2024 Ashland Food Co-op Elections

2024 Co-op Elections

Online elections begin May 22 and end on June 10 at 9 p.m. All owners will receive an email from Ashland Food Co-op with the subject line "Ashland Food Co-op Board Election 2024"

Make sure your information is up to date here.

This year owners are voting for AFC Board candidates, bylaw changes and Change for Good organizations. All votes must be submitted by June 10 at 9 p.m.

Vote for AFC Board Candidates

This year, four candidates are nominated for two Board positions. Each elected director will receive a three-year term. The candidates are Becky Brown, Jennifer Gibbs, Katherine Kavenaugh and Maria Martonffy. Please vote for up to two candidates.

Becky Brown

Candidate video interview

Biography

Becky was fortunate enough to grow up in the stunning town of Ashland, where she had the freedom to roam and explore the natural beauty of the area. Her love for the outdoors and adventure led her to work as a ski instructor at Deer Valley, Utah, where she shared her passion for skiing with others while enjoying the thrill of the mountains. After her knees told her it was time to make a career change she went into marketing and did years of freelance design and writing. That path evolved to working on corporate enterprise marketing teams.

While raising her four children, Becky earned a degree in economics and design, allowing her to combine her analytical and creative skills. She is always on the lookout for her next adventure, whether it be hiking in the mountains, camping under the stars, or trying new activities like pickleball and backpacking.

Becky has a love for the outdoors, having participated in long-distance running events, completed multiple half and full marathons, and even joined Ragnar events. She has also been a passionate tennis player, participating in various tournaments and leagues, which resulted in countless hours on the court. In recent years, Becky has developed a passion for finding homes that need love and transforming them into beautiful living spaces.

Her bright green Jeep Wrangler, loaded up with her great pyrenees dog and husband, is her preferred mode of transportation when exploring the outdoors. They all love going off-road and getting dirty, whether exploring downtown eateries or the many trails and destinations.

Becky is also an avid foodie and dreams of her next international destination, always seeking out new culinary experiences. Her adventurous and passionate spirit is evident in everything she does, and she never stops exploring the world around her.

Candidate Statement

Shaped by the love of organic gardening and fresh, healthy food that was shared by her parents and grandparents, Becky cherishes the perspective that being raised in Ashland has provided. Fresh dirt, lots of earthworms, hard work, rain and sunshine all combining to create abundance that allowed eating fruits and vegetables while sitting in the
middle of a sun-soaked garden.

This idyllic childhood combined with her passion for being outside nurtures her joy of serving and educating people.Becky is a mother of four and bonus mom of two more, has earned a degree in economics, worked and volunteered in a wide variety of roles from being a ski instructor, a corporate marketer and a real estate broker. She is a well-rounded human that loves to problem solve and find opportunities to collaborate. Becky cherishes her adventures in this beautiful town we call home.

Jennifer Gibbs

Candidate video interview

Biography

Jennifer Gibbs was born and raised in Western NY. Eager to enter the workforce after college, she worked at large public accounting firms and earned her CPA, financial advisor, and real estate broker licenses. During college, Jennifer learned to heal her mind and body with plant-based, healthy food and exercise, and then began a lifelong study into organic, holistic living and the power of using food as medicine. She met her entrepreneur husband, Jack, after moving to Chicago in 1997. For the past 27 years, together they have owned and operated a boutique wealth management and tax business as well as rental properties across the country. They have raised their three vibrant children in Ashland. Jennifer most enjoys eating healthy meals around a table with her family, gardening, hiking, reading, playing sports, puzzles, and games, and spending time with friends in Ashland. Jennifer served on the board of the Siskiyou School for four years, in the role of treasurer for 2. She has volunteered for and contributed pro bono work to organizations throughout the valley.

