Democracy at Our Co-op

Food co-ops value open-door democracy. For us, it’s a matter of fundamental principles: First, membership is open to all. Second, democratic member-control is the way we govern.

The promise of democratic control is a big deal in a grocery store. Many of us joined Three Rivers Market because we wanted an effective voice in the quality and sources of the food we buy, in the treatment of the employees who serve us, and in the store’s plans for the future – even if it costs a little more. You can’t get that kind of influence as a customer at Kroger!

The main way democracy is practiced at Three Rivers Market is through a representative Board of Directors democratically elected by the membership. There are nine of us, and I’m in the second year of my first term. The General … Read More »

How do we envision the Three Rivers Market, Knoxville’s Community Food Co-op? For some it is their local grocery. For some it is a place they trust to provide the best local produce, their wellness center and favorite lunch spot. For others it is a community hub that provides an outlet for connection and purpose beyond the store walls. Whatever that vision is, we joined because it added some sense of value to us. I began shopping at Three Rivers Market when I was in college in the 90’s in the old house on Broadway and it has always held a special place in my heart as a place I could trust, a place with purpose, and a place that, I felt, could offer a more holistic model for business and community. Now, many years later, I am one of the newest Board Directors and this past week began … Read More »

CALL TO RUN!

This is the time of year when we start calling on our active members to run for seats on the co-op’s Board of Directors.

You are ELIGIBLE to run for one of the three seats opening this year IF:
1. you have been a member of the co-op for a year or more,
2. you are not an employee or supplier of the co-op and have no other financial conflict of interest,
3. you attend a Board meeting in July, August, or September, AND
4. you submit a completed application by 7:00 PM on October 1.

You SHOULD run for the Board if
1. you value our cooperative structure and want to make sure our members are well-represented,
2. you want to learn more about the actual operation of the co-op,
3. you want to have a say about the governing policies of the co-op, AND
4. you … Read More »

Ask not what your co-op can do for you; ask what you can do for your co-op. Okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but when you make the decision to become a member of Three Rivers Market, you can contribute to its wellness in various ways. As a member of Three Rivers Market you are currently granted a number of benefits such as saving 10% on a shopping trip each month and placing quick orders for cases quantities that you also save 10% on, and more. In profitable years, you have the opportunity to share in the cooperative’s net profit in the form of a patronage dividend.

What you may not realize is that as a member you also have certain governance rights. These include voting for Directors of the Board. As a member of Three Rivers Market, it’s a given … Read More »

COOPERATIVES IN ACTION

Last October, we joined cooperatives nationwide to celebrate National Co-op Month, an opportunity to raise awareness of a trusted and proven way to do business and build community. As a member of Three Rivers Market, you know the value of our cooperative and its impact on our community and we thank you for your commitment.

The theme for the year is “Build Back for Impact,” which we find very timely given the past two years of uncertainty and loss. As a Board, we have an opportunity to help you “build back” through our annual patronage dividend to members.  For the second year in a row, we voted to allocate 80 percent of the patronage dividend as a refund, which will be returned to you, our members, in the form of a store credit. The remaining 20 percent of the … Read More »