June 2014 Newsletter
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THE GREENE HILL FOOD COOP - JUNE 2014 NEWSLETTER
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In this issueThe first day of Summer is almost here! It might seem like just yesterday you were snuggling down in warm sweaters, but now is the time to get outside and play in the sun! Here at the Co-op, we have been busy getting ready for our next General Meeting on June 24th. Expect to hear from Operations and learn the results of our Wednesday hours survey! And our new Win Win Win benefits program. Add your two cents: Be part of growing our amazing Co-op. Also, let your friends know about our Open Shopping Day on Saturday June 21st! We now offer prepared foods for those nights when it is too hot to cook, and you can pair it with a delicious cranberry chia fresca. William Laviano shares his hopes for a more diverse Co-op in our Member Q&A. As always, be sure to check out ways to get involved with committees, events, and other Co-opportunities! |
Greene Hill News
Next General Meeting: Tuesday, June 24th, 7-9pmHave questions about the Co-op? Concerns? At each general meeting, there’s time for members to bring these up. Join us on Tuesday, June 24th, at 138 South Oxford St. from 7-9pm, and don’t hold back! You’ll get work credit and participate in running your Co-op. For more details, check out the meeting agenda. And save the date for the subsequent meeting on July 24th. Open Shopping Day: Saturday June 21st 10-4pmAre you or is someone you know not yet a Greene Hill member? Looking to tour the store, check out some fabulous food demos, and sample some delicious food? Come join us on Saturday June 21st! The store will be open to everyone, whether or not you are a member, all day long (10am-4pm). That same day in front of the store, members of the Education Committee will be doing food demos! Questions? Would you like to help during the event to make up additional hours? Contact the Events Committee: events@greenehillfood.coop. |
Product Spotlights: Prepared Foods at the Co-op
 source: https://www.freshdirect.comWe've all had those evenings: too tired to cook, too broke to order in. Well, the Co-op is here to provide another option -- delicious prepared foods you just open (and/or heat) and eat. If you look in the fridge, you'll find MacroVegetarian brand products like Edamame Salad, Thai Dumplings, and Saigon Soba Noodles. These products are certified kosher, vegan, and made right here in New York from organic ingredients. Merchandise committee co-chair Sarah loves to take the Edamame Salad to work for lunch! If you'd like something hot and hearty, check out the Tasty Bite Indian entrees. The handy BPA-free pouches can be heated in a saucepan of boiling water or a microwave for just one minute, and with some leftover rice and plain yogurt on the side you've got a filling and nutritious dinner. Tasty Bite is committed to environmentally-conscious business -- 80% of the energy the company uses to produce their food is renewable, and they even have a 23-acre organic and sustainable farm in which they grow many of the ingredients for their recipes. So save some money and the planet with MacroVegetarian and Tasty Bite! |
Recipe: Cranberry Chia Fresca
Source: Jill Hoffman Ingredients (serves one):
Pricing:
Total: $1.59 Price for 4 servings: $6.36 Directions
The chia seed is so interesting because when it is paired with liquid, it creates a somewhat gelatinous texture, similar to a tapioca pudding. And, it’s amazingly good for you! Not only does it have tons of fiber and protein but these little guys are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids as well as lots of vitamins and minerals to help with fat burning! Coconut water is one of nature’s best hydrating drinks. Coconut water is low in fat and sugar and is filled with electrolytes, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, growth factors, minerals and vitamins. Its chemical profile and content are very similar to that of human blood which is why it's useful combating dehydration. |
The Co-op Q&A: William Laviano
This month, meet William Laviano, a resident of Clinton Hill and longtime member of Park Slope Food Coop and Greene Hill Food Co-op. [Editor’s note: The two food co-ops each spell “co-op” differently, hence the seeming discrepancy!] Q: Where are you from, and where do you live today? A: I’m originally from Brooklyn, but I grew up in Florence, Italy. I currently live in Clinton Hill and work as a freelance film producer and photographer. Q: What do you do at The Co-op? A: I staff the membership desk and I’m also a member of the Membership Committee. The Membership Committee oversees everything at the Co-op that has to do with peoples’ membership work requirements, and the recruitment of workers for shifts. I also record new