Take Thurston County's Plastic Bag Survey!

Thurston County wants your input!

Residents in Thurston County use an estimated 90 million plastic shopping bags per year. On average, each bag is used for only 12 minutes. Besides the energy and resources used to make bags, they can affect our environment and create a financial burden on local government when we are done using them.

Check out their website to take the survey or sign up for email updates. 

Plus, survey participants get a free reusable bag!

Particularly passionate about this wholly unnecessary threat to our environment? Go to one of the community meetings to express your opinion!

City	Location	Address	Date	Time
Rochester	Rochester Middle School Commons	9937 Hwy. 12 SW	Aug. 21, 2012	6 to 8 pm
Yelm	Grange building	302 Yelm St. SE	Aug. 22, 2012	6 to 8 pm
Bucoda	City Hall, Council chambers	110 N Main St.	Aug. 29, 2012	6 to 8 pm
Tenino	City Hall, Council chambers	149 Hodgden St. S	Aug. 30, 2012	6 to 8 pm
Rainier	City Hall	102 Rochester St. W	Sept. 5, 2012	6 to 8 pm
Tumwater	Fire Department Headquarters	311 Isreal Rd. SW	Sept. 6, 2012	6 to 8 pm
Lacey	City Hall, Community Room	420 College St. SE	Sept. 12, 2012	6 to 8 pm
Olympia	City Hall, Council chambers	601 4th Ave. E	Sept. 19, 2012	6 to 8 pm

Or coordinate a viewing of the entertaining documentary "Bag It" for your church, neighborhood, or community group. To view a trailer for the film, just go to their website!

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Donations "thank you" from Volunteer Harvey Conner's Family

We recently received this note from volunteer Harvey Conner's family, regarding the donations that many Co-op members made at the registers in his honor:

It was really amazing to have so many staff and members reach out tous after Harvey's passing. It was especially moving to hear theirpersonal tributes to Harvey at his memorial. We're very honored by ourfriends at the coop and sincerely appreciate the friendship you showedHarvey.  Member donations were a real surprise and they sure helpedcover the unanticipated costs! Please convey our thanks as broadly aspossible! 

You can read more about Harvey, a wonderful Co-op volunteer who was struck and killed while crossing Pacific Ave. after his volunteer shift, in this Olympian article. 

Harvey's family is collaborating with the Co-op to devise safety improvements that can prevent this type of tragedy from happening again. In the meantime, please be very careful when crossing Pacific Avenue, regardless of whether you are on foot, bike, or driving. 

Join us for Middle Eastern Cooking this Sunday! Only $5!

Hemp History Week Events at the Co-op!

Proposed Board Agenda for this Thursday

Board meetings take place the third Thursday of each month at our downtown office (610 Columbia Ave).

Proposed Board Agenda for May 17, 2012 6:30-9:30 pm

Agenda

Announcements                                                                                  2 min

Mission Statement/ Commitments Review                                           3 min

Member Comment                                                                              5 min

BPC Report                                                                                        5 min

Companeros!                                                                                     20 min

Expansion report                                                                                15 min

Co-op Convo                                                                                    15 min

Committee Reports (incl. expansion & convo)                                    15 min

Approval of expenses reimbursement                                                   5 min

Hershey’s Letter                                                                               15 min

Retreat planning questions                                                                  20 min

                                                      Total Meeting Time:                 2 hours 5 min

"Creating Cooperatives" Conference planners - including companeros from CECOSESOLA!

Creating Cooperatives: Reclaiming our Economy and Livelihood

Conference coming June 1 & 2!

OLYMPIA CO-OP CONFERENCE! (June 1 & 2)

The Olympia Food Co-op, in partnership with The Evergreen State College, Mijas, CECOSESOLA and the Northwest Cooperative Development Center proudly presents:

CREATING COOPERATIVES: RECLAIMING OUR ECONOMY & LIVELIHOOD

June 1-2, right here in Olympia!

What are co-ops already doing for our community, and what else could they do? What makes a co-op different from "regular" business models? What's the difference between a co-op and a collective?

Plus, introducing special guests Sneida, Javier, Ricardo & Jesus: four workers from the CECOSESOLA cooperative in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. CECOSESOLA is a grassroots, multi-tiered co-op with farms, food markets, a funeral home, and a health center.

Mark your calendar!