Candidate Statement

As an entrepreneur, I see contributions to any organization as one thread in a very long and complex weave. I believe it is important to have an understanding of and respect for the fabric already woven, and to approach a board role with a good deal of humility. I believe in seeking the guidance of those who came before us, so that we understand why an organization was originally founded, and so we can stay true to those values, while also constantly interviewing our customers on their wants and needs so that we can readily adapt to change. The Ashland Food Co-op is one of the most important organizations in my family's life, our partner in raising our children, who have always been healthy in mind and body. I hope to use the knowledge and skill sets I have developed throughout my life to give back to this wonderful organization. I hope to contribute as we continue improving upon our fulfillment of the Co-op's historical and current stated missions: providing affordable, healthy food, supporting local farmers and creators, delighting shoppers, enhancing health, and enriching our community in a warm and welcoming environment for all.

Kathryn Kavanagh

Candidate video interview

Biography

Kathryn Kavanagh is a passionate advocate for cultivating an equitable, just, and regenerative food system. She graduated from the University of Washington with bachelors degrees in Business Marketing and Community, Environment, and Planning. Her career has taken her from urban farms, bakeries, and after-school enrichment programs to her current role working as a project coordinator and media specialist for the National Farmers Union's Local Food Safety Collaborative.

She promotes the importance of taking good care of both land and the people who work at all stages of the food system, and sees food safety as a bedrock to a healthy, sustainable, and secure food future. She cares deeply about the intelligent use of land, including better built environments designed at the human-scale in harmony with nature. Kathryn is an artist, poet, and singer-songwriter inspired by the natural world, and seeks to use her art as a platform to further advocate for ecological stewardship. She loves living in Ashland and you can likely find her out-and-about thrifting, playing guitar, or browsing the bulk section of the Co-op.

Candidate Statement

I am running for the AFC Board so that I can better uplift our community’s health through good food access, availability, and dedication to our local and regional growers. Throughout my career, I’ve been a passionate advocate for cultivating a more sustainable, equitable, and just food system from seed to plate, and I want to deepen my involvement by being a part of the decision-making process that serves our community.

My professional food safety work equips me with a diverse, informed lens to hone what good food safety, security, and community health look like in both theory and practice. Through collaboration and creativity, I hope to help increase the number of available products, programs, and educational opportunities to expand knowledge of our food, where it comes from, the many hands involved along the way, and the practices it supports. I would be honored to serve on the Board and would use the platform to be a responsible voice for the community.

Maria Martonffy

Candidate video interview

Biography

I started my career in the financial derivatives space doing strategy and M&A, focusing on bringing credit default swaps on exchange after getting a degree in History and Languages at the University of Chicago. (Swearing in Italian with references to Dante helps bring color to obscure financial instruments.) After business school, I moved from Chicago to Seoul to work on emerging tech in predictive analytics, smart home, and the mobile space at Samsung, where I led a small team of 8. With mad karaoke skills in hand, I then moved to San Francisco to head up the wearables and handset ecosystem at Motorola. Afterwards I led Corporate Strategy for a Smart Kitchen startup, and most recently, after moving to my forever home in Ashland, I've worked in the Fintech and Spatial Data/AI spaces remotely, incubating efforts to grow the business with new products. The throughline for me across these various adventures has been finding ways to make emerging technology sticky through partnerships and creating great product experiences by listening to my customers. Key to this throughline is listening first, and knowing how to respect and work with diverse people and ideas. In testament to this, proudly hung on my wall next to my university degrees in my office at home is my (very yellowed) kindergarten diploma.

On a more personal note, I'm the youngest of five girls, and grew up in both Switzerland and Chicago, so I feel at home pretty much anywhere there's chocolate and good cheese for pizza---like at the Coop, where I routinely spend way too much time hovering over the choices in the display case. When not on Zoom, I'm a voracious reader and podcaster; I love to write fiction, and have found my happy place on Ashland's beautiful trails.

Candidate Statement

I have worked in the private sector in Finance and Technology for the last twenty years and have had the privilege of collaborating with a huge diversity of people to plan for the future and solve business critical problems for shareholders. Whether in innovating new products or working cross-functionally across corporate silos, I am consistently listen first, data driven, and appreciate looking at solutions from a wide variety of perspectives. As a relatively new transplant to Ashland, and as a new owner at AFC, I relish the thought of using these skills to make a place I have grown to love even better.

