MAY

2020

Annual Election Newsletter

Page 1

YFC Social

The Value of Regional Food in the Year of Covid-19

Before we were in the midst of the pandemic, several board and staff attended the

Washtenaw County Local Food Summit 2020. Held at Washtenaw Community College

on March 10, the Summit is an annual event that brings together local farmers, food

producers, purveyors, and other non-profits to discuss and celebrate the state of our

food system in our community.

Staff member Michelle LaBelle attended, and was impressed by the summit and had this

to say: “This year’s focus was on how we could make our local food system more in-clusive to everyone. Understanding ways we can help to bridge the gaps of food inse-curity and injustice, and bring more diversity into local farming and every other as-pect of our county’s food-ways. l left with a renewed sense of the Ypsilanti Food Co-op’s role as a community store that is welcome to everyone. The summit gave me in-sight into how our Co-op provides nourishment and life to those in our community. Also how those of us that call Michigan our home are the stewards and protectors of the land and waters around us for future generations.” We understood that how food is grown affects the quality, taste and nutritional value

of food. We knew that growing food regionally was important to many aspects of the

food system, including self sufficiency and sustainability. But, we had not really

thought about all of the implications that having food would be affected by a pandem-

ic or other national emergency.

It became apparent quite quickly that our ability to continue to provide food to our

community could easily be impaired. Food scarcity was a concern to many, and for

the coop our ability to keep food coming was challenging and difficult at times. With

the surge by consumers to stock up on groceries, many items were out of stock at

the coop and other grocery stores. Our warehouse put limits on the amount we could

buy, causing us to not be able to keep up with the demand.

We were able to shift our purchases to other vendors, such as Cherry Capital, that

distributes mostly Michigan products. We had access to several other distributors to

obtain flour, beans, baking yeast, produce and meat, which were in high demand and

often out of stock at the coop and other grocery stores. We worked diligently to

obtain food from any and all of our options and had pretty good stock available most

of the time.

Besides changing our purchasing, we made many changes to our store processes

quickly, and instituted curbside pickup by March 18. Customers responded incredibly

well to the process of emailing their wishlist to us and picking it up the next day!

We immediately shortened our store hours of being open to noon to 7pm, previously

9am to 9pm, dedicating the morning time to having pickup orders shopped.

We took action quickly and closed the Kid’s Room, stopped getting signatures on

credit card slips, process credit card payments over the phone for pickups, stopped

hot food or coffee to go, added glove requirements in the bulk department and a

comprised shopping hour before opening, request social distancing, and have a limit

of 6 customers in the store at a time. (Cont. page 2)

2019 Highlights

In the annual report you will learn a little more about some of the

work that the YFC did to help make the Ypsilanti community and its

people a great place to be while following our Ends. 2019 was a year

of some positive growth in sales and in profits.

We were awarded Best Natural Food Store in Washtenaw County,

and that positivity was catchy.

The bees thrived under the watchful apiary skills of Connor and Ashley, and honey was harvested and

sold to customers at the coop.

Our community outreach had many opportunities with participation at various events. We attended two

farmers markets last summer, and we continued to administer Double Up Food Bucks in 2019 , increasing

access of Michigan produce to customers on EBT, continuing our mission of promoting good eating by

more folks.

Our planning and work on the expansion continues, with two grants, money in the bank, and plans mov-

ing along. We got our new doors in at the end of December, and more exciting changes will happen in

2020!

Navigating the ‘New Normal’ (Cont. from page 1)

We have a great group of member-owner volunteers who stepped up to help us with the

work needed to get orders picked. We have also hired 3 new staff, as well as increased

hours for any staff who is able to. As deli and the hot soup were shut down, the deli

staff moved over to the store to help shop and cashier. On top of that, we’ve been able

to make sure all of our staff receive an additional $2 per hour hazard pay bonus for

their hard work during these difficult times.

We also have added plenty of additional cleaning and sanitizing to our routine. Alt-

hough we were not always able to obtain hand sanitizer for sale, we had enough alcohol

and aloe gel that we were able to make our own to always have it available for staff and customers to use.

We instituted staff health assessments to the beginning of each shift, and all staff and delivery people wear masks

and gloves. We have a store policy following the State’s Executive Order 2020-71. Section 1 which states “Any indi-

vidual who enters a food-selling establishment or pharmacy who is able to medically tolerate a face covering must

wear a covering over his or her nose and mouth, such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief.”

We are continuing to do pickup orders, and plan to continue to follow best practices of the CDC and the state,

and as scientific information suggests the best practices for us to keep all of our staff and community safe and

healthy. We will make changes as necessary and thank everyone for supporting your Co-op during this time. We

do not know what the new normal will look like, but we know that you are here with us and that feels great!

