Each spring the Board of Directors takes time away from the normal hustle and bustle of Board service to retreat and connect in an intentional way outside of the co-op. This year we visited the Oakwood-Lincoln Park Clubhouse on the 2nd of March for a day of collaboration, reflection, and just a little bit of fun. Below are some reflections from a few of the Directors who attended.

Adam Deen: Entering my third year on the Board I have grown accustomed to the demands of the role. It takes time to get into the swing of not only participating, but contributing meaningfully to board proceedings and decisions. The spring retreat (there will be a subsequent session held in the fall with different priorities) is an opportunity to not only review how and where we are spending our time, but to take advantage of time away from normal tasks to get to know one another and shape the personality and working style of the Board. It’s a big ask of anyone to take a day (usually a weekend day) away from their life to dedicate the betterment of the co-op, but I’m personally grateful for this time we get to spend together. The necessary evolution and turnover of the Board can make it hard for us to find our communication style and work cadence, but these are very vital things for each board to find in order to provide an effective bridge from the membership to the organization.

During this retreat, we were fortunate to host a consultant from Columinate, the national consulting cooperative that provides a Cooperative Board Leadership Development program in which Three Rivers Market is enrolled. For as long as I have been on the Board we have been supported by the same consultant, but during this year we transitioned to a new consultant. This was the first opportunity many of us had to meet and work with her, and her different perspective helped each of us look at our role and relationship to the co-op with fresh eyes. Looking back on this retreat I feel energized by the work we did, and excited for the things that are soon to come.

Teri O’Meara: As a newbie to the Board, this was my first spring retreat. One of our tasks this year was a review of the D Policies which is focused on guidelines for Board governance. It was interesting to compare Columinate’s and TRM’s policies since they have evolved in parallel. I found it helpful to learn more about policy governance and how policies can be changed, amended, and updated. I also found it helpful to hear from Jade, our consultant, about her experiences at another co-op through different levels on engagement from Member-Owner to Board Chair.

Alhen Drillich: At this year’s spring retreat, I was particularly grateful for the opportunity to learn from our new Columinate consultant. Her fresh perspective encouraged us to think critically about our governance structure and approach, which I found both refreshing and challenging. One of the most engaging parts of the day was our group activity focused on reimagining policies—it pushed us to step outside of our usual frameworks and explore new possibilities.

I left the retreat feeling confident in the focus areas we discussed and energized about the work ahead. These dedicated spaces for reflection and collaboration remind me how vital it is to continually adapt and improve how we serve our co-op and its members. I’m looking forward to seeing how our discussions shape the Board’s work in the coming months.

News and Notes:

Committee work is underway and we are excited about the work our Board Directors are undertaking hand in hand with members. If you are interested in volunteering for a committee, please fill out this form.

An abridged March Board meeting occurred during the spring retreat. If you would like to attend this month’s meeting, it will be on Thursday, April 10th, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at St James Episcopal Church, 1101 N Broadway. You can register here until Wednesday, April 9th, at 3 PM.