My love for eating organic and natural foods started early, and as an athlete, I actively feel the difference organic food makes in my mind and body, so feel passionately about evangelizing and making organic food more available for all. If elected, I would seek to continue the work the board has done to keep the General Manager unblocked so that AFC can run efficiently, and would look to drive member engagement and diversity, as it is my deep belief that AFC owners want to feel part of something that both benefits them, and does good.

Proposed Bylaw Changes

The AFC Board of Directors has concluded a review of our Co-op’s bylaws. The review included in depth discussions at multiple committee and board meetings as well as consultation with our attorney over the last 6 months. It is the recommendation of the Board of Directors that AFC owners approve the changes by voting YES.

Proposed bylaw wording is noted in blue.

A. The current bylaw pertaining to AFC’s purpose and mission reads as follows:

Section 1.2 - Purpose and mission. As more fully stated in its articles of incorporation, the purpose of the Co-op is to provide groceries and other consumer goods and services to its owners and other patrons. The mission of the Co-op is to serve the community by: operating a socially responsible business that provides a full selection of natural foods and quality products; emphasizing locally produced, organically grown and ecologically sound products; offering a variety of necessities at basic prices; providing friendly, knowledgeable customer service; promoting awareness about food, nutrition, health and cooperative values; and providing a workplace that fosters opportunities for participation, empowerment, and growth in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation. The Co-op is organized and shall be operated exclusively on a cooperative and nonprofit basis.

The proposed bylaw adds the word “equity” to Section 1.2. The Board of Directors recommends this change because equity for our employees, owners and shoppers is an important value of the Ashland Food Co-op and needs to be included in our purpose.

Section 1.2 - Purpose and mission. As more fully stated in its articles of incorporation, the purpose of the Co-op is to provide groceries and other consumer goods and services to its owners and other patrons. The mission of the Co-op is to serve the community by: operating a socially responsible business that provides a full selection of natural foods and quality products; emphasizing locally produced, organically grown and ecologically sound products; offering a variety of necessities at basic prices; providing friendly, knowledgeable customer service; promoting awareness about food, nutrition, health and cooperative values; and providing a workplace that fosters opportunities for participation, empowerment, equity and growth in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation. The Co-op is organized and shall be operated exclusively on a cooperative and nonprofit basis.

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B. The current bylaw pertaining to Cooperative principles reads as follows:

Section 1.3 - Cooperative principles. The Co-op shall be operated in accordance with cooperative principles adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance, including the following: (i) voluntary and open ownership without arbitrary discrimination; (ii) democratic governance by owners with equal voting rights among owners and opportunity for participation in setting policies and making decisions; (iii) economic \participation by owners with owners equitably contributing to and democratically controlling the capital of the Co-op, and with earnings being equitably applied to the benefit of owners in proportion to the owner’s patronage of the Co-op, to the development needs of the Co-op, and to the provision and extension of common services; (iv) autonomy and independence of the Co-op as a self-help organization controlled by its owners being strictly maintained; (v) educating and training owners, directors, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of the Co-op, and informing the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperation; (vi) strengthening the cooperative movement by working with other cooperative organizations at all levels; and (vii) working for sustainable development of the Co-op's community.

The proposed bylaw adds the 8th Cooperative Principle to bylaw 1.3. The Board of Directors recommends approving this bylaw change because by adopting an 8th Cooperative Principle, the Ashland Food Co-op is saying that diversity, equity and inclusion is an ideal that should be pursued.

