Recent actions by the Moscow Food Co-op Board of Directors and general manager have initiated a campaign to “save” the Co-op.
In December, board members announced a new policy that would restrict eligibility of potential board members. The policy stated that anyone who has worked for or applied to work for the Co-op in the past two years is ineligible to run for a position. According to Moscow Food Co-op Board President Andrika Kuhle, the new regulation was intended to avoid conflicts of interest.
“The eligibility requirement is not a policy, it is based on the fact that our bylaws state anyone with an overriding conflict is not eligible,” Kuhle said. “Over the last few years we have struggled with what that means.”
Kuhle said the board has been trying to define the ambiguous language during the past few years, and prompted by the hiring of a new general manager, the board finally set the definition in stone.
The community did not respond well to this change and Bill London, former editor of the Co-op newsletter, is no exception.
“This began last fall with the board of directors trying to figure out a way by which they can control the people who run for the board of directors,” London said. “They are worried, as I understand it, that the voters will not be able to decide for themselves — that they need assistance from the board to limit candidates.”
London said the board looked at national models, and was told it would be in their interest to re-evaluate candidates who had worked at the Co-op and lost their job, or applied and were not hired.
“They were concerned these people would have negative ideas,” London said.
Kuhle confirmed that the board talked with national co-ops and was concerned about negativity after an incident a few years ago with an ex-employee.
“We felt it was (a) reasonable thing to do, especially knowing we have responsibility for the Co-op,” Kuhle said. “When we realized we had an election it was better to be prepared, so we decided to define what an overriding conflict of interest is.”
Because of the new policy, London said, about 200 people who are otherwise capable are unable to run for a position.
“Several people I know wanted to run but could not,” London said. “A lot of people, myself included, were very angry.”
This was not the first time the board made an attempt to define candidacy restrictions. According to Kuhle, a similar guideline that lacked the specificity of the new requirement was released last year.
Kuhle said advanced notice of the regulation wasn’t given the previous year either, so the board didn’t think it was an issue.
London said he thought neglecting to inform members before finalizing the definition was in violation of Co-op rules.
“One of the basic rules of the Co-op is democratic governance. Members of the organization are expected to have active participation in decision making,” London said. “They completely ignored this with the ruling.”
Many members tried to protest the requirement, but were shot down when Seth Marcantonio — the Co-op’s recently dismissed general manager — opted not to print discontented or negative letters to the editor in the Co-op’s newsletter and posted them on a bulletin board inside the Co-op instead. Marcantonio told the Moscow-Pullman Daily News he felt the board of directors wouldn’t be able to respond to the letters before they were printed.
London said he could not believe the newsletter was being censored.
“It was the first time in 26 years,” London said. “To violate the trust and censor that way should not stand. I protested. He would not change his mind so I had to resign, I just couldn’t do it.”
Theresa Nuhn, member of the general management team, said in the future the newsletter will return to the old format, and letters to the editor of all opinions are welcome.
The past censorship not only led London to resign as newsletter editor, but caused him to run for a board position, along with Kurt (Sam) Obermayr, and organize a website, saveourfoodcoop.com.
“We put together the website to share info and more recently added the platforms to bring democratic governance back to the government,” London said.
Although recent actions by the board, and ex-general manager sparked action by community members, Kuhle said the decision was not made lightly and was required by the bylaws to be made.
“We were not trying to be underhanded and shady,” Kuhle said.
A member meeting was held Wednesday to start a discussion and answer any questions members had, Kuhle said.
Kuhle said the board is also dedicating its upcoming spring retreat to the re-evaluation of its election process and assuring a healthy functioning board.
Nuhn said the general management team is welcoming of opinions and discussion.
“The way the Co-op is structured is very diverse with a community with many opinions,” Nuhn said. “But that is what makes us rich. It helps us grow.” For more information:
For more information about the Moscow Food Co-op, visit their website at www.moscowfood.coop/
For a list of cooperative principles, visit http://bit.ly/yFZqIz
For the roles and responsibilities of the Co-op Board, visit http://bit.ly/wwwW3D