Congratulations to the 2014 Monadnock Food Co-op Co-operator of the Year: Sandy Hamm
We announced the inaugural Monadnock Food Co-op Co-operator of the Year Award at our Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 25, 2014. Sandy wasn’t able to attend the ceremony, but she shared these thoughts with us in her place. CONGRATS SANDY!
Why am I a Member-Owner and regular customer of the Co-op?
Supporting the Co-op is like supporting family. This is my Co-op and I have a commitment to its overall well being. I choose to do my shopping at the Co-op because what is offered is of such good quality. My purchases support fair trade practices and local food producers and help to pay the wages of Co-op staff. I appreciate the responsiveness of the staff to requests for new products and the openness to share ideas. I have enjoyed the opportunity as a workshop instructor to share skills and knowledge about practices that in the past may have been learned from family elders or neighbors.
It has been very hard to write something brief to send you because there is so much to say and I do not want to omit something important. It was much the same as it was when this award was first announced. So many folks came to mind – from local food producers that I have come to know, to the staff of the Co-op itself, to other members – the Co-op is gifted with so many who are knowledgeable, caring, consistent, generous and active in living out the Co-op principals. How could I nominate just one? To have been selected is a most humbling experience.
Where else can you go and encounter folks with such positive spirits, support fair trade practices and quality local jobs and at the same time come away nourished by the experience? I am so grateful that the Monadnock Food Co-op is alive and growing, and almost in my backyard!
Thank you for this honor and thank you to each of you for the gifts you share in support of our Monadnock Food Co-op.
The Monadnock Food Co-op Co-operator of the Year Award will be given each year to a Member-Owner, staff member or community partner (ex. farmer, organization, business) who exemplifies co-operative values. Those values are self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, solidarity, honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
