Co-op Principle #2 - Democratic Member Control
Welcome back to our blog series on the Cooperative Principles, where we take a closer look at the guiding values that make Sno-Isle Food Co-op special.
Principle #2: Democratic Member Control
“We are a democratic organization governed by our member-owners. Representatives are elected to serve the Co-op. All owners have equal voting rights (one vote per owner account).”
Unlike big corporate grocery stores, most of which are headquartered several time-zones away, Sno-Isle Food Co-op is owned and led right here by members of our community. As of 2020, ownership of the Co-op is comprised of more than 8,000 households in the Snohomish and Island Counties, all of whom have an equal say in how the Co-op moves forward.
Each autumn, during the lead-up to our Annual Meeting in October, owners vote in the SIFC election for who they believe will best represent the Co-op’s interests as members of the Board of Trustees (including board officers) and the Nominating Committee. These important roles keep the Co-op moving forward and growing, and are all volunteer positions. Only SIFC owners are eligible to run for board/committee positions or vote in the election. Owners also get a voice in which local nonprofit organizations we support throughout the year in our Register Roundup program, which raised more than $13,000 for local causes in 2020!
Being a democratically-governed organization, with each ownership stake counting for one vote, is one of the biggest factors that sets Sno-Isle Food Co-op apart from other grocery stores in the area. We are not just a grocery store, we are a community centered on sustainable food, and we wouldn’t be where we are without our 8,000 (and counting) owners!