We also began partnering with local maker Sloth-Girl to sell handmade and sanitized cloth face masks. Proceeds

from the masks are going to the Corner Health Center, which provides affordable health care services to teens and

young adults. So far, we’ve sold more than 750 masks and raised $3,750.00 for Corner Health! Sloth-Girl is still

churning out masks for us to sell, so pick one up on your next trip to see us. Thank you, Corinne Sikorski, General Manager

Page 2

Page 3

A Note from Board Member Celeste McClellan

Being a part of our Ypsi Food Co-op community that responds,

serves and helps our members has been one of my best experiences

during my entire 27 years of living in Ypsilanti.

Before I became a Co-op member I stopped by occasionally to shop.

Once I became a member my Co-op grocery list kept getting longer

as I discovered that most items I needed were available at our little

store, with the added bonus that I was able to take advantage of the

member discount and other sale prices. In recent years I’ve been able

to buy all my groceries here. And since I’ve become a member of the

Co-op Board I really get to see how much wonderful energy our staff

puts into making things run smoothly for our patrons.

When thinking about why my shopping experience at the Co-op changed I quickly noticed how very different the

Co-op is from a big box store. The intimacy, friendliness and varied offerings are easily managed. I now feel lost in

a big box store and really prefer to shop at the Co-op or local farmers’ markets. I will make a rare trip to Meijer to

stock up on paper products. Just need to make it quickly in and out. Their other many options are overwhelming.

Whereas at the Co-op I may not find the exact item I had in mind, I can try something similar of equal quality.

In our household we often take advantage of the recipes in the Co-op’s weekly emailed newsletter. All the ingredi-

ents are always available in the store to be able for us to make the featured recipes at home that week - and again!,

if we liked the results. All the attentiveness and accessibility are why I love our Co-op.

I also like to reach out to our neighbors, whether or not they’re Co-op members, and relate how important and

valuable our food Co-op is to our direct neighborhood as well as to the sense of community in our entire city and

surrounding areas.

Recently I researched who shops at the Co-op and why. I hung out in the store one Saturday in February to talk to

shoppers, members, and non-members alike, and welcomed them to our Co-op community. I was interested to find

out that we have shoppers ranging from walking-distance Ypsi residents to Ann Arbor and Belleville residents and

even further, as well as travelers just passing through.

It was amazing to discover the reach of our Co-op, especially since I was only there for a couple hours that one

day. Several shoppers decided to join as members, particularly once they heard about the options for ordering spe-

cific items, as well as the member discount and household membership. Many

shoppers came specifically for our deli selections and excellent breads (made

with wild Ypsi yeast!).

Several people shopped our bulk section and commented on healthy options

for their home cooking and baking. The friendliness of our staff was also ap-

preciated. It was great to find out that shoppers in our Co-op extend beyond

members and neighbors.

Our store is here for everyone, and now in the midst of the COVID-19 re-

strictions and isolation we can be especially grateful that our Ypsi Food Co-op

has food and supplies to fulfill our needs in a friendly way while being mindful

of our health concerns and safety.

Here I am enjoying our Easter dinner with everything from the Co-op: kale,

sweet potato, kielbasa, ham, sourdough rye and wine.

Thank you for 45 years! We did not have an opportunity to celebrate our 45th birthday this

year yet! Our Articles of Incorporation were signed on April 11,

1975, which was just a date after years of formation from a buying

club to an actual store. We have had many years of selling local and

organic food in Ypsilanti. From the buying club to Sheridan Street

to Perrin Street and on to River Street, we continue to be member

owned with the same integrity and goals of sustainability of food

for the people in our community!

We will celebrate with cake soon, and we’ll let you know when!

Page 4

With the pandemic, many aspects of running our cooperative have been affected. Our election of the

board was postponed, but will go on via the enclosed ballot, in the same manner it has the past several

years. Directions and the ballot are on page 5.

We will not have an Annual Meeting but will prepare the 2019 Annual Report. It will be emailed to all

member owners, to the email address supplied when you joined. We have postponed board meetings

during the past two months, but as things have calmed down, we will resume in June. We will still be tak-

ing precautions, and if you are interested in attending, please contact us via board@ypsifoodcoop.org.

Voting shows your active support of your community owned food coop! Our cooperative is owned dem-

ocratically, which means it is owned by our member-owners. Every year we reconsider our leadership and

how we will continue to interact with the world. There are four candidates running in this year's election,

for four open seats. The nominating committee feels these are solid candidates who have proven to be

engaged with and connected to our community.

The Co-op and Board of Directors are here to serve you, while keeping positive forward motion and

growth of the store that we all love so deeply. We look forward to growing with you, finding more joy

with you, and most importantly serving you!

How to Vote

1. Please complete the ballot on page 5 to vote for up to four (4) candidates. If you lose this ballot, you

can get a blank one at the store.

