While "Uncle Lennie" Grabs The Headlines, Northside Food Co-op Work Being Quietly Done Behind The Scenes...

Photo By John Hoff

Lennie Chism, the new owner of the vacant and boarded "Uncle Bill's" store, a human hot-air balloon of Big Ideas who is (apparently) hoping lack of a viable business plan won't keep him from riding the organic food trend to some kind of big, fat public subsidy has (incredibly) actually helped to kick off an interesting public discourse about co-ops and organic food in North Minneapolis...

Michelle Lewis, who is active on the WHO listserv, recently circulated some information about an effort to start a Wirth Community Co-op.

Hi, Guys,

I just wanted to remind folks about the ongoing community work that is already being done to start a Food Co-op in the neighborhood at the corner of Penn and Glenwood, which (unlike Sheridan and Plymouth) is an appropriate (commercial) location for such an enterprise.

I believe that the information provided below provides some indication of the serious level of commitment and long-term planning necessary for such a project to be successful, and also to remind people that we do have in the vicinity a great project to get involved with.

As someone who doesn't drive, and would love to be able to shop at a co-op near my home and support a Northside entity (rather than having to take the bus down to Seward Co-op every weekend), I am extremely excited about this Harrison community project, which I know will be dependent on a Willard-Homewood membership base in order to be successful.

Michelle

http://www.hnampls.org/The%20Wirth%20Community%20Co-op/The%20Wirth%20Community%20Co-op.htm

The Wirth Community Co-op

The mission of the Wirth Community Co-op is to help build community and provide diverse, healthy food choices that reflect the needs of our immediate and surrounding neighborhoods.

An exploring committee of folks from Harrison and the surrounding neighborhoods of Bryn Mawr and Willard-Hay have been meeting in efforts to start a Food Co-op in the neighborhood. On Tuesday, April 22nd, (Earth Day) they decided on the Mission and Name of the cooperative as shown above. They will continue to meet, work in their committees, conduct a feasibility study, set up a table at events and generally do outreach whenever possible to the community. New folks with interest and energy to get this project up and running are always WELCOME!


They plan to meet on the 4th Tuesday of every monthduring this start-up phase
of the cooperative.

The exploratory committee is currently looking at various sites that might be possible for a store along Glenwood Avenue. They are very interested in the site at Penn and Glenwood but at this time are leaving open other options that may be available along Glenwood Avenue.

WORKING COMMITTEES:

JOIN a Committee. You are welcome to help!

Steering Committee

This committee is made up of four people who meet between the regular monthly meetings and plan the agenda and any other activities that may be taking place during this exploratory time.Food Connections This Committee is looking at the option for getting as much local, and organic foods as possible at the store and in to the neighborhood. They will also be searching for outlets that serve the different foods needed by several minority and ethnic groups which live in the neighborhood.

Even before there is a building they are talking about a mini-Farmer's Market, CSAs (Community supported agriculture drop off points), connecting to the Youth project in JD
River Gardens at Wirth Park and more.

Feasibility

This committee will find a facilitator and services that can help conduct a Feasibility Study that will look at the potential future, demographics and other attributes needed to make this co-op successful.

Legal

This committee is doing the research and investigation for setting up a cooperative. A cooperative does have basic laws and incorporation methods in the state of Minnesota.

Outreach & Diversity

This committee is actively working to generate interest and bring in new people who will eceome members of the cooperative when that structure is set up.

History

For years Harrison residents have randomly talked about wanting a food co-op in the neighborhood. In late 2007 after the demolition of the abandoned gas station at the corner of Penn and Glenwood new developer, Jennifer Day, talked with Angela Dawson of the Northside Food Project about the possibility of a Food Co-op being in her new building at the Harrison Commons.

Angela Dawson contacted HNA staff person, Annie Young. They decided to hold an exploratory meeting and set up a date, put up posters, sent out notices, put notices in both the Harrison View and the Bryn Mawr Bugle neighborhood newspapers. The first meeting was held on February 12th at the HNA offices.

Over 20 people showed up for that meeting and started discussions. They set the date of the 4th Tuesday of every month as their regular meetings.

In March they setup Working Committees as listed above and folks signed up to serve on committees.

Financial Support

Details will be available soon so you can learn how to financially help get the Co-op started.

Co-op Principles

The Wirth Community Co-op plans to be part of the much larger International cooperative movement. It plans to seek resource assistance and join the Food Co-op Network here in the Twin Cities area and work with a supporting organization - Food Co-op 500.

The Cooperative principles are:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. Members have equal voting rights - one member, one vote.
3. Members' Economic Participation

Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. A cooperative business returns margins to their patrons. Any margins (or profits) are credited to each member's capital credit account. Each member's share of the capital credits for the year depends on the amount each individual paid into the cooperative during that year and on the total margins of the cooperative for the year. Capital credits are retained for a number of years and the money is used as operating capital.

Retaining capital credits reduces borrowing needs. Capital credits are paid to all people who were
members in a certain year. Each year members receive a notice showing the amount of capital credits that have been credited to their account for the past year.

4. Autonomy and Independence

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

5. Education, Training, and Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperatives.

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

7. Concern for Community

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work to improve the quality of life in the areas they serve.