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'V is for Verb' Campaign
'Proud To Be A 'WSW'' T-shirt [Click photo]
Geoff as 'Global Drummer' - 1988
'Mr. Tasty Platypus' - Campaign Logo
Geoff's Interactive Dance-Pop
'Who Moved My Fish?' Campaign Button
Ok. Shoot me. I love truly 'authentic' schmaltzy crap!
"be the cap!" [Click photo]
WSM's Elections Task Force 2008
[I love this pic from "I Love the Hippies at Weaver Street" - on Facebook!]
The official web-site chronicling my ten-year fight (2006-2016) for workers' rights in Weaver Street Market Co-operative, one of the largest worker-consumer, grocery co-operatives in the USA. Trusting this site will continue to serve as a useful resource for co-operators everywhere.
'Co-operation is a Verb'
'V is for Verb' Campaign
"be the co-op!" - Why?
Hi, I'm Geoff. I work in Southern Village, on the Hot Bar.
I'm standing as a Worker-Owner Candidate for the WSM Board of Directors because I love "The Weave," and I truly believe our co-op can be so much better than it is - as a real co-op!
Whole Foods has organic food. The Farmers Market sells local. Harris Teeter has a suggestions box. Even Wal-Mart makes community donations.
Surely, as a co-op, we should be better than all of them? But, are we?
Do we really pay attention to our workers and owners?
Do we all get a vote on the big decisions that change the very nature of our co-op?
Do we really have a bottom line that deals with our social health as a co-op as well as our financial health?
Do we really pay our workers a living wage?
Do we really 'own' our co-op - not just its capital; but the way it behaves? Do we really act like an 'authentic' co-op? Do we really treat 'co-operation' as a verb, that works both ways?
If you are are an owner or worker who feels that too often the answer is 'no,' and you'd like to start hearing 'yes,' then you might find some welcome solutions in this blog, and in my 'Tasty' candidacy for the Board of WSM.
If we want it, we can make it happen. Don't leave it to others. Get involved. Own. Vote. Reclaim. Be the co-op!
I really want to hear what you are thinking. So, please feel free to stop and chat, or post a comment on this blog.
If you have an issue or a question, which you want to raise in private, please feel free to contact me at: geoffgilson@hotmail.com.
We can be better than this!
[So, what the heck does all this reference to 'Tasty' mean, anyway?...ah ha!...you gotta read to find out!]
[Please Note: The views expressed on this blog are my own, and in no way represent the official position of Weaver Street Market Co-operative.]
I'm standing as a Worker-Owner Candidate for the WSM Board of Directors because I love "The Weave," and I truly believe our co-op can be so much better than it is - as a real co-op!
Whole Foods has organic food. The Farmers Market sells local. Harris Teeter has a suggestions box. Even Wal-Mart makes community donations.
Surely, as a co-op, we should be better than all of them? But, are we?
Do we really pay attention to our workers and owners?
Do we all get a vote on the big decisions that change the very nature of our co-op?
Do we really have a bottom line that deals with our social health as a co-op as well as our financial health?
Do we really pay our workers a living wage?
Do we really 'own' our co-op - not just its capital; but the way it behaves? Do we really act like an 'authentic' co-op? Do we really treat 'co-operation' as a verb, that works both ways?
If you are are an owner or worker who feels that too often the answer is 'no,' and you'd like to start hearing 'yes,' then you might find some welcome solutions in this blog, and in my 'Tasty' candidacy for the Board of WSM.
If we want it, we can make it happen. Don't leave it to others. Get involved. Own. Vote. Reclaim. Be the co-op!
I really want to hear what you are thinking. So, please feel free to stop and chat, or post a comment on this blog.
If you have an issue or a question, which you want to raise in private, please feel free to contact me at: geoffgilson@hotmail.com.
We can be better than this!
[So, what the heck does all this reference to 'Tasty' mean, anyway?...ah ha!...you gotta read to find out!]
