“Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn’t listening.” – Emma Thompson
No matter what walk of life we come from, what political views we have, and what our ideas are for the future of this Co-op, I think we can all agree that we are essentially one big family. That’s the beauty of cooperation – working together for a common goal. Something that is very important in families, and is also very important in our Co-op, is communication. I believe that we’ve been lacking in meaningful communication, and I’d like to take a moment to address that problem.
We send out a bi-monthly newsletter with updates on events, products, etc. Every once in a while, we’ll make a large announcement, like when we announced last September that we planned to pay off the building in a year in order to be debt-free. However, there have been multiple things that needed to be communicated to the ownership that weren’t, and for that, we all truly apologize. As the Board and management work together, communications will be one of the things we focus on. The Board has certain decisions that need to be communicated, and the staff have certain announcements that need to be communicated – so we are all working together to come up with ways to better communicate with you, our owners!
One way that we can do that is through the Discussion Board on our website. Please utilize this any time you have questions or concerns, and one of the Board members or staff members will respond to you shortly!
Another way we are going to communicate better with you is by having a smaller newsletter on the off months of our bi-monthly newsletter. This short version will have any announcements and events relevant to that month.
We’ll also hold forums more often to gain feedback from you on projects and ideas we have.
Finally, we’ll make sure that our blogs and newsletter articles have important news, along with the educational and informational facts about our products.
We want to better communicate with you, and we are all working together to make that happen. If you have a suggestion, please feel free to leave it here on this blog, on the Discussion Board, or email anyone in management or on the Board. You can email the entire Board at board@ozarknf.coop, or any individual director: firstname@ozarknf.coop. You can also email me at alexa@ozarknf.coop.
Let’s all communicate better with each other!
Thanks Alexa,
This is a good start.
I hope there will be better communication between owners, board, management & staff. And hopefully the owners can imput BEFORE big decisions like paying off the debt or firing the GM.
Feel free to post this on the discussion board or do you want me to?
thanks, Brad
Thanks Brad! I completely agree. Owners have a right to be there during every step of the process. Thank you for sharing your opinion, and feel free to continue to do so! Hope to see you at the Board meeting on June 26th, at 6pm at the Omni Center!
Alexa, This can’t help but help. One change I’d like to see is clearer organization of the site. Would it be possible to present a home page that would list, outright (not as subheadings under rubrics that are a little ambiguous) things such as new news from board, bylaws, transcript of last owners meeting, financial statement, staff benefits, questions from owners, etc. (my ideas come partly from other coop web sites). That’s not a complete list, it’s not even a well-thought-out list. But what I’m driving at is clarity, simplicity, and substance. For instance, it was pure chance that I found this very welcome article of yours about communication. Partly because I wouldn’t have known what heading to look under, and partly because the entries are in reverse chronological order. I appreciate that management is responding to owners’ pleas for improved communication. I’m looking forward to this new system, just would hope the site can be made simpler to navigate.
Hey Barbara! We work with a hosting company who helped make this site with us. I will contact them about your suggestions and see what can be done because I agree – the home page and the home blog page are a bit confusing. I will see what I can do and get back to you! Thank you so much for your suggestion!
Well said Alexa!
It is very frustrating that these apparent improvements in communication are only promised AFTER the decision to 1) rehire Alysen Land and 2) when it is too late for owners to have any input on the mortgage payoff.
These 2 decisions together ensure that food prices will not come down in the foreseeable future, as employees have repeated so often.
After ONF’s bank account is depleted by the payoff and the $300,000 pre-payment penalty, how can prices be lowered? It will instead be the justification for keeping prices exorbitantly high.
And why would Alysen lower prices now if it wasd never important to her before, when ONF had millions in the bank?
And I am not talking about some temporary coupon deals or small token discounts. Owners want substantial across the board price reductions–or if you prefer, a reduction in ONF’s profit margin.
At a recent Board meeting when Director Hank Kaminski asked Interim GM Mike Anzelone directly whether there were ANY plans being made to lower prices, Anzelone said “no”. No elaboration. Just No.
That communication seems pretty clear to me.
nicole
Hey Nicole!
I understand your concerns and where you’re coming from on these issues. I personally don’t know much about the financial plans after the payoff, but I can send your questions to the appropriate staff and get back with you on this soon. I apologize for the lack of communication in the past, and I hope we can find a way to all work together to make things better in the future. Please let me know if you have any more suggestions!
