Doug Addison

Place of employment: Self-employed

Position/Title: web producer

Education: Master's degree, journalism - Northwestern University

How many years have you lived in Austin? 16

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? 11

Link to video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors at Wheatsville Co-op?

As an incumbent Board member, I am eager to continue my service to Wheatsville Food Co-op for another term. My two years of Board service have provided me with a gratifying and inspiring experience, both from a personal perspective and as member of the Austin community. I have been proud to share my talents as a Board member, while also collaborating with and learning from my excellent Board colleagues and many of the Co-op's top-notch staff members. The next few years are going to be an exciting time to be a Wheatsville owner, and I want to help lead the Co-op to the next level as a Board member. I also appreciate the long view: Over the next 10, 20, 30 years, Wheatsville has the power to transform Austin with more and better jobs; healthy, sustainable food; and improved community well-being through cooperative economics, principles and values. I'm excited to play a part in making that happen.

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in you day-to-day life?

I'm most passionate about doing the right thing, leading by example, learning new things by challenging myself, and having fun while doing it. Shopping at Wheatsville and joining the Board are two ways I've acted on my passions. One thing I've come to realize since joining the Board is how much Wheatsville's operations, its mission and even the foundational principles and values of the cooperative movement align with my own outlook. Wheatsville reflects my own ideals for Austin by promoting concepts like providing information and educating customers; avoiding manipulation and exploitation of workers, customers and suppliers; and encouraging self-help through economic participation. Being on the Board enables me to represent and act on the ideals that matter to me. I also value the effort the staff puts in to making Wheatsville a fun place. From the friendly greeting at the door to the "Nom nom nom" banner above the deli to the "miles from Wheatsville" tag beneath the Tom's Tabooley hummus (which reads "Tom's Tabooley is located across the street from Wheatsville."), the store is full of things that make me smile and appreciate how much Wheatsville's staff tries to make the world a better and more fun place every day.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

My tenure on the Wheatsville board has been one of the most meaningful and engaging "teamwork" experiences in my life to date. My service has afforded me the opportunity to exercise critical thinking skills and confront intellectual challenges all while acting on behalf of a business that means a lot to me, my friends and neighbors, and all of Austin. The Board's work is a group effort, and one in which each member brings skills that build up and reinforce those of his or her colleagues. I think my colleagues have benefited from my attention to details, my communication skills, my ability to listen carefully and add my input where I thought it would move our work forward. Compromise is also a key aspect of how the work of the Board gets done. Through our own internal policies, the nine members of the Board are committed to speaking with one voice on issues and decisions that affect the running of the Co-op.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her produce for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

I could privately pass on what I heard to the GM, but doing so would compromise both my personal integrity and my duty to the Co-op and my fellow Board members. I could keep it to myself, but even in the face of implied bribery, I have to remember that Board members represent all owners. Ultimately, I would remind my friend that Board members have no authority over product selection or day-to-day operations. We are bound by the Co-op's governing documents to avoid self-dealing, conflicts of interest, or acting individually on behalf of the whole Board. Wheatsville's Board keeps it focus on high-level issues and the long-term success of the Co-op, rather than meddling in staff decisions or trading favors for insiders. One thing that sets cooperatives apart from many other businesses are the standards of fairness and openness by which they operate. So I would encourage my friend to make her concerns known by one or more of the following actions: Contact the general manager, describe the situation to the Board and general manager during open time at a Board meeting, or initiate a petition process described in the Co-op's by-laws by which an issue may be brought before owners for a vote.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us? Do you have other experiences that you see as being related to the work of the Board?

As a sole proprietor of a small service-oriented business in Austin, I have developed skills and talents that are complementary to the work of the Wheatsville board of directors. My job requires careful listening to clients' needs, acting on those needs while carefully managing expectations, and making informed choices in the face of limited time, money and resources. I believe these skills will continue to serve me well in another term on the board.

Short Bio

Doug Addison is an independent web designer and developer who has been building websites since 1996. Doug's business focuses on assisting businesses and organizations with how their websites are organized, what they do, and what they say. Doug's clients rely on his 10+ years of experience in web design - combined with strong editorial sensibilities and broad technical capabilities - to help them make the most of their online endeavors with feature-rich websites that are easy to deploy and maintain. Doug's background includes newspaper reporting and magazine writing and editing in the business and science fields. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Doug has written two books about web design: Web Site Cookbook (O'Reilly, 2006) and Small Websites, Great Results (Paraglyph, 2004). Doug moved to Austin in 1995 and has been a Wheatsville shopper and owner for several years. He lives in central Austin with his wife and two daughters.

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Reyna Bishop

Place of employment: home

Position/Title: Mom

Education: Masters Nutrition

How many years have you lived in Austin? 8

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? 6

Link to video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Wheatsville?

