Article I Organization
Section 1.1 - Name. The name of the organization is Ashland Food Cooperative (referred to in these bylaws as "the Co-op").
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.
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 their 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 8 th principle: (viii) at the Ashland Food Co-op, we accept all identities and cultivate a culture of belonging.
Section 1.4 - Nondiscrimination. The Co-op shall not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation or other arbitrary basis.
Section 1.5 - Principal office. The principal office of the Co-op shall be located at 237 N. First Street, Ashland, Oregon 97520.
Section 1.6 - Fiscal year. The fiscal year of the Co-op shall coincide with the calendar year.
Article II Ownership
Section 2.1 - Eligibility and admission. Ownership in the Co-op shall be voluntary and open to any individual or household whose apparent purpose is to make purchases from the Co-op and to accept the responsibilities of ownership. Applicants will be admitted to ownership upon submitting required information and complying with the share purchase requirement. On or before admission to ownership each owner shall be provided a copy of these bylaws. If within six months after the date of application any doubts arise concerning eligibility the application for ownership shall be subject to approval by the Board.
Section 2.2 - Share purchase requirement. Owners shall be required to purchase or to subscribe to purchase a share at an issuing price as determined by the Board of Directors. The share purchase requirement may be paid in installments to accommodate applicants in financial need.
Section 2.3 - Rights. Each owner shall be entitled to make purchases from the Co-op on terms generally available to owners, and to participate in the governance of the Co-op as set forth in these bylaws. Except as otherwise required by these bylaws, persons who have subscribed for but not fully paid the share purchase requirement shall be considered owners.
Section 2.4 - Access to information. Owners shall be provided adequate and timely information as to the organizational and financial affairs of the Co-op. An owner shall be provided specific information concerning the affairs of the Co-op upon request that is made in good faith and for a proper purpose, subject to reasonable restrictions prescribed by the Board of Directors. To protect the privacy of owners any proper request necessitating information from the Co-op's records of owners shall whenever possible be accommodated by means other than direct access to such records.
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. 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.
Section 2.6 - Settlement of disputes. In any dispute between the Co-op and any of its owners or former owners which cannot be resolved through informal negotiation, it shall be the policy of the Co-op to prefer the use of mediation whereby an impartial mediator may facilitate negotiations between the parties and assist them in developing a mutually acceptable settlement. No party with a grievance against the other shall have recourse to litigation until the matter is submitted to mediation and attempted to be resolved in good faith.
Section 2.7 - Limited transferability. Upon termination of ownership or changes in the membership of a household, the Co-op will transfer the carrying value of share credits and retained patronage dividends, net of any authorized offsets, to the credit of a designated person, provided that the transfer involves no element of profit and the transferee is or becomes an owner of the Co-op. Such a transfer shall be made upon the request and designation of the primary owner or, if the primary owner has died, moved out of the service area of the Co-op, or is unavailable, upon request and designation of an appropriate person. If such a transfer is later determined to have been improper, the Co-op shall reverse and/or correct such action. Ownership rights and interests may not otherwise be sold, assigned, or transferred.
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.
Article III Meetings of Owners
Section 3.1 – Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of owners shall be held to receive reports on operations and finances, and to conduct such other business as may properly come before the meeting. If the Board has authorized the annual election of directors to be conducted through balloting by mail, and the period for such balloting includes the date on which the annual meeting is set, owners shall be permitted to deliver their ballots in person at the annual meeting.
Section 3.2 - Special meetings. Special meetings of owners, including special votes of owners by mail balloting, may be called by the Board and shall be called by the Secretary as soon as practicable upon receipt of petitions signed by not less than ten percent of all owners in good standing, such petitions stating any proper business to be brought before owners.
Section 3.3 - Notices. Written notice of a meeting or vote of owners, including such information as is required by law or by these bylaws, shall be mailed to each owner not less than seven days nor more than thirty days before the date for return of ballots or the date of the meeting. The Co-op shall also post notice of voting by owners in a timely manner and in a conspicuous place in the Co-op's store, but the inadvertent failure to do so shall not affect the legitimacy of the vote of owners. As permitted by Oregon law, the Board of Directors shall have authority to institute electronic notices.
Section 3.4 - Record dates. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, only persons whose 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.
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 first place finishing options or candidates, will be counted to break the tie.