[Please Note: The views expressed on this blog are my own, and in no way represent the official position of Weaver Street Market Co-operative.]
Geoff's Facebook Page
Geoff's 'Tasty' Election
'Proud To Be A 'WSW'' T-shirt [Click photo]
"be the co-op!" - How?
Should we owners and workers be consulted about and have a vote on the big changes to our co-op?
Yes. It helps to smooth implementation of those big changes by workers, and their acceptance by owners and consumers. That's Business Management 101.
Plus, we're a co-op...we own it...we're supposed to be asked! We're supposed to have a say! That's Democracy 101.
And a suggestions box or a management presentation is not democracy!
Democracy is a two-way conversation. Democracy is a vote at the end of the debate. Democracy is when we treat 'co-operation' as a verb, working both ways.
Are you a worker or owner who feels a little left out of what is happening to our "Weave"?
Do you believe that we can be better than this?
Do you want to do something about it?
If your answer is 'yes,' then you've taken the first step - you've started thinking 'yes,' rather than hearing 'no.'
Next, become an owner by speaking with your unit manager, or by contacting board@weaverstreetmarket.coop - you have to be an owner to vote.
Then, make sure to vote in the Board Elections.
And if you want to reclaim your co-op, if you want "The Weave" to be a truly 'authentic' co-op, then I invite you to vote to make Co-operation a Verb.
Yes. It helps to smooth implementation of those big changes by workers, and their acceptance by owners and consumers. That's Business Management 101.
Plus, we're a co-op...we own it...we're supposed to be asked! We're supposed to have a say! That's Democracy 101.
And a suggestions box or a management presentation is not democracy!
Democracy is a two-way conversation. Democracy is a vote at the end of the debate. Democracy is when we treat 'co-operation' as a verb, working both ways.
Are you a worker or owner who feels a little left out of what is happening to our "Weave"?
Do you believe that we can be better than this?
Do you want to do something about it?
If your answer is 'yes,' then you've taken the first step - you've started thinking 'yes,' rather than hearing 'no.'
Next, become an owner by speaking with your unit manager, or by contacting board@weaverstreetmarket.coop - you have to be an owner to vote.
Then, make sure to vote in the Board Elections.
And if you want to reclaim your co-op, if you want "The Weave" to be a truly 'authentic' co-op, then I invite you to vote to make Co-operation a Verb.
Geoff's 'Tasty' Election
Geoff as 'Global Drummer' - 1988
Posts
Geoff's WSM Publications
I've written three strategy publications for Weaver Street Market Co-operative, because I care where we're heading, and how - and because I genuinely believe we can be better than this:
The first, Informal Intimacy, is a 'manifesto' for improving the business and co-operative performance of WSM, so that it might better serve its owners, customers and workers.
The second, Tasty Platypus, is a blueprint for improving the democratic structures within WSM. This document formed a major basis for WSM's existing Elections Process.
Tasty Platypus was presented by me to the 2008 WSM Elections Task Force, on which I served with other Consumer- and Worker-Owners.
[The title Tasty Platypus is the inspiration for my 'Tasty' election campaign theme...and it's probably best not to ask how it came about!!]
The third strategy document is entitled Opportunity Knocks, and was my response to the WSM Employee Survey in 2011.
As all three strategy documents make clear, I'm a total believer in the democratization of decison-making in our co-operative - we should all get a vote in the big changes!
If you like what you're reading, let's make sure the Board of "The Weave" starts paying attention to what we owners and workers actually think and want to say.
But remember, this is not just about one person. It will take all of us, getting involved, to reclaim our co-op.
Together, let's make sure that we really are better than this!
The first, Informal Intimacy, is a 'manifesto' for improving the business and co-operative performance of WSM, so that it might better serve its owners, customers and workers.
The second, Tasty Platypus, is a blueprint for improving the democratic structures within WSM. This document formed a major basis for WSM's existing Elections Process.
