Coop Grows by Leaps and Bounds

12 Pages·2008·3.89 MB·English

by  Mary Ellen

08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 12:58 PM Page 1
O F F I C I A L N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E PA R K S L O P E F O O D C O O P
R K S LOPE FOOD CO
A 1973–2008 O
P
P
Established
1973 35 YEAR S
Volume CC, Number 17 August 14, 2008
Coop Grows by G E N E R A L M E E T I N G
R E P O R T
Leaps and Bounds
July GM Coverage
By Diane Aronson
Hard Times and Tech Innovations Fuel Popularity
A
ttended by more than to three, and room made to
By Willow Lawson
160 members and ably create a fifth express check-
chaired by Imani out. Holtz also said that our
Maybe it’s the debit actions are now completed communicating the problems Q’Ryn, the July GM was not large entrance desk could be
cards, maybe it’s with a debit card at checkout. to the software company, he without controversy and shrunk to the size of the small-
the slowing econo- Members using debit cards says. Still, bugs are a continu- confrontation. er check-in station, freeing up
my, but one thing’s for sure: account for about 72 percent al strain on the staff. In late space for an additional regular
the Park Slope Food Coop is of overall sales dollars. The July, when the two servers Open Forum checkout. Holtz observed that
doing some serious business. average debit card user that track inventory became The July GM got off to a the checkout area would “still
Membership is at an all- spends $65 per sale, while “out of sync,” it took three quiet start with an Open be very tight.”
time high of 13,768, and sales the average member paying staffers nearly two full days to Forum question about the
for the spring and summer cash spends $41, according re-establish the correct num- proposed expansion of the Coordinators’ Reports
months were up about 20 to Leith. bers, after intense data Coop front end by means of a After a few other member
percent over last year, accord- Although debit card use crunching. This kind of work temporary structure in front comments, the GM moved on
ing to General Coordinator has relieved the bottleneck at “is invisible to almost all of the Coop, an idea that has to the Coordinators’ Reports.
Tricia Leith. In July, “it’s been the cashier counter, not all of members,” says Holtz. been in play since it was pre- With the two general coordi-
very firmly up 23 or 24 per- the effects have been good, Despite the hiccups, the sented and the $300,000-plus nators who usually give the
cent,” she said. Gross sales says Joe Holtz, a General system works and has fulfilled budget approved by the April financial report on vacation,
will likely top $35 million this Coordinator. In particular, the the goal of reducing the 2007 GM. General Coordina- Joe Holtz stepped in. Our
year, up from about $30 mil- software that the Coop pur- amount of time waiting on tor Joe Holtz explained that cash assets as of June 22 are
lion last year. chased to run the debit sys- line, which has benefited all the Coop was in discussions $1,636,954, but to offset any
Some of the year-over-year tem has had many flaws, he members, not just those shop- with the New York City notion of unused cash in the
growth can be attributed to notes, and that has generated ping with bank cards. And Department of Transporta- bank, Holtz directed the GM’s
the introduction of debit cards extra work for the Coop’s tech Leith notes that freeing up the tion, regarding the projects. attention to the accounts
some 10 months ago on Octo- support staff. cashier line has made it possi- Talks have not been “smooth payable entry, or what we owe
ber 1, 2007. It started off with a “Luckily we have great peo- ble to buy just a few things at going,” according to Holtz. A our suppliers: $1,409,699.
bang, according to Leith. ple [working] at the Coop the Coop—shoppers can head landscape architect, who is a According to Holtz, we have
About 62 percent of trans- who help generate fixes” by straight to the cashier desk if Coop member, and an out- usually been an institution of
they are buying three or fewer side architect have been “negative wealth,” or as he
items, as long as they don’t brought in to lend their defined the phrase, “no
need to be weighed, for exam- expertise in future talks with wealth,” but “we pay people
ple, produce or bulk items. the City. According to Holtz on time.”
(Though signs are posted in it’s “too early to say whether We are at 13,768 members
the express aisle, this conve- we are going to succeed in 20 weeks into this fiscal year,
nience does not seem widely getting permission.” compared to 12,839 members
known.) 24 weeks into the last fiscal
From a shopper’s perspec- Another Front End year.
tive, it might seem that debit Option
card use has fueled sales When a member asked Safe Tomato, Jalapeño
growth at the Coop by allow- about a contingency plan to Sources
ing people to spend more relieve front-end Coop con- Next up was General Coor-
money than they have in their gestion, Holtz described the dinator Allen Zimmerman,
pocket, or by attracting mem- current backup plan: the
bers who were put-off by the cashier count can be dropped
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
previous cash-only system.
But Leith and Holtz say
debit card use probably isn’t Next General Meeting on August 26
R
LE the most important reason The General Meeting of the Park Slope Food Coop is held on the
L
MI for that recent growth. Two last Tuesday of each month.* The next General Meeting will be
E
AN other big factors—inflation Tuesday, August 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Congregation Beth Elo-
DI
Y and rising membership—are him Temple House (Garfield Temple), 274 Garfield Place.
B
N probably just as important. The agenda is in this Gazette and available as a flyer in the
O
TI Overall, food prices are up entryway of the Coop. For more information about the GM and
A
TR over 5 percent in the last year, about Coop governance, please see the center of this issue.
S
LU which means some of the * Exceptions for November and December will be posted.
L
I
IN THIS ISSUE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
GM Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Thu, Sep 4 •Food Class: Raw Desserts 7:30 p.m.
Cooperation Grows in Brooklyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Coop Fri, Sep 5 •Film Night:Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox
Coop Hours, Puzzle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7:30 p.m. Coop Calendar, Workslot Needs
Event Sat, Sep 13 •Pocketbook, Purse, Bag and Shoe Exchange Governance Information, Mission Statement. . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Highlights Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Sat, Sep 27 •Poker Night 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Look for additional information about these and other events in this issue.
08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 12:58 PM Page 2
(cid:2)
2 August 14, 2008 Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY
PARK SLOPE FOOD COOP sales increase is an illusion
in terms of real growth, says
Holtz. Dairy products, eggs,
Product Return Policy meat and poultry prices have
spiked, due to rising fuel and
The Coop does not “exchange” items. You must return item and repurchase feed prices.
what you need. Returns of eligible items will be handled at the Second It’s the number of new
Floor Service Desk within 30 days of purchase only when accompanied by members joining the Coop
the PAID IN FULL receipt.
that has taken many by sur-
Please use the following guide to determine if an item is eligible for return: prise. The membership tra-
jectory is one that few might
Produce May notbe returned with the exception of
have predicted, says Holtz. “If
(fresh fruits & vegetables) coconuts, pineapples and watermelon. Even if
you had asked me last year if
the claim is that the item is spoiled or that it
membership would be up 10
was purchased by mistake, produce cannot be
percent this year, I would
returned except for the three items listed above.
have said no. Maybe 2 or 3
The produce buyer may be contacted on
percent at the most, but
weekdays by members to discuss any other
probably closer to 0 percent,”
claims for credit.
he says.
Books May notbe returned.
Juicers May notbe returned.
