Four More Years!

Okay . . . it's actually only three more years.

Thank you, fellow members of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society, for electing me to a third three-year term on the Board of Directors. I am pleased to join three new Board members -- Corrie Martin, Paul Hoffman and Janet St. Germain -- as this year's elected slate.

Here are some random ideas for the coming year:

Developing a member loan program that is targeted to making investments in "greening" the Co-op. We can avoid any tortuous securities registration requirements, and yet still seek loans in both New Hampshire and Vermont, by creating a program through the Cooperative Fund of New England (on whose board I also serve).

Building an active and synergistic partnership with the Upper Valley Community Credit Union, which was founded years ago at the Hanover Co-op.

Working on making the Co-op our community's version of the ancient Greek agora -- a marketplace not just of stuff but of ideas and connections. I'm talking not just about people hanging out at the stores and taking courses, but also people connecting via the Co-op's newsletter and web site.

Figuring out a meaningful way to serve the non-wealthy among the Co-op's membership, particularly in challenging economic times.

Exploring what other slices of our local economy would benefit from cooperatization -- and then actively assisting in making it happen.

Creating cross-sectoral solidarity among New Hampshire cooperatives, and then making sure that cooperatives get on the economic development agendae of the governors in both Concord and Montpelier. After all, the cooperative sector is our battered economy's secret success story!

Helping the folks in Lyme to create a co-op in order to keep their country store open.

What are your ideas? What really cool things would you like to see the nation's second oldest, and second biggest, cooperative grocery retailer accomplish for our community in the coming months and years?