Tasty Platypus was presented by me to the 2008 WSM Elections Task Force, on which I served with other Consumer- and Worker-Owners.
[The title Tasty Platypus is the inspiration for my 'Tasty' election campaign theme...and it's probably best not to ask how it came about!!]
The third strategy document is entitled Opportunity Knocks, and was my response to the WSM Employee Survey in 2011.
As all three strategy documents make clear, I'm a total believer in the democratization of decison-making in our co-operative - we should all get a vote in the big changes!
If you like what you're reading, let's make sure the Board of "The Weave" starts paying attention to what we owners and workers actually think and want to say.
But remember, this is not just about one person. It will take all of us, getting involved, to reclaim our co-op.
Together, let's make sure that we really are better than this!
Geoff's 'Tasty' Election
'Mr. Tasty Platypus' - Campaign Logo
"be the co-op!"
Weaver Street Geoff
- Geoff Gilson...
- ...is currently a 'tasty' writer, composer (POP VOXX), stand-up comedian and broadcaster, living in Carrboro, North Carolina.
In his previous incarnation, in the conventional corporate world, Geoff was a successful lawyer (UK/US), catering & entertainment management consultant (UK/US), and political speechwriter (UK/US: Dukakis - 1988).
Geoff is delighted that he left that life behind, and takes huge pride in being a co-op worker-owner, grafting alongside all of his 'tasty' mates (and 'tasty' matesses...) at Weaver Street Market Co-operative (on the Hot Bar, in Southern Village).
If you want to vote in the Election for WSM Board Directors, become a consumer- or worker-owner by contacting: board@weaverstreetmarket.coop.
If you have an issue or a question, which you want to raise in confidence, please feel free to contact Geoff at: geoffgilson@hotmail.com.
Geoff as POP VOXX
Geoff's Interactive Dance-Pop
Subscribe To WSG By E-mail
Geoff's 'Tasty' Election
'Who Moved My Fish?' Campaign Button
"be the co-op!"
[Ok. Little explanation. This section was first written back in 2007. And has been added to over the course of the five WSM Board Elections in which I have presented myself as a Worker-Owner Candidate.
I thought of deleting it, since it doesn't really make any sense. But you know? It does make sense. It represents the frustration of highlighting the same lack of democracy in our co-op, over and over and over again.
It really IS time we worked together, to reclaim our co-op, and to make it and us all we can truly be.]
You can support the 'Tasty' ("Co-operation is a Verb!") Campaign for the Board of "The Weave" by wearing this 'Who Moved My Fish?' Of-fish-ial Campaign Button.
The point is not that there wasn't some reasonable rationale for moving the seafood and meat counter out of the Carrboro store [in 2007].
It's that there was no meaningful discussion with owners and workers beforehand.
Not about moving the meat and seafood.
Nor about implementing any other aspect of the huge expansion plans that have caused, and are still causing, so much agitation and financial distress throughout "The Weave" (what I call Expansion I: 'The Debt' [2007]).
Nor about the removal of the Consumer-Owner and Senior Discounts in 2009.
Nor about extending the opening hours in 2010.
Nor about demanding that workers work 15% harder in 2011 (what I call Expansion II: 'The Overload' - just when you thought it was safe ...).
Nor about current plans to build three more stores, at a cost of millions of dollars, in the decade leading up to 2020 (Expansion III: 'The Leap Too Far').
Of course, choosing The Fish as a symbol is a metaphor. But it is a powerful metaphor.
It is a metaphor that underlines the basic co-operative principle that is repeated on the front page of every one of our monthly newsletters, namely that owners are supposed to be the primary source of all authority in our co-op.
I thought of deleting it, since it doesn't really make any sense. But you know? It does make sense. It represents the frustration of highlighting the same lack of democracy in our co-op, over and over and over again.
