Board of Directors

Past Meeting Minutes

The Board of Directors is a group of nine to seventeen member-owners whose responsibility is to oversee Co-op operations and make policy decisions. Two of those seats are reserved for staff members elected by employees of the Co-op, but who serve the interests of the entire membership. The group has the legal responsibility to ensure the well-being of the Co-op. The Board supervises the General Manager(s) of the store. At this time, we have a General Management Team of three people who fulfill this role and are responsible for carrying out Board policies at the store, including issues relating to staff.

The board represents the membership, and acts for the Co-op’s members. The members' votes imply trust that the board is representing their interests.

Board members are elected to three year terms and approximately one-third of the Board is up for election every year during a period that includes the annual meeting. Board members receive a $25 per month store credit ($35 for officers) for their service to the co-op. The Board meets at least once a month, generally on the fourth Thursday, 6:30-8:30 PM. Committee meetings happen throughout the month, see schedule elsewhere. Meetings are open to co-op members, with a specific time reserved for member comments.

Agendas of board meetings are posted on the Co-op bulletin board and website one week prior to each scheduled meeting. Approved minutes of Board meetings are available on the website in the week following the subsequent monthly meeting.

Special meetings may be called as necessary by the Board, or by a petition submitted by at least ten percent of co-op members. At this time, our co-op has about 3200 members.

If you are interested in joining our board, the next election is in March 2012. You can read through our nomination information. We also have a nomination form for members who want to be a candidate for the board.

The Board may be contacted here or by leaving mail with the Co-op Floor Manager during business hours to be delivered to individual directors.


Current Board Members:

Russ Barber Long Range Planning and Buildings & Grounds Committees Belfast 2009-present Russ was born in Massachusetts and spent 4 years at Unity College ('72-'76) where his fellow housemates had an early form of Co-op buying group. Twenty years were spent in the Dartmouth College / Lebanon, New Hampshire area where he worked as a Machinist in the Geotechnical industry and worked as a product designer. Russ rediscovered Belfast and became a Co-op member in 2001. Since settling in Belfast he got involved with the city, restored a historic colonial and built an energy efficient house. He is currently an alternate on the city planning board, a member of MRG a group that works to return passenger rail to more areas of Maine and is working full time on the all volunteer return of the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad.

Jeanne Gail, PhD co-Scribe Membership, Long Range Planning, ad hoc Recycling, and Purchasing Policy Committees Belfast 2009-present Jeanne has been a Belfast resident and Co-op member-owner for the past fifteen years. As a retired physician's assistant she has had experience working in family practice, gynecology, and adolescent medicine. In the 1980's she authored a book on omega-3 & trans-fat. Jeanne holds particular passions for physical fitness as a health coach, sailing acting as a captain and schooner owner, and for art which she expresses through watercolor painting and a sign making business.

Wayne Kraeger Building & Grounds, Management Oversight Committees Stockton Springs 2003-present Wayne has been a resident of Stockton Springs for twenty-seven years. He has been involved with small scale farming for most of his life and still raises vegetables for the co-op as well as others. He has been involved with co-ops in Arkansas before he moved to Maine. He is interested in organic production and has been a MOFGA certified grower and is still a member of MOFGA. He specializes in growing Russian Red Garlic. The local production of food is important and one reason for being on the board. He is married to Susie and they have a son living in Pittsburgh, PA with his partner and two grandchildren.

Debbi Lasky Vice President Board Development, Management Oversight, Membership and Bylaws Committees Montville 1991-present Debbi was born in the Big Apple, started migrating north in 1966, and finally found home in Waldo County in 1971. An organizer of the first pre-order co-ops in the early '70's she is a strong believer in co-operatives and community. After working for many years raising two children and as an Obstetrical nurse, Debbi now feeds her passion for rural life with vegetable and flower gardens, goats and other assorted beasts, and maintaining her house and land. She is also a member of the Montville Historical Sociery and is active in her 'adopted' community. Debbi is also passionate about alternatives to consumer mentality, two party politics and many aspects of world politics.

