People's Co-op Bylaws
Below are our bylaws in their entirety. If you have any questions or comments, please contact our Board of Directors. Adopted April 16, 2000. Amended August 2008. Amended August 2017. Amended 2021. Amended July 2024.
Article I - Organization
Section 1.1 - Name. The name of the organization is People's Food Cooperative (referred to in these bylaws as "the Co-op.")
Section 1.2 - Purposes. As more fully stated in its Articles of Incorporation, the purpose of the Co-op is to provide groceries and other consumer goods to its owners and to others and to engage in other lawful activities. The Co-op is organized and shall be operated exclusively as a consumer-owned cooperative acting for the mutual benefit of member-owners.
Section 1.3 - Cooperative principles. The Co-op shall be operated in accordance with cooperative principles adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance, including the following: (i) voluntary and open ownership without arbitrary discrimination; (ii) democratic governance by owners with equal voting rights among owners and opportunity for participation in setting policies and making decisions; (iii) economic participation by owners with owners equitably contributing to and democratically controlling the capital of the Co-op, and with earnings being equitably applied to the benefit of owners in proportion to their patronage of the Co-op, to the development needs of the Co-op, and to the provision and extension of common services; (iv) autonomy and independence of the Co-op as a self-help organization controlled by its owners being strictly maintained; (v) educating and training owners, directors, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of the Co-op, and informing the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperation; (vi) strengthening the cooperative movement by working with other cooperative organizations at all levels; and (vii) working for sustainable development of the Co-op's community.
Section 1.4 - Principal office. The principal office of the Co-op shall be located at 3029 S.E. 21st Avenue in the City of Portland, Oregon 97202.
Article II - Ownership
Section 2.1 - Admission. Ownership in the Co-op shall be voluntary and open to any individual or any household group that desires to use the services of the Co-op and is willing to accept the responsibilities of ownership. Applicants will be admitted to ownership upon submitting required information and purchasing or subscribing to purchase a common share at a price determined by the Board of Directors, which price may vary in accordance with the financial circumstances of the purchaser. In case of doubtful eligibility, ownership shall be subject to approval by the Board. All applicants shall be provided with a copy of these bylaws, including the appended explanation of the patronage refund consent provision, on or before the date of admission to ownership.
Section 2.2 - Share purchase requirement. Each owner shall keep current in payment of the share purchase requirement. An owner who becomes delinquent in meeting the share purchase obligation to an extent determined by the Board shall be placed into inactive status. Participation rights of such person shall then be suspended. An owner in inactive status may attain good standing only upon full payment of all arrearages and a processing fee, if any, as determined by the Board. References in these bylaws to the rights and entitlements of owners shall be understood to refer only to owners in good standing.
Section 2.3 - Rights. Each owner shall be entitled to make purchases from the Co-op on terms generally available to owners, and to participate in the governance of the Co-op as set forth in these bylaws. Owners may contribute labor or services and thereby be entitled to receive benefits, as determined by the Board.
Section 2.4 - Access to information. Owners shall be provided reasonably adequate and timely information as to the organizational and financial affairs of the Co-op. Owners shall be provided access to the books and records of the Co-op at all reasonable times and for any proper purpose. The Board may deny such access if it reasonably determines that the purpose of such access is not directly related to a legitimate interest of the owner and is contrary to the best interests of the Co-op. The Board may also provide a reasonable alternative to such access that adequately accommodates a proper purpose.
Section 2.5 - Settlement of disputes. In any dispute between the Co-op and any of its owners or former owners which cannot be resolved through informal negotiation, it shall be the policy of the Co-op to prefer the use of mediation whereby an impartial mediator may facilitate negotiations between the parties and assist them in developing a mutually acceptable settlement. No party with a grievance against the other shall have recourse to litigation until the matter is submitted to mediation and attempted to be resolved in good faith.
