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The Communicator - June 2005
Voice of the Board - June 2005
With eyes barely opened, I rolled out of bed Saturday, May 21
st
, and walked over to the lawn of Crestview Middle School. With
shovels in our hands, Co-op member Mollie Workman and I sought out the opportunity to help "break ground" for the new commu-
nity garden planned to begin this season. Lucky for us, Co-op member Jim Phillips brought equipment that allowed the handful of us
there to tear up sod, lay down compost, and till the soil; all in a few hours! I must say that of all the hours I have devoted to the Co-op
this year, the two I spent helping with the garden were by far my favorite. I grew up across the street from Crestview Middle, and
remember learning to ride my bike on the cracked sea of pavement. Now, looking over a field of grass, which will house a garden to be
worked by the students, neighbors, Co-op members, teachers, and larger community, instills hope in where our Co-op community is
headed.
To me, this garden is a metaphor for my vision of the Co-op. How grateful I am to fellow Board member Lynne Genter for sparking the
idea for this garden, and helping build the relationships to get it started. But, as with most projects in life, everyone has his or her own
vision for something. I heard that later on Saturday (after I had gone) a neighbor who is involved with the garden project was pretty
upset about how things turned out. She approached the people working with anger and hostility. From what I hear, she had a different
vision for how the garden would look and where it would be.
As for our Co-op, we all have different visions of what it should be; hostility can spread here as well, when we can't compromise or
find middle ground.
The Board has worked so hard this past year to try and lay out a strong foundation for the Co-op. Much of our work stems from
feedback given by Co-op members, our own experience, and vision. Lately we have experienced many roadblocks. For example, the
goal that I am working on is to "define democratically run business, and operate in that capacity". I find it extremely difficult to begin
work on this when our Board is structured without the checks and balances of having the General Manager separate from a Board
Member. The General Manager position is structured to answer to the support and feedback of the Board of Directors, yet the GM has
a seat on the Board. I believe this set up seems to create an imbalance of power, and contributes to the roadblocks. I cannot define all
of the roadblocks existing in our Co-op; but this is one we face right now.
I hope that we can compromise and find a way around or through, so that we can continue to grow and nurture this community.
Especially because my time on the Board is almost up! In July I will be embarking on a journey to Japan with my husband Mike. I'll be
teaching English with the JET programme. As much as I love to volunteer, I am glad to be passing the torch; there were many times I
myself felt a little too inexperienced to be a Board member. Who will take the torch? I hope there are members out there ready to make
the commitment. Sayonara!
From Colleen Sharkey