Proposed Changes to the Bylaws – Update

ARTICLE 1. ORGANIZATION

TO BE DELETED: 

Section 1.2 – Purpose and Mission. The Co-op exists for the purpose of meeting the needs of its shareholders, on a cooperative and nonprofit basis, with a focus on food and related products, and supporting the larger cooperative movement.

The Co-op is a consumer cooperative whose mission is to provide quality products at a reasonable price in an environment, which is organized fairly and honestly, for its shareholders, staff and community. The Co-op:

~ supports the active participation of its shareholders;

~ supports local and regional growers/producers, as well as other cooperatives; and

~ strives to educate about social, political, environmental and economic issues as they relate to food.

TO BE ADDED:

Section 1.2 Purpose. The Brattleboro Food Co-op shall be owned by its members and shall operate with a focus on food and related products in accord with the International Cooperative Alliance Statement on Cooperative Identity [LINK to https://www.ica.coop/en/cooperatives/cooperative-identity] for the mutual benefit of its members (See 2015 ICA Guidance Notes) [LINK to https://www.ica.coop/en/media/library/research-and-reviews/guidance-notes-cooperative-principles].

TO BE DELETED:

Section 1.3 – Cooperative Principles. The Co-op shall be operated in accordance with the International Cooperative Alliance Statement of Cooperative Identity.  The Statement’s seven principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice. These principles include the following:

(a) shareholder status is open and voluntary without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination;

(b) governance is democratic with equal voting rights among shareholders and opportunity for participation in important decisions affecting the Co-op;

(c) shareholders contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of the Co-op;

(d) the Co-op is an autonomous, self-help organization, controlled by its shareholders;

(e) education and training are provided for Co-op shareholders, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of the Co-op;

(f)   shareholders are served most effectively by strengthening the cooperative movement through working with other cooperative organizations;

(g) the Co-op works for the sustainable development of its community through policies accepted by its shareholders.

TO BE DELETED:

Section 1.4 – Business Office. The business office of the Co-op shall be located at 2 Main Street in

Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont.

*****

RATIONALE:

The Board recommends moving the Mission Statement out of the Co-op’s Bylaws and into its Policies (Q1 Ends).

As now written, there is a confusing redundancy between the bylaws and policies. Currently, the Mission statement lists many of our Ends policies, while our Ends Policies restate the Purpose and Mission bylaw. 

Moving the Mission Statement out of our bylaws allows the Co-op to simplify and clarify its bylaws. The result is a Purpose bylaw (Section 1.2) which states a clear rationale that holds the Board accountable to the International Cooperative Principles. The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) reviews and updates the cooperative principles every so often, so it seems best not to refer to the individual principles, but rather provide a link to the most current information from the ICA, as is shown in the proposed change.

Moving the Mission Statement to our Policies also allows the Board to craft, and update as necessary, the statement. This, in turn, frames and informs our Ends – our goals, which inspire and guide decision-making and the operation of the store. 

As for the proposed removal of Section 1.4: We have learned that it is not required to include this information in our bylaws.