I was elected to a one year term as a Director on the Wheatsville Board starting in January 2011. When I decided to run for the board last year, I only knew that I loved Wheatsville and wanted to contribute to it's ongoing success. That remains true, but the past year has helped me to see the benefits of cooperatives in a larger context. I am learning to see coop as a viable model of sustainable and socially responsible enterprise. Studying the ins and outs of Policy Governance, increasing my understanding of the importance of Cooperative Economy , and being able to take part in the conversation about Wheatsville's "Big Direction" has been incredibly rewarding and has fueled my enthusiasm for the work of the Board. I have just gotten started and hope to have the opportunity to serve another term.

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?

I am passionate about food and issues around food safety and availability. I have a Master's degree in Nutrition and went through macrobiotic and natural foods culinary training at the Natural Epicurean. I previously owned a vegetarian food delivery business and was involved with the Austin Farmer's Market. Most recently, I have worked as a personal chef and I write a food blog dedicated to healthy eating for kids. Being pregnant last year served to heighten my awareness about issues like mercury in fish, pesticides in produce, hormone and antibiotics in meat, and controversy surrounding GMO labeling. I am fortunate enough to have the resources to choose healthy and sustainable foods for my family and it is my wish to see these choices afforded to all sectors of society. I am encouraged by the strength the local/sustainable food movement has gained in recent years and hope this movement will gain enough momentum to effect real change in both agriculture and politics. I see my involvement with Wheatsville Coop as a way to help effect this change.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

My family is the team I find myself most concentrated on these days. Shortly after joining the Wheatsville board, I gave birth to a baby girl. My husband and I agreed that I would stop working for a few years to care for the baby and our toddler. This decision to quit work, itself both a gift and a compromise, has also necessitated tough financial decisions and has required increased communication about our respective roles and responsibilities within the family unit. My husband and I find ourselves having an ongoing dialogue about religion, holidays, and what we want our family traditions to be and these conversations often result in compromise. Like most parents, we are acutely aware that we are the stewards of little people who will lead the next generation and it is our job to instill in them the values and ethics that will help them to become caring and productive adults. Everyday offers small opportunities to teach our kids kindness, empathy, justice, and yes... compromise.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her product for a year if you will help her. Briefly describe two or three possibly ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

Scenario 1: I would tell the close friend that the Board of Directors of Wheatsville does not interfere in the daily management or activities of the store, but rather that it is the Board's role to provide high level oversight to ensure that general policies and objectives set out by the Board are being adhered to. I would suggest that the unethical business practices be reported to the Better Business Bureau and that any buying agreements she hoped to offer be discussed directly with the department or store manager.

Scenario 2: As in scenario 1, I would explain the role of the Board to my friend so that she clearly understands the limitations and boundaries of the role. I would do my best to be sympathetic to her concerns, but also ask that she understand that her making these requests presented a conflict of interest for me. In order to avoid any bias on my part, I would ask that she present her concerns to the General Manager of Wheatsville. If the General Managed judged the issue to be an item appropriate to be discussed with the Board, I would share my bias with the other Board Members and excuse myself from any vote (if applicable) or input.

Ultimately, I would act out scenario 2. If the friend's concerns are legitimate and the alleged unethical practices are relevant, it allows an appropriate decision to be made without my bias.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us? Do you have other experiences that you see as being related to the work of the Board?

I have a background in Project Management. This kind of work requires an ability to balance global oversight with daily attention to detail in order to ensure that the project and staff are on track. I have experience conducting budget review working with team members from various business and educational backgrounds. The role of the board is strategic and visionary, but part of ensuring that the Board's vision is being realized is to provide clear policies and to monitor compliance of these policies. I think my experience as a Project Manager has helped me to function in both of these ways.

Short Bio

I have lived in Austin for 8 years and have been a member of Wheatsville for 6 of those years. I was elected to serve a one year term on the Wheatsville Board of Directors in January 2011. Education and work experience include a Master's Degree in Nutrition, work as a Project Manager for clinical research, graduate of the Natural Epicurean, owning a vegetarian food and delivery business, and work as a personal chef. I am passionate about food issues, my community, my family, and Wheatsville Coop. I am excited about Wheatsville's "Big Direction" and about its role in the Cooperative movement. I hope to have the opportunity to contribute through serving another term on the Board of Directors.

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Ellison Carter

Place of employment: The University of Texas at Austin

Position/Title: Ph.D. candidate (environmental engineering)

Education: MS Civil Engineering (UT-Austin), BS Biology, BA Spanish (Indiana University)

How many years have you lived in Austin? 5

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? 5

Link to video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Wheatsville Co-op?

I would like to serve on the Wheatsville Board of Directors because I believe strongly that profit is only one priority among others of equal or greater value that include fair treatment of the people involved in providing a product or service and responsible use of environmental resources. I would really like the opportunity to work with the great team of people that make up the current Board to uphold our cooperative's mission and ensure our lasting success as an organization

I had the opportunity to witness the transformative effect a cooperative can have on a local community when I was working in Costa Rica and took part in a local coffee cooperative. The long-standing coffee cooperative model had been so embraced by the community that in the 1990s the women of the community decided to start their own craft-based cooperative. Though dramatic changes did not happen overnight, the increase in interaction among women in the community as a result of their involvement in the cooperative eventually lead to a drastic reduction in domestic abuse. I want to be a director to help Wheatsville have similarly meaningful impacts on the Austin community.

