Still working on UNFI account

We are still negotiating with UNFI for a new account (see post below). We hope to have the account set in time for a delivery on March 31st. We’ll let you know as soon as we get the account active, and at that time all the back orders should be filled.

Our shelves are a bit bare, for a short period

Unfortunately, we did not receive the delivery from our biggest distributor (UNFI-United Natural Foods, Inc.) on March 10th and 17th. Since our start, we have been combining buying power with People’s Grocery in Oakland, buying products on their account. For a few reasons, this relationship has come to an end, and we are working with UNFI to establish our own account. Their have been a few snags in this process, leading to our missing two weeks’ of orders. (It should be noted that we have always paid our UNFI bills on time, and the snags have been bureaucratic, not financial.)

So, when will the orders next be delivered? We should have our new account established in order to complete the order for next week (March 25th). Keep your eyes out here, we’ll let you know when our next order is placed.

Board Elections are coming in 2010–Preliminary membership meeting

Curious about the process?

Interested in running?

Join us for an information session: Sunday, January 10, 3:30-5 pm

Our by-laws call for the formation of a new board in the next few months. The Core Group, which has been functioning as the defacto board since our inception in 2006, has run its course and it is time to hand the reins to new blood. This more members who participate, the the more successful the process, so join us if you can.

You’ll learn about:

• The board seats and the responsibilities each entails.
• How the nomination and election process works.
• The liabilities and assets that the new board will be responsible for.
• The 6-week transition period between the CoG Core Group and the newly elected CoG Board.
• The possible creation of an advisory board of food and activist luminaries.

Bring your questions and your comments.

When we’re done, stay for our Super Second Sunday event, this month: “Soup and Soul.”

Holiday hours: Dec 23- Jan 2

Below are our hours for the last two weeks of the year. Remember to place your order online by 8:00 Monday evenings to ensure your items will be in stock (and in your box) that week. If you can work a shift these weeks, please sign up on our holiday schedule here (we have people on vacation, and a few non-routine shifts so we can use extra coverage).

December 23-26

Wednesday 12/23: 2:00-8:00 (special Wednesday opening!)
Thursday 12/24: 2:00-8:00
Friday 12/25: Closed
Saturday 12/26: Closed

December 30-January 2

Wednesday 12/30: 2:00-8:00 (special Wednesday opening!)
Thursday 12/31: 2:00-6:00 (early close)
Friday 1/1 Closed
Saturday 1/2: 10:00-4:00

Full Belly:

Full Belly CSA is on vacation for these two weeks, so no boxes of produce

December 13 at The COG: Slurp! Crunch! Twang! Scribble! Splash! Hats!

Please join us at the Cooperative Grocery on Sunday December 13, 5pm-7pm, for a fun and yummy “Super Second Sunday!”  Members and non-members are all invited to come and enjoy:

• A sweet and savory potluck—bring goodies to share!
• Listen to live music of Alexis Harte! (alexisharte.com)
• See an aquaponics demonstration by Kijiji Grows! (kijijigrows.com)
• Make and decorate cards for the season!
• Wear a fabulous hat and be warm and cozy!
• Win door prizes when you shop!

And here’s a poem to get you in the festive mood:

Alexis Harte will provide the entertainment at the COG on December 13!

Thanksgiving week schedule

Special schedule this week due to Thanksgiving

Okay, so we don’t have any turkeys at the CoG, but we do offer great prices on other Thanksgiving trimmings. Organic canned pumpkin and baking supplies always jump to mind, plus a wide variety of spices and broths, cooking oil, and an enthusiastic recommendation from member Moira Kenney to put a bottle of Reed’s Spiced Apple Ginger Brew on your holiday table.

Thanksgiving week schedule:

• Online orders in by Monday at 8pm
• Shop and pick up orders Wednesday 2-6:30 PM
• Friday and Saturday regular hours
• Full Belly delivery on Friday

Help publicize us on Yelp!

If you write reviews on Yelp!, help new members find us by writing a review of CoG. We have a couple members who’ve written reviews, but it’s been a year since our last review. Log in now and promote us: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-cooperative-grocery-emeryville

General Meeting Sunday October 25, 6-7 PM

All CoG members, and anyone else interested in joining our co-op, are invited the last Sunday of every month to join us for a general meeting.

The format has been evolving, but basically the general meeting is an extension of the Core Group meetings. It is a chance for the larger membership to discuss the topics of the day. Core members always attend to provide updates and answer questions.

This Sunday’s topics will include:

• Permit update
• A new push to solve our technology challenges
• Setting up a Bulk Buying Bazaar
• Upcoming Super Second Sunday events

What time should we hold Super Second Sunday events?

We held our first Super Second Sunday event (Chocolate tasting) from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Is this the best time for these events? Please take 30 seconds to answer our poll to help us select the time that works best for the most people.

You can find the poll on the top of the right-side menu on all pages on our web site. Select all the times that work for you.

Once you vote, you can click on the “View Results” link to see how others have voted. (Vote early, but not often!)

SIT for Change

2nd Annual Sit-A-Thon: September 19, 2009 in MLK Park, Berkeley

We are a community partner of SIT for Change, a nationwide event held in conjunction with the International Day of Peace, Global Mala for Peace, and National Yoga Month. Two ways you can participate: Sign up some sponsors and sit! This works just like a walk-a-thon: friends and colleagues pledge to sponsor your partipation with a donation, but instead of walking, you sit. Or sign up to work the CoG’s info table.