August/September 2022 Newsletter
Hello co-op friends!
Welcome to our August & September newsletter. (If you missed it, our previous newsletters can be found here.) We now have over 375 paid members! Our next goal is to get to 500 paid members by October 31. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has already joined us. For anyone who is interested in becoming a member, you can do that here:
https://charlesriverfood.coop/join
You can help us spread the word by forwarding this email, by printing and posting a flier on a local community bulletin board, or by sharing our posts on social media.
Calling all volunteers! September is finally here, and the co-op board is not only looking forward to cooler days and crisp nights, but also a full slate of events and activity for the fall. We’d love to have you join us at our table at events like Watertown’s Faire on the Square (Saturday, 9/24), Newton’s Harvest Fest (Sunday, 10/16), and more. Let us know about your interest and any skills or talents you’d be willing to share with us by answering this survey.
Currently we’re in need of a volunteer bookkeeper or accountant. If you have this skill set and are interested in finding out more about this volunteer opportunity, please email us at info@charlesriverfood.coop.
Co-op Learning - In our ongoing efforts to start the best co-op possible, our very own board President Nick Quaranto has won a scholarship to attend the “Cooperative Leaders and Scholars” program. From their website: “The Cooperative Leaders & Scholars (CLS) program is an opportunity to develop and engage employees, board members, and post-secondary students with participation in a national cooperative conference and exposure to co-op industry thought leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders.” This program includes a cooperative management course, a conference in October, and networking opportunities. We’re excited to see the great information he brings back to us!
Board In Person! - A few weeks ago the board got together in person for the first time to meet informally. Tim brought with him some (very well preserved) newsletters from a food co-op he helped start in the 1970s. Very fun to read through!
Pictured from left to right: Nick Quaranto, Lew Berk, Benny Lee, Christina Beck, Jen Kaplan, Melissa Appel, Lissa Gilbert, Tim Snyder. Not pictured: Thomas Michel.
What’s Next? - We have a ton of events coming up in September and October and we’d love to see you there! See the events section below for more information and to volunteer.
Once again thank you so much to all of you for your support and please spread the word by forwarding this email to a few friends!
In co-operation, The Charles River Food Co-op Board
(Nick, Melissa, Thomas, Tim, Christina, Lissa, Lew, Benny, & Jen)
Events
We have a ton of events coming up in September and we’d love to see you there! We are also looking for volunteers to help staff the booths. Please let us know if you can volunteer by filling out this survey or email us at info@charlesriverfood.coop. You can participate in all or part of an event.
Waltham Day – Saturday, 9/17 from 11 AM to 4 PM
Watertown Faire on the Square – Saturday, 9/24 from 11 AM to 4 PM
Newton Upper Falls Day – Sunday, 10/2 from 10 AM to 2 PM
Newton Harvest Fest – Sunday, 10/16 from 11 AM to 4 PM
Local News
How Small Community Investors Helped Get a Boston Food Co-op Off the Ground
If you missed how the Dorchester Food Co-op made their groundbreaking in July a reality, this great article from NextCity goes through all the details.
Rethinking the traditional grocery store
The Globe recently covered some of the innovation happening in the greater Boston area outside of the big chain stores. Check it out!
