by: Anya Firszt, General Manager
Hello Co-op Owners.
We have three celebrations in October!
Since 1964, cooperatives across the country have been celebrating Co-op Month. This is a time to recognize the cooperative business model, Ownership, and, most importantly, you! Thank you for your part in helping to keep the cooperative dream alive. Read more about cooperation and co-ops in Megan Minnick’s article here.
October is not only Co-op Month, it’s also Fair Trade Month! If you’ve seen the stickers or heard the term and wondered what it means, it means that the product meets a blend of social, economic, and environmental criteria that support the sustainable development of small producer organizations and agricultural workers in the Global South. This month we’ll have a selection of sale products that are made by cooperatives or are Fair Trade or both! See the sales at www.willystreet.coop/promotions/coop-deals/.
And finally, we’re also celebrating Owner Appreciation this month. To express our gratitude to our Owners, we will be offering 30% off (or more!) a number products, plus gift card giveaways. See more information here.
On the Horizon
Farm-to-Table Dinner
Be sure to check out the article on page 11 by Kristina Kuhaupt, Customer Experience Manager, about the Farm-to-Table event. We are excited to host another gathering, one year after our first event held to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Since last year’s event was so successful, we wanted to do it again.
Please note that last year, we had a long waiting list, so I recommend purchasing your ticket(s) while they are still available, as they tend to sell out quickly.
Board Elections
Look for Board candidate statements and balloting information on pages 8–10 in the Reader. Voting will take place from October 1 to 22. You can cast your ballot at one of our three stores, by mail, by phone, or electronically, provided we have your current email address on file.
Election results will be announced at the Special Owner Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 22. The last call for online and vote-by-phone ballots is 11:59pm on Monday, October 20, and paper ballots are due by 6:00pm on October 22; results will be announced at 6:30pm. Be sure to check the Co-op’s website for election updates following the Special Meeting or in the next issue of the Reader.
Annual Meeting October 7
The 2025 Annual Meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, October 7, starting at 6:00pm.
Please note that registration is required in advance of the event. We need a quorum of at least 50 Owners to conduct business. This includes approving the meeting minutes from the previous two years. I am counting on you to be there!
Fond Farewell and Heartfelt Recognition
As you may have heard, long-time community supporter Bob Queen passed away on Monday, September 15th, at the age of 76. He was involved with multiple Madison festivals over the last 35 years, most recently Sessions at McPike Park and Sessions at Garver, both of which the Co-op sponsored.
He received the Madison Area Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his decades of work in procuring local music for the community. Throughout all his many projects, he consistently demonstrated a deep love and desire to raise money for community causes, from helping to prevent the possible closure of Marquette Elementary School in 1990 to utilizing festival proceeds to support a free summer camp for kids and providing funds for local nonprofits.
Our community is a better place because of his work. Thank you, Bob.
In cooperation,
Anya
