June 2020 Newsletter

Chicago Market Newsletter - June 2020

Black Lives Matter

On Tuesday last week, we joined others in taking a pause to mourn the tragic loss of Black lives from police brutality. Today, we commit to taking action to recognize and address the numerous injustices affecting Black people both in our community and beyond. We stand in solidarity with the protesters expressing grief and anger, and we also know we have a lot to learn. We will be taking time to listen to the Black and people of color voices in our community so we can learn how to be better allies and provide space for more diverse representation.

Cooperatively yours,
The Board of Directors of Chicago Market - A Community Co-op

Board Elections

Being a co-op means we're a democracy steered by a Board of Directors, and those directors come from you, our Owners! Elections for new and returning Board members happen annually in conjunction with our Annual Meeting. Per our Bylaws, any Owner of record in good standing may run for the Board but we do highly recommend candidates step forward as volunteers and attend Board meetings as a first step toward getting involved. We also ask that candidates email us to arrange a one-on-one conversation with a current Board member to learn more about what it means to be a part of a "working board" and the time commitment it entails.

We wanted to share some election details and timeline with you:

June 28 So, You Want to Be a Board Member? Zoom session - come learn!
July 28 - deadline to declare you'd like to run for the Board; candidates are also required to fill out a candidate statement and provide a photo.
Voting will be conducting through a secure online voting platform and will commence at the close of our Annual Meeting.
August 25 - Meet the Candidates event (online, time TBD)
August 30 - Annual Meeting (online at 3pm)
September 3 - recap/Q&A online event for those who missed the Annual Meeting.
The Board is also preparing some Bylaw amendments to present to Owners for approval and we'll share those with you well in advance of the voting period.

Interested in running for the Board? Click this button and let us know!

Interested!

Proving Feasibility Update

We are working at getting our operational feasibility work completed but are a little challenged:

One grocery consultant group we thought would do our feasibility study is unable to now due to their Covid-19 workload in support of open stores.
We are making outreach to other consultants now.

______________________________________________________________

In the News

Container Gardening In the City (recording) - if you missed our online workshop with Owner Kasey Bersett of Vivant Gardening Services, you can watch the recording or hire her for a personal consult.

______________________________________________________________

Upcoming Events

June 10 Board Meeting - 7-9pm, RSVP to receive Zoom link
Online Workshop: Desk Yoga To Release Screen Fatigue - June 17, 6:30pm with Owner Cindy Huston of Yoga Body Elements
June 24 Board Meeting - 7-9pm, RSVP to receive Zoom link
So, You Want to Be a Board Member? - June 28, 2:00pm
Online Workshop: Kitchen Skills with Charles Dabah - July 2, 7:00pm with Owner Charles Dabah of The Levantine Kitchen

______________________________________________________________

News from our Volunteer Team

Hi all! It has been a great month getting up to speed with Chicago Market and organizing our volunteer needs and efforts as we navigate an unusual 2020. Thank you to all new volunteers who have reached out in the past few weeks! We’re excited to find places for you to contribute to the Market.

And now - a sneak peak! Over the last few weeks, a new team was assembled to explore how we could engage with our community during these unusual times, a team affectionately known as “To Market, To Market”. In line with the values of Chicago Market – local, sustainable, connected – we are speaking directly with local farmers and producers to identify their current and changing needs. Our farmers and producers are our future and while we may not have brick-and-mortar yet, it does not mean we can not be of service. We aren’t sure exactly what this will look like yet, but are exploring options that not only help farmers/producers, but could allow us to get their fresh, tasty products directly to you, our Owners!

What does this mean for you? We are going to need your help as these initiatives are put into action! We also want your insight and connections - if you’ve heard about a farmer or producer who you think we may be able to help, let us know! Please reach out to me directly and stay tuned for more information about these upcoming initiatives!

______________________________________________________________

How Can You Support Your Co-op Now?

While the Board continues to work with the CTA and our consultants on the operational side of things, Owners can help with the Funding and Organizational side by Leveling Up your Ownership to the Cultivating level; donating or pledging a loan; volunteering or considering a Board position; and by sharing your enthusiasm for your Co-op with your friends and on social media.

Do you like this page?

Be the first to comment.