Membership
What constitutes a member household?
A member household can be a family, a set of roommates, a group of friends or family, a single person . . . anyone you wish! A member household places ONE order to be submitted, and only ONE household name will be recognized by the order software and on the Yahoogroups! splits table. Anyone from a household may join the co-op Yahoogroups!.
Does the co-op accept non-working households?
No. Every household which benefits by being in the co-op must share in the work of the co-op in some way.
Is there a limit to the number of members/households the co-op can have?
Yes. The current limit is 14 households. This limit may be revisited during meeting discussions, however it currently supports our rotating 4-to-a-team work shares while minimizing “paperwork” & space required for delivery.
What are the responsibilities of member households?
* Pay annual membership fee of $10 (updated 3/09) to support the expenses of the co-op. This is due each spring
* Commit to working on a delivery team every three months
* When working delivery, arrive by 1:30 pm; When not working, deliver cooler by 1:30 pm
* Submit food orders by the order deadline (Sunday, 7pm on order due dates)
* Pick up orders after delivery in a timely manner so as not inconvenience the host family.
* Support positive means for resolving conflicts
* Use yahoogroups! list serve and data base to communicate with other members and post items for case-sharing on a monthly basis
Does the co-op offer a leave of absence status?
Yes. Anyone who has been an active working member for at least 3 consecutive months may request a leave of absence and still be considered “active”. Such leave may endure for a maximum of 4 months. (This includes your 2 month non-ordering allowance)
If you are taking a leave of absence, submit an e-mail request to the coordinator and notify the coordinator by e-mail when you are ready to return.
Is there any reason we might ask a member to leave the co-op?
Yes.
1. Repeatedly not doing their assigned job; bouncing checks; late orders or payments.
2. non-cooperative behavior
The decision to ask a member to leave the co-op for the reasons listed above is made by consensus of the whole group and executed by the Coordinator in writing.
What are the procedures for sponsoring a new member?
- The sponsoring household must orient the new member to all ordering and delivery procedures as well as all membership responsibilities. They serve as the first point of contact for all questions, problems, or concerns until the new member officially joins the group.
- The sponsoring household must notify & train new member on the online ordering system according to United’s pdf* ordering manual.
- New members must have two order cycles completed with another member before ordering on their own. This allows them to have gradual exposure to the innerworkings of the coop (enterering orders, claiming splits, observing/working delivery and reviewing policy) before actual joining.
- Potential new members are required to work at least one delivery with their host member before joining. This protects the new potential member (in case they decide it’s too much) and the group, from unpreparedness. * Note * New members are not likely to be added to their host family’s delivery crew team however, as new members are assigned based on space availability and need.
- Only after the previous orientation steps are taken should that new potential new member submit requests for catalog subscription and personal ordering ID’s. They may join the yahoogroups! list serve at any time after initial interest in the group.
- New members are committing to a year of ordering each month, even though there is no order minimum.
- If the co-op is full, then potential new members will be placed on a waiting list. They can join on a first come-first serve basis as spaces open up, as long as the orientation requirements are fulfilled. Names/Info can be added to the Yahoogroups! site Wait List database.
Updated 6/09 – KHott
