We, the following members & supporters of the East End Food Co-op, request that the Board of Directors seat each of the three Candidates in the recent election who won 76% of the votes.
We understand that Caldwell Linker did not attend a Board meeting prior to the close of voting as required by the Policy Register, but, in light of the overwhelming level of support Caldwell received from voters, we call on this Board to affirm the democratic values of our Co-op by waiving this requirement and seating Caldwell as a new Director
Updates
October 20, 2015
The level of engagement we have achieved illustrates how deeply the membership values the integrity of our election process. This momentum confirms that our desire for a representative Board remains a priority for the community.
Reached 100 supporters
October 20, 2015
29 Comments
If Caldwell is not seated among the other winning candidates I will no longer be shopping at the food co-op. If the EEFC does not support democratic values how is it really a co-op?
I fully expect the Board to waive the Board meeting requirement for Caldwell linker as it has waived this requirement for others in the past. The number of votes for Caldwell Linker clearly indicates the desire of co-operative member-owners for her to represent their concerns on the board and should be respected.
i work at EEFC, and am furious that my vote was thrown out over enforcement of an obscure rule.
Why not send a friendly reminder about not having attended a meeting prior to the vote? Combined with not being up front about 2 members planning to leave the board during the member meeting (and appointing new members with no vote) - this just comes across as mean spirited.
Time and again we have been told by this board of directors that the only way to influence decision-making power as member-owners of our Co-op is by voting (and running) in board elections. Now we have done that in overwhelming (recordbreaking?) numbers and our votes are being ignored! It's time to live up to our co-operative value of "Democratic Member Control"
If it is true that exceptions have been made in the past, one should certainly be made now. This feels undemocratic, which should be enough to give the board pause.
As member-owners, we were allowed by you, the board, to vote on 3 directors. Two more seats opened up during voting - a fact not even mentioned at the annual meeting, much less discussed or voted on - and the board quietly appointed 2 new directors of your choosing who did not meet this requirement you have so far refused to waive for Caldwell Linker. These actions do not respect our co-op's stated democratic values. These actions continue the board's lack of honesty and transparency and cooperative values that have been a source of not only conflict in our food co-op, but further increasing inaccessibility to the co-op for people without means, people without privilege, people of color, people working to improve the communities we live in. Seating Caldwell Linker is the very least you can do to rebuild legitimacy of the board and its decisions.
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We, the following members & supporters of the East End Food Co-op, request that the Board of Directors seat each of the three Candidates in the recent election who won 76% of the votes.
We understand that Caldwell Linker did not attend a Board meeting prior to the close of voting as required by the Policy Register, but, in light of the overwhelming level of support Caldwell received from voters, we call on this Board to affirm the democratic values of our Co-op by waiving this requirement and seating Caldwell as a new Director
Updates
October 20, 2015
The level of engagement we have achieved illustrates how deeply the membership values the integrity of our election process. This momentum confirms that our desire for a representative Board remains a priority for the community.
Reached 100 supporters
October 20, 2015
29 Comments
As a Co-op member for 19 years, I am concerned that current Co-op leadership, both Board and management, have forgotten what a Co-op really is. The members obviously want Caldwell on the Board. It would be simple to have a current Board member resign, and then appoint Caldwell in order to uphold a democratic vote.
If Caldwell is not seated among the other winning candidates I will no longer be shopping at the food co-op. If the EEFC does not support democratic values how is it really a co-op?
I fully expect the Board to waive the Board meeting requirement for Caldwell linker as it has waived this requirement for others in the past. The number of votes for Caldwell Linker clearly indicates the desire of co-operative member-owners for her to represent their concerns on the board and should be respected.
i work at EEFC, and am furious that my vote was thrown out over enforcement of an obscure rule.
Why not send a friendly reminder about not having attended a meeting prior to the vote? Combined with not being up front about 2 members planning to leave the board during the member meeting (and appointing new members with no vote) - this just comes across as mean spirited.
Time and again we have been told by this board of directors that the only way to influence decision-making power as member-owners of our Co-op is by voting (and running) in board elections. Now we have done that in overwhelming (recordbreaking?) numbers and our votes are being ignored! It's time to live up to our co-operative value of "Democratic Member Control"
If it is true that exceptions have been made in the past, one should certainly be made now. This feels undemocratic, which should be enough to give the board pause.
As member-owners, we were allowed by you, the board, to vote on 3 directors. Two more seats opened up during voting - a fact not even mentioned at the annual meeting, much less discussed or voted on - and the board quietly appointed 2 new directors of your choosing who did not meet this requirement you have so far refused to waive for Caldwell Linker. These actions do not respect our co-op's stated democratic values. These actions continue the board's lack of honesty and transparency and cooperative values that have been a source of not only conflict in our food co-op, but further increasing inaccessibility to the co-op for people without means, people without privilege, people of color, people working to improve the communities we live in. Seating Caldwell Linker is the very least you can do to rebuild legitimacy of the board and its decisions.
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As a Co-op member for 19 years, I am concerned that current Co-op leadership, both Board and management, have forgotten what a Co-op really is. The members obviously want Caldwell on the Board. It would be simple to have a current Board member resign, and then appoint Caldwell in order to uphold a democratic vote.