DEAR DNF CO-OPERATORS

Winter Solstice is upon us, the darkest days of the year. As Mother Nature readies to turn the lights back on, DNF Co-op is likewise navigating a return to the light, a hopeful and engaged time for our cooperative.

We truly appreciate the groundswell of concern, support and communication from member-owners and the community at large during this challenging time.  Nothing motivates the board more than a communicative membership! Ideas, suggestions, questions and donations have been rolling in. We hear you and we appreciate you!

Meeting Scheduled

In response to this outpouring of interest, the board is calling the membership together for a State of the Co-op gathering on Thursday, January 24 from 6-8 pm at First United Methodist Church in Durango.

We are also forming the Membership Communication Committee (MCC). This member-driven committee will be a working, non-voting committee whose role is to collect and organize Member-Owner observations and suggestion, providing a streamlined process for democratic participation. If you are interested in getting this committee organized, please email your interest to the board at board@durangonaturalfoods.coop, and prepare to roll up your sleeves for some community organizing!

What else can you do?

Shop the co-op! We challenge member-owners to increase the percentage of groceries you purchase at DNF, and to encourage your circles of influence to do the same. If you are able, we appreciate donations to the Vendor Debt Relief Fund via our GoFundMe page. Please share the link with friends and family. Don’t forget to thank DNF staff when you shop at the store – they are working hard to provide all of us with an uplifting, safe and satisfying shopping experience.

Hard Decisions

As we move through these financially difficult times, we want you to know the Board of Directors is fully engaged. We are committed to transparency and regular communication with you as we move ahead together. We are making hard business decisions to bring DNF’s financial conditions back to good standing. To this end, the board decided to suspend the weekly 10% member-owner discount in order to retain nearly $1,000 weekly. This savings will help to pay down our debt to local farmers, producers and service vendors, and maintain a positive cash flow to keep our shelves stocked.  We are fortunate to have a talented administrative and retail team working everyday to provide all of us with the food and products that we need and want.

Sherpa Is Leaving

Our general manager, Sherpa, has resigned and will be leaving DNF on December 31, 2018. Sherpa has enriched our DNF community with his heart-filled presence and the co-op has benefited tremendously from his knowledge. The board is immensely grateful to Sherpa and we wish him well as he returns to Fort Collins to reunite with wife and family. Board member Jules Masterjohn will step in as Interim General Manager during the transition period, and will resign from the Board effective December 31, 2018. She will work closely with DNF staff and consultants over the next 4 months to support the staff, engage the membership and to increase community support.

When Sherpa arrived at DNF Co-op over 2 years ago, he hung a sign in the DNF office. It states, “We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.” Let’s come together to be informed and inspired, to share ideas and start envisioning a thriving future for Durango Natural Foods Co-op.

After all, we are all in this together and the co-op belongs to all of us!!

Cooperatively Yours,
The DNF Board of Directors
Kate, Jules, Dan, Jamie, Kelly, Cathy and Tom