Maybe it’s the debit cards,
N
Bulk items & bulk items May notbe returned. Members may contact O
maybe it’s the slowing T
packaged by the Coop the bulk buyer to discuss any other claims for G
N
credit. economy, but one thing’s RI
R
Refrigerated items May notbe returned unless spoiled. for sure:the Park Slope M FA
Frozen items Food Coop is doing LIA
L
some serious business. WI
All Other Products A. Other products may bereturned if they Y
B
(not covered above) are spoiled or defective and the category TO
O
is not specified above H
“My guess—and guess is P
B. Other products may bereturned if they the operational word—is that
are unopened, undamaged and therefore some people are less out food,” Holtz says. It used urday morning as well, says
can be sold again.
employed or unemployed to be easier to predict when Holtz. However, selling more
C. Other products may notbe returned if more,” says Holtz. “The news- the Coop was going to be goods would mean even
they are opened or unsellable, and were papers tell us consumer con- busy, he observes. Need to more frequent restocking in
purchased by mistake or not needed. fidence is down. And if your shop at 2 p.m. on a Sunday? a store that seems to be
confidence is down, do you You can almost always expect barely keeping up with
want to go spend $80 at a a crowd. But there are also demand as it is.
restaurant or spend $80 on crowds and lines at the check- “There’s no easy solution
groceries?” Holtz says he out at times when there to the fact that so many peo-
PSFC AUGUST 2008 GENERAL thinks more members are in weren’t in the past, he says. ple want to shop at the Coop
M town for the summer, per- If membership and overall so much,” says Holtz. The
EETING
haps opting not to go away food sales continue to grow, Coop sells more than 10
Tuesday, August 26, 7:00 p.m. on vacation, and thus have there is some flexibility to ac- times the amount of food per
spent more money on food. commodate further growth, year per square foot as the
• Items will be taken up in the order given. When it comes to increased says Holtz. average supermarket.
• Times in parentheses are suggestions. business, the number of shop- The Coop can have more In the near future, Holtz
• More information on each item may be available at the entrance pers has the biggest effect on food delivered. Most week- says the Coop will probably
table at the meeting. We ask members to please read the mate- the shopping experience. The day mornings United Natur- add a few new Receiving Coor-
rials available between influx of new members means al Foods delivers an entire dinators to the crew of 25 or
7:00 & 7:15 p.m. the Coop is crowded more truckload of goods to the so people currently on staff.
• Meeting Location:Congregation Beth Elohim Social Hall often, and workers have to Coop. (Though once a week Another regular checkout, or a
(Garfield Temple), 274 Garfield Pl. at 8th Ave. stock the shelves multiple or so it is half a trailer.) If the fifth express lane could possi-
times throughout the day “or Coop needs more products bly be squeezed in as well.
AGENDA:
we’ll have some very unhappy to put on the shelves, deliv- Holtz says more workslot
Item #1: Grace Day members who go home with- ery can be expanded to Sat- hours could be devoted to
Proposal:“Each Coop member will be granted a Grace Day on helping members unpack
one missed/cancelled shift per calendar year.” their carts (so the shopper can
Comment:“This idea arose during the first year I joined the focus on repacking after pur-
Coop when two consecutive shifts I was scheduled to work were The Diversity & Equality Committee (DEC) is dedicated chases have been scanned),
cancelled, one due to holiday, the other for inventory. With to improving human relations and communications or adding a person to direct
every intention to work, I suddenly found myself in suspension. shopping traffic near the ice
through impeccable interpersonal interactions, poli-
I think many members are familiar with cancelled shifts due to cream freezer on a more per-
cies and procedures in the Coop.
the above situations. manent basis.
One measure not being
The Grace Day would include any un-worked shift whether due The goal is to work toward preventing and eliminating discrimination in
considered: capping member-
to the absence of the member or the closing of the Coop. Given the Coop and to promote the ideal of equal and respectful treatment
ship. This measure was taken
the communal atmosphere of the Coop not every member will between all Coop members and paid staff regardless of each individual’s
utilize the Grace Day, but for those who do this will certainly be different identity. The DEC also aims to provide advocacy for individuals back in the 1980s for two or
a welcome reprieve. who feel they have experienced discriminatory practices in the Coop. three years, says Holtz, and it
was “a very painful time.”
I believe the Coop will actually see an increase in shifts worked,
Nowadays the Coop has trou-
from members who remain members rather than resign due to Voicemail [phone]
ble with people who underre-
suspension, and the good will this will engender would help the
E-mail [email protected] port the number of adults in a
Coop attract new members.
household. But when mem-
The Coop has sometimes received a bad rap for its perceived Contact Form DEC Contact forms are available in the literature rack bership was capped “people
rigidity; this proposal will do much to counteract that
or Letter: in the ground floor elevator lobby. Place a completed lied in a different way,” says
misconception.”
form or other letter/note (anonymously if desired) in a Holtz. They would say they
—submitted by Marc Vigliotti
sealed envelope labeled “Attn: Diversity and Equality had a new roommate who
Item #2: Cart Dispatcher Committee” and use one of the three methods listed wanted to join. Holtz says
Discussion:New workslot: cart dispatcher for walkers. There is below to get it to the committee. they would let the new room-
confusion with cart walkers, and some shoppers take carts and mate join “while other people
leave them if no walkers are available. A dispatcher can log in Mail Park Slope Food Coop languished on the wait list.”
and out carts. Attention: Diversity & Equality Committee Only later would the Coop
—submitted by Matt Mitler 782 Union Street learn that the roommate had
Brooklyn, New York 11215 never been a roommate at all.
Holtz says the perception
Future Agenda Information:
Mail Which is located in the entryway vestibule
that the Coop had a long wait-
For information on how to place an item on the Agenda, Drop Box on the ground floor under the flier caddy.
ing list for members persisted
please see the center pages of the Linewaiters' Gazette.
well into the late 1990s, when
The Agenda Committee minutes and the status of pending Membership The DEC has a mailbox in the Membership
the Coop was looking to
agenda items are available in the office and at all GMs. Office Mailbox Office on the second floor of the Coop.
expand and needed new
members. ■
Read the Gazettewhile you’re standing on line OR online at www.foodcoop.com
08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 12:58 PM Page 3
(cid:3)
Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY August 14, 2008 3
Cooperation Grows in Brooklyn
By Cristin Flanagan
Afan thrums loudly and nity members of the sur- ation: one of a num-
swirls the air in the rounding Fort Greene and ber of cooperatives
basement of Queen Clinton Hill neighborhood, cropping up across
Anne of All Saints Church in and many are already the five boroughs, as
Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It’s assigned committees in the consumers look for
July, and nearly thirty people newly formed cooperative. alternative sources
mill about before eventually The purpose of the day’s for affordable food
gathering in a circle. Bare meeting is to update the vari- and healthy organic
legs stick to the seats of the ous committees on what produce.
church’s metal folding chairs each has been up to since the Fulton Street, one
in the summer heat. last general meeting, and to of the main streets
generate ideas. running through Fort
Greene Hill Food Coop The Park Slope Food Coop Greene, is lined with
These are the members of and the Flatbush Food Coop bodegas with higher-
the recently named Greene have been around since the than-average prices
Hill Food Coop. Most of the 1970s, but the Greene Hill and a smattering of
people gathered are commu- Food Coop is the next gener- high-end specialty
shops. A food cooper-
ative like Greene Hill
would bring to the
Thursday, N
neighborhood lower LI
Sept 4 prices for a decent CK
A
M
7:30 p.m. selection of fresh pro- CK
duce. It would also RI
at the Coop AT
cut down on the travel P
Y
time of current Park N B
O
Slope Food Coop TI
A
members in the Fort R
Helen Castilloreceived ST
Greene/Clinton Hill U
her living foods lifestyle L
L
certification from the Ann neighborhood who I
The Raw Palette:
Wigmore Natural Health may be looking for similar according to one member. that long, but if we do, we
Raw Desserts with Helen Castillo Institute in Puerto Rico options. “It takes me about ten Even well-established food do,” says Marangio.
and her Associate
to fifteen minutes on my bike cooperatives like the Marangio says he has
Elegant desserts that are naturally sweet, Chef/Instructor certifica-
amazingly flavorful and easy to prepare. tion from the Living Light from where I live now,” says Flatbush Food Coop, which learned from talking to Holtz
Learn to select and store fresh fruit, seeds Culinary Arts Institute in Amy Duquette, a current Coop tripled its retail space last that “it’s hard to start a coop,
California. She has worked member and Fort Greene resi- year, are expanding. and it’s equally hard to main-
and nuts, open a Thai coconut, and use a
closely with raw foods
dent who thinks she might tain one.” He’s not one of
food processor and Vitamix blender. chefs Elaina Love, Chad
make the change once Greene Bay Ridge Food Coop those Coop members whose
Sarno and Renee Loux
Underkoffler at several Hill is fully operational. While existing food coops eyes glaze over at the thought
venues in New York City. While the Greene Hill Food grow, other groups are just of attending a General Meet-
Her current projects Coop has come up with a getting their feet wet. About ing: “That’s where the bulk of
include a raw desserts
M E N U name for itself, and estab- thirty members of the Bay the work gets done,” insists
book to be published
lished its guiding principles, Ridge community are also Marangio.