Section 3.6 - Balloting. The Board may authorize balloting by mail on any issue that may properly be brought before owners. Except as otherwise required by law or these bylaws, balloting by mail may be used in conjunction with or in lieu of a meeting of owners. When balloting by mail is used, the notice shall include a copy of the issue or issues to be voted upon, together with a ballot and a voting envelope and notification of the date by which ballots must be returned. Ballots must be returned in a sealed envelope which is authenticated by the owner's signature. If balloting by mail is used in conjunction with a meeting of owners, votes cast by mail ballot shall be counted together with votes cast in person at the meeting. A vote cast by mail ballot shall be equivalent for all purposes to a vote cast in person by the owner at a meeting of owners. Under Oregon statutes for cooperatives the Board of Directors will have the authority to institute electronic voting, while also providing reasonable access to non-electronic methods, including paper ballots available to owners at the store.
Section 3.7 - In-person meetings. The date, time and place of an in-person meeting of owners shall be determined by the Board or, in the event that the Board fails to so act, by the Secretary, and such information shall be included in the notice of the meeting. Any business conducted at an in-person meeting other than that specified in the notice of the meeting shall be of an advisory nature only. In-person meetings of owners shall be conducted generally in accordance with reasonable rules of procedure.
Section 3.8 - Issues submitted by owners. Notices of a vote or meeting of owners shall include any proper issue submitted by petition of not less than five percent of all owners in good standing. Petitions must be received at the Co-op not less than thirty days before the scheduled distribution of notices.
Article IV Board of Directors
Section 4.1 - Powers and duties. Except as to matters reserved to owners by law or by these bylaws, the corporate powers of the Co-op shall be exercised by or under the authority of the Board of Directors, and the business and affairs of the Co-op shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors (sometimes referred to in these bylaws as "the Board").
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 should be owners at the time of their election and should not have any overriding conflict of interest with the Co-op. No active/current employee may be a member of the Board.
Section 4.3 - Nominations, elections and terms. Directors may be nominated by a nominating committee appointed by the Board, or by petition signed by at least 2.5% of owners and submitted to the Co-op on the same date candidate application packets are due. Any candidate not accepted by the nominating committee may submit a petition, signed by at least 2.5% of owners, by 9 p.m. the Monday after the April Board meeting. Directors shall be elected by vote of owners. Terms of directors shall be so staggered that one-third of the terms, or as nearly so as may be practicable, shall expire in each year. Directors shall be elected for terms of three years. To facilitate staggering of terms, some directors may periodically be elected for one or two year terms. Directors shall hold office until their successors are elected or until their terms are terminated sooner in accordance with these bylaws. If the Board of Directors election is uncontested, the Board of Directors will bring the candidate slate to the annual meeting and owners will vote by a show of hands. The owners that are attending the annual meeting will constitute the meeting quorum. There will be no nominations from the floor. The vote for the candidate slate will be final and binding.
Section 4.4 - Compensation of directors. Compensation of Directors and compensation of Officers will be established by the Board from time to time, based on a comprehensive survey of other food cooperatives of similar size and scope. The goal, in making changes in compensation levels, shall be to approximate the average compensation revealed by said survey.
Section 4.5 - Standards of conduct. Directors shall be responsible at all times for discharging their duties in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances and in a manner that they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Co-op. The Co-op may not lend money to, or guarantee the obligation of, a director.
Section 4.6 - Conflicts of interest. Directors shall be under an affirmative duty to disclose their actual or potential conflicts of interest in any matter under consideration by the Board or by a committee exercising authority of the board, and such interest shall be made a matter of record in the minutes of the meeting. Directors having such an interest may not participate in the decision of the matter nor in deliberations leading to such decision. A transaction in which a director has an interest may be approved only by a majority of directors who have no interest in the transaction and upon a determination that the transaction is fair to the Co-op.
Section 4.7 - Committees. The Board may appoint special or standing committees to advise the Board or to exercise such authority as the Board shall designate. Advisory committees shall include at least one director. Committees exercising any authority of the Board shall consist only of directors and shall conform to all procedural requirements applicable to the Board.
Section 4.8 - Indemnification. Subject to limitations in Oregon law and in the Co-op's Articles of Incorporation, the Co-op shall as required and may as permitted indemnify its current and former directors and officers against all reasonable claims to which they may become subject by reason of their positions with the Co-op or their service in its behalf. This right to indemnity shall include reimbursement of all of the Director's or Officer's reasonable costs of defense including attorneys fees. Indemnification payments and advances of expenses shall be made on a priority basis but only in such increments and at such times as will not jeopardize the ability of the Co-op to pay its ordinary and necessary obligations as they become due. All such payments made shall be reported in writing to owners with or before the notice of the next scheduled vote or meeting of owners.
