After one year in, what have I learned from being on the board?
Let’s first start with why I joined. Over the years I had watched the changes happening to the face of Chico Natural Food Co-op and I had wondered what was going on behind all those changes, not even knowing about the web page, facebook page, or even my member benefits for that matter.
Last year about this time, I ran into Dale at the Co-op who was tabling for new board candidates. I asked him about the food quality because my food and my health were the main drivers for my being with the Co-op. Immediately he directed me to Liza, the general manager, as she was passing by.
She instantly knew the answers to my questions and bolstered my confidence about the quality. I still have concerns about the store itself, but Liza and we, the board members, have been open about the direction of our beloved co-op.
So that’s when Dale said he was there to sign up new board members, and that was when I knew I just had to say yes.
No doubt about it, the learning curve is steep and it uses up some time, but it is also rich. There was no pressure to be up to speed right away. There was also plenty of help to learn the ropes. You have Kathy and Dale to thank for that.
It is quite an undertaking to learn how to be on a board, especially how to be on a governance board. It is about representing all points of view, but speaking with one voice. That is no small task. I have learned that no matter the differences of style, character, point of view and personal perception, everyone brings something of worth to the table. We come from many different experiences and backgrounds, but we all come together to share our care and our hopes for the co-op and do our best to represent you, the members.
There’s also no doubt that I have learned to use my own voice, speak my truth and not be ashamed of it. It’s not easy to speak your own truth and still be respectful and appreciative of someone else who’s truth sometimes feels like the opposite of your own. Maybe not everyone has felt like this, but this has been my experience.
So now comes that time of year to again elect/re-elect our board members. And so I ask, “If you have any attraction at all to becoming fully engaged in our co-op and feel ready to learn how to appreciate others and be appreciated, please apply to be a board member today. Just go to chiconaturalfoods.coop, click the Board of Directors tab on the bottom left, click Join the Board and print out the application. Don’t forget to bring it in when you are done and hand it to the floor manager.
Dare to enrich yourself. (The 15% board service discount isn’t all that bad either.)
Wilma Kirk (proud of her 1 year board experience)