next year and a desire to
educate others from her it is still a long way from contemplating opening a food
•• AFrlmesohn Fdig M ainlkd Pear with Ginger Cardamom Syrup 4in0 C aocsrtea b Rioicday, noanm tihce f abremn- bcoeoinpge ara ftuivlley. o“pWeera’rteio sntailll fvoeordy cmouocph aelathrloieurg phl athnenyin agr es taatg ae CCooooppeerraattiiovens Among
• Chocolate Mousse with Berries efits of healthful eating. much in the formation than the Greene Hill Food Marangio has only praise
• Pumpkin Pie with a Pecan Crust MEMBERS & process,” says Peter Axtman, Coop— they’ve only met three for the work Holtz has done
NON-MEMBERS a member of the Outreach times. Like the members of to aid not only Bay Ridge but
WELCOME. Committee. Greene Hill, Bay Ridge com- for other coops trying to
$4 materials fee
Views expressed by the presenter do not Come early Members of Greene Hill munity members have visited establish themselves. “He’s
necessarily represent the Park Slope Food Coop. to ensure a seat. are still scouting locations to the Park Slope Food Coop and an open book as far as any
accommodate their future spoken with Park Slope found- questions we had. He’s going
coop, and plans are underway ing member, General Coordi- to advise and essentially lose
for a September case-study nator Joe Holtz. us as [Park Slope Food Coop]
Pocketbook, Purse, Bag presentation for three differ- David Marangio is a Park members.”
ent locations. The next meet- Slope Food Coop shopping “We are almost an anti-
ing of the Greene Hill Coop squad leader. He is also one business,” says Marangio.
and Shoe Exchange
on August 14th could be a of about ten current and for- Holtz goes out of his way to
polarizing one: on the agenda mer Park Slope members who talk to groups forming new
This exchange is a community event that is ecologically is a decision on whether to be have shown interest in the food cooperatives—not only
responsible and fun. Why support the consumer market a coop populated by working Bay Ridge project. He hopes in the area, but across the
or non-working members, or to become a core and found- nation; even across the globe.
and buy, when you can share bags that have
some combination in ing member of the Bay Ridge Holtz recently facilitated
already been well loved?
between. Members are evalu- Food Coop. visitors from a future coop in
Reuse, renew, recycle.
ating both sides of the issue. Venezuela in observing and
Members of the Park Slope recording one of Park Slope’s
FREE Food Coop, as well as a repre- The Greene Hill Food Coop is recent general meetings.
Non-members sentative from a coop where a the next generation: one of a For members who think
welcome part—not all—of its mem- this may be at cross purposes
number of cooperatives
bership work, are expected to with the Park Slope Food
cropping up across the five
Saturday, September 13 be on hand to discuss the Coop’s goals, and will result
boroughs, as consumers look
10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m. benefits of each. in a loss of membership,
in the meeting room for alternative sources for Holtz is often quoted relaying
Cooperative Expansion affordable food and healthy one of the earliest principles
The Greene Hill Food Coop organic produce. of cooperatives, a gentle
To bring Pocketbooks, and Shoes…
hopes to join other newly reminder that we are a
• Do not leave items in the Coop formed cooperatives, like the cooperative corporation: part
before the hours of the exchange. East New York Food Coop or of our mission is “coopera-
• Bring up to 15 items only the South Bronx Food Coop, Based on Holtz’s experi- tion amongst cooperatives.”
in building a successful ence at PSFC, Marangio For more information on
• Bring gently used, clean purses,
model. The South Bronx Food believes a good 10 to 12 peo- the Greene Hill Coop:
pocketbooks and shoes that you are
Coop has been in operation ple will need to step forward www.clintongreenefood
proud to be able to exchange with
since September 2007, now as core members to drive coop.com
a new owner. boasts about eighty members plans for a Bay Ridge Coop. To be involved in the Bay
and plans to move into a new, Holtz also said that further Ridge Food Coop planning
(Unchosen items will be donated to a local shelter.) 1,500- square-foot location organizing could take two contact: bayridgefoodcoop
within the next few months, years. “I hope we don’t take @gmail.com ■
Read the Gazettewhile you’re standing on line OR online at www.foodcoop.com
08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 12:58 PM Page 4
(cid:2)
4 August 14, 2008 Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY
July GM Coverage
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
who spoke about produce, about local versus distant
particularly about the recent sources for the produce sold
salmonella scare. He in the PSFC. During the Q&A,
observed that “every tomato Zimmerman observed that his
we sold during that period job was to bring in the food
did ultimately score 100 per- that members want to eat.
cent on the safety guidelines”
from the FDA, including, Zim- Controversy During a
merman stressed, tomatoes Committee Report
from Mexico. Zimmerman Jeffrey Aronowitz present-
also explained that the sal- ed for the Coop’s Diversity
monella source was ultimate- and Equality Committee
ly identified as jalapeños, (DEC), which was the sole
and not from a location committee reporting at the
stocked by the Coop during July GM. Formed in 2004, the
the scare. DEC has the goal, said
Zimmerman took several Aronowitz, “to work toward
questions from members preventing and eliminating
A
D
N
A
Y J
D
U
Y J
B
S
O
T
O
H
P
Washed green bags drying for re-use.
discrimination in the Coop.” not be stopped. “Why did you commitment of hours per
Aronowitz urged members show up with that dress, when month should be reduced,”
to participate in a DEC survey five minutes after you talked, which would make the Coop
covering bias and discrimina- you had changed for a pant? work commitment 24 hours
tion issues. The survey runs Are you checking how far our yearly, down from our current
through August 31, and PSFC ability to not discriminate is? annual work commitment of
members may access the You say inappropriate con- a little under 36 hours.
online, anonymous question- duct. I think your conduct is As he presented his
naire through the PSFC’s not appropriate. You are try- agenda item, Price comment-
home Web page. According ing to manipulate us, and I ed, “I challenge our board and
to Aronowitz, 1,200 surveys feel manipulated, and I will our staff to be creative, to be
had been completed as of the not take it!” The Chair innovative, and to find a way
July GM. The committee is instructed, “You will have to to work with less workers in
looking for 1,400 completed stop; this is inappropriate.” less hours. To have people
surveys, or a sampling of Sandrini-Cooke returned with, coming to their shifts to work
approximately 10 percent of “Well, I am sorry. He has to be two hours to feel that they are
our active member count. appropriate.” working productively and that
Several GM attendees took they are coming at a time that
issue with Sandrini-Cooke’s makes sense for them.”