Section 1.3 - Cooperative principles. The Co-op shall be operated in accordance with cooperative principles adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance, including the following: (i) voluntary and open ownership without arbitrary discrimination; (ii) democratic governance by owners with equal voting rights among owners and opportunity for participation in setting policies and making decisions; (iii) economic \participation by owners with owners equitably contributing to and democratically controlling the capital of the Co-op, and with earnings being equitably applied to the benefit of owners in proportion to the owner’s patronage of the Co-op, to the development needs of the Co-op, and to the provision and extension of common services; (iv) autonomy and independence of the Co-op as a self-help organization controlled by its owners being strictly maintained; (v) educating and training owners, directors, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of the Co-op, and informing the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperation; (vi) strengthening the cooperative movement by working with other cooperative organizations at all levels; and (vii) working for sustainable development of the Co-op's community. In addition to these, the Co-op has chosen to incorporate an 8th principle, (viii) At the Ashland Food Co-op, we accept all identities and cultivate a culture of belonging.

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C.The current bylaw pertains to inactive owner status.

Section 2.5 - Inactive status. An owner who becomes delinquent in meeting the share purchase requirement or who fails to patronize the Co-op for a period of one year shall be placed into inactive status. His or her participation rights shall then be suspended. An owner in inactive status may attain good standing upon recommencing payment of financial obligations or reestablishing a patronage relationship with the Co-op. References in these bylaws to the rights and entitlements of owners shall be understood to refer only to owners in good standing.

The proposed bylaw changes the word’s “His or Her” to “The owner’s” and adds the word “active” to the last sentence. The Board of Directors recommends these changes for the purpose of clarity.

Section 2.5 - Inactive status. An owner who becomes delinquent in meeting the share purchase requirement or who fails to patronize the Co-op for a period of one year shall be placed into inactive status. His or her The owner’s participation rights shall then be suspended. An owner in inactive status may attain good standing upon recommencing payment of financial obligations or reestablishing a patronage relationship with the Co-op. References in these bylaws to the rights and entitlements of owners shall be understood to refer only to active owners in good standing.

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D.The current bylaw pertains to owner termination.

The proposed bylaw defines an owner’s response time to involuntary termination.The Board of Directors recommends this change because it clarifies the time an owner has to respond to involuntary termination of their membership.

Section 2.8 - Termination. Ownership may be terminated voluntarily by an owner at any time upon notice to the Co-op. Ownership may be terminated involuntarily only for cause by the Board, provided the accused owner is first accorded an adequate opportunity to respond to the charges in person or in writing. An owner is deemed to have an adequate opportunity to respond if the involuntary termination will not take effect until thirty(30) days following the mailing of notice of the planned termination to that owner's last known mailing address by first class mail. Upon termination of ownership, all rights and interests in the Co-op shall cease except for rights to redemption of capital pursuant to Articles VII and VIII of these bylaws.

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E.The current bylaw pertains to record dates for owner voting privileges.
Section 3.4 - Record dates. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, only persons whose households are owners by the date of distribution of notices shall be entitled to receive such notice and to vote as an owner.

The proposed bylaw further defines eligibility for owners to receive notices and to vote.The Board of Directors recommends this change because the AFC IT Department requires a minimum 5 days to include owner emails in the database for AFC elections. The last sentence has been included to make owners aware of their responsibility to keep their contact information updated.

Section 3.4 - Record dates. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, only persons whose ~~households are owners~~ households have been admitted to ownership at least five (5) business days before the date of distribution of notices shall be entitled to receive such notice and to vote as an owner. Owners are responsible for keeping their email addresses and contact information current with AFC Owner Services

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F.The current bylaw pertains to Quorums and voting.

Section 3.5 - Quorum and voting. Those owners present at any annual meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of these Bylaws. In the case of balloting by mail or by electronic ballot, a quorum shall not be required for the vote to be effective. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. Unless otherwise required by law or by these by-laws, issues shall be decided by a simple majority of votes cast except where one or more choices are to be made from several alternatives, in which case the alternative(s) receiving the most votes shall be considered approved. To prevent a tie an instant runoff system will be used. Voters will have the option to vote preferentially by indicating first, second, third choices and so on. If two options or candidates are tied for first place, then second choice votes which had been awarded to non-first place finishing options or candidates, will be counted to break the tie.

The proposed bylaw removes the word “non” for clarity. The Board of Directors recommends removing the word “non” from the last sentence for purposes of clarity.

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G.The current bylaw pertains to Number and Qualification of Directors.