Section 2.6 - Nontransferability. Ownership rights and interests may not be transferred except to the Co-op. Any attempted transfer contrary to this section shall be wholly void and shall confer no rights on the intended transferee.
Section 2.7 - Termination. Ownership may be terminated voluntarily by an owner at any time upon notice to the Co-op. Ownership may be terminated involuntarily only for cause by the Board, provided the accused owner is first accorded an adequate opportunity to respond to the charges in person or in writing. Upon termination of ownership, all rights and interests in the Co-op shall cease except for rights to redemption of capital pursuant to Articles VII of these bylaws.
Article III - Meetings of Owners
Section 3.1 - Annual meeting. An annual meeting of owners shall be held each year to receive reports on operations and finances and to conduct such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Section 3.2 – Special Meetings. Special meetings of owners may be called by the Board and shall be called by the Secretary as soon as practicable upon receipt of petitions signed by 10 percent or more of owners, such petitions stating any proper issue to be brought before the meeting. The procedures for processing owners’ petitions are stated in the Board’s Policy Register. Any business conducted at a special meeting other than that specified in the notice of the meeting shall be of an advisory nature only.
Section 3.3 - Time and place. The date, time and place of all meetings of owners shall be determined by the Board or, in the event that the Board fails to so act, by the Secretary. Meetings shall be held at a time and place convenient to owners.
Section 3.4 - Notice. Written notice of the time and place, and in the case of a special meeting the purposes of the meeting, shall be mailed or delivered to each owner not less than 15 days before the date of the meeting. The Co-op shall also endeavor to post the notices of meetings in a timely manner and in a conspicuous place in the Co-op’s store.
Section 3.5 - Record dates. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, only persons who are owners at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the date of distribution of notices shall be entitled to notice of any meeting of owners and to vote at such meeting.
Section 3.6 - Voting. Voting on all matters that Member-Owners are entitled to vote upon will be accomplished through a paper ballot, or, if the member consents, by electronic ballots, or both, as authorized by the Board. A member who agrees to vote by electronic means in an election is not bound to vote by electronic means in a future election. Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws, notice of the vote shall be posted in a conspicuous place to Member-Owners’ postal or electronic address, or notice may be given by electronic means along with transmission of the electronic ballot, not less than 15 days prior to the end of the election period. Unless otherwise stated in the articles of incorporation, or by these bylaws, or required by law, all questions shall be decided by a vote of a majority of the Member-Owners voting thereon. Proxy voting is not allowed.
Section 3.7 - Quorum. At any meeting of the Member-Owners, or for any vote of the members, a quorum necessary for decision-making shall be 10% of the total number of Member-Owners or 100 Member-Owners, whichever is less.
Section 3.8 – Issues submitted by owners. Notices of a meeting of owners shall include any proper issue submitted by petition of 5 percent or more of owners. The procedures for processing the owners’ petitions are stated in the Board’s Policy Register.
Article IV - Board of Directors
Section 4.1 - Powers and duties. Except as to matters reserved to owners by law or by these bylaws, the corporate powers of the Co-op shall be exercised by or under the authority of the Board of Directors, and the business and affairs of the Co-op shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors (sometimes referred to in these bylaws as "the Board").
Section 4.2 - Number and qualifications. The Board shall consist of nine individuals, including eight patron directors and one staff director. All directors shall be owners and shall not have any overriding conflict of interest with the Co-op.
Section 4.3 - Nominations, election and terms. Patron directors may be nominated by the Board, by the nominations committee, or by petition signed by at least twenty-five owners and submitted to the Co-op at least forty-five days before commencement of election of directors.
The staff director shall be nominated and elected by the staff collective. Terms of directors shall be so staggered that one-third of the terms, or as nearly so as may be practicable, shall expire in each year. Patron directors shall be elected for terms of three years. To facilitate staggering of terms, some directors may periodically be elected for a one-year or two-year term. The election of the members-at-large of a nominations committee shall be held concurrently with Board elections as needed. Incoming Directors shall begin immediately to discharge the duties of director and, subject to resignation or removal, shall hold office for the term for which the director was elected and until a successor takes office.