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?

I am interested in people over profits and creation over consumption. I am passionate about creating a healthy environment, whether that means protecting human and environmental health from pollution or fostering good relationships between family and friends.

I buy a box of produce every week from a local farmer because I believe local, small-scale agriculture is healthier for the environment. I choose not to drive a car because I think it is healthier for me to bike. My husband and I live in a house with friends because we think it is healthy for people to share space and things and rely on each other. We do not use heat in the winter or air-conditioning in the summer because it is unnecessary, and we would rather spend our money on something that lasts (or delicious food!). Professionally, I am pursuing a career in environmental engineering in which I can hopefully reduce the disproportionate impact of environmental pollution on people who don't have a voice in our society. Our current economic model allows the rich to dump their harmful by-products (and sometimes products) on the poor, and I want to be an advocate to make society more aware of this immorality.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

This year I volunteered for two weeks with an organization, Water for People, working with a team in several communities in Bolivia surveying local water and sanitation conditions and needs. My environmental engineering background and Spanish-speaking skills were a good fit for the type of work we would be doing. Within the span of one week, we needed to conduct over 800 household interviews, which included personal questions about the family member's bathroom habits. On top of being a complete stranger asking these intrusive questions, we were required to enter the responses into an electronic device during the interview. Too clinical for me, I was so opposed to the approach that I initially refused to use the technology. My refusal to do so, though, was slowing our team down. I consulted several of my teammates to learn how they were managing the technology and putting their advice into practice, I was able to provide the real-time information Water for People desired while still connecting with and being respectful of the people I interviewed. I was also able to provide Water for People with feedback they sought to improve the technology and integrate it inconspicuously into the interview process.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her product for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

Allegations of unethical business practices should be taken seriously by the Board. In this case, I could ask my close friend to provide me with information in support of their allegation of unethical business practices by their competitors and bring this information before the Board to be investigated as the Board sees fit. Alternatively, I could invite this friend and local food producer making the allegations to attend a Board meeting and present their allegations themselves. In light of the bribe of deep discounts offered by this friend, which casts doubt on the veracity of their allegations, I would choose to invite them to present their allegations in person to the Board. If this friend and local food producer were truly compelled to ensure that Wheatsville only work with ethically upstanding businesses, the friend would be motivated to help the Board investigate the unethical practices. If their allegation were weak or even false, motivated more by a desire to further their own business, they would have the chance to reconsider making the allegation.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us? Do you have other experiences that you see as being related to the work of the Board?

 I am inspired to do way more than time or my talents allow. This year, for instance, with the help of my mother, I started working on my first quilt. My close friend (and housemate) and I plan to build a chicken coop this winter and have the best intentions to fill it with chicks by the spring. I brewed my first batch of beer with the help of some friends, and my second batch is in the works. If I have the courage for it, I would love to learn to keep bees starting next year.

In keeping with my passion to help people live in healthy environments, I have worked in support of several UT graduate students to start a non-profit organization, Bridging Waters. For the past year, I have served as secretary, and I am learning a lot through the process of seeking our non-profit status and defining our role within the water and sanitation and development field. I am anxious to learn more about guiding an organization through challenging decisions that shape its future, and this desire to learn more has been additional motivation for me to seek a position as a Wheatsville director

Short Bio

I am currently an environmental engineering Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin motivated to ensure the protection of human and environmental health. I am from Indiana, and after graduating from Indiana University, I spent a year working in Costa Rica, where I was able to take part in the local coffee cooperative and women's craft cooperative. This opportunity gave me a chance to witness the positive impacts a cooperative could have on the local community. Before coming to Texas, I also worked as an interpreter for migrant farmworkers. In this role, I learned about the wide range of working and living conditions these farmworkers experience as they move across the United States in their line of work, strengthening my conviction that there is still much work to be done to establish fair and just farm labor practices. I am currently working to apply my research in the area of air pollution treatment to improve the air quality in farm worker housing here in central Texas.

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Monika Cavazos

Place of employment: The Tissue Center of Central Texas

Position/Title: Manager- Customer Service & Account Management

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Health & Wellness Promotion & Women's Studies

How many years have you lived in Austin? 7-8 Years

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? Between 5-8 years

Link to video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Wheatsville Co-op?

I strongly believe in the 7 principles by which cooperatives put their values into practice. I feel that it would be a wonderful experience to be able to participate in the actions and processes that make Wheatsville such an integral part of Austin's sustainable development. I feel that it's important to continue to keep the mindset of being motivated not necessarily by profit, but by service, in order to meet members' needs affordably while still being able to offer high quality goods and services that are produced and cultivated responsibly.

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?