Nicole, here is an answer from our Finance Manager:
Our bank account will not be depleted; we will maintain at least 2 weeks worth of operating funds. By eliminating our mortgage payment, we will free up over 1% of our cash flow, and we do plan on lowering our store margin by 1%.
Please let me know if you have any more questions! You are also free to email him for more financial information: gary@ozarknf.coop.
Balancing the need for owner involvement and access to information with staff time, workloads, and a sense of freedom to creatively and quickly address any problems or needs that arise is a central, rarely discussed, part of this whole puzzle. I think we need to keep it squarely in our minds as we build strategies that empower every person involved in this cooperative movement.
That said, here are a few things I’d love to see (some easily accomplished, some pretty epic undertakings):
1) A list, maintained and updated by the community, of every in-store price reduction strategy imaginable (and each one’s measured impact on the bottom line) – staff-side, owner-side, community-side, and anything else our collective creativity can bring together.
2) A staff-maintained ONF wiki that would take article submissions from founding members, staff past and present, and other cooperative community movers to fill out ONF’s past, its present challenges and triumphs, and future goals complete with strategies for reaching them. Each page should have a discussion module attached, so that details could be filled in, points could be debated, and information could be, overall, refined and clarified. Wikispaces, a wiki-development system, can accomplish this goal. There may also be wordpress-specific wiki extensions with discussion app tie-ins.
3) A searchable online database of every product in the store, complete with wholesale price, selling price, markup, and any other relevant information. Ideally, each would have a discussion module attached to it so that people could talk about the product and learn more about the reasoning behind the cost and markup. The only reasonable way to accomplish this would be to tie it in to existing product price management systems; there’s no way it would be productive for someone to try and manually update such a massive, ever-changing body of data. In my estimation, this would be the most challenging to build.
4) A list of all past, present, future, and ongoing projects, their cost, their impact on store success (if measurable), and their justification. Again, discussion modules would be connected to each project. This could also double as the ownership-input space for each project. This could be achieved within the existing forum.
5) An auto-updating ONF store metrics page, that shows information like minute-by-minute store performance, which could be broken down, in real-time, into what the money is going into (staff salaries, store maintenance, and other various store operations). This ties into a massive number of systems, and so, to be truly accurate, would need some careful planning.
I think that sums up most of what I’d greatly enjoy seeing. So excited to see ONF so beautifully improving!
~Ryan
Implementing Ryan’s suggestions might enlighten some folks, but they seem complicated and daunting to me, and I suspect they may have been presented with a touch of sarcasm aimed at people like myself who have asked for more information online or others who suggest price reduction.
Whatever the case, what Ryan proposes,isn’t quite what I’ve been suggesting. I’m more concerned with news and opinions regarding overall policies, prices, staff working conditions, store plans, announcements of board decisions, and less interested in the minutiae of product price management systems. I believe there are simpler ways to lower prices if the will is there.
Appreciation to the site manager for opportunity to discuss all this.
Hey Barbara,
I’m so sorry this came across with any sense of sarcasm! I’ve had many sleepless nights since the strike trying to think of every way store communications could improve. I honestly cheered out loud when I saw your suggestions; I can’t tell you how excited it makes me to see members of the community making well-worded and well-thought-out suggestions for improving communication!
Just to give a little background, I work in the tech field, especially in envisioning and designed systems to make information freely available and updatable. I’ve long been fascinated by what designs would allow thousands, or even millions, of people to usefully contribute to complex discussions. I have a feeling that this made my ideas more complex than they needed to be.
If it helps at all, Barbara, your ideas have been taken very seriously; the spirit and shape of them came across crystal clear. Alexa has asked the tech team at ONF to figure out how to put them into motion. I did not mean to propose counter ideas; I was just trying to provide something additional to think about. Again, I apologize if I caused any concern.
Have a good afternoon!
~Ryan
Ryan – My apologies. That I misinterpreted your message has more to do with my Un-sophistication in things technical and mathematical than with your suggestions themselves. I realize the results could be quite useful.
Barbara
I’ll vouch for Ryan, he’s proposing the ideas above earnestly. A lot of it is actually possible given the POS technology employed by the store.
My problem is, going further up the thread to Nicole’s comments, now that Alysen Wonderland has returned, Alexa, Tony, and Garrett Brown are all smiles, because they’ve used this board to plug non-stop while saying “that’s not what we’re after, we really want Sue Graham and Linda Ralston removed”.