Section 4.4 - Standards of conduct. Directors shall be responsible at all times for discharging their duties in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances and in a manner that they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Co-op. The Co-op may not lend money to or guarantee the obligation of a director.
Section 4.5 - Conflicts of interest. Directors shall be under an affirmative duty to disclose their actual or potential conflicts of interest in any matter under consideration by the Board. Directors having such an interest may not participate in the decision of the matter.
Section 4.6 - Committees. The Board may appoint special or standing committees to advise the Board or to exercise such authority as the Board shall designate. Advisory committees shall include at least one director. Committees exercising any authority of the Board shall consist only of directors and shall conform to all procedural requirements applicable to the Board.
Section 4.7 - Indemnification. Subject to limitations in ORS 62.462 to 62.482 and in the Co-op's Articles of Incorporation, the Co-op shall indemnify its current and former directors and officers against all reasonable expenses to which they may become subject by reason of their positions with the Co-op or their service in its behalf to the fullest extent permitted by law. Indemnification payments and advances of expenses shall be made on a priority basis but only in such increments and at such times as will not jeopardize the ability of the Co-op to pay its ordinary and necessary obligations as they become due. All such payments made shall be reported in writing to owners with or before the notice of the next scheduled meeting of owners.
Section 4.8 - Termination. The term of office of a director may be terminated prior to its expiration in any of the following ways: (i) voluntarily by a director upon notice to the Co-op; (ii) automatically upon termination of ownership in the Co-op; (iii) in the case of the staff director, by vote of the staff collective; and (iv) in the case of a patron director, by vote of owners at a meeting of owners, provided that written reasons for removal are included in the notice of the meeting and the director whose removal is sought has had an opportunity to answer the charges in person or in writing. A director who is absent from three consecutive Board meetings, unless excused by the Board for good cause, shall be presumed to have resigned.
Section 4.9 - Vacancies. Whenever the number of patron directors shall fall below six for any reason, the board shall appoint one or more directors necessary to bring the number of patron directors to six. If the number of patron directors falls below eight, the board may appoint one or two patron directors to bring the number to seven or eight. Whenever the staff director position shall become vacant for any reason, the staff collective shall appoint a replacement. Such director or directors shall serve until the next regularly scheduled election of directors.
Article V - Meetings of the Board
Section 5.1 - Meetings. The Board of Directors may determine the times and places of regular meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President and shall be called by the Secretary upon request of any three directors. Meetings of the Board shall be held no less frequently than once in each month.
Section 5.2 - Notice. Regular meetings shall require no notice other than the resolution of the Board, it being the responsibility of absent directors to inquire as to the time of further scheduled meetings. Special meetings shall require written or oral notice to all directors. Written notice shall be delivered at least five days before the date of the meeting and oral notices shall be given in person or by a telecommunications device at least forty-eight hours before the time of the meeting. The Co-op shall also endeavor to post the notices of meetings of the Board in a timely manner and in a conspicuous place in the Co-op's store.
Section 5.3 - Quorum. The presence in person of a majority of directors then in office shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board.
Section 5.4 - Decision making. Decisions of the Board shall be made by a system to be established in writing by the Board, such system to be within the range of majority rule to full consensus.
Section 5.5 - Action without a meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting if a written consent to the action is signed by all directors and filed with the minutes of meetings.
Section 5.6 - Open meetings. Meetings of the Board and all committees shall be open to owners. Sessions of a meeting may be closed only as to issues of a particularly sensitive nature. Such closed session shall be for purposes of discussion only and no decisions shall be made in closed session. Owners may otherwise be excluded only for cause.