I'm fueled by social consciousness and being able to create awareness and social change through direct humanitarian action, empowerment and education. Gandhi encouraged us to "be the change we want to see in this world", and so I am motivated to do so in my life through my actions. I'm devoted to the idea and practice of volunteerism because of the economic savings to organizations that can be established by this type of supplemental workforce as well as being a means to tie a community together for a good cause. Community volunteers enrich and add value to an organization's standing within the community and reflect the goodwill of an organization's efforts to illustrate their investment in the community's growth and progress in both a cost effective and mutually beneficial way. Through my work as a donation advocate, I work continuously to change people's negative attitudes about the donation process and challenge them to focus on the amazing impact that donation and transplantation can have on individuals and their families. I believe in and strongly encourage others to be the stewards of their communities and commit to creating change that will make the most positive local and global impact.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

Donation events occur at all hours, especially at night. The stress of answering multiple calls in between talking with families, desperately needing sleep before the office day starts, and trying to complete donor consent and recovery paperwork can really put your team cohesion skills to the test. My role in donation events is typically completed once donor information and consent paperwork is handed off to a surgical team so that they can prepare for recovery. If a team is ineffectively able to meet time limits for tissue recovery, donation cannot occur. During several events where a team was pressed for time and staff, to keep the case moving, I've stepped in to meet up with funeral home or hospital agents at our recovery site to receive, identify, and perform an initial physical assessment on the donor. These actions, which are imperative to the recovery process, have allowed the team to continue packing supplies, travel cases and readying their staff. The compromise and benefit is to keep the donation process moving, save the team time and achieve our desired outcome which is making the donation happen for families who want so much for their loved ones to become legacies through donation.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her product for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

In offering to sell their product at a lower cost; this kind of business practice is not conducive to the co-op belief system which strives to provide goods and services that are mutually beneficial to all. I'd inform my friend that this request is a direct breach of my duty to act in good faith for the benefit of the organization and our collective.

I've been elected by owners of the co-op itself. I'm expected to be accountable to them and act in a manner that serves all of our best interests. By colluding in arrangements that involve the slander of competitors and a commitment to what in itself is an unethical business practice, this isn't in the best interest of owners nor does it reflect positively on the image that we're trying to reflect on our end users, our shared service providers and the community overall.

Ultimately, I'd state that my role on the board is one in which I serve in the capacity of strategic planning, financial oversight, ownership linkage, and community outreach. Although our goal is to position ourselves to provide the maximum benefit to our owners, this should not be accomplished through self-seeking and biased actions.

Short Bio

I'm manager of accounts, customer service and hospital development at the Tissue Center of Central Texas here in Austin. I work with hospitals and donation agencies to aid in developing resources that support organ, tissue and eye donation and help in facilitating successful tissue recoveries. I maintain our metrics and relationships with our shared service partners. I also provide customer service follow up to our partners and provide education within our community about laws regarding donation, end of life decisions and the many benefits of donation and donor designation.

I love volunteering my time to provide support for organizations that I feel are impactful and reciprocally beneficial to local residents and their families. Most of my free time is spent involved in activities that help to assist organizations including the Capital Area Food Bank as a general volunteer and Community Ambassador, defending reproductive rights alongside Planned Parenthood of the Central Texas Region and collaborating with the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance trying to get the message about donor designation out into the community. People have the power to make positive changes happen in their lives. I'm a strong believer in learned optimism to achieve success over learned helplessness.

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Christopher de Mers

Place of employment: Self

Position/Title: Teacher & therapist

Education: MBA, BS, SPHR

How many years have you lived in Austin? 20

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? 1

No video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Wheatsville Co-op?

First and foremost, I love the Wheatsville experience. I actually look forward to going there! More importantly I think I am an open-minded intelligent person, and have been involved in civic and church leadership positions in the past, as well as having over 20 years of business experience including managing contracts and vendors. Compromise and collectivism is part of my nature. A board is the sum of its parts - not individuals; I think I could add to that sum.

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?

Passionate about living a life I'm happy with. Making choices about friends, family, my partner, my vocation and experience that let me live a life that contributes to my neighborhood as it nourishes my soul. I love art and creativity as much as freedom of choice. It makes me happy to see people express themselves.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

In grad school I worked on a team analyzing and presenting a difficult financial case to our class and professor. Our team of busy professionals including people from engineering, sales and management backgrounds worked mostly on-line with little face time. My offering was to be the "closer" - to summarize the case and make recommendations to the class; I did this very well according to our teacher. In terms of compromise, I lobbied for more face time and discussion time but recognizing family and work constraints I moved to the mode that the team felt better with and adopted a practice I might not have otherwise.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her product for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

Have had this experience before in 20 years of management for companies buying services; the only way to act authentically is to do what you say you will do - provide the same opportunity for everyone and ignore these "special" deals. I would also tell my friend to stop abusing our friendship with these unethical requests.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us? Do you have other experiences that you see as being related to the work of the Board?

I have had leadership positions in civic groups (former VISTA volunteer) as well as in my church (finance chair, board president) and in my discipline (1998 President, Austin Human Resource Association). I feel this, in addition to my professional experience, has prepared me to be a good team member - to act in the interests of the Co-op always. That's a higher calling, and it is powerful to me.