Section 4.9 - Termination. The term of office of a director may be terminated prior to its expiration in any of the following ways: (i) voluntarily by a director upon notice to the Co-op; (ii) automatically upon termination of ownership in the Co-op; (iii) for cause, by vote of two-thirds of all directors in office voting in person or a majority vote of the owners at a meeting as specified in Section 3. Removal under (iii) shall require that the reasons or charges be stated in a written notice of the meeting and that the affected director be provided the opportunity to answer the reasons or charges in person and/or in writing. A director who is absent from two consecutive Board meetings, or three meetings in a term year, unless excused by the Board for good cause, shall be presumed to have resigned.
Section 4.10 - Vacancies. Whenever a vacancy among directors occurs before a term of office has been completed, the board may appoint a director to fill the vacancy. Such director or directors shall serve until the next regularly scheduled election of directors, when a candidate will be elected for the remainder of the term that would have been served by the vacated director. At any such election, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to available three-year terms. After those are filled, the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes will be elected to the shorter term.
Article V Meetings of the Board
Section 5.1 - Meetings. The Board of Directors may determine the times and places of regular meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President and shall be called by the Secretary upon request of any three directors. Meetings of the Board shall be held no less frequently than once in each quarter.
Section 5.2 - Notice. Regular meetings shall require no notice other than the resolution of the Board, it being the responsibility of absent directors to inquire as to the time of further scheduled meetings. Special meetings shall require written or oral notice to all directors. Written notice shall be delivered at least five days before the date of the meeting and oral notices shall be given in person or by a telecommunications device at least forty-eight hours before the time of the meeting. The Co-op shall also post notices of meetings of the Board in a timely manner and in a conspicuous place in the Co-op's store, but the inadvertent failure to do so shall not affect the legitimacy of the meeting.
Section 5.3 - Waiver of notice. Any notice of a meeting required under these bylaws may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting for which notice is required. A person who attends a meeting shall be presumed to have waived notice unless the person attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully convened.
Section 5.4 - Quorum. The presence in person of a majority of directors then in office shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board. Presence in person shall include participation by telephone conference or similar communications equipment whereby all participating directors can hear each other at the same time.
Section 5.5 - Decision making. The Board shall strive to make decisions by consensus, attempting to reconcile differing points of view based upon the best interests of the Co-op. If, in the opinion of a majority of directors present, diligent efforts have failed to produce a consensus and the issue requires immediate action, then such issue shall be decided by a two-thirds vote of directors.
Section 5.6 - Action without a meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting if a written consent to the action is signed by all directors and filed with the minutes of meetings. Such consents may be executed by e-mail. Any action without a meeting shall be read into the minutes of the next meeting of the board.
Section 5.7 - Open meetings. Meetings of the Board and all committees shall be open to owners. Sessions of a meeting may be closed only as to issues of a particularly sensitive nature. Action at a closed session shall be read into the minutes of meetings at the first opportunity which would not compromise the sensitivity of the matters at issue. Owners may otherwise be excluded from board or committee meetings only for cause.
Article VI Officers
Section 6.1 - Designation and qualifications. The principal officers of the Co-op shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board may designate other officers or assistant officers. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one director. All principal officers shall be directors.
Section 6.2 - Election, terms and removal. Officers shall be elected by the Board at its first meeting following election of new directors. Officers shall serve for terms of one year or until election of their successors. Officers may be removed and replaced by the Board at any time whenever the best interests of the Co-op would thereby be served.
Section 6.3 - Duties. In addition to signing or attesting to formal documents on behalf of the Co-op as authorized by the Board, officers shall have the following duties and such additional duties as are determined by the Board:
(a) The President shall be responsible for coordinating the activities of the Board and assuring the orderly conduct of all meetings;
(b) The Vice President shall be responsible for performing the duties of the President in his or her absence or disability and, as requested, assisting other officers in the performance of their duties;
(c) The Secretary shall be responsible for the recording and keeping of adequate minutes of all meetings of the Board and of owners, issuing notices required under these bylaws, and authenticating records of the Co-op; and
(d) The Treasurer shall oversee the maintenance of financial records, reporting of financial information and filing of required reports and returns.
Article VII Capital Stock
Section 7.1 - Issuance. To evidence capital funds provided by owners, the Co-op shall issue shares constituting membership stock within the meaning of Oregon law. Shares may be issued only to persons eligible for and admitted to ownership in the Co-op. Shares shall be issued only upon full payment of the stated value of the shares, as determined by the Board of Directors, which payment shall include returnable fees paid prior to adoption of these bylaws. Payment for shares shall not exceed three hundred dollars or such higher amount as may be permitted by ORS 59.025(11) or the corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted Oregon statute.