We are at 13,768 members comments, and one asked The GM then turned the
20 weeks into this fiscal year, her to sit down, observing, matter over to member
“We have to respect every- discussion.
compared to 12,839 members
thing, no matter what.” The Some members were for
24 weeks into the last
GM Chair quickly gaveled the reexamining how our work
fiscal year.
proceedings back to order, shift is structured. Amy
instructing the GM, “This is a Cohen, an FTOP member,
Coop and we cooperate with thought a committee should
After Aronowitz completed each other.” While the Chair be formed to explore “ways
his presentation, member was speaking to the GM, San- that we could perhaps
Jeannine Sandrini-Cooke drini-Cooke continued trying improve work. Perhaps there
questioned him sharply about to interrupt, with other GM are better ways we can use
TAKE THE SURVEY BY AUGUST 31 the diversity survey. She attendees then commenting people.” Cohen offered work-
began by requesting to report in response to Sandrini- from-home shifts, like data
The Diversity and Equality Committee (DEC) of the an example of inappropriate Cooke’s outbursts. entry, as one example of how
Park Slope Food Coop is currently conducting a conduct, but then she abrupt- The Chair put a firm and to restructure the workslot
ly broke off—“not here!” She fast end to additional commitment. Regarding
member-wide survey to document and better understand
then continued, “You have exchanges, though, pointing work-shift length, Cohen felt
issues of bias and discrimination at the Coop.
been begging us many times out that the GM doesn’t if shorter shifts weren’t feasi-
to answer questions and sur- encourage cross talk, nor ble, then perhaps members
We are asking ALL Coop members to take the survey. veys; you’ve been begging, does the meeting tolerate could work longer shifts every
Your participation will help us to get a broad range of views begging, begging… I guess if members personally attack- five weeks to make it easier
and perspectives on these issues. you do not have a lot of ing one another: She stressed for people to come and work.
answers, it’s because there are that the GM was not a forum Several other members at the
not many instances of dis- to “vent our personal opin- GM spoke in favor of working
The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
crimination at the Coop.” She ions about someone.” every five weeks.
The fastest and most environmentally friendly way to complete
went on to claim, “We cannot Jess Osserman was in favor
the survey is to take it online at: force people to give discrimi- Agenda Items of a shorter workslot, though,
nation examples, if we do not The GM moved to the commenting, “I live far away
have any.” evening’s agenda items, each and I have been on work alert
wwwwww..ffooooddccoooopp..ccoomm
Sandrini-Cooke’s speech for discussion only, leading for probably a year, and I can
(Click on the box on the upper right that says “Take Survey”) then took an abruptly per- to no decisions or actions never make up the shifts.” He
sonal detour. “It is rare that I voted by the meeting for also believed that members
will get mad, but I will get those items. should be able miss one or
If you prefer to complete a paper version of the survey,
mad tonight.” Sandrini- two workslots without having
copies are available at the entrance desk,
Cooke targeted Aronowitz Change the Coop Work to do two makeups. Osser-
second floor service desk, and the membership office.
directly with her next series Commitment? man felt a more flexible
of comments: “You showed The first agenda item, pre- makeup policy would ease
If you have any questions or difficulties up last with a skirt.” During sented by Todd A. Price, was, Coop work pressure on
with accessing the surveys and/or any special needs, his July GM presentation, as worded in the GM hand- households with young chil-
Aronowitz was also wearing a out, to be a discussion about dren, and on members who
please contact the DEC Committee at
skirt of sorts: a blue-plaid kilt. how “to limit the amount of work multiple jobs.
1-888-204-0098
Defying GM Chair Q’Ryn’s work hours per month to two Brian Wengrofsky thought
diplomatic attempt to inter- hours. With the dramatic that a “two-hour work shift
vene, Sandrini-Cooke would growth of membership, the would be really convenient.
Read the Gazettewhile you’re standing on line OR online at www.foodcoop.com
08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 1:10 PM Page 5
(cid:2)
Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY August 14, 2008 5
Do less work and stuff; sounds erned by the department of agenda item was worded, “to
good to me. But at the same health, and there are regula- solicit ideas about… whether
time, I wouldn’t want it decid- tions that we have to follow.” we can substantially reduce
ed by just a group of people.” Office Coordinator Ann the number of produce bags
Wengrofsky would like to see a Herpel commented that she we use at the Coop,
survey taken to see how mem- spends “a lot of time thinking and…how to do so without
bers felt about the staffing lev- about workslots.” Herpel iden- making the shopping experi-
els of their shifts. tified a couple of issues. She ence more inconvenient or
Several GM attendees were observed that staff sees that burdensome.” The item was
concerned that a change in “work in the Coop is unevenly presented by the Environ-
the member work commit- distributed according to peo- mental Committee, the Gen-
ment would cause difficulties. ple’s lives; people come to the eral Coordinators and
Radha Patel pointed out that Coop to do makeups when we concerned Coop members.
while we do have more mem- don’t need you, to be quite
bers, those members make honest.” She gave Martin
more work, and although she Luther King Day as an exam- Aronowitz urged members to
would “love a two-hour shift, ple of when there are tradi- participate in a DECsurvey
the Coop is for all intents and tionally more people at the
covering bias and discrimina-
purposes mostly a well-oiled Coop to do makeups than
tion issues. The survey runs
machine.” Patel was curious there are slots to fill. Herpel
through August 31.
to know if research had been concluded that days like this
done on the effects of a less- lead members to believe there
ened work obligation. She are too many of us for the cur-
Should the Coop eliminate these plastic bags?
would be concerned if there rent work shift structure. Discussion time was tight,
hadn’t been an analysis of a To see the other side of the but members came up with
work-commitment change’s equation, Herpel urged mem- some interesting ideas dur-
impact. bers to drop by during week- ing the brainstorming ses- Park Slope Food Coop
Veteran squad leader Matt days or during the summer, sion. Many GM attendees
Mitler pointed out how dis- with understaffed squads due suggested that shoppers
Video Squad
ruptive shift changes can be to absenteeism and work reuse their own produce plas-
on the shopping floor, and reschedules. Herpel urged the tic bags. General Coordinator
was worried about more shop- Coop to “rethink how we do Joe Holtz showed the GM a Workslots Available
ping shift changes because of makeups. Maybe we can wooden-spoked gadget
shorter shifts. He commented, channel work for people who designed specifically for bag
“I try to avoid shopping at the need to do makeups better to drying. He also showed cot- Did you know that the Coop has a regular show
Coop when there’s a change of where the Coop needs that ton bags and Debbie Meyer
on Brooklyn Cable Access Television and will
shift.” His goal as a squad work done, as opposed to GreenBags as reusable
leader is to create a pleasur- what’s convenient for every- options. Many meeting atten- soon be expanding to podcasting via the
able shopping experience, one to do.” dees spoke enthusiastically
Internet?
and he felt that shopping at Herpel also commented about cotton reusable bags,
the Coop would become less that a reduction of the work and one attendee comment-
pleasant with more-frequent shift to two hours would ed that perhaps new PSFC The shows feature members and issues related
shift changes. require a membership members should be given
to the Coop and the larger Brooklyn community.
Receiving Coordinator increase to 16,000 members muslin bags. Other members
Chase Valdez, who works 8 to to support the Coop, which suggested Coop signage as a Past shows include health, improv performance,
10 hours daily Friday through would mean 800 extra people way to educate members
live music, cooking classes and ideas for living
Monday, observed, “There’s shopping a week, and she about how to reduce plastic
been many a time that we observed, “I don’t know if we produce bag use in the Coop. ecologically.
have not had enough people can do that in the building Others said it was time to
for squads.” He urged people we’re given.” She mentioned rethink how members pay for There are current workslot openings for:
who would want to rethink that the Building Department all those produce bags we
1. Show Host
how our work commitment is does have occupancy limits. tear off rolls in the Coop.
organized to talk to people on The July GM gradually drew 2. Researcher/Storyboarder
squads that are not ade- How Can We Use Less to a close. Since the two
3. Post Production: Editing and Compression
quately staffed. He, too, was Plastic Produce Bags? agenda items were for discus-
concerned about a degrada- There was some more sion only, the only Board
For more information, contact David at simpso-
tion of conditions at the member discussion about votes taken were to accept
Coop, even with the current the standard Coop work shift, the minutes of the April and [email protected] and include “PSFC Video
work-shift commitment in but the July GM gradually May GMs as well as those of
Squad” in the subject line.
place. He pointed out that, as moved on to agenda item the June 2008 Annual/General
a supermarket, we are “gov- two, a discussion, as the Meeting. ■
WITH MORAIMA SUAREZ
Is there someone you need to forgive?
Holding on to feelings of hurt, guilt, resentment,
blame, anger and the need to punish binds up a lot
of your own energy and keeps you locked in the past,
instead of being fully present.