Short Bio

Hello there, my name is Christopher. I've lived in Austin since 1991, and have shopped at Wheatsville almost that long! By trade I'm a teacher and a bodyworker; I love helping people. Personally I enjoy the arts and many sports, and love being outside even in Austin's warm weather!

I live and simple and joyful life with my wonderful partner, and our dog and cats. My children are all grown now, and I enjoy seeing them do what they want with their life knowing they are loved by their family and friends. Growth is important.

Have obtained an MBA and a BS from St. Ed's, as well as becoming lifetime certified as a senior professional in HR. I've had significant experience in technology and consumer product companies, and for the last five years have been self-employed, and happy for the most part!

My interest in the board is simply to extend what I can to do more for Wheatsville; to me it is more than a store, it is a place that embodies every day what our lives can be like when we live to help each other in a manner of mutual support and respect. In short, Wheatsville replenishes me, and I'd like to give back.

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Christina Fenton

Place of employment: University of Texas at Austin

Position/Title: Program Administrator

Education: BA-Political Science

How many years have you lived in Austin? 5

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? 3

Link to video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Wheatsville Co-op?

I believe in Wheatsville's mission, I believe that we as consumers vote with our dollars and that a vibrant, healthy coop is good for our community. I believe in supporting businesses that support the community, that are good employers and stewards of our resources. I am convinced that the coop business model offers a vibrant and viable alternative to corporations and would like to contribute to the long-term health and well being of our coop and to learn more about the cooperative economy in Austin. I have the time and energy to give back to Wheatsville as a Board member and I believe the Board would put my talents to good use. I believe that my program management experience in particular will help me contribute to Wheatsville's work in serving the community and accomplishing its mission.

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?

I'm passionate about food and people. That certainly makes Wheatsville a great fit for me. I've been a member of a CSA here in Austin for almost five years and think supporting local farmers and eating locally and seasonally is one of the greatest ways to feel connected to your food. It's especially easy to eat seasonally in Austin where we can grow produce all year! This year we started keeping backyard chickens, eating fresh eggs and raising chickens has been such an eye opening experience for me. As a culture, we are so disconnected from our food sources and I love that Wheatsville works to educate its members on where our food comes from. To me, food is much more than fuel-it's a cultural experience, a creative outlet, a community building activity and something to take pride in. I strive to be engaged in my community as much as possible and try to make the best food choices possible. I think eating sustainably and making educated food choices is our responsibility as citizens.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

I am an effective team member because I am good at being a "bridge" connecting people with divergent perspectives, skill sets, and goals. I work at UT Austin where I coordinate two continuing education programs for adults. Most of the members of my programs are retired or semi-retired. The programs are volunteer-driven and I spend a large portion of my day working with these volunteer members. Within the last two years we have designed a database/web management system in conjunction with the IT team at UT. The IT team is obviously very technical while our office and our members aren't, though we are the main users. I often help the team communicate, expressing the needs of the users and then expressing the capabilities of the web team. I have had to compromise a lot on this project, reprioritizing our needs based on the amount of time the IT team has to spend with us.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her product for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

This is a tricky situation and there are a few ways that this could be handled. Obviously, I have a personal connection to the business owner, which keeps me from being impartial. Also, the Board of Wheatsville does not deal in the daily operations of the store, that is the General Manager's duty.

First scenario:
I could bring this issue to the Board, relying on their expertise to navigate the situation. This puts me in a difficult situation considering my personal relationship with the business owner and the fact that the Board does not make operational decisions.

Second scenario:
Suggest the friend bring her grievance up to the Board. Board meetings are open to the owners and she could attend a meeting and share her story.

Third scenario:
I could send the friend to the General Manager with her story. The General Manager handles the operations of the store and makes all decisions about products. The decision to investigate the allegations or to carry another product would be his to make. Ultimately, I would choose the third scenario, explain the role of the Board and ask my friend to bring her issue up to the General Manager.

Short Bio & Resume

My passion is food and the local food economy. I will work hard as a board member to maintain the integrity of Wheatsville's mission as it grows and expands. I have a diverse professional background in program management, committee work, and daily program operations. In my job, I work on the day-to-day operations involved in running a program such as putting on events, customer service, and technological logistics, all while keeping long-term program sustainability in mind. I have experience setting a program budget, and reporting on that budget throughout the year and I find joy in working on a team to achieve a common goal. I believe that all Wheatsville owners share my desire to have a coop which is focused on preserving and expanding the local food economy and which is financially successful in the long term. I have the professional skills and the passion help the coop achieve these goals by serving as a Board member.

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Jason Heffron

Place of employment: Juice Homes, LLC

Position/Title: Owner/REALTOR

Education: Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and Master of Business Administration

How many years have you lived in Austin? 10

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? 1st became a member in 2001; became a fully vested member in 2011

Link to video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Wheatsville Co-op?

I am interested in how communities develop into thriving, mutually supportive groups and what we can do as individuals to nurture these groups so that they benefit their members and the larger community in which they are housed. By its very nature, the grocery store sits at the middle of so many communities. Because Wheatsville is not profit-centered, it can spend more time grappling with the questions revolving around its role as community builder. I want to be a part of that discussion, particularly as Wheatsville looks to strike out into new communities.

