PCC Sound Consumer
Your co-op
(June 2008)
Annual membership meeting
The 2008 annual membership meeting drew another record crowd. More than 325 members attended the meeting at St. Demetrios Hall in the Montlake area of Seattle.
Board administrator Janice Parker notes that the venue works for us on so many levels, we’re already booking it for the 2008 fall meeting and both member meetings in 2009.
The evening began with a delicious meal prepared by the PCC Fremont deli led by Vida Collery and Leon Bloom. The meal featured seasonal and local fare and was designed by staff nutrition educator Rita Condon and Bloom. Condon, who also is PCC’s human resources coordinator, spoke about the menu, which featured pork loin stuffed with a farro risotto that turned out to be a delightful and nutritious alternative to rice.
The recipes will be posted on the Web site in our recipe database as well as on our member meetings Web page.
As has become our practice, each table was hosted by a board member or management team member who greeted members and facilitated dinner conversations. Our tables talked about PCC’s “sustainable business practices,” and how they directly affect PCC’s performance as a community member, steward of natural resources and business leader. We talked about how much and in what ways you’d like to learn about our efforts and how you think we could support your efforts to live “greener.”
Should you wish to share your thoughts on these questions with the board and management, there’s a feedback form on the annual meeting page on our Web site. You also may e-mail board@pccsea.com or mail your input to the board at the co-op office.
Following a brief business session that featured state-of-the-co-op reports from the board and management, the board candidates introduced themselves to the membership and each gave short presentations. A question-and-answer session followed.
Our special guest was Michael Funk, CEO of United Natural Foods (UNFI), PCC’s primary grocery wholesaler. He spoke about our longstanding partnership and the importance of that relationship in growing both businesses. Funk also talked about the work UNFI is doing to reduce its carbon footprint.
UNFI is the largest natural food distributor in the country supplying more than 40,000 products to more than 17,000 retailers. In recent years UNFI has been named one of the Best Managed Companies in America by Forbes, one of the Most Admired Companies by Fortune, and one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Business Ethics.
But in addition to his work at UNFI, Funk stays on top of issues that affect our food and our environment through his involvement in industry and trade groups such as the Center for Organic Education and Promotion, and the Non-GMO Project.
The board thanks all our members who attended and all the staff who worked on the meeting. They would also like to thank the following PCC vendors who contributed product for our member meeting: Petaluma Poultry for the organic chicken, Tony’s Coffees and Teas, and Coconut Bliss® for the organic, frozen non-dairy dessert.
Election outcome
The ballot count meeting for the 2008 election was on May 26, so results were not known at publication. Results will be posted in stores, the co-op office, online by May 31, and will be reported in the July Sound Consumer.
Board meetings
The report on the May 27 board meeting will be published in the July Sound Consumer. Our next board meetings are scheduled for June 24 and July 29 at the co-op office. Both will begin at 5 p.m. Member comment period is at 7 p.m.
Current information about board activities, elections, and other PCC membership and governance issues can always be found in our Membership area.