Russ Christianson - Engaging Members

Fourth Annual AssemblyEngaging Co-op Members

1. Roundtable introductions 2. Process and learning expectations 3. Membership basics4. Ways to engage members5. Use of committees6. Evaluation

What are your expectations for this workshop?

What does an engaged membership in your food co-op mean to you?

On a scale from 1 to 10, rate the level of member engagement

at your food co-op?

Why did you give this rating?

What specific ideas do you have to increase the level of member

engagement at your food co-op?

Membership Basics1. Why become a co-op member?

• Needs met by the co-op• Vision, Mission, Purpose, Values

2. Membership benefits:• Services and products offered• Economic advantage• Member participation/democratic control

3. Membership responsibilities:• Membership fees, loans, shares, bonds• Participate/volunteer• Confidentiality & transparency

4. How to engage members:• Communications/Marketing Strategy/Branding• Shared vision, mission, purpose and values• Media: Internal/external; Print/Electronic• Make a compelling case • Builds emotional commitment and loyalty• Have fun; put culture back in agriculture

An agriculture based upon intensive work, local energies, care, and long-living communities – that is, to state the matter from a consumer’s point of view: a dependable, long-term food supply.

Wendell Berry, The Unsettling of America (1977)

In the future we shall need extensive long-range democratic planning, co-operatives, and for the most part relatively small or mid-sized mixed organic farms that receive significant public support and are encouraged to support each other through various types of co-operative arrangement.

Robert Albritton, Let Them Eat Junk (2009)

Local Organic Food Co-ops

1. Bringing local farmers and eaters together directly.

2. Growing and supplying fresh, healthy food locally.

3. Keeping money in the community.

4. Trading fairly.

5. Saving energy, building the soil, and protecting water.

6. Celebrating good food, culture and community.

Share of Farm Revenue(Canada: 1985 to 2009)

0.4%

99.6%

FarmersSuppliers & Banks

Farmers’ Share of Food $

1952 2010 Co-op0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

47%

20%

60%

Loblaw

Sobeys

Metro

Costco

Safeway

Walm

art

Co-ops

Overwaite

a

Couche-Tard

Shoppers0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

Top Canadian Food Retailers (2010)

$ m

illio

ns s

ales

On a scale from 1 to 10, rate your level of satisfaction

with this workshop.

Why did you give this rating?

What specific suggestions do you have to improve this workshop?