Section 7.2 - Terms. Shares shall be entitled to no dividend or other monetary return on capital. Shares shall not be transferable other than to or through the Co-op and may not be pledged as security for a debt. Shares shall be subject to assessment insofar as it may become necessary to increase the share purchase requirement of owners by reason of the current or prospective capital needs of the Co-op
Section 7.3 - Certificates. Owners, whether or not they are in good standing, shall be entitled to receive certificates evidencing outstanding shares. All certificates shall be signed personally or by facsimile by a principal officer of the Co-op and shall be numbered and registered by the Co-op. Each certificate shall have printed upon it such information as is required by law. The Co-op may issue a replacement certificate for any share alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed without requiring the giving of a bond or other security against related losses.
Section 7.4 - Redemption. Upon written request following voluntary termination of ownership, the share of the requesting owner, whether or not he or she is in good standing, shall be redeemed as soon as replacement capital has been secured by the Co-op from other owners. Shares shall also be redeemed as soon as practicable upon involuntary termination of ownership, upon death of the owner and under other compelling circumstances as determined by the Board. Shares shall be redeemable at the lesser of their carrying value on the books of the Co-op or their net book value. In the case of voluntary termination of ownership, a reasonable processing fee may be imposed, as determined by the Board. Reapplications for ownership after redemption shall be subject to full repayment of redemption proceeds and a reasonable reprocessing fee, if any, as determined by the Board.
Article VIII Patronage Refunds
Section 8.1 - Distribution of net earnings. The realized net earnings of the Co-op, to the extent attributable to the patronage of owners shall be allocated and distributed among owners in proportion to their patronage and in such manner and at such time as to constitute patronage dividends within the meaning of federal income tax law. In determining and allocating such adjusted net earnings, the Co-op shall use a single allocation unit except to the extent that it shall engage in any new and distinct line of business.
Section 8.2 - Exceptions. Net earnings may be reduced by such reasonable reserves for necessary business purposes as is determined by the Board. Any allocations of such a nominal amount as not to justify the expenses of distribution may, as determined by the Board, be excluded from distribution provided that they are not then or later distributed to other owners. Owners shall retain the right to waive in whole or in part by vote of owners any patronage refunds dividends to which they may be entitled.
Section 8.3 - Consent of owners. By obtaining or retaining ownership in the Co-op, each owner shall thereby consent to take into account, in the manner and to the extent required by Section 1385 of the Internal Revenue Code, the stated dollar amount of any qualified written notice of allocation in the taxable year in which such notice is received.
Section 8.4 – Retentions. A portion of patronage dividends may be retained for the reasonable capital needs of the Co-op. Such retentions shall be credited to revolving capital accounts in the names of recipient owners, shall accrue no monetary return on capital, and shall not be transferable other than to or through the Co-op. They shall be redeemed when determined by the Board to be no longer needed for capital purposes. At that time they shall be redeemed in the order of the oldest outstanding amounts and on a pro rata basis among such amounts. Retentions may also be redeemed under compelling circumstances as determined by the Board.
Section 8.5 - Net losses. No portion of a net operating loss realized by the Co-op shall be allocated to owners. The patronage portion of such losses shall be carried forward to offset patronage-sourced income of subsequent years. The nonpatronage portion of such losses shall be carried back and forward to offset nonpatronage-sourced income of prior and subsequent years as required or permitted under federal income tax law.
Section 8.6 - Forfeiture. Any distribution of patronage dividends or any redemption of an equity interest of the Co-op which remains unclaimed four years after the date authorized for payment may be forfeited by action of the Board. Any amount so forfeited shall revert to the Co-op if, at least six months prior to the declared date of forfeiture, notice that the payment is available has been mailed to the last-known address of the person shown by the Co-op's records to be entitled thereto.
Article IX Interpretation and Amendment of Bylaws
Section 9.1 - Interpretation. The Board of Directors shall have the power to interpret these rules, apply them to particular circumstances, and adopt policies in furtherance of them, provided that all such actions are reasonable and consistent with these rules.
Section 9.2 - Severability. In the event that any provision of these bylaws is determined to be invalid or unenforceable under any statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to such extent and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law without affecting the validity or enforceability of any other provision of these bylaws.
Section 9.3 - Amendment. These bylaws may be amended or repealed only by vote of owners, provided that the proposed amendments are stated in the notice of the vote of owners.