by Anya Firszt, General Manager
Goodbye February, Hello March!
We are one month closer to warmer weather and more hours of daylight! Yippee!
We have daylight savings time to think about this month beginning on March 12 (reminder to spring ahead an hour). Also this month we celebrate the spring or vernal equinox on March 20, the official first day of spring.
March is Women’s History Month
If you want to read more about Women's History Month, check out womenshistorymonth.gov to learn about the role of women in American History. Also, in this issue of the Reader (page 10) there is an article about women-owned businesses, take a look!
Store Projects
Things are humming along at the Co-op. Self checkout lanes have been in use at Willy West for a little over a month, and we’re learning how to use this new (to us) technology and ironing out the kinks and wrinkles. Our Willy North bathroom and break room remodel project is on track to be done by the end of April, just in time for the 2023 Northside Farmers’ Market season to begin. Garden seeds and supplies have already made their way into the retails (with seedlings expected mid-April).
March marks the end of the third quarter of our current fiscal year, and next month is the start of our fourth quarter. Sales are running close to budget and we continue to manage expenses extremely well. On a more somber note, staffing at the production kitchen has been a particular challenge in the last year, as the positions we have there are some of the most high-demand positions in the food industry right now.
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Planning
We closed the second quarter of the current fiscal year a couple of weeks ago and we have already started our budget and special projects planning for next fiscal year. As a reminder, our fiscal year runs July through June. Our plan for the coming fiscal year is based on anticipated performance in quarters that have yet to be closed or started.
The FY24 budget will be submitted to the Board for approval at their June Board meeting and a summary of the budget will be shared with Owners via the Reader following Board approval.
FY22 Patronage Reminder
On January 16th, patronage was issued to those Owners receiving one, and if you have not already claimed yours, store credits are available at the registers through June 18, 2023.
In closing, there’s no telling what the weather will be this month; we’re bound to see more sunlight in the coming days and weeks. I’ll leave you with this thought from John Steinbeck:
“In March the soft rains continued, and each storm waited courteously until its predecessor sunk beneath the ground.”
Until next month, be well.