It really IS time we worked together, to reclaim our co-op, and to make it and us all we can truly be.]
You can support the 'Tasty' ("Co-operation is a Verb!") Campaign for the Board of "The Weave" by wearing this 'Who Moved My Fish?' Of-fish-ial Campaign Button.
The point is not that there wasn't some reasonable rationale for moving the seafood and meat counter out of the Carrboro store [in 2007].
It's that there was no meaningful discussion with owners and workers beforehand.
Not about moving the meat and seafood.
Nor about implementing any other aspect of the huge expansion plans that have caused, and are still causing, so much agitation and financial distress throughout "The Weave" (what I call Expansion I: 'The Debt' [2007]).
Nor about the removal of the Consumer-Owner and Senior Discounts in 2009.
Nor about extending the opening hours in 2010.
Nor about demanding that workers work 15% harder in 2011 (what I call Expansion II: 'The Overload' - just when you thought it was safe ...).
Nor about current plans to build three more stores, at a cost of millions of dollars, in the decade leading up to 2020 (Expansion III: 'The Leap Too Far').
Of course, choosing The Fish as a symbol is a metaphor. But it is a powerful metaphor.
It is a metaphor that underlines the basic co-operative principle that is repeated on the front page of every one of our monthly newsletters, namely that owners are supposed to be the primary source of all authority in our co-op.
That principle can only have meaning in practice if owners are allowed democratically to control all strategic decision-making.
I believe passionately in the notion of the democratization of decision-making, and I think I proved this with my contributions to WSM's Elections Task Force in 2008.
Now I'd welcome your support in allowing me to take this a step further, and in ensuring that the Board has on it a Director who truly believes in democratically paying attention to the cares and concerns of owners and the workforce.
I believe passionately in the notion of the democratization of decision-making, and I think I proved this with my contributions to WSM's Elections Task Force in 2008.
Now I'd welcome your support in allowing me to take this a step further, and in ensuring that the Board has on it a Director who truly believes in democratically paying attention to the cares and concerns of owners and the workforce.
Who believes passionately that 'co-operation' is a verb that should work both ways.
If you feel we can be better than we are now, then together let's make the Board take notice of us. Let's reclaim our co-op. Let's make it a truly 'authentic' co-op.
If you feel we can be better than we are now, then together let's make the Board take notice of us. Let's reclaim our co-op. Let's make it a truly 'authentic' co-op.
Geoff's 'Tasty' Kinkade
Ok. Shoot me. I love truly 'authentic' schmaltzy crap!
Geoff"s 'Tasty' Links
- Geoff on Facebook
- Geoff on LinkedIn
- Geoff [POP VOXX] on BandCamp
- Geoff [POP VOXX] on ReverbNation
- Geoff on OrangePolitics
- Geoff on Twitter
- Geoff on Wikipedia
- Geoff on Community Building
- Geoff on Policing
- FOCUS on Poverty
- Geoff on Obama
- Geoff on John Edwards
- Geoff's Book
- Geoff's Book Promo Site
- Geoff's Home Site
- Geoff on MySpace
Geoff's Co-op Apparel
Buy from a selection of stylish and 'tasty' apparel, designed by (er...) me, and to be found at my online T-shirt shop: happy daze.
I'm passionate about the co-operative cause, and "The Weave" in particular. Why not share my passion? Go on! Wear some 'tasty' apparel!
Let's take back our co-op. Let's make it truly 'authentic.' Please vote 'Co-operation is a Verb'!
[P.S. All proceeds go to the manufacturers. I don't get a cent!]
I'm passionate about the co-operative cause, and "The Weave" in particular. Why not share my passion? Go on! Wear some 'tasty' apparel!
Let's take back our co-op. Let's make it truly 'authentic.' Please vote 'Co-operation is a Verb'!
[P.S. All proceeds go to the manufacturers. I don't get a cent!]
Geoff's 'Tasty' Election
"be the cap!" [Click photo]
"we can be better than this!"