Section 4.2 - Number and qualifications. The Board shall consist of not less than five nor more than nine individuals, as determined by the Board or by vote of owners. All directors shall be owners, either primary or part of the household at the time of their election and shall not have any overriding conflict of interest with the Co-op. No active/current employee may be a member of the Board.

The proposed bylaw changes the word “shall” to “should.” The Board of Directors recommends this change because AFC’s attorney has advised changing the word “shall” to “should” in the second sentence.

Section 4.2 - Number and qualifications. The Board shall consist of not less than five nor more than nine individuals, as determined by the Board or by vote of owners. All directors shall should be owners, either primary or part of the household at the time of their election and shall should not have any overriding conflict of interest with the Co-op. No active/current employee may be a member of the Board.

Vote for Change for Good Organizations

AFC’s Change for Good Program enables shoppers to round up their purchases at the store register so that the spare change will benefit a different local non-profit each month. The AFC Gives Committee has selected fifteen finalists for the 2025-2026 Change for Good Program. The ten organizations receiving the most votes will be featured in the Change for good program, beginning in the winter of 2026. To read information about each organization and link to their website, click on View Details by each organization’s name.

Vote for up to ten organizations:

Change for Good Finalists

A Greater Applegate Healthy Food - https://agreaterapplegate.org/

We focus on building connections, community-led action, capacity, and community-building culture in the Applegate Valley. Our core programs are Food & Farm Network: Purchases produce and meat from local ranchers that we then donate to our local food pantries & support local farmers markets; Business Network: Provides mentorship, educational opportunities, and workshops to Applegate Valley small businesses; Working Groups: 300 volunteers in 9 groups discuss topics of of community import.

Ashland Schools Foundation EDI - https://ashlandschoolsfoundation.org/

The vision of ASF is to empower educators, embrace diversity, and advocate for a vibrant, holistic education for every student. ASF invests in programs and initiatives throughout the district that generate engaging programming for students, support diverse learning styles and create access and opportunities for underserved youth. The results of these initiatives include exposing students to new cultural experiences, hands-on STEM projects, creative outlets and potential career paths.

B.A.S.E. (Black Alliance and Social Empowerment) EDI - https://baseoregon.org/

BASE is a community-building organization that envisions a thriving Black community and an inclusive Southern Oregon. We provide cultural events like Juneteenth, MLK Day, and Kwanzaa; information-sharing platforms such as our Black-Owned Business Directory and Opportunities Page; connection events like Say Heys; multifaceted support like our Racial Equity Police Liaison and Youth Programs; and myriad resources that work toward the well-being and advancement of Black residents living in Southern Oregon.

Bee Girl Climate - https://www.beegirl.org/

BGO’s vision is to generate a future where bees and people thrive in pastures of flowers. We’re working in local vineyards to help the managers till less soil, spray less chemicals, and plant more flowers. These flowers will be harvested and used to create “Bee Habitat in Cyanotype'' conceptual, multimedia art pieces which will have a home at Enclave Studios in Ashland, where we will host events to engage our local community in our work.

Community Works Basic Needs - https://www.community-works.org/

Community Works’ vision is to develop a balanced approach to social problems affecting our community. Our programs focus on eliminating oppression that is the root cause of violence, as well as responding to and supporting people who have suffered through this violence. We provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, 24/7 crisis intervention, support groups, advocacy, and support for those who have been victimized by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.

Food & Friends: The Southern Oregon Center for Community Partnerships (The CENTER) Basic Needs - https://rvcog.org/home/sds-2/food-friends-meals-on-wheels

Food & Friends is the Meals on Wheels & Senior Meals Program of Jackson & Josephine Counties. The program is operated by 12.3 FTE & a volunteer force of 400+. We offer 10 dining sites for seniors 60+ & provide home delivered meals to older adults who are unable to prepare meals due to illness, injury, or disability. We create positive impacts that benefit the health & wellbeing of older adults & adults with disabilities while reducing the effects of food insecurity, loneliness & isolation.

