2025 Election

Board Candidates

A young man with curly brown hair and a beard smiling outdoors in front of a tree with green leaves.
Three oranges with one green leaf on top

Ben Weinberger

Shopping at the Co-op has become part of my family's weekly routine. My wife and I enjoy bringing our two children (ages 4 and 1) every Saturday to fill our containers from the bulk bins and pick out our produce. It would be meaningful to me to be involved at a deeper level. I care a lot about my food and where it comes from, and becoming involved with the Co-op feels like an extension of that. I like that it is locally governed for philosophical reasons and part of a larger network of co-ops for practical purposes.

I think I can bring a unique skill set and perspective to the board. I am self-taught at writing software (my career for almost 12 years now) and love learning new things.

A woman with short, wavy blonde hair smiling and showing her teeth, wearing a white blouse and a heart-shaped necklace, in an indoor setting with decorative wall panels in the background.
A cartoon-style drawing of a yellow corn on the cob with green husks.

Beth Reynolds

I am excited to present my candidacy for a position on the board of the food co-op here in the Berkshires. I believe that my unique background in finance, combined with my love for gardening, positions me well to help guide our co-op towards a thriving and sustainable future.

With a solid foundation in finance, I have spent years navigating the intricacies of investing, budgeting, financial planning, and strategic investment. I understand how to analyze financial reports and create effective strategies that can help our co-op grow while remaining accountable to our members. I am committed to ensuring that our co-op operates efficiently and effectively, providing us all with access to fresh, local, and organic products without compromising our values.

Beyond my professional experience, I am deeply passionate about gardening and the joys of growing our own food. Gardening has taught me the importance of patience, nurturing, and community. These values resonate deeply with the mission of our co-op, where we can cultivate not just plants but also relationships—among members, local farmers, and our neighbors. I believe that a thriving food co-op not only provides high-quality products but also serves as a hub for education and community engagement around sustainable agriculture and healthy living.

Together, we have the power to influence not only our own health and well-being but also the economic and environmental health of our community. I am eager to listen to your ideas, collaborate with fellow board members, and work to enhance the co-op experience for everyone.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve and to contribute to our co-op's mission of nourishing our community, supporting local farmers, and fostering sustainable practices.

A woman with dark hair wearing a pink shirt and large leopard print glasses, smiling outdoors.
A simple drawing of a pink mango with a green top.

Carole Murko

I believe food is more than sustenance — it’s medicine, connection, and community. For over two decades, I’ve lived in the Berkshires, cooking, teaching, and helping people rediscover the healing power of real, seasonal food. From hosting PBS food specials to creating community dinners and mindset retreats, my life’s work has centered on nourishing people from the inside out.

When I recently taught at the Co-op’s pop-up, I was deeply moved by the energy, enthusiasm, and mission I felt in the room. It was a wake-up call: this isn’t just a grocery store — it’s a heartbeat of the Berkshires.

The Co-op is a business, yes — but it’s also an essential community resource. It offers local goods, bulk buying, and access to healthy food in a time when so many are struggling with rising costs and uncertainty. I want to help ensure more people discover and benefit from what the Co-op offers — nourishment, access, and connection.

I bring decades of experience in business, marketing, fundraising, and board leadership — but more importantly, I bring heart, vision, and a fierce commitment to building community through food. I want to help the Co-op thrive as a vibrant, welcoming, and resilient hub for all — where nourishment, and joy meet.

I’m honored to be considered and would love your vote to serve on the Berkshire Food Co-op Board. Let’s keep growing this vital community — together.

A cartoon illustration of a wedge of yellow cheese with holes.

Round Up For Change Nominees

Logo of Alliance for a Viable Future featuring a green and blue circular design with arrow-like shapes radiating from the center
Logo for Berkshire Immigrant Center with stylized green mountain, red curved line, and blue horizontal lines next to text.
A sequence of five houses with the letters C, D, C, S, and B on the rooftops, each in different colors.
A logo for The People's Pantry featuring a paper bag with grapes and vegetables, and the text 'the PEOPLE'S PANTRY since 1999'
Colorful logo of the Berkshire Art Center with stylized letters and the name written below.
Logo for Blue Rider Stables Inc. featuring a white outline of a horse's head on a blue background with the company name curved around it.
Logo for Leander House, established in 1996, featuring a circular design with the text 'Leander House' and 'EST 1996'.
Logo for Pediatric Development Center with a silhouette of children playing
Colorful silhouettes of farm animals in a row, including a red rooster, orange pig, yellow dog, green cow, blue ox, and purple horse, with the text 'Sheffield Pride' beneath.
A cartoon fish wearing a red baseball cap with the letters 'BBB' underneath, resembling a logo.
Logo of Berkshire Natural Resources Council featuring a green and navy blue globe with a stylized landscape and the organization name.
Logo of the Literary Advisory Network featuring a blue outline of an open book surrounded by green stars, with the organization name written in blue circular text.
Blue circular seal with distressed text that reads: "YOUTH PROJECT" in the center, and "Railroad Street" at the top and "Established 1999" at the bottom.
Logo of CADMUS Lifeshing Association with a stylized house and checkmark in green, yellow, and orange colors.
Greenagers logo with a green arrow and white text for youth environment community
Logo for Moon in the Pond Farm Education featuring a white moon and text on a dark circular background.
The word 'ViMi' in blue text on a white background.
Silhouette of the word "Welcome" incorporated into the shape of a highway or road sign.
Logo of Berkshire Botanical Garden featuring a stylized yellow floral design and black text.
Berkshire Grown logo with green background, white text, and a green apple in place of the letter 'o'
Logo for Berkshire Children's Chorus featuring a white bird inside a musical note on a green background.
Berkshire Community Diaper Project logo with bold and regular text
Logo of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, featuring a stylized flame within a circle and the organization's name written below.
Open box labeled 'Canaan Kids Artspace' filled with paintbrushes, paints, and art supplies.

