Ends are Only the Beginnings

by Keith Dubas, Board Chair

In another couple of months, I will be stepping down from being Chair of the Open Harvest Board. After 15 years on the Board and four years as the Chair, you'd think I'd pretty much perfected my role, but each meeting during this time has been different and has brought new issues and challenges. Fortunately I've been able to draw on the other Board members and the Open Harvest administrative staff for their expertise, knowledge and experience. The Board has evolved in its deliberative work making use of both Policy Governance and decision-making by consensus. Moving Open Harvest forward to its current state has been a great collaborative effort.

The talented people that offer their time to serve on the Board do it with the spirit of the cooperative. Each year the Board reviews the Ends statement that comprises the reason Open Harvest exists and guides the Board along the path to accomplishing its purpose. While the Board members come from a myriad of life circumstances they are united in their commitment to the stated Ends:

Lincoln's source for responsibly selected natural foods, products, and related outreach services for owners and the food buying community, while perpetuating the store and its policies.

Fosters environmental, social, and economic justice in food sourcing and product selection: embodies sustainable practice and a sensory celebration of natural, healthy and nutritious foods in its store(s): Epitomizes welcoming attitudes and stellar customer service in the local grocery market: Leads area grocers in the promotion of local foods, and of good health through good nutrition: Sustains a perennially broadening and expanding community of owners and shoppers.

It is that commonality of purpose that creates more than just a store, more than just a food resource, but a community. The sub-ends allude to those expanded cooperative, community goals. When Open Harvest addresses the topic of "local," we mean that the growing, processing and marketing are within our locale. When we speak of "customer service" we are looking to a staff that is culled for their inherent nature to serve and then infuse that trait with training resulting in our exceptional staff.

There are many challenges facing the food buying public. We need to be vigilant and active in protecting our food sources. Organic standards are under constant assault, and the government is not the "watch-dog" that we may have trusted it to be. Marketeers devalue the meaning of labeling. Meanwhile, never has the connection between our health and what we consume been more direct. The public is realizing that you really are "what you eat".

Open Harvest's Board and staff are purposeful in their desire to meet its Ends. It is the Board's duty to be its regulator. So the next time we have a Board Election I hope you'll consider the importance of who serves on the Board of your co-op and take time to cast your vote. With our members' vigilance and support, Open Harvest will be with us for at least another 35 years.