2020 Seward Co-op Board of Directors Election
Learn about the candidates, who are fellow co-op owners, offering their expertise and time to Seward Co-op. This is your opportunity to choose the board leadership of our community-owned business. Please read the candidate essays, review the voter guide and/or check out short videos of candidates. Then cast your ballot!
Election Details | Board Candidates | Articles and Bylaws Proposals | Ballot Deadlines
Voting for the Board of Directors election has ended. Joins us virtually as we announce election results at the Annual Owner Meeting, Tuesday Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
Election Details
In 2020, there are three at-large seats open. Two are three-year terms and the third seat is a one-year term. The at-large candidate who receives the third highest number of votes will serve the one-year term. There is one designated employee director seat open for a two-year term. Current employees of Seward Co-op are eligible to run for the designated employee director seat.
The co-op’s articles and bylaws allow up to two seats to be filled by current employees. This means Seward Co-op employees may choose to run for an at-large seat. (In the event there had been more than one employee candidate in the at-large pool, only the top vote-getting employee would be seated.) Employees of Seward Co-op must specify which seat they are seeking: at-large or designated employee director.
2020 Board Candidates
All candidates were asked to submit an essay addressing any or all of the following questions:
- What is your motivation to run for the Seward Co-op’s Board of Directors?
- Describe any relevant experience that you believe could benefit the co-op’s board in doing its work.
- Describe what working collaboratively looks like to you.
- Describe how you would work to achieve outcomes that consider all the stakeholders that comprise Seward Co-op.
- How do Seward Co-op’s efforts to sustain a healthy community guide your vision for the future of the co-op
- How would you contribute to Seward accomplishing its Ends Statement?
Ends Statement Seward Co-op will sustain a healthy community that has
– equitable economic relationships,
– positive environmental impacts, and
– inclusive, socially responsible practices.
Voter Guide
A new addition to this year’s board election is a Voter Guide. Candidates responded to additional questions to inform the guide, available here.
Articles and Bylaws Proposals
In order to keep the co-op’s articles and bylaws up to date, the Board of Directors endorses the following articles and bylaws changes. We encourage voting affirmative on each of these proposed changes. Please visit our FAQ for more information on the proposed articles and bylaws–available here.
Proposal 1 corrects minor grammatical errors and misspellings, and makes the articles and bylaws easier to understand. For example, it will change section headers currently titled ‘ARTICLE’ to ‘BYLAW’ in the bylaws section. Click here for complete text of the current articles and bylaws alongside the edits contained in proposal 1.
Proposal 2 removes gender pronouns to make the articles and bylaws gender neutral. In most cases, the gendered pronoun(s) are replaced with the noun (subject) of the sentence. Click here for complete text of the current articles and bylaws alongside the edits contained in proposal 2.
Proposal 3 specifically updates Article V section 5 of the bylaws. The change allows the board the ability to delegate to the General Manager the signing of all notes and legal documents regarding real estate conveyances. The delegation would occur via a board resolution, in connection with each transaction the board approves. Currently board officers are required to sign notes and legal documents regarding real estate conveyances. This change would streamline closing on such transactions. Click here for an excerpt of the current articles and bylaws alongside the edit contained in proposal 3.
Proposal 4 updates the articles and bylaws to reflect current Seward Co-op practices and state law. While this proposal includes the greatest number of unique changes, the underlying goal is to simplify the language, make it clearer and to match our practices. For example, five different sentences would be updated to align with how we currently deliver digital/online information. Click here for complete text of the current articles and bylaws alongside the edits contained in proposal 4.
More information on the proposed articles and bylaws changes available in our FAQ here. If you experience difficulty locating the information you seek, or need an alternative format, please reach out to Allison Meyer, Advocacy and Governance Specialist, at ameyer@seward.coop or 612.230.5555.
Ballot Deadlines
Online Voting
Seward Co-op owners may vote online until Oct. 26 at 11:59 p.m. Click here to be directed to the online ballot.
Paper Ballots
Seward Co-op owners instead choose to vote via paper ballot. Be sure to complete both sides of your paper ballot. Return by mail or drop it off at the customer service desk at the Franklin or Friendship store. Paper ballots are due at all co-op locations by noon on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Please join us when election results are announced at the virtual Annual Owner Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 6 – 8 p.m. RSVP for meeting link at www.seward.coop/events/