The Forgiveness Process allows you to release
these negative feelings and completes your own healing.
LEARN TO:
• Forgive yourself and others
• Focus and use the power of unconditional love
• Align your head and your heart
• Use the power and energy of love to relieve stress
• Participate in a group unconditional love meditation
Moraima Suarezis a Coop member, certified Holoenergetic®Healing
Practitioner, certified Bowen Therapist, and Reiki practitioner. She has studied
and practiced the healing arts for over 20 years and her healing practice in
the Park Slope vicinity.
FREE Saturday, August 16
Non-members welcome 2:00–4:00 at the Coop
Views expressed by the presenter do not necessarily represent the Park Slope Food Coop
Read the Gazettewhile you’re standing on line OR online at www.foodcoop.com
08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 12:58 PM Page 6
(cid:2)
6 August 14, 2008 Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY
COOP HOURS
Puzzle Corner
Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday
Summer Puzzle
8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday
Use the clues below to fill in the quote.
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Puzzle Author: Janet Farrell. For answers, see page 11.
Shopping Hours:
Monday–Friday
“
8:00 a.m. to 10:00* p.m. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Saturday
6:00 a.m. to 10:00* p.m. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Sunday 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
6:00 a.m. to 7:30* p.m.
___ ___ ________ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
*Shoppers must be on a checkout line 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
15 minutes after closing time.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Childcare Hours:
Monday through Sunday .”
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
8:00 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69
. .
Telephone: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
718-622-0560
Web address:
www.foodcoop.com
1. Green Description ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 9. Activity Center? ___ ___ ___ ___
32 75 52 47 12 6 42 55 54
2. Downpour ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 10. LawnNeed ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
50 30 21 37 46 7 64 24 66 34 29 60
3. Potato Place ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 11. Sanctuaries ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
74 5 63 35 43 15 11 14 59 76
The Linewaiters’ Gazette is published biweekly by 4. Statue Lover? ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 12. Smile ___ ___ ___ ___
the Park Slope Food Coop, Inc., 782 Union Street, 28 49 57 38 3 39 2 73 13 26
Brooklyn, New York 11215.
5. Certain Wife ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 13. “Me Too” ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Opinions expressed here may be solely the views
41 53 36 31 62 80 10 9 77 48 4
of the writer. The Gazette will not knowingly publish
articles that are racist, sexist, or otherwise
6. B’wy Medalion ___ ___ ___ ___ 14. Army Transport ___ ___ ___ ___
discriminatory.
22 40 16 65 70 79 33 72
The Gazette welcomes Coop-related articles, and
letters from members. 7. Aisle 3 Favorite ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 15. Masterpiece ___ ___ ___ ___
71 56 27 20 78 25 19 58 45
SUBMISSIONGUIDELINES
8. God or Vehicle ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 16. Rental Contract ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
All submissions MUST include author’s name and
69 23 61 67 68 44 8 17 1 18 51
phone number and conform to the following
guidelines. Editors will reject letters and articles
that are illegible or too long. Submission deadlines
appear in the Coop Calendar opposite.
Letters: Maximum 500 words. All letters will be
printed if they conform to the guidelines above. R
Monthly on the...
The Anonymity and Fairness policies appear on
This Issue Prepared By:
the letters page in most issues. Third Thursday
August 21 Coordinating Editors: Stephanie Golden
Voluntary Articles:Maximum 750 words.
E
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Erik Lewis
Submissions on Paper: Typed or very legibly
Last Sunday
handwritten and placed in the wallpocket labeled Editors (development): Anne Kostick
August 31
"Editor" on the second floor at the base of the ramp. Petra Lewis
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. C
Submissions on Disk & by Email: We welcome
Second Saturday Reporters: Diane Aronson
digital submissions. Drop disks in the wallpocket
September 13 Cristin Flanagan
described above. The email address for
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
submissions is [email protected]. Y Willow Lawson
On the sidewalk in front of
Receipt of your submissions will be acknowledged
Art Director (development): Patrick Mackin
the receiving area at the Coop.
on the deadline day.
Illustrators: Diane Miller
Classified & Display Ads: Ads may only be placed P L A S T IC S
by and on behalf of Coop members. Classified ads Patrick Mackin
are prepaid at $15 per insertion, business card ads at
Photographers: William Farrington
$30. (Ads in the “Merchandise–Non-commercial”
What plastics do we accept? L Judy Janda
category are free.) All ads must be written on a
submission form (available in a wallpocket on the • #1 and #2 non-bottle shaped Traffic Manager: Barbara Knight
first floor near the elevator). Classified ads may be containers and #1 and #2 labeled
Text Converters: Joanne Guralnick
up to 315 characters and spaces. Display ads must lids. Mouths of containers must be
I
be camera-ready and business card size (2"x3.5"). equal width or wider than the body Andrew Rathbun
of the container.
Recipes: We welcome original recipes from Proofreader: Susan Brodlie
members. Recipes must be signed by the creator. • All #4 plastic and #4 labeled lids.
N Thumbnails: Mia Tran
Subscriptions: The Gazette is available free to • #5 plastic tubs, cups & specifically
members in the store. Subscriptions are available by marked lids and caps (discard any Preproduction: Sura Wagman
mail at $23 per year to cover the cost of postage (at with paper labels).
Photoshop: Terrance Carney
First Class rates because our volume is low). • Plastic film, such as shopping and G
dry cleaning bags, etc. Okay if not Art Director (production): Lauren Dong
labeled.
Desktop Publishing: David Mandl
ALL PLASTIC MUST BE COMPLETELY Dana Rouse
CLEAN AND DRY
Patricia Stapleton
We close up promptly.
Editor (production): Lynn Goodman
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the
collection end time to allow for
Index: Len Neufeld
inspection and sorting of your plastic.
Printed by:Prompt Printing Press, Camden, NJ.
Read the Gazettewhile you’re standing on line OR online at www.foodcoop.com
08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 12:58 PM Page 7
(cid:3)
Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY August 14, 2008 7
Shopping Floor drivers to transport plastic recycling collected at Paper Recycling
S the Coop to the recycling plant in Brooklyn.
Set-Up and Cleaning Friday, 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.
D Drivers are needed for shifts on Wednesday or
Do you have a large vehicle (such as a cargo
E Monday thru Friday, 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. Friday. Drivers must have a large capacity van,
van, truck, or mini-van with removable seats)
E Are you an early riser with a love of cleaning and truck, or mini-van with removable backseats for and want to help the Coop be a good green citi-
N organizing? Work under the supervision of a staff the volume of recycling collected (no hatch- zen? Collect recycled paper from the Coop, bag
person to set up and clean the shopping floor backs!). You need to be able to lift and work
it, load it into your vehicle and drive it to the
T checkout stations. Must like to clean, be meticu- independently. Reliability a must as you are the paper recycling center. You need to be able to
O lous, detail oriented and able to work indepen- only person coming to do this job on your day. lift and work independently. Reliability a must
L dently. Great opportunity for someone who wants All drivers must be available to drop off the recy- as you will be the only person coming to do
S to work when the Coop is not crowded. Please cling at the center between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 this job on your day. The recycling center is
contact Cynthia Pennycooke at cynthia_penny- p.m. when the recycling facility is open. Member located at 165 43rd St in Brooklyn. If interested,
K
[email protected] or contact her through the
will be reimbursed for mileage according to IRS please contact Adriana Becerra at gmcredit@
R Membership Office. FTOP credit available.
reimbursement rates. If interested please con- psfc.coop or drop by the Membership Office to
O tact Office Coordinator Cynthia Pennycooke at speak to her.
Plastic Recycling Drivers
W [email protected] or drop by the
The Plastics Recycling Squads are looking for Membership Office to speak to her.