Jackson County Fuel Committee Climate - https://fuelcommittee.org/

Since 1978, Jackson County Fuel Committee operates 9am-9pm 7 days a week, JCFC has addressed the root causes of poverty and government policies that force so many to choose between heating and eating. Volunteers give of their time, skills and resources to help fight for improved living conditions in the low-income community. This includes survival needs such as emergency firewood, utility advocacy to prevent shutoffs and weatherization to cut heating costs.

Jackson County SART Basic Needs - https://www.jacksoncountysart.org/

We offer sexual assault and domestic violence survivors free, culturally responsive, immediate care and trauma intervention; advocacy and emotional support; help to obtain safety net services; and long-term healing support, including dedicated groups for LGBTQIA+ survivors and youth. We work to reduce the prevalence of gender-based violence through community engagement. We have a K-12 sexual violence prevention program and train area businesses interested in creating harassment-free workplaces.

Parker House Project Basic Needs - https://www.ashlandparkerhouse.org/

Parker House provides safe, transitional housing & wrap-around support for women & children. Participants come from many different, often unsafe and traumatic backgrounds. Our vision is to help women heal from traumas that lead to becoming unhoused. We provide affordable, transitional housing, individualized case management, community referrals & life skills education to help women residing with us become financially and emotionally self-sufficient, secure employment & secure permanent housing.

Phoenix Counseling Center, Inc. Basic Needs - https://www.phoenixcounseling.org/

Phoenix Counseling Center provides individual and group substance use, gambling, and mental health counseling for over 600 adolescents and adults each year. Our population is mainly those on the Oregon Health Plan who are referred to us by Probation and Child Welfare. Our experienced therapists approach our clients from a gentle, empathic place. Some groups we provide are substance use, parenting, mom-baby attachment, and trauma. We are honored to be a part of our clients' journeys to recovery.

Rogue World Music Culture - https://www.rogueworldmusic.org/

RWM creates opportunities for folks to connect & learn through world music experiences like the Rogue World Music Festival, our Songbirds program (music education for all K-3rd graders in the Phoenix-Talent School Dist.), & supports underrepresented/resourced cultural communities in their own community-building efforts. RWM’s team of 3 serves all of Jackson Co. Our programming is free to all. RWM’s ethos relies on building strong collaborative partnerships & amplifying culture-bearing artists.

ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum Healthy Food - https://scienceworksmuseum.org/

ScienceWorks is a non-profit organization and only exists because of the hard work and dedication of the community. More than 100 devoted volunteers and a host of local and regional supporters have brought the museum to life. ScienceWorks is committed to being a launchpad for the next generation of creative thinkers and problem solvers. Our mission is implemented through educational programming, partnerships for the underserved in our community, and creative problem-solving with our community.

Siskiyou Field Institute Climate - https://thesfi.org/

Siskiyou Field Institute (SFI) promotes ecosystem resilience in the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion through educational programs, scientific research, and hands-on restoration. SFI equips communities to safeguard the region's diverse ecosystems against changing environmental conditions. The institute's initiatives, ranging from workshops to restoration efforts, foster informed stewardship and adaptability, thereby contributing to the environmental health and sustainability of the region.

Vesper Meadow Education Program, program of The Understory Initiative Climate - https://www.vespermeadow.org/

We inspire resilient communities and ecosystems with hands-on programing at the Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve, where stewards and students lead efforts for ecological restoration, climate resiliency, scientific monitoring of biodiversity, & community projects for reconnection of the human-land relationship. Programs address society’s need for holistic thinkers by integrating diverse learning perspectives and practicing solutions-based approaches to address climate change & social justice.

White Oak Farm and Education Center Basic Needs - https://www.whiteoakfarmcsa.org/

White Oak Farm's vision is to help form healthy relationships between humans and our food, our home places, and the natural systems of which we are a part. Towards this goal, we have 20+ years of experience growing high quality fruits and vegetables and sharing the bounty with children and families, while also hosting hundreds of students on field trips, providing school garden programs at our partner schools, and growing tens of thousands of native plants for restoration projects each year.