Highlighting the Work of the BDC
By: Ike Ross, Board Member
The dog days of summer are in full swing and the shortening of the days begin the season’s gentle transition toward autumn. The Willy Street Co-op Board of Directors works through the summer and is also preparing for autumn—especially within our Board Development Committee (BDC). As both a dedicated Board member and one of your fellow shoppers, I’m delighted to share some of the work our committee does for the Board and for our Owners.
Let’s begin with the Co-op’s Annual Meeting. This yearly event is our opportunity to reflect on our shared journey throughout the year and set the course ahead. The BDC helps to establish some goals for the Annual Meeting and also helps set the agenda and encourages Owners to join. This is our opportunity to highlight successes from the year, provide an overview of the health of the Co-op, and share the next year’s direction. There are also some prizes awarded to participants, so I hope to see you there! You can learn more and register to attend at willystreet.coop/annual-meeting.
The BDC also helps the Board to organize Owner interest in Board committees and helps to encourage and streamline that participation. Whether your interests lie in finance, sustainability, community outreach, governance, or continued skill development, there is a committee for you! Owners are encouraged to reach out to the BDC or visit willystreet.coop/committees if you’re interested in joining a committee and interacting with your Board members.
Throughout some weekends in September, you may spot us at Board tabling sessions in the stores, encouraging non-owner shoppers to join the Co-op. These informal opportunities aren’t just for new Owners; they’re also opportunities to engage with existing Owners and hear your feedback on how things at the Co-op are going. With the Board’s fall election coming up, it’s also an opportunity to learn a little more about what being a Board member is all about.
In a different effort to reach out to Owners, we rolled out the 2025 Owner Survey earlier this year. Thank you to everyone who responded and provided their helpful feedback. If you’ve missed the results, you can find them in the August 2025 copy of the Reader and online at our website.
Owner engagement and Board participation is crucial to the success of the Co-op. Being a part of the Board Development Committee as a Board member has been incredibly insightful and rewarding, and I hope to get the chance to interact with more Owners in the months ahead.