A l l A b o u t t h e
C O O P CA L E N D A R G e n e r a l M e e t i n g
Our Governing Structure
From our inception in 1973 to the present, the open
monthly General Meetings have been at the center of the
Coop’s decision-making process. Since the Coop incor-
porated in 1977, we have been legally required to have a
Board of Directors. The Coop continued the tradition of
New Member Orientations General Meeting General Meetings by requiring the Board to have open
meetings and to receive the advice of the members at
Monday & Wednesday evenings: . . . 7:30 p.m. TUE, AUG 26 General Meetings. The Board of Directors, which is
Wednesday mornings:. . . . . . . . . . . 10:00 a.m. required to act legally and responsibly, has approved
GENERAL MEETING: 7:00 p.m.
Sunday afternoons:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:00 p.m. almost every General Meeting decision at the end of
The agenda appears in this issue and is available
every General Meeting. Board members are elected at
as a flyer in the entryway
Be sure to be here promptly—or early—as we
the Annual Meeting in June. Copies of the Coop’s bylaws
begin on time! The orientation takes about two TUE, SEP 2
are available at the Coop Community Corner and at
hours. Please don't bring small children.
AGENDA SUBMISSIONS: 8:00 p.m. every General Meeting.
Submissions will be considered for the Feb 26
Gazette Deadlines
General Meeting. Next Meeting: Tuesday,
The Coop on the Internet
LETTERS & VOLUNTARY ARTICLES: August 26, 7:00 p.m.
Aug 28 issue: 7:00 p.m., Mon, Aug 18 www.foodcoop.com
The General Meeting is held on the last Tuesday of each
Sep 11 issue: 7:00 p.m., Mon, Sept 1
The Coop on Cable TV month.
CLASSIFIED ADS DEADLINE:
Inside the Park Slope Food Coop Location
Aug 28 issue: 7:00 p.m., Wed, Aug 20 FRIDAYS 2:30 p.m. with a replay at 10:30 p.m.
Sep 11 issue: 7:00 p.m., Wed, Sept 3 Channels: 56 (TimeWarner), 69 (CableVision). The temple house of Congregation Beth Elohim (Garfield
Temple), 274 Garfield Place.
How to Place an Item
Attend a GM Park Slope Food Coop
on the Agenda
and Receive Work Credit Mission Statement
If you have something you’d like discussed at a General
Since the Coop’s inception in 1973, the General The Park Slope Food Coop is a mem- Meeting, please complete a submission form for the
Meeting has been our decision-making body. At the ber-owned and operated food store—an Agenda Committee. Forms are available in the rack near
General Meeting (GM) members gather to make alternative to commercial profit-oriented the Coop Community Corner bulletin board and at
decisions and set Coop policy. The General-Meeting-for-
business. As members, we contribute our General Meetings. Instructions and helpful information
workslot-credit program was created to increase
participation in the Coop’s decision-making process. labor: working together builds trust on how to submit an item appear on the submission
through cooperation and teamwork and
Following is an outline of the program. For full details, see form. The Agenda Committee meets on the first Tuesday
the instruction sheets by the sign-up board. enables us to keep prices as low as possi- of each month to plan the agenda for the GM held on the
• Advance Sign-up Required: ble within the context of our values and last Tuesday of the month. If you have a question, please
To be eligible for workslot credit, you must add your principles. Only members may shop, and
call Ellen Weinstat in the office.
name to the sign-up sheet in the elevator lobby. we share responsibilities and benefits
Some restrictions to this program do apply. Please see equally. We strive to be a responsible and Meeting Format
below for details.
ethical employer and neighbor. We are a
• Two GM attendance credits per year: buying agent for our members and not a Warm Up (7:00 p.m.)
Each member may take advantage of the GM-for-
selling agent for any industry. We are a part • Meet the Coordinators
workslot-credit program two times per calendar year.
of and support the cooperative movement. • Enjoy some Coop snacks
• Certain Squads not eligible:
We offer a diversity of products with an
Eligible: Shopping, Receiving/ Stocking, Food • Submit Open Forum items
emphasis on organic, minimally pro-
Processing, Office, Maintenance, Inventory, Construction, • Explore meeting literature
and FTOP committees. (Some Committees are omitted cessed and healthful foods. We seek to
because covering absent members is too difficult.) avoid products that depend on the Open Forum (7:15 p.m.)
• Attend the entire GM: exploitation of others. We support non- Open Forum is a time for members to bring brief items
In order to earn workslot credit you must be present toxic, sustainable agriculture. We respect to the General Meeting. If an item is more than brief, it
for the entiremeeting. the environment. We strive to reduce the can be submitted to the Agenda Committee as an item
• Childcare can be provided at GMs: impact of our lifestyles on the world we for a future GM.
Please notify an Office Coordinator in the Membership share with other species and future genera-
Office at least one week prior to the meeting date. tions. We prefer to buy from local, earth- Reports (7:30 p.m.)
• Financial Report
• Signing in at the Meeting: friendly producers. We recycle. We try to
1. After the meeting the Chair will provide the lead by example, educating ourselves and • Coordinators’ Report
Workslot Credit Attendance Sheet. • Committee Reports
others about health and nutrition, coopera-
2.Please also sign in the attendance book that is
passed around during the meeting. tion and the environment. We are com- Agenda (8:00 p.m.)
• Being Absent from the GM: mitted to diversity and equality. We • The agenda is posted at the Coop Community Corner
oppose discrimination in any form. We
It is possible to cancel without penalty. We do ask that and may also appear elsewhere in this issue.
you remove your name if you know cannot attend. Please strive to make the Coop welcoming and
do not call the Membership Office with GM cancellations. accessible to all and to respect the opin- Wrap Up (9:30-9:45)
• Is it FTOP or a Make-up? ions, needs and concerns of every member. (unless there is a vote to extend the meeting)
It depends on your work status at the time of the We seek to maximize participation at every • Meeting evaluation
meeting. level, from policy making to running the • Board of Directors vote
• Consider making a report… store. We welcome all who respect these • Announcements, etc.
...to your Squad after you attend the meeting. values.
Read the Gazettewhile you’re standing on line OR online at www.foodcoop.com
08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 12:58 PM Page 8
(cid:2)
8 August 14, 2008 Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY
COMMUNITY
CALENDAR
Community calendar listings are free. Please
submit your listings in 50 words or less by
mail, the mailslot in the entry vestibule, or
[email protected]. Submis-
sion deadlines are the same as for classified
ads. Please refer to the Coop Calendar in the
center of this issue. *Denotes a Coop member.
SAT, AUG 23
DANCING FOR ANIMALS: a non-profit organiza-
tion, is holding Saturday night dance parties.
Alternate Saturdays, enjoy an evening of dancing
while helping animal welfare organizations at the Friday, September 5 • 7:30 p.m.
same time! Intro dance class 8:30-9:30 p.m. Gen-
eral dancing 9:30-12:00 a.m. (music for all partner at the Coop
dances played). Dance Times Square, 156 W.
44thSt.,3rd Floor. Cost: $10. 212-946-1824.
www.dancingforanimals.org.
WED, AUG 27
AL GOLDSTEIN SPEED SERIES 5K: Race open
to all runners and starts at 7 p.m. Registration is
on race day at the Oriental Pavilion in Prospect
Park next to the skating rink from 6 to 6:45 p.m.
$5. For more info, www.pptc.org/
JEWISH WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL: A series for,
by and about Jewish Women! Watch “The Toll-
booth” with Hadassah Brooklyn Young Women’s
Group. Women and Men in their 20’s 30’s & 40’s
welcome. 7 p.m. $5 in advance/$8 at the door, Past Life Regression
includes light kosher dinner. 1416 Avenue M.
More info call 718-382-6454.
Through Hypnosis
SAT, SEP 6
DANCING FOR ANIMALS: a non-profit organiza- WITH JEFFREY T. CARL, CHT.
tion, is holding Saturday night dance parties.