membership paper applications and answer questions about membership. Q: What are some of your reasons for being part of both the Park Slope Food Coop and Greene Hill Food Co-op? What do you like about being a member of both? A: I like being part of cooperatives in general because I find them to be organizations that are structured in such a way towards my environmental justice and food justice ideals. Being Italian, I really value the quality of my food. I grew up in a place where it’s normal for food to be fresh and local. I like being a part of Greene Hill Co-op because it’s close to where I live. I like that you can be involved in whatever you’re interested in, contribute ideas, and contribute to reform. I’ve also been a member of Park Slope Coop for a long time – I met my wife there (read the story here!). It’s a thrill to be a part of one of the nation’s most famous, and historical food co-ops. I like being part of both co-ops because they both involve all of their constituents, and require some contribution of work. I think that everyone should contribute equally to the endeavor. In terms of economic justice, everyone is equal here and contributes the same amount to reap all the benefits of being a member. Q: Where do you want the Co-op to be in five years? A: I want the Co-op to be in the same location and open every day of the week, ideally all day long. I would like to see us continuing to improve the way we do things. I would also like the Co-op to attract a more diverse population, one of all walks of life where no one feels uninvited to the party. Q: Have you tried any new products lately? What’s been exciting for you at the Co-op lately? A: I really enjoy our Portuguese breakfast muffins (from Central Bakery). We’ve offered them ever since the Co-op opened. I also liked our duck eggs. I used to scramble them. |
Help WantedAll members work a 2 hour shift every 4 weeks. It's part of being a member /owner. Here are some opportunities to earn work credit.
New members needed for the Governance CommitteeThe Governance Committee needs at least three new members in order to continue to ensure that the Co-op complies with local, state and federal laws, as well as our own by-laws. Regular governance committee member tasks include:
Contact us at governance@greenehillfood.coop. Board of Directors seeks a secretaryHave you been a member of the Co-op for over a year? Are you looking to get more involved in the leadership of the organization? The Co-op is looking for a new Secretary. The Secretary is responsible for ensuring that minutes are taken at the monthly general meetings and at board meetings, and ensuring that they are kept in a safe, accessible repository, and posted on the Co-op’s website. The Secretary is not required to attend every monthly meeting and board meeting, however, s/he is responsible for delegating the task of minute-taking to another individual s/he cannot be present. To be the Secretary you must be a member in good standing with the Co-op. Interested? Send an email to governance@greenehillfood.coop for details! UpShift Project Looking for CoordinatorYou may remember the "UpShift" project that was initiated last year. The goal was to increase member engagement, in order to ensure more reliable shift coverage. Well, the project has generated some great insights and ideas that are ready to be put into motion. We are looking for a capable coordinator to help move the ideas into action, on a short-term, project basis. All hours spent on the project can be banked towards future shifts! If you or someone you know would be interested, please contact Jonathan at j@jlandau.com for details. Design Build AdditionsHelp Wanted! Design Build is looking for new members with building and millwork experience or an architecture/design background to fill supporting roles. There is also an opening for a new co-chair. Please email DesignBuildout@GreeneHillFood.coop if you are interested in helping us with the Expansion Space Buildout! There are plenty of hands-on and design tasks at the moment and on the radar for coming months. The Compost is back up and running as of June 7th!! Compost will need to be maintained – if you are interested in helping turn the compost please contact Design Build to schedule your shift. Although we will not be accepting personal compost at this time, stay tuned for a new sign at the front of the store which will indicate local community gardens now accepting compost donations. We hope to accept personal compost in the future – keep an eye out for further information. New Tabling and Canvassing OpportunitiesIt’s finally summertime, which means our tabling season is in full swing! Are you interested in a shift that’s outdoors in the sun? Do you like to talk to people and engage with your community? Then this is the job for you! Just sign up on