News from our Board of Directors
At Maple City Market’s Board of Directors January board meeting, we accepted the resignations of two directors: José Chiquito and Rebecca Yoder Smucker. We want to thank Rebecca and José for their service to the Maple City Market, and share a bit about what’s next for them.
Rebecca originally came to know Maple City Market through her work at the Elkhart County Clubhouse, who provides employees to the market through the Transitional Employment Program. Rebecca, a trained Social Worker, has been involved with MDC (Mennonite Disabilities Committee) Goldenrod and Center for Healing and Hope. Rebecca is leaving Maple City Market’s Board as she and her husband, Levi, will soon be relocating from Goshen so that Levi can enter a medical residency program. Rebecca and Levi also just welcomed their first child.
While we will certainly miss Rebecca’s presence on our Board and in our community, we also know she will be a tremendous asset to whatever co-op she lands near. During her visits with Levi to the cities where they might relocate, Rebecca visited seven different co-op groceries: People’s Food Co-op (Kalamazoo, MI); Basics Cooperative Natural Foods (Janesville, WI); Willy Street Co-op North (Madison, WI); Newark Natural Foods Co-op (Newark, DE); Ypsilanti Food Co-op (Ypsilanti, MI); People’s Food Co-op & Cafe Verde (Ann Arbor, MI); and New Pioneer Food Co-op (Iowa City, IA). We wish Rebecca and her family the best of luck as they embark on this new phase of their journey.
José is the youngest person to ever join Maple City Market’s Board. He is a recent graduate of Goshen High School and a current student at Goshen College. During José’s time on the board, he learned much about co-ops. Last year, he attended a conference in Florida on the topic of worker co-ops, and his interest in this area continues to expand. José is a member of the Goshen Latino Advisory Committee, and he has been active as a community organizer.
Jose’s resignation from the Board comes as his leadership of the Indiana Dreamer’s in Action (DIA) organization grows. José and his organization were in Washington, D.C. from January 17th through the 19th to lobby legislators for a Dream Act, and they will continue to organize as the push for a Dream Act goes on. We wish José success and peace as he pursues this goal. Below is a link to a video campaign that Jose helped produce and encouraged us to share. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155958899208497&id=620308496
Both Rebecca and José joined Maple City Market’s Board in 2016. The Board will now seek to fill the remainder of their terms, which run through June 2019, with the appointment of two Board members. In addition to these appointments, the Board of Directors is seeking several candidates for the Board for terms that will begin on July 1, 2018.
The Board is looking for candidates who are enthusiastic, and we are seeking for our Board to reflect our community through diversity. Should you have interest in joining the Board, or if you have a recommendation for a candidate, please send a message to board@maplecitymarket.org. If you yourself have interest, please indicate whether you would be interested in filling a currently vacant seat, or if you would be interested in running for election to the Board this summer.
MapleCityMarketAnnualMeetingMinutesMay2017
Call for Candidates
Seeking 2018 Board Candidates
Calling all Cooperators! Maple City Market Co-op seeks a diverse pool of candidates representing different backgrounds and experiences to serve on our Board of Directors. Many different skills and expertise add value to the board’s work directing the co-op. Most importantly, we are looking for people who are enthusiastic and committed to the Co-op’s mission and work. The board is looking to expand from a total of seven to nine directors, with a four seats up for election this year.
Candidacy & Election Timeline:
- Saturday, March 31, 2018: Deadline to submit application for candidacy
- Thursday April 19, 2018: The board will announce slate of candidates, voting begins
- Thursday May 18, 2018: MCM Annual Meeting, Voting Closes & Election Results
Questions?
- Contact:
- board@maplecitymarket.coop or
- gm@maplecitymarket.coop or
- call 574-534-2355
- Attend a short informational meeting at the co-op:
- Wed March 14 at 12:00pm
- Thurs March 15 at 4:30pm
- Mon March 19 at 4:30pm
- Attend an upcoming Board Meeting:
- Mon March 19 at 5:30pm at the co-op
- Download the full Board Candidate Packet here!