What Does The Board Do?

The Board of Directors is the governing body of the organization. In this capacity, it represents the interests of the Co-op owners, as well as the interests of other customers and stakeholders. The board is composed of nine members who are elected by the owners. The Board is responsible for ensuring effective organizational and financial performance of the Co-op. This includes overseeing the general manager, who is responsible for day-to-day management; developing clearly stated organizational policies and strategic objectives; monitoring compliance with policies and achievement of objectives by the management; monitoring financial performance; and ensuring that the values of the Co-op are reflected in all of its activities and actions. The Board is also responsible for interacting with the Co-op’s owners and other customers to better understand their needs and interests, and for anticipating trends that may impact our performance. In short, the Board’s role is to focus on the big picture in order to ensure our long-term success as a triple-bottom-line, community-oriented business.

CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

Serving on the Board of Directors is just one of several ways Co-op owners can contribute to and participate in the life of the Co-op. While directors are not expected to have specific prior training or experience in running a business or managing a grocery store, there are some characteristics that enable an individual to be effective in the role. As you consider whether to run for the Board, please reflect on how your interests, experience, and motivations align with the following characteristics of effective directors: 

  • Are enthusiastic about shopping at the Co-op.

  • Are dedicated to the Co-op’s mission and values.

  • Understand the role of governance.

  • Are able to think in terms of systems and context, as well as the big picture.

  • Are able to work collaboratively and respectfully as part of a team.

  • Have strong personal integrity, independent judgment, a sense of humor, and the courage of their convictions.

  • Are willing to prepare for and actively participate in board discussions and deliberations, and to abide by board decisions and established policies.

  • Are able to set aside any personal agendas and interests that may conflict with the greater good of the Co-op.

  • Are knowledgeable about cooperative businesses and food retailing, or are willing to take the time to learn.

  • Have the necessary time available to be a fully effective and contributing board member.

ELIGIBILITY FOR BOARD MEMBERSHIP 

  • Must be a Co-op owner in good standing and be at least 18 years of age.

  • Must not have a disqualifying conflict of interest.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOARD MEMBERS 

  • Hire, compensate, delegate responsibility to, and hold accountable a general manager.

  • Exercise due diligence in monitoring the Co-op’s financial condition.

  • Maintain confidentiality when required.

  • Faithfully honor all legal obligations that are integral to serving on board of directors, including the:

    • Duty of care,

    • Duty of loyalty, and

    • Duty of diligence.

EXPECTATIONS FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS 

  • Make a three-year commitment to serving on the board.
    (Board members are eligible for an additional two three-year terms, for which they must be re-elected by the ownership.)

  • Become familiar with the Co-op’s bylaws, policies, and governance process

  • Prepare for and participate actively in monthly board meetings

  • Attend board training sessions, an annual retreat, and the annual meeting of owners

  • Become familiar with financial statements (with appropriate training)

Note that the board is not involved in the daily operations of the store. Board members are compensated with a monthly $125 stipend, paid onto a store tab, which can be used to make Berkshire Food Co-op store purchases.

LOGISTICS AND TIME COMMITMENT 

  • Board meetings are held from 6:00 to 9:00 PM on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

  • Board members can expect to spend one to three hours reading materials in preparation for each meeting.

  • Each board member serves on one or two committees, which typically meet once every two to three months.

  • New board members attend a one-day orientation to cooperatives, which typically takes place in Keene, NH.

  • All board members attend a board retreat each year.

  • Each board member participates in several owner events each year, including the Annual Meeting.

ELECTION TIMELINE

  • Candidate Applications due (with headshot, resume, bio blurb) - Wednesday, September 17

  • Applicant Interviews - ongoing

  • Candidate Notification & Announcement

  • Voting Begins - Wednesday, October 15

  • Annual Meeting - Friday, October 24, 5:00 to 7:00 PM

  • Voting Ends - Sunday, October 26, 11:59 PM