by Michelle "Gigi" Godwin, Board Member
Greetings, Owners! Fall is finally here, and that means Willy Street Co-op’s Annual Meeting is right around the corner. Attending the Annual Meeting is a way to hear how the year has been going so far, to learn about the Co-op’s current financial status, and an opportunity to ask questions of Board members and Co-op staff. Board candidates will also introduce themselves, and once the meeting is adjourned, Board members will then lead breakout sessions so Owners can weigh in on the Co-op’s mission and vision.
The two previous Annual Meetings were virtual only, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the Board voted to hold its first ever hybrid meeting where Owners can attend either in person or online. Also, previous Annual Meetings were held in July per the tradition of coinciding with La Fete de Marquette. Since that festival got temporarily shut down by the pandemic, the Board decided to review a different timeframe, and voted on having the 2022 meeting (and subsequent ones) in October. Why the month of October? Per Co-op Bylaw 4.2: “The Annual Owners’ Meeting will be held within 100 days of the end of the fiscal year.” And October was chosen because it allows for the Board to review and approve the audited financial report at its September meeting prior to it being presented to Owners.
Another new aspect of this year’s Annual Meeting is the Board-led breakout sessions. After the meeting adjourns, the following three questions will be used as discussion points regarding the mission and vision of the Co-op:
- What are we doing that is working?
- What should we not be doing anymore?
- What should we consider doing?
2022 Willy Street Co-op Annual Meeting details—I hope to see you there!
The 2022 Annual Meeting takes place on Tuesday, October 11, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. The in-person venue is the Middleton Performing Arts Center (2100 Bristol Street), which is located behind Middleton High School and is a few blocks from Willy West. Snacks and beverages will be served at 5:00pm and the meeting will start at 5:30pm. Registration is required for all those attending online, and is encouraged for those attending in person. Three Owners will be chosen to win Co-op gift cards valued at $50, $100, and $250 at the end of the meeting, and another drawing for three more gift cards with those same values will occur after the breakout sessions. So there are two opportunities to win!
Please visit willystreet.coop/Annual-Meeting-2022 to register. If you have any additional questions, you can contact the Board Development Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
WILLY STREET CO-OP MISSION
Cultivate and empower community, customers, employees, and suppliers through cooperative principles and practices.
WILLY STREET CO-OP VISION
Willy Street Co-op is a local community partner that nourishes a sustainable, accessible, and equitable food system where everyone can participate.