November/December 2015 Newsletter
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THE GREENE HILL FOOD COOP - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 NEWSLETTER
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Catching You Up on Co-op News There’s lots going on this holiday season. First, it’s important to note that our elections for the Board of Directors has been postponed. This is because POP! has been doing its job and has made some important recommendations for making the Co-op more efficient and effective. (And some of those recommendations have to do with restructuring the Board.) Read on for more information, and come to the next General Meeting on December 16 to vote on these changes and more. And hey, you now have more time to nominate yourself or someone else to be a board member! It’s time for the final Open House of the season -- our Winter Celebration and birthday party on December 12. That’s right! It’s been four years already! If you missed them, our Halloween and Thanksgiving Open Houses were a smashing success. You’ve got another chance to come join the fun! And if you volunteer to flyer or help out at the event, you can get work credit too. There’s lots of beautiful produce in the store and we’ve got fresh winter citrus, perfect for making this delicious elixir. You can also boost your health by taking advantage of the Co-op’s WIN WIN WIN Program and getting a discounted rate for classes at our neighbor Dou Yoga. Greene Hill is getting some attention lately. Find out about the upcoming movie the store will be featured in. Also, in a review of Brooklyn food co-ops, Edible Brooklyn (a magazine with print distribution of over 100,000 in the New York region) mentions our own Greene Hill as a stellar option for those in the neighborhood.
Left: Governance co-chair Mira de Jong and Outreach member Pierre Andre at the Halloween Open House, sampling Pierre’s delicious and healthy drink. Right: Board President Renée Renata Bergan cutting up samples at the Halloween Open House.
Want more updates from the Co-op? Follow us on Facebook for news on events, what's in the store, open shifts and more. You can also follow us on Instagram for a fun look at what other members are doing with Co-op products as well as what's going on in the store. |
What’s Up Next at the Co-op?Mark your calendar! The next General Meeting will be held on December 16 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Remember, all member-owners are welcome to attend, ask questions, make suggestions and raise concerns. This is our co-op! You may be able to get work credit for attending. A detailed meeting agenda will be emailed out in advance of the date. As always, you can check out notes from the last GM on the Greene Hill website. |
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Final Open House (and Our Birthday!), December 12
 Spread some winter cheer while we celebrate the Co-op’s
fourth birthday at our
last Open House of the year! Between our winter greens and winter squash, there’s no mistaking that winter is almost here! Invite your friends and neighbors to come by and warm up with some delicious food samples and leave with some inspiring recipe ideas. And, best of all, they can shop and experience all the benefits of the Co-op!
Want to help us spread the word??
Sign up for a flyering shift and earn work credit. Also, you can simply share
this link on your Facebook page and invite your friends, too!
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POP! Proposes New Board StructureFor the past few months, the People Operations Project (POP!) has been talking to board members, committee co-chairs and Co-op members at large to figure out how we can work together more efficiently and effectively. At the November GM, POP! presented recommendations for a more streamlined board structure -- including
reducing the number of board members from nine people to five. Another recommendation is to move from monthly to quarterly GMs, and to make these meetings more strategic and overarching in nature, leaving daily operational decisions to committee and/or board meetings instead. The board would continue to meet monthly and those meetings would continue to be open to all member-owners. You can see a summary of
POP!’s recommendations here. These changes will be voted on at the December GM, so be sure to attend! Questions and comments are most welcome; just email
Emily and
Meghan.
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Board Elections Postponed to January 27POP!’s recommendations for a smaller and more streamlined board (see above) require a change in our by-laws, which must be voted on by members. Since these recommendations
were presented at the November GM and
will be voted on in the December GM, our elections for the board of directors must be pushed back to January 27. We’re sorry that this process took longer than originally anticipated, but hope that you’ll agree that a smaller, more efficient board will be better able to serve the Co-op’s changing needs. On the plus side, that gives
you more time to nominate yourself or others, and to perfect your stump speech!What does it take to be a board member? Being on the Board means taking a very active role in the business and operations of the Co-op, and of course you get work credit for your time! Directors play a key role in the GMs, ratifying the votes of the members and helping to see through to action any decisions made. To be elected to the Board, a member-owner must have at least one year in good standing at the Co-op. The candidate must have the ability to commit to regular attendance at the GMs, liaise with a committee, participate in the general operations of the Co-op as well as in long-term projects/planning, and, if necessary, participate in emergency matters. Please feel free to reach out to
governance@greenehillfood.coop with any questions.
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Meet Your CandidatesSara Cornish and Christina LeMoine are in the running to join Greene Hill’s Board of Directors. Please take a moment to learn more about them, and plan on joining us at the January GM to cast your votes.With the elections pushed back, the
deadline to nominate candidates has been extended -- so let Governance know who you think would make a great addition to the Board!
Sara Cornish
I've been a neighbor and member of our Co-op for five years, leading the Marketing Committee for much of that time. My favorite things about Greene Hill are the vibrant community and delicious, trustworthy food! I’d love the opportunity to contribute to the Co-op in this coming year of exciting transformation — to strengthen our connection to the neighborhood, improve committee communication flows, and increase membership through creative outreach. I bring both a historic perspective and fresh ideas, and am excited to work with all the amazing folks pushing for a more engaged and representative Co-op!