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?

Joy. Happiness. I worked in the not-for-profit world for 7 years and have worked helping people buy or sell homes for the last 8 years. Despite the very different chores of these two fields, my avocation has not changed . . . "how can I affect the environment of the people I am serving so that they can more easily discover richness and joy in their lives." It is the litmus test I use in the decisions I make as a parent . . .will the choices I make contribute to the long-term happiness of my child or endanger it. I see community development the same way - the end goal is happiness among the community's individual members. It is not about short-term pleasure. It is about creating an environment that bolsters the individual's chances for developing their own deeply rooted joy.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

I started Juice Homes (my real estate company) by myself in 2006. For the first several years everything that was the company was a reflection of me. I had detailed plans of what the company could be as it grew, but ultimately I wanted it to be more than my vision alone. So a number of years ago I brought other agents into the partnership and gave them equal voice in building the company. The success that Juice Homes has achieved to this point is because of a collective vision that has exceeded where I would have been alone.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her product for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

I would explain to her that Wheatsville is member-owned organization and that boycott decisions can not be made without the input of the members.

I would explain that there are procedures in place for recommending a boycott and point her in the direction of those procedures.

Short Bio & Resume

Please provide a 200 word "conference bio" summarizing you and your relevant experiences. This should be a "snapshot" of you that will help Owners understand your background.

I own a boutique residential real estate company here in Austin that helps people buy and sell homes in central Austin. I graduated from the University of Texas - Austin with an MBA in 2003. My undergraduate degree is in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in DC. Before going back to school I worked for years in a number of different not-for-profit organizations in the international humanitarian aid and youth service learning fields. I'm married with two young kids.

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Sukaynah Joyan has withdrawn her candidacy.

Jim Reed

Place of employment: Self Employed

Position/Title: Electrical Engineer

Education: BS Physics, BS Electrical Engineer

How many years have you lived in Austin? 16

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? 9

No video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Wheatsville Co-op?

I believe in democratizing the world around us, which is not limited to elected public office. A sustainable community needs to be informed and empowered to make decisions that affect their daily lives. At the basic level, a community should have considerable influence over their utility power and water, public transportation, housing opportunities, financial lending, education and work force development, environmental protection, and of course means of food production. We vote every day when and where we purchase food. And when you shop at Wheatsville, you are promoting a local economy with sustainable farming practices where workers and local farmers alike share a living wage. If selected to serve on the Wheatsville Board, I would serve in the capacity of continuing the Wheatsville tradition of creating local and sustainable economic solutions.

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?

I am passionate about being active in community solutions. I started my community involvement with pro-democracy solutions for elected office such as preferential voting systems (IRV), proportional representation, and public financed campaigns from 2000-2002. Then I served on the City of Austin Ethics Review Commission for 8 years, 7 of which as Chair. For the last 3 years I have been serving on the Community Council of the Community Action Network (CAN), also serving as Chair for 2010. At one time I had a talk radio program on KOOP, and I also was a producer for a program on public access TV. Currently I live in Cherrywood Neighborhood Association, where I serve on several committees, including Land, Use and Transportation Committee, Web Committee, and Summer Film Night Series. We create the world around us, and as a society, I subscribe to the notion that we have more unimplemented solutions than problems. I attempt to focus on the gratifying nature of the work without being overly attached to timely outcomes, a lesson anyone would learn in progressive politics.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

I have worked in many volunteer community boards and commissions. I attempt to serve as both information miner and to assist in keeping the discussion on track while ensuring all voices have been heard. I truly believe an informed group will make a better decision through consensus than an individual, so I anticipate my first impression on a topic to evolve with the group's discussion. Listening to others, not holding firmly to one's own disposition, is the best way to compromise.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her product for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

The proposed scenario does not appear to be within the scope of a Board member's responsibilities. Any such communication from a food producer with ethical allegations would be brought to the attention of the General Manager and the Board Chair to be placed on an upcoming Board agenda for discussion if merited. Another approach would be to ask the plaintiff to communicate directly to the General Manager and Board Chair.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us? Do you have other experiences that you see as being related to the work of the Board?

I enjoy forward thinking and stretching existing boundaries of what is currently possible. At the same time, I have a very pragmatic personality. I take my community responsibilities serious, and if elected, I will serve to my full capability. At the same time, after meeting several of the other candidates, Wheatsville is blessed with an array of invested and capable individuals for these positions. Whatever outcome this election has will be a positive outcome.

Short Bio

I am the youngest of four siblings, born and raised in Fort Worth, TX. My family valued athleticism, music and academics, so I grew up involve in all three. My higher education degrees are BS Physics from Southwest Texas and BS Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas. I have lived in Austin most of my adult life with much pride and gratitude for this community. I enjoy traveling and outdoor recreation. Sailing holds a special place in my heart. For the last 12 years, I have been active in the community with varies boards, commissions, and public media. My profession is in the technology field, and for the last 8 years I have run my own company. I am recently married and had a beautiful son, both of which have been the most humbling and empowering experiences of my life.

