Why serve on the Board of Directors at the Ashland Food Coop? This was the question that I was faced with about a year ago.

I have lived, worked and shopped in Ashland for the last 20 years. Many of those years I have actively participated on non-profit boards, civic organizations and committees. However, in the last few years I stepped away from those responsibilities to focus on family and business life.

I am not going to lie, letting some of those external responsibilities go was freeing, but it also felt like a bit of a loss. Even though I have businesses that interface with our community every day, it wasn’t the same. Volunteering and being a part of an organization that brings together different talents, perspectives and people in our community is so satisfying. It offers a space to engage and learn from others that you otherwise may never have a chance to work with in your day-to-day life.

When election time rolled around last year for AFC it sparked my interest. The AFC is a dynamic organization and a true cornerstone of the Ashland community, so I felt compelled to learn more about being on the Board of Directors. By attending the BOD Reception event and attending a couple Board meetings it made the decision to jump in easy… I say that delicately, because being on the Board is a serious time commitment and takes a high level of dedication to stay abreast of all the many happenings here at 237 N. First Street.

If you are an AFC owner who is interested in how you can better contribute and participate in our community, I strongly encourage you to attend the March 11^th Reception to learn more or join us for a board meeting in these next months to hear firsthand what we are doing to make this co-op more successful and ultimately making our community a better place to live.