Alternate Saturdays, enjoy an evening of dancing DO YOU HAVE THE FEELING THAT YOU
HAVE LIVED BEFORE?
while helping animal welfare organizations at the
same time! Intro dance class 8:30-9:30 p.m. Gen- Have you ever just met someone and felt
eral dancing 9:30-12:00 a.m. (music for all partner like you have previously known them?
dances played). Dance Times Square, 156 W. Are there other countries or cultures that
44thSt.,3rd Floor. Cost: $10. 212-946-1824. seem familiar to you?
www.dancingforanimals.org.
Well there might be an explanation for
this.
SAT, SEP 13
Through hypnosis we can tap into the Dr. Emanuel Bronner was a master soapmaker, self-
subconscious mind, as well as enter into
PEOPLES’ VOICE CAFE: Carl Schwartz Celebra- a peaceful trance-like state to retrieve proclaimed rabbi, and, allegedly, Albert Einstein’s nephew.
tion. At The Community Church of New York memories of our past lives.
Unitarian Universalist, 40 East 35th St. Relax and take a journey within. In 1947, after escaping from a mental institution, he
(between Madison & Park); Wheelchair-accessi- invented the formula for “Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap,” a
Gain:• Realizations
ble. For info call 212-787-3903 or see www.peo-
• A deeper understanding of who you are peppermint-infused, all-natural, multi-purpose liquid that can
plesvoicecafe.org. Suggested donation: $15 • Retrieve memories • Pass beyond death and back again
be found today in every American health food store. On each
general/$10 members/more if you choose, less if
you can’t/no one turned away. Bring:A blanket to lie down on or a comfortable lawn chair to relax into bottle of his soap, he printed an ever-evolving set of
A note book to write down anything that comes up
teachings he called “The Moral ABC,” designed, in his words,
Jeffrey T. Carl, CHt, a Coop member, is a certified clinical hypnotherapist, “TO UNITE ALL MANKIND FREE!”
and a member of I.A.C.T. Jeffrey is also certified in past regression though
the Wiess Institute.
East New York Food FREE Friday, August 29 A human story about a socially responsible company,
Non-members welcome 7:30 p.m. at the Coop “Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox” documents the complicated
Coop
Views expressed by the presenter do not necessarily represent the Park Slope Food Coop family legacy behind the counterculture’s favorite cleaning
Help a new coop in Brooklyn product–Bronner’s son, 68-year-old Ralph, endured over 15
orphanages and foster homes as a child, but despite difficult
FTOP credit available
memories, is his father’s most ardent fan.
In accordance with the sixth Principle of
Cooperation, we frequently offer support and Producer Zachary Mortensen is the founder of Ghost Robot, a produc-
consultation to other coops. For the East New tion and management company in New York City. Recent productions
include Against The Current staring Joseph Fiennes, Michelle
York Food Coop, we have also offered help in
Trachtenberg and Mary Tyler Moore and
the form of Park Slope Food Coop member the Gotham Award-winning feature film FREE
workslots. Choking Manby iconoclastic music video
(cid:4) Non-members
director Steve Barron. In spring 2008
Ghost Robot produced the awe-inspiring welcome
The East New York Food Coop 3D music video for Bjork’s Wanderlust.
welcomes PSFC members to assist in Mortensen’s feature Road by director Leslie McCleave premiered at the
its first year’s operations. Los Angeles Film Festival 2005. He also produced the award-winning doc-
umentary features“Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat
PSFC members may receive FTOP credit in Boxand Hell House” by George Ratliff.
exchange for their help. To receive credit, you
should be a member for at least one year Director Sara Lamm has been working with various forms of live
performance-based and radio documentary for ten years. In New York
and have an excellent attendance record.
City, she produced and directed a variety of multimedia performances,
To make work arrangements, please email featuring audio collage, video and still photography. Her work has been
ellen_weinstat @psfc.coop or presented at PS NBC (a showcase space for NBC), The New York
International Fringe Festival, Chashama, Surf Reality, The Atlantic Theater,
call 718-622-0560.
(cid:4) The 24 Hour Plays and on National Public Radio’s The Next Big Thing.
Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, she attended the University
of North Carolina, where she graduated with highest honors in
East New YorkFood Coop Performance Studies and received the “Faculty Award for Most
Outstanding Achievement in Live Performance.” Dr. Bronner’s Magic
419 New Lots Avenue
Soapboxis her first documentary film.
between New Jersey Avenue and Vermont Street
Film curator Alexandra Berger can be reached at [email protected].
accessible by the A, J and 3 trains
718-676-2721
Views expressed by the presenter do not necessarily represent the Park Slope Food Coop
Read the Gazettewhile you’re standing on line OR online at www.foodcoop.com
08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 12:58 PM Page 9
(cid:3)(cid:3)
PPaarrkk SSllooppee FFoooodd CCoooopp,, BBrrooookkllyynn,, NNYY AAuugguusstt 1144,, 22000088 99
Besides being neighborly, sharing beard is carved in undulating, narrow California is banning all trans fat use
FOOD CHANGES rides is a great way to cut down on lines, suggesting the thinning, wispy in restaurants. Perhaps the Coop
fuel costs and the resulting pollution. whiskers of an elder sage. Rough, should ban all the trans fat
EVERYTHING
If the Coop had a ride sharing mes- brown-hued edges suggest that the products as well.
sage board, people could arrange to prophet has emerged to impart its On another note, I had an idea for a
TO THE EDITOR:
share rides, either with a Coop mem- wisdom before reuniting with the compromise on the plastic bag issue
Happiness is only real when ber who doesn’t have a car and might stone it was born from. since I don’t always remember to
shared. This is why I love the Coop. want to chip in for some gas, or to Other master artists included in bring enough packs to every shopping
Cooperation is all about sharing. alternate driving with another shop- CAMBA’s Shona Gallery collection trip. The Coop could sell some bags at
About putting our values first. About per who does have a car. Our website are Gregory Mustasa; Lawrence the door for a much higher than nor-
good will defeating the almighty buck. has a message board that enables Mukomberanwa, son of Nicholas; mal price (perhaps $2/bag) and then
And it gives us access to good food. members to arrange shift swaps. Richard Mteki; Lameck Bonjisi; Adam donate the profits to environmental
Food is prosperity. It brings together Couldn’t we set up a web page for Gatsi; and Fanizani Akuda. groups or causes. Or maybe the other
families and friends, communities members to arrange ride shares as CAMBA’s Shona Gallery, at 19 bag substitutes that are sold should
and cultures. Food stimulates dia- well? Winthrop Street between Flatbush be placed more prominently near the
logue and thought. And we always Sincerely, and Bedford Avenues, is open by checkout areas.
want more. More and better. Cynthia Blayer appointment. Hours are 9am to 5pm, Karen L. Fuller
It is all about quality. Quality Monday, Wednesday and Friday and
explains why I joined the Coop when I 9am to 7pm, Tuesday and Thursday.
HIDDEN TREASURE IN DEMOCRACY IS NOT
was living in East Harlem. And quality For information, call 718-287-2600
also explains why I have spent more BROOKLYN: CAMBA’S and ask for Lorelie, or e-mail the TRANSPARENCY
time working in the Coop than shop- gallery at [email protected].
SHONA GALLERY
ping. It is the quality of food, the qual- For information on the gallery’s hold-
TO THE EDITOR:
ity of the members, the quality of the ings and Shona art, please visit the
coordinators and the quality of our DEAR EDITOR: website athttp://shonasculptures.com “A fact which allows us to hope the
principles that explains our success Many of us know CAMBA for its or www.camba.org. Resurrection will reflect a consider-
story. many social service programs that Mary-Beth Shine able attention to detail.”