Article VI - Officers and Staff Collective
Section 6.1 - Designation and qualifications. The principal officers of the Co-op shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board may designate other officers or assistant officers. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one director. All principal officers shall be directors. Employees of the Co-op are not eligible to serve as principal officers.
Section 6.2 - Election, terms and removal. All officers shall be elected by the incoming Board each year at the first Board meeting following the election of new directors. Officers may be removed and replaced by the Board at any time whenever the best interests of the Co-op would thereby be served.
Section 6.3 - Duties. In addition to signing or attesting to formal documents on behalf of the Co-op as authorized by the Board, officers shall have the following duties and such additional duties as are determined by the Board:
(a) The President shall be responsible for coordinating the activities of the Board and assuring the orderly conduct of all meetings of the Board and owners;
b) The Vice President shall be responsible for performing the duties of the President in his or her absence or disability and, as requested, assisting other officers in the performance of their duties;
c) The Secretary shall be responsible for the recording and keeping of adequate minutes of all meetings of the Board and of owners, issuing notices required under these bylaws, and authenticating records of the Co-op; and
(d) The Treasurer shall oversee the maintenance of financial records, reporting of financial information and filing of required reports and returns.
Section 6.4 - Staff Collective. The staff shall be organized as a self-managed collective under the direction and control of the Board of Directors.
Article VII - Capital Stock
Section 7.1 - Issuance. To evidence capital funds provided by owners, the Co-op shall issue common shares. Common shares may be issued only to persons eligible for and admitted to ownership in the Co-op. Such shares shall be issued only upon full payment of the stated value of the shares, as determined by the Board of Directors, which payment shall include returnable fees paid prior to adoption of these bylaws. Payment for shares shall not exceed three hundred dollars or such higher amount as may be permitted by ORS 59.025(11) or the corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted Oregon statute.
Section 7.2 - Terms. Common shares shall be entitled to no dividend or other monetary return on investment. Such shares shall be nontransferable and may not be pledged as security for a debt. Shares shall be subject to assessment insofar at it may become necessary to increase the required capital investment of owners by reason of the current or prospective capital needs of the Co-op.
Section 7.3 - Certificates. Owners shall be entitled to receive certificates evidencing outstanding shares. All certificates shall be signed personally or by facsimile by a principal officer of the Co-op and shall be numbered and registered by the Co-op. Each certificate shall have printed upon it such information as is required by law. The Co-op may issue a replacement certificate for any common share alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed without requiring the giving of a bond or other security against related losses.
Section 7.4 - Redemption. Upon written request following voluntary termination of ownership, the common share of the requesting owner shall be redeemed as soon as replacement capital has been secured by the Co-op from other owners. Common shares shall also be redeemed as soon as practicable upon involuntary termination of ownership, upon death of the owner and under other compelling circumstances as determined by the Board. Such shares shall be redeemable at the lesser of their carrying value on the books of the Co-op or their net book value. In the case of voluntary termination of ownership, a reasonable processing fee may be imposed, as determined by the Board. Reapplications for ownership after redemption shall be subject to full repayment of redemption proceeds and a reasonable reprocessing fee, if any, as determined by the Board.
Section 7.5 - Lien and offset. The Co-op shall have a first lien on common stock for amounts otherwise due and payable to the Co-op- from the owner. The Co-op may, at any time after such amounts remain due and payable for thirty days, offset such amounts against payments for common stock. Such offset may not be effected by an owner or by anyone acting in the right of an owner.
Article VIII - Patronage Refunds
Section 8.1 - Allocation of net savings. The realized net savings of the Co-op, to the extent attributable to the patronage of owners, shall be allocated among owners as patronage refunds in proportion to their patronage and in such a manner and at such times as to constitute patronage dividends within the meaning of federal income tax law.
Section 8.2 - Distribution and notice. Patronage refunds shall be evidenced by written notices of allocation delivered to recipient owners within eight months and fifteen days following the close of the fiscal year. All notices, except those subject to Section 8.6 hereof, shall be accompanied by checks in amounts determined by the Board which must be at least twenty percent of the amount allocated to each owner.
