Board of Directors
Board of Directors
The Oryana Board of Directors (BOD) is made up of nine directors who serve two-year terms. All directors are elected by the member/owners and must be member/owners themselves. Two positions on the board may be filled by staff as long as they are current member/owners and they are elected by the general membership like other board members. Elections are held annually at the General Membership meeting. The BOD is responsible to the member/owners and are the voice of the owners, setting a vision for the future of the Co-op. The board speaks with one voice and is responsible for establishing and monitoring the Co-op’s governance policies, as well as hiring, monitoring and evaluating the General Manager. The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to the member/owners to ensure a fiscally sound and viable Co-op protecting the member/owners assets. The BOD has adopted Policy Governance as its means of governance. Simply stated, Policy Governance is described as:
- Written expectations (policies) that include four areas: Board Process, Board/General Manager Delegation Relationship, Executive Limitations, Ends policies.
- It assigns authority: BOD responsibility (vision and governing) vs. General Manager responsibility (operations.)
- It monitors the system through a series of General Manager reports to the Board.
- It creates the Ends Policies, which are comparable to goals or visions.
The Ends are statements that reflect the broader vision of the Co-op and how it influences or impacts our community. It is similar to setting goals for the Co-op but are more strategic, long-term goals that envision the future potential for the Co-op and its role in our community. The Ends Policies were approved by the BOD in March of 2009 and are as follows:
- Economy: Because of Oryana, our community has a vibrant cooperative business that stimulates cooperative activity.
- Localism: Because of Oryana, our community has an accessible and healthy marketplace for goods produced locally that have a positive environmental and social impact.
- Wellness: Because of Oryana, our community has direct access to solutions that contribute to health and wellness.
- Education: Because of Oryana our community has opportunities to learn about the interconnectivity between healthful foods, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility.
- Community: Because of Oryana, ecologically regenerative and socially just community development efforts are nourished and supported.
- Model Workplace: Because of Oryana, our community has a model workplace which demonstrates a professional culture of mutual support and open communications, which is based on the balance of personal and organizational needs.
The BOD meets on the second Thursday of every month at 5:30 pm. Check out the Co-op Board for the date, place and time of meetings as well as a posted agenda and minutes from the last meeting. Board meetings are open to all.