I joined the Co-op shortly after the doors opened. Living less than a block away, you can often find me at the GHFC chatting, shopping and looking to improve others’ shopping experience. I now fulfill my work requirement in the middle of MOM (Membership, Outreach, and Merchandising), promoting the Co-op and helping with events. I grew up in the grassroots social justice movement in Seattle, undoing racism, and my passion for equality grows as I continue to educate myself and be involved in an activist church, and food justice as it relates to access. I have been in the NYC area over a decade and, like many other members, graduated from a prestigious arts and design school. I joyfully and lovingly work with children, their families from all over the country and the world as a swim instructor and babysitter. Ongoing co-op projects include discovering how the Co-op can live its mission and become more integrated in supporting our surrounding community. |
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Greene Hill Makes a Killer Set
Another film crew visited our little Co-op last month!
Women Who Kill
is an independent feature comedy about Park Slope residents who work and shop at a food co-op. The film is about two women who are locally famous, true-crime podcasters who once dated -- and still live together -- and what happens when one suspects that the other's new love interest is a serial killer. The film is written and directed by Ingrid Jungermann, a Brooklyn local. (For a sense of the movie’s style and tone, you can watch Ingrid's web series
F to 7th
, about a neurotic lesbian Brooklynite navigating life in the Slope.)
Women Who Kill
is planned for release in 2016.
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Local Discounts for Co-op Members
 Don’t forget about our
WIN WIN WIN program! Take advantage of our Greene Hill Membership in the ‘hood and get discounts from local businesses. One of our first community partners was
Dou Yoga. 道 (Dou) means balance, a path or a way that words alone cannot express; it is something felt, experienced. Dou Yoga respects and encourages each student to find their own path, their own way to find balance and experience this balance with their own bodies and minds. Dou’s teachers come from a variety of lineages, each one with a unique flavor. Whether you want something a little sweaty and flowy, precise and anatomical, more esoteric and energetic, or meditative and breath based, there is something for everyone.Stay centered and healthy during the holiday craze. Grab a class at Dou Yoga, located at 214 Greene Avenue, on the corner of Grand Ave. Show your Greene Hill Co-op card and
get classes at the Community Discount rate: 1 drop in class for $13, a five-class pack for $60, or a10-class pack for $100.
If you are a local business and would like to participate in our WIN WIN WIN program, please contact: outreach@greenehillfood.coop. |
| Citrus ElixirRecipe by Pierre AndreWith cold and flu season upon us, now is a great time to mix up this delicious drink with health-boosting benefits. You can serve this yummy elixir piping hot or on the rocks.
Ingredients:
Mix all of the above ingredients with filtered water and shake in a glass jar. Serve over ice or heat up for a soothing hot drink. |
Help WantedAll members work a 2½ hour shift every 4 weeks. It's part of being a member/owner. Here are some opportunities to earn work credit. Urgently Seeking Newsletter Managing EditorWe need a new managing editor starting with the November edition of the newsletter. This is a fun job and one that’s easy to do from home. You’ll coordinate the monthly newsletter submissions and work with a great team. Email marketing@greenehill.coop for more information. Urgently Seeking Finance Committee MembersOur rock Julia Flath is stepping back from the finance committee, creating a great need for additional support. If you have an interest in being involved in the day to day financial operations or finance strategy for the Co-op, we could use your help. Leadership is needed on the committee but there are also smaller routine roles that could also be carved out based on interests. Please email finance@greenehillfood.coop if interested. Urgently Seeking Designers & Writers for New Membership Campaign!Help us design an outreach campaign to engage new members to join the Co-op community! We’re looking for writers, designers, community organizers, and people with experience in event planning and marketing. The Marketing and Outreach Committees are a great way to get your shift credits from home, or have more flexible hours. Email marketing@greenehillfood.coop to help out! Open House Event Help NeededWe’ve got one more open house this year: the Winter Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 12. We’re looking for folks to do outreach and to help on the day of the event. Earn work hours while partying at the Co-op! You can sign up for a slot here or contact outreach@greenehillfood.coop. Merchandising Committee Needs New MembersInterested in how food ends up on the Co-op shelves each week? Join us and make the magic happen. This position requires a 2.5 hour monthly commitment (like any regular work shift), including attending one monthly meeting of 1.5 hours. You’ll take inventory and order one key product from a small, local vendor like Mu Mu Muesli, North Fork potato chips or Granola Lab. If interested, email merchandising@greenehillfood.coop. Seeking Shift Leader Co-CoordinatorHelp the Shift Leader Coordinator with email traffic, scheduling, social media contact, representation at General Meetings and Shift Leader Meetings. Not necessary to be a shift leader (yet!). Organizational skills a plus! Work load is 2.5 to 5 hours/month depending on your availability. For further information contact Matthew Talmage at shiftleaders@greenehillfood.coop. |
| Et ceteraCredits: Halloween Open House photos by DK Holland. Citrus elixir pic courtesy of Pierre Andre.The Greene Hill Food Co-op Newsletter is edited and published by (in alphabetical order) Carola Burroughs, Sonia Garbes Putzel, DK Holland, Alexandra Miller, Amy Nazer, Molly Neuman, and Gitta Zomorodi. Contact us with any feedback, suggestions, or requests at newsletter@greenehillfood.coop. Join and/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 follow us on Twitter. Or simply stop by our store at 18 Putnam Avenue (off Grand Avenue) with any questions! |
Christina LeMoine