"In five or ten year's time, when we look back on expansion, I don't want owners or workers to have to ask themselves: did we mortgage our souls to get here?
I want to give us all one last chance to keep the heart in our co-op.
We are where we are. But where we are is not where we have to stay.
We can be a better co-op!"
[Geoff - WSM Board Election, 2008]
I want to give us all one last chance to keep the heart in our co-op.
We are where we are. But where we are is not where we have to stay.
We can be a better co-op!"
[Geoff - WSM Board Election, 2008]
WSM Elections
WSM's Elections Task Force 2008
WSM Links
- A Song of Solidarity (Red, White & Blue) - [Facebook]
- A Song of Solidarity (Red, White & Blue) - [ReverbNation]
- Weaver Street Market
- WSM Board of Directors
- Policy Governance
- WSM Elections Task Force
- WSM Elections Process
- WSM: "Informal Intimacy"
- WSM: "Opportunity Knocks!!"
- WSM: "Mission Statement"
- WSM: "Decision-Making"
'Co-operation is a Verb!'
[I love this pic from "I Love the Hippies at Weaver Street" - on Facebook!]
Employee Resources
- Empleo de Recursos para Los Hispanos
- Wellpath Health Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- N.C. Dept. of Labor
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Occupational Safety and Health Act
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Equal Employemt Opportunities Act
- Americans With Disabilities Act
- Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation Workers (DoL)
- Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers (DoL)
- United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
- North Carolina Employment Lawyers
- Abogados Hispanoparlantes
- Ms. Leto Copeley, Abogados, Chapel Hill
Co-op Links
- US National Directory of Food Co-operatives
- US Federation of Worker Co-operatives
- Grassroots Economic Organizing
- National Co-operative Grocers Association
- Co-operative Grocer
- Co-operative Development Services
- National Co-operative Bank
- National Co-operative Business Association
- University of Wisconsin Center for Co-operatives
- Small Farm Center
- Canadian Center for Co-operatives
- Co-operatives in the Community
- Rainbow Grocery Worker Co-operative
- The Co-operative Group (UK)
- United Co-operatives Ltd. (UK)
- Co-operatives UK
- Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op (UK)
- UK Conservative Co-operative Movement
- International Co-operative Alliance
- Mutualist.org: Free Market Anti-Capitalism
Geoff's 'Tasty' Book
'Tasty' Book Review
Britain's leading Intelligence investigative journalist, Robin Ramsay, says this of Maggie's Hammer:
"...the parade of the military-political characters from the Thatcher years, an almost palpable smell of the growing British arms industry in the period...kept me going...right to the end.
The author may be correct and has uncovered a significant and hitherto unknown set of SIS [British Intelligence] ops in the Middle East in support of US policy."
"...the parade of the military-political characters from the Thatcher years, an almost palpable smell of the growing British arms industry in the period...kept me going...right to the end.
The author may be correct and has uncovered a significant and hitherto unknown set of SIS [British Intelligence] ops in the Middle East in support of US policy."
Community Links
Geoff's Other 'Tasty' Campaign
Sustainability Links
- Friends of the Earth
- The Sierra Club
- Moors for the Future
- Peatscapes
- Peatlands
- Council for the Protection of Rural England
- National Trust
- The Nature Conservancy
- The Ecologist
- Ecodemia
- People & Planet
- Planet Stupid
- Transition Culture
- World Wildlife Fund
- London Zoological Society
- Corporate Consciousness
- Climate Counts
- China Dialogue
- NCSU Center for Environmental Farming Systems
- N.C. Choices
- Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
- Eastern Carolina Organics
- Orange County Extension
- Chatham County Extension
- Chatham Poultry Processing
- Stony UK
- Glenisk Dairy Co-operative (Ireland)
- Organic Allotment Life (UK)
Geoff's Other 'Tasty' Co-op
Blog Archive
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