 101 were vested members eligible to vote on the bylaw changes and for board members.
Financials
As reported by General Manager Dan Gillotte and Board Treasurer Amy Drew, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, which was an 11-month year (see bylaw change below) the Co-op had a net loss of $250,895. FY2025 will be better, as the first quarter is already showing. The Co-op was helped financially last year by the increase in vested memberships, a patronage refund from the Co-op’s membership in the National Cooperative of Grocers, a city grant, a bequest from a member, energy savings from solar panels and 119 new members. One change which will help finances is no longer printing a weekly sales flyer, which cost $500 a week. The new sales flyer is currently only available digitally, but that may change.
Elections
Incumbent Bill Jones chose not to run for re-election. Jones had served on the board since 2012 and has been board chair since 2019. This year there were more candidates than there were open seats, with four candidates for two seats. Incumbent Joe Timer was re-elected along with Amber Hennessy. Timer, a Greenbelt resident since 1971, has served on the board for 40-plus years. Hennessy moved to Greenbelt in 2016 but has shopped at the Co-op since 2009. Her two goals for board service are to improve the Co-op’s messaging and communication to the entire Greenbelt community and to assist with data analysis guiding decision making. She is a survey statistician for the U.S. Census Bureau.
Other candidates were Phillip Lake, a national operations manager at the USDA, from which he would bring many useful skills, and Aaron Mengel, the owner of Generous Joe’s, as he pointed out a “pivotal point” in Roosevelt Center where he is day and night. All four candidates had support from members. (See box for election results.)
Bylaws Changes
The first change added specific wording to the board’s ability to borrow money and make financial commitments by adding the words “including member loans and other fundraising mechanisms.” The board accepted member loans during the Rays on the Roof campaign; the new wording makes other such campaigns possible. This change was approved 94 to 6.
The second bylaw change was to officially change the fiscal year end from July 31 to “the Sunday closest to June 30th.” This makes all quarters 92 days long, making comparison of quarters simpler. This year’s financials reflect this change, with FY2024 only 11 months long, and members voted 97 to 2 to approve this change.
Cassels Award committee members Donna Hoffmeister, Jeff Cassels and Steven Bernheisel (also board vice president), presented the 2024 Jim Cassels award to Greenbelt Makerspace, which also won the award in 2013, the year Makerspace opened. This year’s award was accepted by Robert Candey, who said it will be used for consumables and advertising. Robert Goldberg-Strassler, founder of last year’s winner, RUAK (Random Unselfish Acts of Kindness), reported how the funds supported RUAK’s pre-K bilingual story time. In the last four months 40 children have attended the monthly event. In addition to hearing stories the children receive books and small toys to take home, and parents and caretakers learn of helpful resources and new experiences and opportunities for their families.
Brainstorming
Attendees gathered in groups to brainstorm the question, “What role can members individually and collectively play in helping us to move forward to a positive thriving future at Co-op?”. In answering the question groups were to consider the challenging economic conditions independent businesses face, the low traffic counts in Roosevelt Center compared to other local retail locations and how to maintain relevance to newer generations of potential shoppers and members.
Among the responses was to let prospective shoppers and members, both in and outside of the store, know the benefits of membership, such as through yard signs, having one designated action item per week, elevator speeches, more events and inviting people to existing events such as wine tastings, flyers in grocery bags and more social media. Signage and flyers should be multi-lingual. Contests could be held among members, such as who can get the most new shoppers in the store or the most new members.
Outreach should not only be to Greenbelters but to nearby cities, via ads in local publications, tabling at events and signage on Greenbelt Road and Kenilworth promoting the Co-op. A member from Silver Spring said he promotes the whole Roosevelt Center experience, starting with the Co-op and including other Roosevelt Center businesses and events.
Another suggestion is gift certificates for friends, neighbors and those who need food assistance.
For questions or concerns about the Co-op, email Gillotte at dan.gillotte@greenbelt.coop or the board of directors at board@greenbelt.coop.