Let us then be happy that our Coop since 1977 have served approximately —Marilynne Robinson
is in the forefront. Let us work on 30,000 individuals each year. I recent- This is addressed to the woman I
MY SUV
keeping it there. Let us keep growing ly met with Joanne Oplustil, CAMBA’s spoke with outside the Co-Op yester-
Needing a bankful
and helping others grow. Let us Executive Director, to talk about its day:
To buy a tankful
promote wholesome, minimally Shona Gallery. She stressed the I must say in the last three years
I took a spin
processed foods so we can forget importance of supporting Shona art my faith in Democracy has been chal-
And traded it in
about synthetic ingredients. Let us now, since many of the artists support lenged. Observing and being a part of
(My 50K Hummer
read the labels. Let us respect author- not only their immediate families, but the conversion of the Pacifica Foun-
A worthless bummer)
ity while questioning it. Let us pro- extended families and beyond with dation to a democratic system has
Bargaining hard
mote reusable bottles regardless of the sale of their art work. opened my eyes to the possibility that
For a MetroCard.
what healthy fluid they carry. Let us Occupying 1,500 square feet in Democracy might not be a thing that
What’s it provide?
promote containers that keep our CAMBA’s health services building, needs no justification. The woman
A $2 ride!
food and planet safe. Let us promote Shona Gallery houses one of the held that I was a member of the Co-
Leon Freilich
reusable bags throughout the store largest collections of Shona art in Op, I enjoyed it, therefore I should not
that minimize our waste. Let us all the United States. The gallery began fight for democracy. I suppose this
freely embrace the enriching diversity in 1991as a way to sustain CAMBA’s CONTAINED would not have applied to a Jewish
of our teams and shelves. services while simultaneously sup- banker or a concentration camp com-
COOPERATION
I have been living in the city for one porting artists living and working in mander in Nazi Germany, or to a resis-
year: long enough to get to know the Zimbabwe. With the aid of an art tance fighter in Gaza or Lebanon. I
DEAR LINEWAITERS’ GAZETTE
Coop and enjoy it. Long enough to dealer raised in Zimbabwe and living also believe that our ideology has to
EDITORS:
move to Brooklyn; to bike the five bor- in New York, the gallery is able to be consistent, so that what is impor-
oughs; to get a handful of shopping have a direct relationship with the I’m getting a little concerned about tant in one place is still important in
bags; to get into recycling every week; artists, whose work is purchased out- the recycling committee. I am hoping another.
to purchase energy from renewable right. we can reorganize a little bit to make Democracy has been a terrific
sources; to attend several sustainabili- The word Shona means both the recycling easier on all members. As struggle at Pacifica, and some of
ty events; to become involved with the Bantu people and language of natives the recycling’s gotten more popular, it those who wrote it into the new
sustainability team during my intern- of Zimbabwe and southern Mozam- would be great if we could keep it effi- Bylaws are horrified and not wanting
ship in an engineering firm. I marvel at bique. The range of dialects spoken cient and hands-on for all involved. I to see any more of it. And they are
the results of bringing the farms closer and regions where the artists live and understand the reasoning behind and joined by those who never wanted
to the city and the food closer to our work is reflected in the diversity of importance of cleaning the recy- democracy in the first place.
hearts. Now I am reading In Defense of styles and techniques apparent when cling…maybe especially those 5s! Democracy is not transparency. It is
Food. It helps me realize that food viewing Shona Gallery’s offerings. But I really don’t need to stand not accountability. It is not a good
changes everything and that we need While the techniques of stone carving around for 10 minutes to either be feeling. It is not an attitude of fair-
to keep changing for the better. the artists employ have been passed scolded or congratulated for the ness. It is not good and honest rulers
I will be leaving the city in a few down for hundreds of years, and sub- cleanliness of my yogurt containers. A or leaders. I agree that we have more
weeks: I am going back to Europe to jects are culled from traditional folk- few recyclers have set themselves up than our share of these things at the
complete my education. But I will lore and spiritual beliefs, Shona art is as judge and jury for the process. Co-Op. To me democracy is fair and
keep reading the Gazette and hope- decidedly modern. Examples can be Maybe we could all get more involved equal representation in a sovereign
fully I will come back soon to see us found in the collections of the in the cleaning? Like we could priori- assembly of delegates elected under
forging ahead. I will continue to Museum of Modern Art in New York, tize a station where some committee proportional representation.
research about cooperation and I will the Musée Rodin in Paris, Queen members could help people clean? You will say that democracy cannot
be happy to keep my refundable Elizabeth II, the Rockefellers, the It’d be really nice. We need a little flourish without these other things,
investment in the Coop. It is an Rothschilds, and actor Danny Glover more group effort here. and I will say that these other things
investment in quality. An investment among others. Thanks kindly, can flourish without democracy. There
to keep us thriving. CAMBA’s Shona Gallery is home to Peter Jacobson are many good things about a benev-
Thank You, the work of some of the world’s most olent dictatorship, but let’s not put
Francisco Javier Roca renowned Shona artists, including the cart before the horse!
VETTING THE FOOD
Nicholas Mukomberanwa (1940 – One thing I have learned is that I
2002). On view currently is his work AND PLASTIC BAGS never again want to be a candidate for
HEY, GOING MY WAY?…
“The Prophet.” Carved from spring- office, in a democracy or otherwise! I
stone, or black serpentine, one of the did it twice at WBAI-Pacifica and that
TO THE EDITOR:
TO THE EDITOR: hardest and least available stones was enough.
I would like to thank the anony- used for sculpting in Zimbabwe, the In response to the article “How the Democracy in its first stages has
mous Coop member who, on a recent material is prized for its under layer of Coop Chooses What to Sell,” I want to been tremendously destructive to
Saturday, announced over the loud- brown, which adds a rich dimension point out that high fructose corn Pacifica, just as a nervous breakdown
speaker that he was leaving shortly to the otherwise hard black surface. syrup is the FIRST ingredient on can be destructive in a personality, a
and would be glad to give a ride to “The Prophet” exhibits a skill for Tiger’s Milk bars (sold in the nutrition serious illness can be destructive in a
any member who was going in the abstraction in the carving of the head, bar section), and they also contain body, and a political revolution can be
same direction. Several shoppers in where the face is reduced to geomet- TRANS fats (partially hydrogenated destructive in a country. But all of
my vicinity murmured appreciative ric forms and a play between positive vegetable oils). The Center for Sci- these upheavals can and should be
remarks such as, “That’s the true Coop and negative space, as if probing the ence in the Public Interest recom-
spirit.” interior of the subject’s mind. The mends abolishing all trans fats, and
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Read the Gazettewhile you’re standing on line OR online at www.foodcoop.com
08-08/14 p 1-12 8/13/08 12:59 PM Page 10
(cid:2)
10 August 14, 2008 Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY
Helping Feral/Outside
Cats: Trap-Neuter-Return
WITH JESSE OLDHAM
Do you want to help your neighborhood cats?
Please join us for a comprehensive workshop on
why trap-neuter-return is the healthiest and most
humane choice for feral cats.
We will speak about the trap-
neuter-return process, feral
nutrition, advocacy,
socialization,
spay/neuter options,
winter shelter and
cold-weather care-
taking tips!
All attendees will get a proof-of-attendance card
enabling them to borrow traps from a
number of area trap banks.
Jesse Oldham, a PSFC member, has been an animal welfare advocate for 13
years. She is the founder and President of Slope Street Cats and is on the
NYC Feral Cat Council.
FREE Saturday, September 6
Non-members welcome 9:30 - 12:30 in the Coop
Views expressed by the presenter do not necessarily represent the Park Slope Food Coop
L E T T E R S T O
T H E E D I T O R
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
means toward a higher level of existence. What I
am proposing is a political revolution on a
small scale, abetted by management, wherein
we would take our mission to be a social experi-
ment more seriously. Though in the short term
there might be some upheaval, because we are
a much more central, simpler and more coher-
ent organization, I don’t think it would be as bad
or as life-threatening for us as it is at Pacifica.
I hope this answers some of your questions.
In Solidarity,
Albert Baron Solomon
718-768-9079, [email protected]
Homœopathic Visionary
Scrivener to the Pacifica Foundation
PACVID1.com
11-Time Candidate for the Park Slope Food Co-Op
Board of Directors
Read the Gazettewhile you’re standing on line OR online at www.foodcoop.com