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Kate Vickery

Place of employment: Texas Land Conservancy

Position/Title: Development & Communications Director

Education: BA-Sociology, Kalamazoo College; MPAff, LBJ School of Public Affairs

(in progress)

How many years have you lived in Austin? 3

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? 3

Link to video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Wheatsville Co-op?

I have been honored to be able to represent our Owners as a board member for the past three years and am excited have the opportunity to continue to do so if elected again. I am deeply passionate about the difference that Wheatsville is making in the Austin economy and the ways that I believe our little co-op - as well as the national movement of which we are a part - is changing the world. In an era when our traditional capitalist system is failing citizens on the most basic levels, I believe that we have a responsibility to make a fundamental shift in the way we think about assets, community, food, and the way we treat each other. I truly believe that co-ops are part of the solution to many of our current social ills. I am anxious to help lead Wheatsville into an era of co-op development, where more Wheatsville's will help our community by providing more excellent jobs, more socially responsible food, and more engaged and happy Austinites. Serving you as a board member has been an incredible privilege and I hope I have the chance to continue this important work!

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?

I am passionate about food and community. There is no sound in the world more joyful than a group of people sitting around my table eating food that my husband and I have cooked with ingredients from the farmer's market. My Italian family heritage ingrained this ritual into my understanding of how to live a full life and it has informed the way I choose to build new communities. In Austin, I have tried to incorporate this passion into not only my social life, but also in the other activities, like volunteering on the Urban Roots farm. I am inspired by the passion I see in the good people who run the farm, in the meaningful community and leadership being built among the youth interns, and the time spent, not around the table, but around the rows of vegetables. I believe that our world is better when people spend more time in each other's company enjoying the fruits of their communal labor.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

I have worked on many teams over the years but the one that has been the absolutely most meaningful has been my Wheatsville team. I have never been a member of a more high-functioning, hard-working, accountable, careful and thoughtful group of people. Our president, Rose Marie reminds us often that a group of smart, well-meaning people don't inherently know how to be an effective board, and has worked diligently to establish a culture of continuous learning, clear expectations, regular evaluation, and just the right amount of fun. While my role in past teams has often been to be the one who volunteers to get a project done, it has been a joy to work with folks who all have that level of accountability and excitement for the work. I believe that I offer this team a unique ability to synthesize complex discussions and to help bridge the gaps between discussion and actionable steps forward. When debating the more heated topics, I've never felt the need to compromise my values because I feel confident that everyone on our team is being thoughtful and well reasoned, which gives me confidence in the decisions we make, regardless of my own personal opinions.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her product for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

There are two primary issues in this scenario: whether the board can or should take action on the issue of "alleged" unethical business practices of a vendor, and the appropriate relationship for an individual board member with a local food producer. The second issue is straightforward and simple. Through a polite conversation with my friend, I would explain that what she is asking is taking advantage of our relationship, is particularly inappropriate because the board does not deal with individual product selection or individual vendors, and, most importantly, that outside of the board room, I have no more authority than any other Wheatsville Owner. While the second issue is more complicated as it deals with our mission, Ends policies, and responsibility to our Owners, the solution would still most likely fall into the wheelhouse of our excellent management team. I would direct my friend to have a conversation with our General Manager about her concerns with the business practices of the other vendor. If Dan felt that the alleged practice was in fact unethical, and not simply sour grapes from a competing vendor, and that the issue warranted further discussion from the board, we would work together to find a solution.

Short Bio

I have been a board member of Wheatsville since 2009 and am so excited about having the opportunity to continue to work for my beloved co-op if elected again. Professionally, I serve as the Development & Communications Director for the Texas Land Conservancy, an environmental non-profit with a mission to protect land in Texas by working with rural landowners. I grew up in Michigan and have a B.A. in Sociology and Environmental Studies from Kalamazoo College and am starting a Master's in Public Affairs from the LBJ School at UT this fall. I am deeply committed to both the environmental and cooperative communities in Austin, volunteering regularly with Urban Roots, a youth-development farm program, and the fledgling Austin Cooperative Think Tank, a new coalition of co-op folks dedicated to expanding the cooperative economy in Austin. You can often find me shopping the aisles of Wheatsville or enjoying a pint at Black Star Co-op!

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John W. Vinson

Place of employment: John W. Vinson, PLLC

Position/Title: Attorney

Education: Law degree (J.D.)

How many years have you lived in Austin? 27

How many years have you been a member of Wheatsville? 5

Link to video statement

(1) Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Wheatsville Co-op?

The quality of Wheatsville's grocery items and related services make it an Austin treasure. Even though Austin has an incredible number of gourmet and specialty grocery stores, Wheatsville stands out as the place I prefer to shop for safe, wholesome food. Wheatsville strives to carry products that I can buy and consume with the knowledge that the farmers, farm workers and store employees responsible for the products have all been treated fairly. This cannot necessarily be said of other Austin grocery stores. I also strongly support the co-op model and believe that many more of our needs should be met through co-ops and that most major corporate institutions throughout all segments of our society should be operated cooperatively. Based on my experience as an attorney and former nonprofit regulator, an organic gardener, and a dedicated Wheatsville shopper, I believe that the Board would benefit from my input. I would also like to participate in the governance of such a treasured cooperative hopefully to ensure that Wheatsville continues to thrive far into the future. When my wife and I are contemplating our next meal or where to find a nice beverage or snack, I often refer to Wheatsville as our "Second Home."