Paul Nyren Building & Grounds and Finance Committees Northport 2011-present Paul has been a Co-op member since 2006 and an elected member of the BOD. He is semi-retired as a builder/developer and has been in the business for over 34 years. Earning a business management degree prior to his builder years, he has varied business management experiences in retail, wholesale food distribution, corporate, and utility businesses. Paul has had many years of leadership roles on both church (chair trustees and finance) and town (chair historical commission, treasurer historic district, chair gristmill) committees. He has lived in Bayside with his wife and daughter for several years.

Bindy Pendleton Current President Board Development, Management Oversight, & Recycling Committees Belfast 2002-present Bindy was born & raised in Belfast. Lived 'away' for many years being a worker member at Hungry Chuck's Waterville Co-op and at Puget Consumers Seattle Co-op. Past Board experience includes 10 years on BACC before serving on the Belfast Co-op Board. Currently she helps plan & oversee Board Retreat and Annual Meeting as well as serving on committees. Professionally she has been a Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Midwife, is semi retired and presently teaches Yoga and is working on developing Eastside Herbs & Gardens at her home in Eastside Belfast. She is married and has two daughters. Passions include: the great outdoors, gardening, hiking, food & herbs fresh from the garden, and dancing.Bindy was born & raised in Belfast and has been member of Hungry Chuck's Waterville Co-op and member of Puget Consumers Co-op (Seattle) when she lived there previously. Past Board experience includes 10 years on BACC before serving on Co-op Board and currently helps plan & oversee Board Retreat and Annual Meeting. Professionaly, she has been a Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Midwife (semi retired) and presently teachs Yoga (15yrs exp.) and working on developing Eastside Herbs & Gardens at her home on the eastside of Belfast. She is married and has two daughters. Passions include: the natural world & the great outdoors, gardening,hiking, food fresh from the garden, and dancing.

Kip Penney Finance and ad hoc Bylaws Committees Knox 2000-present Kip has 35 years as a co-op activist, manager, worker, board member and co-op co-owner. He began his cooperative life when pre-orders were beginning in 1974 and has been a retail and wholesale cooperator. Currently he is a worker-member at Fedco Seeds Co-op and has been a Belfast Co-op board member since 2000 and in the past has served on Management Oversight, Purchasing Policy, and Annual Meeting Committees. In addition to his current role at Fedco as a division coordinator for Fedco Bulbs, he is also a warehouse seed-pulling coordinator and telephone facilitator. He lives in Knox, in Oddalawatalotta County.

Phil Prince Staff Representative/Secretary Building & Grounds, ad hoc Recycling, Long Range Planning Committees Belfast 2009-present Arrived in Waldo County in 1975, participated in Friends Food Co-op, Belfast Co-op Store member since 1978, staff member since 2005, presently Maintenance Coordinator after times at the Waldo Independent, Ace Construction Company, Belfast Area Children's Center, and The Playhouse Theater in Belfast. Outside the store interests include creative pursuits and being uncle to his adopted nieces and nephews.

Jerry Savitz Finance and Management Oversight Committees Northport 1991 - present Jerry has lived in Northport since 1953. He has owned and operated Darby's Restaurant in Belfast for the past 26 years and has also been an advocate for the Coop since the 1970's, well before its present manifestation. He has been a scallop and lobster fisherman and the early Co-op store was one of his best customers. Maintaining the Co-op's reputation for being trustworthy is a major goal for Jerry.

Paul Sheridan Board scribe Elections, Purchasing Policy, Long-Range Planning, Board Development, & ad hoc Deli Committees. Northport 2007-present Paul has had many years of experience as part of two previous food co-ops as well as an artists' and a housing co-op. He has held numerous positions on various Boards of Directors including as president, treasurer, secretary. He is part of the working group for Cooperative Maine, and is a retired teacher.

Zafra Whitcomb Staff Representative Finance, Long Range Planning, Board Development Montville 2007-Present Finance and Information Systems Manager for the Co-op. Former Business and Human Rights Program Coordinator for Amnesty International USA. Spent ten years working in performing art management and production with theater and dance companies in New York City and regional theaters in New York, Washington, DC, New Hampshire and Maine. Happy to be back in Montville, living with his wife and son on the road where he grew up.