Before true communication can really be achieved, Alysen needs to leave, Garrett needs to be honest about the facts that 1) he’s a former board member 2) his wife is the front-end manager and 3) they’re both in Alysen’s corner and Alexa needs to give up the farce of neutrality while cheering on the strike Alysen Wonderlands return et al. Tony needs to stay where he is, he isn’t smart enough to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes that he’s Alysen’s puppet, so all comments by him can be safely overlooked as coming from the court jester.
Finally, all of the above need to admit they don’t care about owners they care about working at a cool, kitschy, happenin’ place in Fayetteville and they get all get a 22% discount off of retail price, so they really don’t give a hoot what prices or margins are, they don’t pay that, that’s the “chumps” prices, opps, they call us “owners” – to our faces anyway.
Derek, Your post is full of misinformation, beginning with Garrett’s wife being the Front End Manager. The Front End Manager is Lisa Garrett, and Garrett Brown’s wife is Jasmine Banks. She is not employed at the Co-op.
1. I am very much a former board member and will most likely be a board member in the future.
2. My wife is not Lisa Garrett -Her last name is Garrett which has no bearing on my first name being Garrett. Also a member of the BOD cannot be a member if a direct family member is an employee.
3. I am in Alysen’s corner in that the way she was terminated was hostile. I questioned things early in the tenure of the previous board concerning Alysen and store “grumblings”. I was the only one that attempted for them to be looked into. I do not beleive that waiting until the last minute to dig up dirt is the right way to lead. The previous board did just that, waited until the 11th hour then fired her without even attempting to work out communication issues.
4. Tony is a very intelligent man. I am proud to know him and dont appreciate the hatefullness in which you spoke of him here.
5. I care about the owners greatly and havent received a discount since being off the board and yet I am still engaged. I do care.
Alexa – Has the Board sent you an agenda for the next Board meeting? If yes, is there a way to post it on this site? If no, do you know the channels for getting one?
Also, do you know of any official pronouncements from the Board chairman about decisions on the 2 issues that I think are concerning a lot of members: return of GM and debt payoff? If no, same question as above… do you know the channels for getting this information?
Thanks.
Barbara
Hey Barbara! I have not received an agenda. If the Board has one ready, they haven’t given it to me. I am sure if you email Joshua, the Board President, he could share one with you. His email is joshua@ozarknf.coop.
As far as the official pronouncements, we got this official statement last week:
Last night the Board of Directors voted to begin contract negotiations with Alysen Land in order to hire her as General Manager of Ozark Natural Foods. This decision has come after more than two months of deliberation by the Board. The Board also received an incredible amount of input by the Owners on how to proceed with filling the General Manager position. Thank you. The Board appreciates your patience. But most importantly, we appreciate your continued support of our co-op.
We haven’t gotten anything official from the Board on the debt payoff. They may make these announcements at the upcoming Board meeting, but again, Joshua may be able to tell you as well!
Thanks, Alexa. Has that middle paragraph in your message (“Last night the Board…” etc.)already been posted on this web site somewhere? I didn’t see it, but I may have missed it. If it’s here, can you guide me to it? If it’s not, do you have/need Board permission to post it? I don’t know the Communication Chain of Command. This would be ‘news’ that I suppose most people who check in here already know. Still, I’d like to see the official statement on ONF’s site.
The “recent posts” list/links is very helpful. A good place to list posting of news like this.
Please excuse my questions if I’ve just failed to find this. And thanks again for your answer.
Barbara
Hey Barbara!
Yes, it was posted the day it was sent to us, last Wednesday, here: http://www.ozarknaturalfoods.com/2012/06/board-official-statement/. It was on the homepage until Monday (although I know the homepage could use some work), and I took it down to make sure that the Owner Appreciation Weekend post was being noticed.
I apologize for the confusion. We’re working with IT to make this site more understandable.
Alexa,
Good catch! So what is Garretts problem now that his term is up?
Oh, and I notice you don’t deny you and Tony are just puppets for Alysen Wonderland.
Derek, asking Garrett is probably going to get you a better answer than asking me what he’s thinking. As far as Tony and I being puppets, I didn’t respond to that because I felt it was an untrue comment that didn’t need to be justified with a response.
Derek – Would you like to get coffee sometime? email me garrett@garrettabrown.com and let me know if you are interested. I would be more than happy to hear your concerns and if you do want to hear mine I can certainly tell you.
