New to the Co-op? Want to know more about how we work? The next New Member Orientation is on Sunday, September 11, from 1 pm to 2 pm at the Co-op. All new members are required to attend an orientation and trial members are encouraged to attend to learn more about the Co-op.
Beat the heat of August with Ample Hills Ice Cream. That’s right, it’s now in the store! More details in this month’s Product Spotlight.
In our Co-op Q&A meet Shannon Sodano, one of our new Store Coordinators.
Looking for a new way to fulfill your work shift requirement? Want to pick up an extra shift? Check out the Help Wanted section. The Co-op is seeking folks with a range of interests and skills, including designers, writers, developers, and people who can help take inventory and keep our finances in order.
Join the conversation on housing affordability and displacement. Saturday, August 20, 3-8pm, at Mayday space in Bushwick. The event is free. See details here.
Bed-Stuy Pride is coming up! Read on to the Social Justice in Brooklyn section for more information about the celebration.
And if YOU run a local business and would like to participate in our Win-Win-Win program, please contact outreach@greenehillfood.coop.
We have a special new membership option: the Zucchini Plan! With this plan, you get full membership at the Co-op for six months from the date you sign up. No investment is required. All you need to do is pay a $25 administration fee and fulfill the work shift requirements and you get full shopping privileges for six whole months. At the end of the plan, you can either join with one of our full investment plans or leave--no penalty, no fuss!
Our next Board Meeting is on Wednesday, August 24, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, at the Co-op, 18 Putnam Ave. Come to a board meeting and get involved in understanding the Co-op's decision-making process. You can view the agenda online (see link below). Meetings are open to ALL members.
At this month’s meeting, we’ll be discussing our lease situation again, among other things. The Greene Hill Food Co-op received a 90 day notice of lease termination effective September 30, 2016. However, in accordance with our lease, this is subject to a contract for sale of the building. No sale has been verified by the landlord. We are optimistic we can resolve any issues of the lease with the landlord and remain at 18 Putnam. We will be discussing any additional information at the board meeting. Be assured, the Co-op is committed to remaining a part of the community.
Board of Directors Elections Coming Up Soon!
Interested in learning more about how the Co-op works and our decision-making process? You could play a vital role in ensuring the Co-op’s future by nominating yourself or someone you know to run for the Board of Directors! All questions related to joining the Board of Directors and the elections process can be directed to governance@greenehillfood.coop.
Directors play a key role in the monthly general meetings (GMs), ratifying the votes of the members, and helping to see through to action any decisions made. A quorum of directors must be present at all GMs for voting purposes. While the Board does not meet in private, they do discuss and take action on important topics over email in between GMs.
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 monthly Meetings (9 Board Meetings, 3 GMs), liaise with a committee, participate in long-term projects/planning for the Co-op, and, if necessary, participate in emergency matters. Terms are for three years.
Director nominations due (at the latest) by Wednesday, September 21.
You can nominate yourself or someone else to the Co-op Board of Directors by sending an email with a short explanation as to why you (or your nominee) would make a good director to governance@greenehillfood.coop.
Product Spotlight: Ample Hills Ice Cream
Rejoice! The Co-op is now selling Ample Hills Creamery ice cream in the following irresistible flavors: Salted Crack Caramel, Peppermint Pattie, Sweet as Honey, Mexican Hot Chocolate, and Nonna D’s Oatmeal Lace.
Ample Hills uses hormone-free milk and cream from grass-fed cows. They pasteurize their own ice cream base, which makes them a registered dairy plant right here in Brooklyn. They also bake and create most of their mix-ins by hand. Find out more about Ample Hill’s local operation on their website, and come to the Co-op to get some ice cream while it’s hot outside!
Caprese and Roasted Corn Salad with Pickled Onions
Recipe by Molly Neuman
Nothing says summer like fresh corn and ripe, juicy tomatoes. Recently we had guests over for dinner and Caprese salad and grilled corn were on the menu. After dinner, we had leftovers of both and it was a no-brainer to put them together. What a delicious combo! The flavors, textures and freshness were a huge hit. It also kept well and was great the next day! Adding other grilled vegetables like zucchini or summer squash would make this even more fun and nutritious.
Serves 2-4
Cost estimate: $5 in total--or about a buck a serving!
Ingredients:
2T olive oil
1T balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
3T red wine vinegar
2 ears corn (grilled or not)
1 ball fresh mozzarella, cubed
1 large vine-ripened tomato, medium dice
5 basil leaves, sliced thinly
Directions:
Whisk together the olive oil and balsamic vinegar, add salt and pepper to taste, and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the sliced red onions, red wine vinegar and salt, and set aside for at least 30 minutes.
Grill the corn and cut the kernels from the ears. Toss with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Add vinaigrette and serve with pickled onions. Voila! Couldn’t be simpler.
Cost estimate: Summer savings! $5!
The Co-op Q&A with Shannon Sodano
This month we met with Shannon Sodano (soon to be Heffernan) who is one of our new Store Coordinators. With a degree in nutrition, she works different freelance jobs in the health field, teaches yoga, and is studying horticultural therapy at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Say hello to this busy co-oper next time you’re at the store!
Q: How did you find out about the coop and what are some of your reasons for joining?