Section 8.3 - Exceptions. Net savings may be reduced by such reasonable reserves for necessary business purposes as is determined by the Board. Any allocations of such a nominal amount as not to justify the expenses of distribution may, as determined by the Board, be excluded from distribu¬tion provided that they are not then or later distributed to other owners. Owners shall retain the right to waive in whole or in part, by action at a meeting of owners, any patronage refunds to which they may be entitled.
Section 8.4 - Consent of owners. By obtaining or retaining ownership in the Co-op, each owner shall thereby consent to take into account, in the manner and to the extent required by Section 1385 of the Internal Revenue Code, the stated dollar amount of any qualified written notice of allocation in the taxable year in which such notice is received.
Section 8.5 - Retentions. A portion of patronage refunds may be retained for the reasonable capital needs of the Co-op. Such retentions shall be credited to revolving capital accounts in the names of recipient owners, shall accrue no monetary return on investment, and shall not be transferable. They shall be redeemed when determined by the Board to be no longer needed for capital purposes. At that time they shall be redeemed in the order of the oldest outstanding amounts and on a pro rata basis among such amounts. Retentions may also be redeemed under compelling circumstances as determined by associates.
Section 8.6 - Allocation of net loss. In the event the Co-op shall incur a net loss in any fiscal year, such loss may be charged against retained savings or other unallocated equity accounts. If the net loss exceeds such amounts, or in any event if the Board so determines, the amount of such loss may either be carried forward to offset adjusted net savings of subsequent fiscal years or allocated to owners in the same manner as for adjusted net savings except that such allocation shall not exceed the total of invested capital. Any such allocated net loss shall be charged first against retained patronage dividends of prior fiscal years and then against patronage dividend allocations of subsequent fiscal years. Allocated net losses which are not so offset may be charged against the carrying value of shares only upon termination of ownership. Allocated net losses shall not otherwise be assessed to or collected from owners.
Article IX - Fiscal Matters
Section 9.1 - Fiscal year. The fiscal year of the Co-op shall coincide with the calendar year.
Section 9.2 - Forfeiture. Any distribution of patronage refunds or any redemption of, or payment based upon, any capital stock, indebtedness, or other equity interests which remains unclaimed four years after the date authorized for payment may be forfeited by action of the Board. Any amount so forfeited shall revert to the Co-op if, at least six months prior to the declared date of forfeiture, notice that the payment is available has been mailed to the last-known address of the person shown by the Co-op's records to be entitled thereto or, if the address is unknown, is published at least once a month for four months in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the registered office of the Co-op is located.
Article X - Interpretation and Amendment of Bylaws
Section 10.1 - Severability. In the event that any provision of these bylaws is determined to be invalid or unenforceable under any statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to such extent and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law without affecting the validity or enforceability of any other provision of these bylaws.
Section 10.2 - Amendment. These bylaws may be amended or repealed only by vote of owners, provided that the proposed amendments are stated in the notice of the meeting at which the amendments are to be adopted.
Appendix: Explanation Of Patronage Refund Consent Provision
The Internal Revenue Code generally requires each person receiving a patronage dividend to include the amount of such distribution in their gross income in the taxable year in which it is received. Under bylaw section 8.4, mere acceptance or retention of ownership status in the Co-op constitutes a consent to such inclu¬sion in taxable income, including the portion of the patronage dividend that is retained by the Co-op for its capital needs.
The Co-op has been advised by legal counsel, however, that the general rule for inclusion in income of patronage dividends is subject to an exception that is applicable to consumer cooperatives. Under that exception, a patronage dividend is not required to be included in gross income if the owner's purchases from the Co-op related to "personal, living or family items." The patronage dividend would thus be taxable to an owner only if his or her purchases related to the operation of a trade or business or other income-producing activities.