Alexa – Thanks for taking the time to write and manage this blog. Would the other managers be able to either (1) be your guest here on your blog, one at a time, for maybe a week or so each? Or (2) set up their own individual blogs (through sites like blogger.com) linked to the ONF web site? I realize that managers might not be authorized to answer all questions that come up, but each in his/her area of expertise might give answers as appropriate and let us know where to address other questions. (I know one can write privately to each but I’m thinking of everyone’s having a chance to ask and read the same questions/answers.) Can this be done?
Barbara
Hey Barbara! Yes, of course! Are you thinking of something like sending in questions and having each manager respond to them via a blog post? Or what were you thinking?
Alexa – Yes, that was what I imagined. Thanks so much for being willing to try this. I hope people will see this and participate. Barbara
Garrett – I already heard your concerns via your petition to remove Sue and Linda – and you’ve heard mine – you tried (and failed) at an underhanded tactic to remove to democratically elected directors – what is there to discuss?
You asked Alexa what my concerns were, so…
Where on this website can we find board meeting minutes, business reports and any other documents that owners might be interested in? I think that everything that comes out of the board or management and that doesn’t for specific and legitimate reasons have to be kept from the public should be accessible and easy to find on the coop website.
Hi Toni,
The easiest way to access the minutes and such can be found under the “About” tab and under “Board of Directors.” Here is the link http://www.ozarknaturalfoods.com/about/board-of-directors/
Hope that helps!
Garrett – you’re the salesman, not me. Sell me on why you wrote those petitions please?
I heard a rumor, and I’ll share it with you (but the source is confidential) after I hear your reasoning – but I want more specifics than the boilerplate that was in your petition. If your petitions had gone forward, I was going to change the names and submit otherwise identical petitions to remove Tuesday and Coleen, because I think we have more evidence of malfeasance with them than anything you had for Sue and Linda.
I think Joshua understood that when he allowed a motion/vote to dismiss the whole dang mess.
Honestly, I’m challenging you because your petitions caused a lot of harm before the board killed them – and don’t think I didn’t see you try to call Hank K on the carpet for changing his mind – I think you were too personally involved at that point to be objective, and you didn’t want to look bad afterward by going down in flames. You wouldn’t have looked nearly as silly if you’d followed protocol and not interrupted the board during the vote. As a former board member you should know that.
So… you give me specifics, I’m willing to listen to your sales pitch, though I’ll grant I’m already inclined not to buy. Afterward, I’ll tell you what I heard.
Why in the world do I want to know anyway, especially now that it’s really a moot point? I’ll be glad to answer that, I want all the facts, especially the ones that don’t favor my position. If you’ve got any facts, I wanna’ hear them.
No one gives a damn what you’ve heard Derek and frankly your tone and the whole “I’ve got an informant” schtick isn’t making you appear invested in healthy growth and change. You changing the names on the petitions wouldn’t help much- since Colleen and Tuesday didn’t fire Alysen without a succession plan, didn’t apply for jobs while on the board (cause conflict of power/responsibility), and haven’t blocked progress over and over again in board meetings. Garrett was personally involved, every person who serves on the board is personally involved, every owner who votes and airs an opinion is personally involved… so that is another moot point. Garrett was on a board that made some really big financial changes and personnel changes without even knowing those changes were going down. He, Tuesday, and Colleen were blocked from being effective board members because they were purposely cut out of information. They were elected as well and ALL board members should be privvy to the full scope of what is happening. Yet they were not? IS this how we want our BOD to behave? Shadow games? I think not. It is the duty of the board to not only be transparent with the ownership but also with each other. When one side of the board plots to make a foundational shift and then keeps the other side of the board in the dark, that amounts to a breech of trust. Since you seem to think Sue and Linda and Kathryn are so upright and willing to be ethical- ask them to release the correspondence emails to Mr. Elderidge that they didn’t copy the other board members in on. Should our co-op be charged for lawyer services that the WHOLE board were not involved in? These sort of actions show that the petitioned directors were not acting in trust and good faith of the ownership. They could have fired Alysen, no problem… but they should have fired her with the facts on the table for the whole board to make an informed decision. Garrett has agreed with Linda and Sue and Kathryn about a lot of their choices as leaders, but the constant road blocks they’ve thrown in the way of board process cannot continue.
Its funny to me. Everyone of the board members is making themselves personally liable. That little insurance thing for board members only pays if you prove yourself in good faith. The smear campaign that occurred….The smoke and mirrors, as you said. If I were them, I would forget Alysen and give the owners any reassurance they need before they hand over their houses to the coop for damages. Josh told me that there is a lot of support for the payoff without independent analysis. Why am I not seeing that on the blog? What do you personally think about the payoff. You must have looked into it a bit more…