A: I found out about the Co-op from a friend who was part of the buying club right around when it was
becoming a full-on store. I was attracted to the idea of being a part of something that had a lot of room to grow and playing a role in its future. I lived in Park Slope and was part of the Park Slope Food Coop at the time, but when I moved to Clinton Hill in 2012, I joined Greene Hill Co-op straightaway.
Q: When did you start your new role? Can you explain what you do for those of us who don't know?
A: A group of us started assisting Lauryl as store coordinators back in April. We take turns working during open hours and communicate to each other what happens throughout the day in an effort to maintain and develop consistency at the store. We train members on how to perform the store's general operations, or perform them ourselves if we are short-staffed. We also help manage shift coverage, inventory, do ordering and meet regularly to try and build and improve the store systems.
Q: What is one of your favorite products right now at the Co-op?
A:
This is a very hard question to answer, but I think my favorite items to splurge on are the frozen veggie burgers. I love Made By Lukas veggie-full veggie burgers that you shape yourself. I also really like Barry's heat-and-eat tempeh burgers. They are delicious, too!
Q: Where would you like to see the Co-op in 5 years? 10?
A: First, I'd like to see the Co-op very well staffed and full of members who are adept at doing basic work at the store. That way everyone can have a strong shopping experience, and when new members come in, there will be plenty of people to train them and show them the ropes.
Ideally, member-owners will have many opportunities to share their skills and interests and contribute to the store beyond their shift hours. I see the future store as not just a well-functioning operation, but a community rich in resources and support for one another. I think we do already have this happening, but there is room to grow.
Q: What do you like to do outside of the Co-op?
A: When I'm not at the Co-op I like to bike around the city, tend to a little plot in my community garden, see cool movies at BAM, and visit family in the Poconos.
Social Justice in Brooklyn
This new section of the newsletter is meant to draw attention to and support for social justice work that’s happening in our city, borough, and neighborhoods. It will spotlight campaigns, movements, events, organizations, and groups whose work is the elimination of racial, economic, health, food, and other injustices that affect our members and neighbors and that make participation in our cooperative prohibitive.
Sunday, August 28, is the 6th Annual Bed-Stuy Pride! This event is organized and hosted by the Safe OUTside the System (SOS) Collective, a program of the Audre Lorde Project. (Yes, the very same ALP that co-organized the Trans Day of Justice that was spotlighted here two months ago!)
Bed-Stuy Pride will take place from 12 to 6 pm at Herbert Von King Park (670 Lafayette Ave. between Marcy and Tompkins Aves.). The day will feature local artists, performances, workshops, music, vendors, family friendly wellness and fitness activities, and more.
The SOS collective is an anti-violence program led by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, Two Spirit, trans and gender non-conforming people of color. It’s devoted to challenging hate and police violence using community-based strategies rather than relying on the police.
Help Wanted
All 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.
IT Committee in Urgent Need of PHP/LAMP Stack Developer!
The IT Committee is looking for help with the Co-op’s public facing website (www.greenehillfood.coop) as well as our internal systems, including our CRM and Shift Planning. If you have skills with PHP, Drupal, MySQL and CRMs (we use CiviCRM), then we could use your expertise. This work can be done remotely and is critical to ongoing success of our Co-op. For further information, email Chad Donnick, membership@greenehillfood.coop.
Governance Committee in URGENT NEED of Members!
Want to learn more about how our bylaws and our Board of Directors are amended and elected? You can play a vital role in shaping the Co-op’s future by joining the Governance committee. We are urgently seeking new members to assist with the elections process and future projects, as needed. All work can be completed on your time, from home. Please email governance@greenehillfood.coop to learn more.
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. Working for 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.
Seeking Finance Committee Members
If you have an interest in being involved in the day-to-day financial operations or finance strategy for the Co-op, please email finance@greenehillfood.coop.
Finance Office Assistant Shifts Available
Interested in doing some office work at the store? Your role would focus on handling invoices and entering data into our accounting software. 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 officeassistant@greenehillfood.coop if you'd like to join us.
Merchandising Committee Needs New Members
Interested in how food ends up on the Co-op shelves each week? Join us and make the magic happen.
This position requires a 2½ hour monthly commitment (like any regular work shift), including attending one monthly meeting of 1½ hours. You’ll take inventory and order one key product from a small, local vendor like Mu Mu Muesli or Bridge tofu and seitan. If interested, email merchandising@greenehillfood.coop.
Beer and Wine!
Depending on our finances, we’re considering the feasibility of applying for a beer and wine license. If we decide to go ahead with this, we will need help as we attempt to expedite the application process. Many hands will lighten the load: dividing up the application, identifying what needs to be done, doing it, compiling, and submitting. If you’re interested in being a part of this process, please respond to keith@greenehill.coop with SLA in the subject line.
Et cetera
Credits: Ample Hills pic by Shannon Sodano,caprese salad photo courtesy of Molly Neuman, Bed-Stuy Pride image is “Shoes” by Noah Richard.
The Greene Hill Food Co-op Newsletter is edited and published by (in alphabetical order) Carola Burroughs, Sonia Garbes Putzel, DK Holland, Alexandra (Aly) Miller, Amy Nazer, Molly Neuman, Shannon Sodano, Alejandro Varela, and Gitta Zomorodi. Contact us with any feedback, suggestions, or requests at newsletter@greenehillfood.coop.
Join and/or follow the Greene Hill Food-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!
