As our Annual Meeting approaches and my tenure on the co-op board ends, I want to express my thanks to all the Menomonie Market Food Co-op staff as well as our co-op owners and shoppers for being quite the flexible and dedicated heroes, especially during the past year.

Each year of my board tenure, we have had a different format for the Annual Meeting. Last year’s seemed to hit all the sweet spots—great owner participation, showing off the successes of our farmers, community partners, the beautiful pavilion that exists because of Menomonie Market Food Co-op and city partnership, as well as staff recognition and a beautiful meal thanks to the deli with time to greet each other and make new connections. What a difference a year makes!

Our co-op community connections remain strong and healthy. It’s such a bragging point for me that Menomonie Market Food Co-op was the first grocery store to be ready with the necessary barriers and protective distancing as well as online ordering when the COVID-19 outbreak began. I’m not sure if you are aware, but there really wasn’t much guidance for businesses at that time. This was purely leadership in action on the part of the management staff at Menomonie Market. I am sincerely hoping everyone recognizes the bravery of all the staff that continues to report to work even though the regional COVID-19 spread isn’t improving. I also felt so lucky and proud to be a grocery owner (That’s what we are, folks!) with Crystal being on duty to communicate directly with producers and assure supply chain continuation. Thanks to the farmers for the fabulous quality of meats, dairy, produce, and all the items we rely on for home cooking. I’m also very grateful that there are now more deli items available to take home—those “winner winner rotisserie chicken for dinner” and that fab, fresh pizza!

I’m also grateful for the ability to “round up” and support the many ways Menomonie Market Food Co-op enhances community health. We meet our “Ends” in so many ways with this little bit of empowerment on the part of shoppers. (Stay tuned for the Annual Meeting report to learn about all the successes of Round Up for Good.)

There is always time to be grateful and no better time than now. Thanks for supporting my tenure as a board member and thanks for your continuing support of Menomonie Market Food Co-op. Let’s turn the corner on this COVID-19 pandemic ASAP!