2. Put your ballot in an envelope with your name on the front (to verify membership). If an envelope is

received without a member’s name on it, the vote will not be counted. You must be an active member

by June 5, 2020 in order to vote.

3. Place envelopes in the collection box in the store beginning June 1 through June 14, 2020.

4. You can also mail your ballot to us at 312 N. River Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198.

5. Board members will verify membership on each envelope, then in a separate transaction will remove

the ballots from the envelope, and count the votes after they’re separated from the names so that the

names are not connected with specific ballots.

6. The results will be announced in the board minutes, via Facebook and in the store.

2020 Voting Information:

Meet Your Candidates

To ensure a healthy eating diet, Celeste McClellan’s family grocery-shops exclusively at the Ypsi Food Co-

op. They also usually make the weekly featured recipe, and indulge in the delicious treats offered by our

first-class bakery. YFC is totally integrated into her daily life, so running for the Board is a natural step

that strengthens that bond. Now that she’s completed one term on our Co-op board she is excited to run

again, particularly in order to support our expansion efforts. Our monthly Board meetings, which focus

on the Co-op’s results and direction, are informative and helpful to her understanding and enjoyment of

learning how the business thrives. Celeste wants to continue to participate in her capacity as a Board mem-

ber to offer her thoughts, opinions, and suggestions about how to move our valued Co-op forward into

an even more prominent position in our community.

Tessa Sarapo is a resident of Ypsilanti who loves our local food scene. She ran for the board in 2016 to become

more involved in the community. Tessa has visited numerous co-ops throughout the state and is a regular at-

tendant of our local farmers markets. She has a background in the natural foods industry, working for a natural

foods manufacturer, Eden Foods, in Sales and Marketing, and has management experience at the natural food

retailers The Better Health Store and Plum Market. Tessa shares a passion for natural and sustainable living and

has volunteered her time as the Ypsilanti Food Coop Board of Directors Secretary for the last two years.

During the 1970s Peace Movement there was talk about building a new society to replace the old one. A new

society of hospitality, kindness, and generosity versus the old society of greed and hatred. Some of the talk

was about cooperatives; food coops, housing coops, bakery coops, bike coops, etc. Imagine people working

together as co-owner/workers and creating their own jobs.

In 1979 Don Broersma moved into Ypsi, joined the Ypsi Food Co-op and has been here ever since. Since then

he has helped the Co-op focus on the future of sustainable healthy food and a robust Co-op economy. If

elected, Don says: “I will help the Co-op focus on the future. The Board offers guidance to the General Man-

ager. Our organizational performance is on behalf of our Co-op owners.”

Alison Foreman has worked with Ypsilanti area non-profits for more than 15 years. She is a graduate of Eastern

Michigan University, with a bachelor’s degree in juvenile justice and a master’s degree in public administration.

Alison worked with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Book Industry Charitable

Foundation before joining Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels in 2013. Alison serves on the boards of the Ypsilanti Area

Community Fund, Washtenaw Leaders Advisory and the Area Agency on Aging 1B Diabetes Program Advisory

Group and is a member of the Ypsilanti Kiwanis Club. She is a former member of the SOS community services

board, an organization which provides transitional housing, food, and therapeutic programs for local children.

Alison lives in Ypsilanti Township with her husband, Nate, and their two Devon Rex cats, Ray and Jen. Alison

and Nate enjoy hiking, fishing and spending time outdoors.

Allison Foreman Celeste McClellan Don Broersma Tessa Sarapo

To vote in this year’s elections you must be an active member-owner for the 2020 year by Friday, June 5, 2020

Applications are available at the register! If you have any questions about your current member status ask at the register and the YFC staff will inform you of your current standing!

Gold Card members are full paid members.

2020 Board of Directors (Vote for 4)

BA

LL

OT

Page 5

Ypsilanti Food Co-op

312 N River St.

Ypsilanti MI 48198

734-483-1520

General Manager:

Corinne Sikorski

Corinne@ypsifoodcoop.org

Editor:

Krista Jacob

Printer:

Standard Printing, Ypsilanti, MI

Printed on 100% recycled paper

from the French Paper Company

of Niles, MI

FROM:

The Ypsi Food Co-op 312 North River Street

Ypsilanti, MI 48198

www.ypsifoodcoop.org

New Member Orientation These have been postponed until fur-

ther notice.

Annual General Membership

Meeting We will not hold an Annual Meeting

at this time, but will prepare the An-

nual Report to be emailed out to all

members with a current email.

Tuesday, June 16th

Coop Board Meeting at 6:30 pm

We anticipate being able to meet in

person, while practicing social dis-

tancing. If you would like to at-

tend please contact us at

board@ypsifoodcoop.org

Pickup orders are still

available!

Email your order to pickup@ypsifoodcoop.org

with your phone number. We will call you with the amount

you owe and discuss any sustitutions or

questions. Once paid, your order will be ready for pickup any time until

close.