ShiftPlanning (under the label, “community tabling”) for the location of your choice. Please make sure to review the tabling instructions and contact Juliana at tabling@greenehillfood.coop before embarking on your shift. We also need canvassers to help spread the word about the Co-op! This is a great job for those of you who want to work on a flexible schedule, take strolls around the neighborhood, and love to talk with people. Canvassers pick an area and drop off promotional material at restaurants, stores, churches, apartment buildings (with their approval) and to passers-by on the streets. A copy of the canvassing map is available here. E-mail outreach@greenehillfood.coop and tabling@greenehillfood.coop if you’re interested in joining the team! Special Events Tabling Coordinator NeededThe Outreach Committee is looking for a Special Events Tabling Coordinator for one-time events where the Co-op can promote healthy eating and shopping, such as local health fairs, food festivals and other appropriate events. This person will coordinate with the event organizers about the logistics of the day, and then organize and schedule tablers to represent the Greene Hill Food Co-op at these events. This role sometimes includes working with the Education Committee to coordinate food demos at these events. We already have a list of special events to start with, but this is a great job for someone who enjoys finding new opportunities for Outreach within the community. This is a 5-month position only (June-Oct.) and can be done from the comfort of your own home and on your own time. But having clear communication skills is key. If you’re interested, please contact Tara at outreach@greenehillfood.coop to learn more! Events Committee Needs Your HelpLove to party? Shifts at the store not for you? Join Events to help build community in the Co-op and with our surrounding neighborhoods, like the very popular Movie Night series. Minimal meetings are involved and most work is done from home. Please get in touch no matter the number of hours you can commit! As a bonus, you'll get to meet some cool co-members! Email events@greenehillfood.coop. Help Build Our Financial InfrastructureThe Finance Committee needs more members with financial experience, and with interest in helping build our business. We need members interested in working more than the minimum two hours every four weeks. Our start-up business still requires a lot of work, as we build up our accounting, budgeting, financial control and forecasting systems. If you'd like to help us build Greene Hill's ‘financial infrastructure,’ please email finance@greenehillfood.coop. Office Work AvailableInterested in doing some office work at the store? One of our members is a professional bookkeeper who has stepped up to coordinate accounting at the Co-op. She's organized bookkeeping tasks at the store into easy, well-structured steps: handling invoices, entering data into our accounting software, and so on. You'd get all the training and guidance you need, while working at a dedicated Finance desk and computer. And you'd be helping the Co-op produce financial statements on a regular basis. You can set your own hours! Please email finance@greenehillfood.coop if you'd like to join us. Outreach Committee Administrative Co-ChairThe Outreach Committee is in need of a new co-chair! This is the perfect job for someone who wants to work from home – great for parents! Our committee consists of several sub-committees, headed by fabulous leaders, who keep things moving smoothly out in the field. We now need someone to take on a few administrative duties like Outreach email correspondence, drafting of meeting agendas/notes, and approval of hours. This co-chair would also attend our monthly meetings when possible. The position may require some time additional time (2-4 hours per month), so this is also ideal for people wanting to bank hours for future time off. One year commitment is requested. If you're interested please email: outreach@greenehillfood.coop. Operations Committee Co-Chair and New membersThe role of the Operations Committee is to establish procedures to ensure smooth day-to-day operations of the store. These include:
Contact us at operations@greenehillfood.coop. |
| Et cetera
Credits: Recipe and recipe photo by Jill Hoffman. Bio photos courtesy their subjects. The Greene Hill Food Co-op Newsletter is edited and published by (in alphabetical order) Anna Avrekh, Carola Burroughs, Roxanne Earley, Sonia Garbesputzel, and Alexandra Miller. Contact us with any feedback, suggestions, or requests at newsletter@greenehillfood.coop. Join or follow the Greene Hill Food Co-op! Interested in joining the Greene Hill Food Co-op? Check out our website to learn about membership, like us on Facebook, or stop by our store at 18 Putnam Ave. (off Grand Ave.) with any questions! |