Myth Busters--People’s Food Co-op Board of Directors Edition
By Marc Brown, Director
Myth #1: I don’t have the skills needed to serve on the board.
Truth #1: Everyone has the skills needed to serve on the board of People’s! The only requirement is that you are a Member-Owner of People’s Food Co-op (if you’re not sure if you are, or would like to become one, email us here). The Board’s strength comes from the diversity of skills that the board members bring to it. Everyone has skills and those skills add to the diversity and strength of the Board.
Myth #2: I do not know anything about running a cooperative grocery store or running any grocery store for that matter, so I shouldn’t run for the Board.
Truth #2: Very few directors on the Board know anything about running a grocery store or any store. The Board of People’s is a governance board and not an operational board. That means that the Board is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the store. People’s has an excellent and dedicated collectively managed staff that knows how to run the store. The Board governs the cooperative corporation through policies. The Board governs by ensuring that the Board and staff are meeting board policies.
Myth #3: You mentioned policies. I hear that you use a system called Policy Governance. I have no idea what that means and so I cannot be a director.
Truth #3: The Board trains every new director on Policy Governance. Very few individuals know anything about Policy Governance when they begin to serve on the Board. But within a year, the new directors are Policy Governance experts, a handy skill they carry on beyond their term on the Board.
Myth #4: I previously served on the board of a non-profit and it was very challenging with many heated discussions about how the group could best advocate. I don’t want to sign up for more stress like that.
Truth #4: People’s Food Cooperative is not a non-profit. It is a cooperatively owned corporation which runs a for-profit business—our grocery store. Each Member-Owner owns one share of the co-operative corporation and with that one share, each Member-Owner has one vote. The directors represent the owners much like any corporate board of a company like Apple or Pepsi or Columbia Sportswear, but the big difference is that WE OWN IT. It is our corporation. Additionally, the Board of People’s uses a consensus model of decision-making. Rather than voting to make decisions, we hold discussions to hear everyone’s point of view, find a happy medium or compromise and then move forward together. This seems to reduce much of the tension and animosity that is sometimes experienced on boards that operate on a majority rules model.
Myth #5: I do not have the time to serve on the Board.
Truth #5: It is true that serving on the Board does take time. Probably a minimum of 6 hours a month. Some directors put in additional time on projects and committees. However, much of that time is spent working with and around interesting people who are passionate about food access, social justice, human rights, equity and equality, and economic opportunities. And, all directors get a 15% discount on their purchases at People’s for their efforts.
