Seward Community Co-op

About our Board of Directors

Our board of directors are co-op owners passionate about Seward Community Co-op and the cooperative business model. Our directors bring a wealth of varied backgrounds and skills to the board. More info is available on our Board of Directors page.

Board Role and Duties

The board of directors exists to establish and articulate the vision for the future of the co-op. In addition, other key roles of the board are to hire and oversee the general manager, monitor the performance of the co-op relative to its Ends Statement, and ensure continuity of excellence in governance.

• Attend monthly board meetings— about 2.5 hours long, typically 9–10 times per year. Attendance at monthly board meetings is required.
• Attend annual board retreat and board training sessions, including at least one day-long session per year.
• Prepare for board meetings by reviewing policies and analyzing reports.
• Serve on committees and work groups of the board as needed.
• Check board email account and reply to emails as needed between meetings.
• Attend seasonal Co-op events to represent the Board of Directors.
• Maintain familiarity with the co-op’s governance procedures and policies, critical issues, and vision for the future.
• Act prudently in making decisions on behalf of the co-op.
• Understand the legal responsibilities of serving on the board.
• Serve as an ambassador to other co-op owners and our community.

Eligibility

All candidates must be an owner of Seward Co-op.

All candidates are required to attend one online board meeting and one candidate information session to be eligible to run in the election.

Board meetings are held virtually on the last Tuesday of each month, calling to order at 6:15 p.m.

About the 2026 Board Election

This year, there are three at-large seats open. All have a three-year term. The designated employee director seat is currently filled.

The co-op’s articles and bylaws allow up to two seats to be filled by current employees, which is currently the case. This means no more employees are able to run in this year’s election.

Read more on our Board of Directors Election page.

Become a Candidate

All candidates are required to attend a board meeting to be eligible to run in the election. Board meetings are typically held virtually on the last Tuesday of each month, calling to order at 6:15 p.m. Upcoming meeting dates are May 26, June 30, and July 28. Before these meetings, the board will host a candidate information session beginning at 5:15 p.m. Please email board@seward.coop to receive Zoom meeting information.

At the info session, you’ll hear from current directors about how the board works, the expectations of candidates, and receive the paperwork you need to apply to run for the board. All interested candidates will need to submit a form and a response to an essay prompt by Friday, July 31. Candidates are strongly encouraged to attend the Aug. 25 and Sept. 29 board meetings. The 2026 election will occur in October.