(2) What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?

I am passionate about Wheatsville and the nonprofit, co-op model. I believe that direct involvement of citizens in the institutions that provide their goods and services increases the quality and appropriateness of those goods and services, and leads to greater general cooperation and understanding in society. I am passionate about the local food movement and living as simply and inexpensively as possible (as a matter of resource use) so that maybe one day we can all live comfortably and healthily. I have also been involved in various forms of organic gardening for more than 40 years. I recently joined my neighborhood community gardens trying - despite the weather - to grow various vegetables for myself and my wife, as well as our friends and neighbors. I have also recently joined the yard egg movement: I have 5 hens who lay 3 to 5 beautiful blue or brown eggs every day, which are also shared with friends and neighbors. So, I am passionate about cooperative efforts to promote community goals, striving for self-sufficiency, and activities that help to sustain our environment and our planet. I believe that most Wheatsville members share these passions.

(3) Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team's benefit?

I have been involved as an attorney in the creation and management of several businesses and nonprofit entities. My legal expertise was my main contribution to these endeavors, but I also believe that my understanding of interpersonal relationships and the essential need for respectful treatment of all involved assisted in the success of the entities. I am a pragmatic person and understand and appreciate that other team members will have specialized expertise or unique experiences and perspectives, and so I will appropriately defer to those persons in making a decision on a matter. Compromise is essential in group decision making and open-minded flexibility will usually lead to a good decision or result. Yet there will always be times when important values are at stake or strong opinions are involved, and when compromise is difficult to obtain and tough votes have to be made. At such times an involved, informed and collaborative team or board with members who fully understand their duties and roles is essential. After an issue is fully processed and the team votes, dissenters should graciously accept the result and move on to other matters important to the organization.

(4) You've recently been elected to the Wheatsville Board. A close friend and local food producer privately asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Wheatsville. The business owner says she will deeply discount Wheatsville's orders for her product for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.

There are many possible ways to handle this situation, but only one that I believe is appropriate for these circumstances (assuming that no laws were broken). I would first tell my friend that the request is inappropriate and that I cannot initiate any action with the Board for the purpose of benefiting her. I would further explain that I would also be required to divulge the conversation to the Board - my friend may have also contacted other members, or might do so after contacting me, so it would be in the Board's best interest to know who has been contacted in this matter. I would, however, also bring to the attention of the Board any valid allegations of unethical behavior on the part of my friend's competitor, based on verifiable facts. The Board would then be able to act or not based on the facts, not as a favor to any Board member seeking to assist a friend. In short, my friend would be told that I will not take action simply to provide an unfair advantage for her, but I would convey any allegations of unethical behavior to the Board. If any action were taken against my friend's competitor, I would advise the entire Board to be very cautious of providing my friend any quid pro quo for the information.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us? Do you have other experiences that you see as being related to the work of the Board?

For 14 years I served as an Assistant Texas Attorney General with the Consumer Protection Division, Charitable Trusts Section, charged with protecting the state's charitable and nonprofit entities. Ensuring that funds dedicated for charitable or nonprofit purposes were truly used for such purposes was the goal of my position. Unless fraud was clearly indicated, I would attempt to correct any issues or problems with a particular entity by collaboratively working on solutions with the entity's board, but sometimes I was compelled to sue board members for breach of their duties. In my current practice I continue to represent and advise charitable and nonprofit entities. I have also written several papers on the duties of nonprofit board members, so I am intimately familiar with the requirements of nonprofit board members. I consider myself to be an ethical, collaborative, pragmatic, determined and resourceful person and I would like to put my expertise and experience to work for Wheatsville.

Short Bio & Resume

After graduating law school in Portland, Oregon, I moved to Austin and began practicing constitutional and nonprofit organizations law as well as representing clients in other civil and criminal matters. I then served as an attorney in the Consumer Protection Division practicing nonprofit charity regulatory law, including litigation of major probate and trust cases. I have now returned to private practice, where I concentrate in estate planning, probate and guardianship law. This involves helping people with the sometimes complex legal issues surrounding the incapacity or death of a partner, relative or friend, and helping people themselves to prepare for those eventualities. I also continue to provide expert consultation and advice to nonprofit charitable organizations. I am politically and socially progressive and a dedicated co-op advocate. In addition, I am a cook, gardener, and proud new urban farmer with 5 chickens in our yard. Together with my wife, Martha, I enjoy biking, hiking, birding, swimming and kayaking ("aller en pirogue," as we say in Louisiana). I am keenly interested in bettering our society, and as quality groceries, good nutrition and appropriate farming are important parts of our lives, I feel that serving on the Wheatsville Board will further that interest.

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