Volunteering

"Many hands make light work." - John Heywood

All co-ops rely on their members and community members to help them thrive and grow.

By giving a little of your time or expertise to the co-op, you're making an investment that will benefit you, your family, your neighbors, and your local community.

 

If you are interested in helping out the Co-op in any way, please send us an email and let us know!  We often need help working tables and representing the Co-op at events.  This is a HUGE boost to us, as there's only a handful of board members to work these events! 

 

For the Co-op’s membership campaign, we need volunteers to help us spread the word about the benefits of joining the Great River Co-op and the benefits that the Co-op can bring to our region. A simple, effective step that anyone can take now is to tell your friends, family, and colleagues about the Co-op and suggest they visit this web site.

 

If you own or work for a local company, or are a member of a charitable or recreational organization, and would like our board members to come to your location to answer questions about the Co-op and register members, we would be more than happy to oblige.

 

If you have a little more time to commit, consider joining one of these committees or our Board:

• Farmer/Producer Engagement Committee
• Financial Development Committee
• Marketing & Communications Committee
• Member-Owner Engagement Committee
• Board of Directors

Farmer/Producer Engagement Committee

Great River Co-op’s Farmer/Producer Engagement Committee ensures that we maintain positive relationships with the farmers and producers that will be vendors and suppliers of our Co-op.

 

Specific duties and expectations of a member of the Farmer/Producer Engagement Committee of the Great River Co-op include:

• Identify farmers and producers who may have interest in selling their products through Great River Co-op;
• Work with the Marketing & Communications Committee to develop effective messaging and communications tools specifically designed for farmers and producers;
• Develop instruments farmers and producers can use to provide feedback and guidance to the Great River Co-op Board of Directors;
• Inform the Marketing & Communications Committee as well as the Board of Directors of any themes that emerge as you talk with farmers and  roducers (to feed into a Q&A or other messaging);
• Catalog products that each farm and producer might sell at the Co-op;
• Recruit more farmers and producers for the Board and committees.

Financial Development Committee

Great River Co-op’s Financial Development Committee supports the Board’s efforts to secure necessary funding for the construction and operations of the Co-op.

 

Specific duties and expectations of a member of the Financial Development Committee of the Great River Co-op include:

• Provide leadership in identifying funding sources, including corporate and individual loans or donations, state and federal funds, and bank financing;
• Develop a strategic capital campaign plan, including a timeline of “stepping stones”;
• Co-develop, with the Marketing & Communications Committee, high-quality materials for use in “pitches” to potential donors/lenders;
• Provide the Board of Directors with regular reports on donor/lender prospects including contact information of key decision-makers when the prospective donor/lender is a company, grant-maker, or state-federal agency.

Marketing & Communications Committee

Great River Co-op’s Marketing & Communications Committee provides leadership for internal and external promotion of the Co-op.

 

Specific duties and expectations of a member of the Board of Directors of the Great River Co-op include:

• Provide leadership to a multi-faceted Marketing & Communications plan;
• Contribute to the development of tools needed to activate the plan (ie: e-newsletters, blogs, website updates, etc);
• Provide fellow member-owners with messaging ideas and vehicles;
• Develop ideas for Special Events that spotlight the Co-op;
• Ensure consistent messaging for member-owners, potential member-owners, and the general public;
• Support the Member Engagement, Farmer/Producer Engagement, and Funding Committees in the development of effective outreach messaging and tools.

Member-Owner Engagement Committee

Great River Co-op’s Member-Owner Engagement Committee ensures that our fellow-members remain informed and inspired to serve as active contributors.

 

Specific duties and expectations of a member of the Member-Owner Engagement Committee of the Great River Co-op include:

• Provide guidance to the Board of Directors and other committees on how to best engage in two-way communication with our fellow member-owners;
• Develop activities that encourage interaction between member-owners of the Great River Co-op;
• Inform the Marketing & Communications Committee as well as the Board of Directors of any themes that emerge as you talk with fellow member-owners (to feed into a Q&A or other messaging);
• Help with recruitment of volunteers for the Board, committees, task forces, and special events.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Like with any Board of Directors, the Board of the Great River Co-op has fiduciary and ethical responsibility for the financial viability of the Co-op’s operations. As a cooperative, member-owned business venture, the Board of the Great River Co-op is elected by — and makes decisions on behalf of —

its fellow members.

 

Specific duties and expectations of a member of the Board of Directors of the Great River Co-op include:

• Attend a minimum of 75% of all Board meetings and special events;
• Be prepared ahead of meetings by reviewing all reports and consent agenda items;
• Have a deep understanding of the Seven Cooperative Principles so they can inform decision-making;
• Have a strong understanding of the Co-op’s financial position;
• Lead the creation of an annual budget and regularly monitor revenues and expenses compared with the approved budget;
• Provide leadership to the organization and shape its strategic direction;
• Provide direction to committees and task forces that support the success of the Co-op;

And, at this phase of the Co-op’s development, the Board of Directors will:

• Enter into partnership agreements with the land-owner, creditors, contractors, etc.;
• Recruit, hire and support the Co-op’s General Manager;
• Recruit, hire and support construction Project Manager;
• With input from the Project Manager and General Manager, make strategic decisions about space allocation, layout and design of Co-op facility;
• Monitor all revenues and expenses (sources and uses) associated with construction of the Co-op facility;
• Ensure proper and timely reporting to all funders and government entities;
• Other duties developed by the Board of Directors.

Get in touch to sign up for an available volunteer opportunity! Drop us a note at info@greatriverfoodcoop.com. We can't wait to start a conversation!