The MNFC Board of Directors

The Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op is governed by an eleven-member Board of Directors that is elected by its member-owners. The Board is directly accountable to member-owners for all of the activities and accomplishments of the Co-op, including the store. However, the Board does not “micro-manage” the Co-op or its General Manager, but sets policies by which the Co-op (and the Board) are run.

This system of governing is called Policy Governance. In effect, it is a system whereby the Board creates policies that allow the General Manager and Staff the greatest possible operational freedom while still guiding the fundamental direction of the Co-op. The General Manager is directly accountable to the Board for all of these policies, which are monitored year round according to a schedule.

A concise description of Policy Governance, as it appears on the CDS Consulting Co-op website, reads as follows:

Policy Governance® is a model of board leadership that allows boards to be effective. Policy Governance gives boards the capacity and role clarity to truly be trustees for the member-owners.

Policy Governance addresses the fundamental challenges of governing boards:

How can representatives of member-owners responsibly exercise control over activities they will never completely see, toward goals they cannot fully measure, through jobs and skills they themselves will not master?

How can boards remain accountable, without needlessly constraining the creativity and responsibility of management?

How can boards lead when Board members disagree, when time is limited, and current issues demand attention?

Policy Governance provides benefits including:

Clarity of Group Values. The authority of the board is not as individuals but as a group. Policies are the explicitly stated “voice” of the board as a whole.

Clarity of Board & Management Roles. A board adds unique value to the cooperative. Governing by policy clarifies the board’s job and focuses the board on leadership. Clear guidance through policies effectively uses the expertise of the manager and the board.

Leverage and Efficiency. By handling the most fundamental issues through agreed upon policies, the board can affect many decisions with less effort. Boards that use time well are more effective.

 

The MNFC Board is responsible for:

• Developing, monitoring, and revising policies that guide the store to achieve outcomes that are consistent with the members’ values and vision.
• Ensuring (through consistent monitoring) that management achieves goals set by the Board and that the Board operates according to its established processes.
• Acting as a representative for all of the Co-op’s member-owners.

Board members hold their positions for three-year terms, and elections are held every Spring. If you are interested in becoming a Board member, please contact the Board at board@middlebury.coop or call the office at 802-388-7276.

 

We encourage members to be active in their participation.

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