About the Board of Directors

The Board has three primary duties.

To ensure sound management of the co-op
To act as trustees on behalf of the membership
To set long-range goals and plan for the future

To fulfill these responsibilities, the Board of Directors focuses on four key areas:

Hiring and evaluating the General Manager
Financial oversight
Long-range strategic planning
Recruitment of replacement board member

What does the board do?

The French Broad Food Co-op Board of Directors is the body elected to represent the ownership, and hold ultimate legal responsibility for the operations and actions of the co-op. The board ensures sound management of the co-op, acts as trustees on behalf of the membership, and sets long-range goals and plans for the future.

What does the board NOT do?

The board does not make operating decisions for the store, choose products, nor do they supervise staff other than the general manager.

When and where are the board meetings?

Owners are invited to join us at our monthly board meetings, which are held upstairs at the co-op in our meeting space from 5:30-8:00pm on the third Thursday of every month. During the meetings, a period of 10 minutes is set aside for owners to speak directly to the Board. Please note that board members do not generally respond to the owner comment period, although the feedback is certainly taken into consideration.

How long is one term?

One board term is three years. Board members can serve two consecutive terms and must wait two years if they wish to run again.

What is the monthly time commitment for a board member?

The total monthly time commitment varies throughout the year depending upon committee assignments and intensity of board work. Generally, board members can anticipate putting in between 3-12 hours a month. Board members are expected to attend the annual meeting for owners and be present for at least nine monthly meetings per year, per term. They are also expected to spend 1-2 weekend days a year at the annual board retreat.

What are the committees of the board?

Currently, the active committees are the Bylaws Committee and the Elections/Nominations Committee. Committees can be made up of owners-at-large, board members, and staff members. Each committee develops and recommends plans and policies that are passed to the board for approval.

How do the board and committees make decisions?

Guided by the French Broad Food Co-op bylaws and policies, applicable North Carolina Law, and consensus decision making practices, the members work together to build consensus.

Will there be training for the newly elected board members?

Yes! All newly elected board members will receive training on consensus decision making, finance, organizational overview, and more.

Who is eligible to run for the board?

Board seats are open to all current owners of the co-op who have accurate contact information on file and agree to meeting the board requirements (below).

Qualifications

You are 21 years of age or older.
You are an owner in good standing, meaning ownership payments are up-to-date, to serve on the Board of Directors. Applicants who are not owners will not be turned away. If you are not a current owner but are interested in running, joining the coop is easy and is a requirement.
You have attended one or more French Broad Food Cooperative Board meetings.
You have reviewed the Policy Governance Materials
You can fulfill requirements below

Requirements

Attend at least nine monthly board meetings per year (third Thursday of each month, 5:30-7:30 pm), board retreats (1-2 weekend days per year), the annual meeting for owners, as well as occasional co-op events and special meetings scheduled on short notice as needed (these are rare). Some of these meeting dates may vary/change depending on availability/conflicts.
Have frequent, reliable access to phone and email to read and respond to emails between meetings.
Read and study co-op bylaws, policies, articles of incorporation, industry articles, information on the board’s governance model, and other co-op related material.
Serve on, and possibly chair, a board committee.
Be committed to the best interests of the Co-op
Not have any overriding conflicts of interest with the Co-op
No two or more related persons living in the same household may be directors at the same time. This includes related individuals meaning, spouse, child, grandchild, sibling or parent sharing the household.
Commit to a term of three years.
Work cooperatively with other board members to monitor, evaluate, and consult with the general manager within the decision-making process of the board.
Uphold the duty of loyalty by disclosing potential conflicts of interest, not compete with the cooperative, and honor confidentiality.

After being elected, new Board Directors are required to attend a Board Orientation. They are required to complete Columinate’s CBLD 101 and Finance training as well as equity and inclusion trainings, paid for by French Broad Food Co-op. Additional and ongoing trainings and educational opportunities will be provided.

How do you run for the board?

Meet one or more of the qualifications and be able to fulfill requirements.

Attend one or more meetings to observe the process and meet the current board.

Apply online via the form provided with a photo attached. (Application is made available ONLY during election cycle)

Elections are held following the Annual Meeting of Owners.

What happens after you apply?

The board and staff will prepare the materials for the elections. Candidates will be notified within a week of elections closing and voting results will be posted in-store and online. The Board will review all applications to confirm that candidates meet the required qualifications. Applicants who do not meet the qualifications will be notified.

Will there be an opportunity to communicate with the ownership?

Yes! Each board applicant is invited to make a short statement to owners at the Annual Meeting (video is available if you cannot be there in person). Answers to the questions in the application will be publicly available to the ownership.

Are board members compensated?

Board members receive a 20% discount on store purchases and a bulk case discount at cost.

Why should you consider becoming a board member?

Governing an organization effectively is a serious commitment, but if you care about the direction of the Co-op and want to get more involved, then becoming a board member may be for you!

Board members are expected to prepare for and actively participate in monthly board meetings, full-day cooperative board leadership training, and 1-2 half or full-day retreats (length and frequency depends on availability). The board is a team, sharing responsibilities to make board work a manageable part of a board member’s life. The monthly time commitment ranges from 3-12 hours. The board term is three years. Board members may not be elected to more than two consecutive terms.

In return, board members:

Receive training in governance and cooperatives.
Build skills in group-dynamics and group processes.
Enjoy dinner from FBFC at each board meeting and receive a 20% discount on FBFC purchases throughout board service.
All expenses of training and retreats, including food is covered.
Have the opportunity to ensure the success of their community-owned cooperative in a highly-competitive market.
Create and nourish a healthier environment, healthier people, and a healthier community