Honest Weight Food Co-op’s Community Newsletter for Membership • Staff • Governance • Management
Honest
Published monthly by the Communications Committee to promote transparency, report without bias, and sustain community.
SLATE
Could You Help to Guide HWFC? What if you could get a taste of Co-op governance in just 1 minute?
Much more than just a grocery store, Honest Weight is a Member-owned cooperative, and its future depends on Member-Owners who participate, ask questions, and help make thoughtful decisions. Try this quiz offering 3 Co-op scenarios. Make a few quick choices to discover what kind of governance strength you might bring to Honest Weight; how would you respond to each? Our MOs make decisions like this all the time, often without realizing it. There are no right or wrong answers. Good governance means listening, asking questions, and thinking about the Co-op’s future.
1. The Co-op has limited funds for one
major priority. What would you do first? a. Ask what matters most to Membership; review the facts. b. Choose the most exciting improvement. c. Focus on the strongest long-term financial case. d. Look for a compromise that benefits several groups.
s e p t e m B e r 2O26 Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667
honestslate@honestweight.coop • https://www.honestweight.coop/
2.
Membership strongly disagrees about a proposed change. What’s your first move? a. Hear both sides; look for common ground. b. Review the proposal and likely outcomes. c. Ask how it fits into the Co-op’s long-term mission. d. Make sure quieter MOs are heard.
3.
Which sounds most like you? a. I enjoy bringing people together. b. I like understanding numbers and details. c. I naturally think about the future. d. I notice who isn’t being heard.
What Kind of Governance Voice Are You?
If you selected mostly option a from each round, you may be a Consensus Builder— someone who naturally looks for common ground and ways to move people forward together. If you picked mostly option b, you may be a Practical Thinker— someone who likes facts, details, and understanding consequences. If you leaned toward option c, you may be a Big Picture Thinker—someone who naturally looks ahead and thinks about where the Co-op could go. If you chose mostly d, you may be a Membership Advocate—someone who naturally thinks about people, participation, and making sure Member-Owners have a voice. Could serving on the Governance Review Council (GRC) be a good fit for you? If this quiz sparks your interest, we invite you to learn more about Honest Weight’s GRC! As one of HWFC’s governance groups, this council supports strong, democratic Co-op leadership and transparent, inclusive decision making.
honestslate@honestweight.coop
For our 50th Anniversary, please send any memories or photos to MemberServices@honestweight.coop.
You don’t need to be an expert—just a Member-Owner who cares and wants to participate. GRC meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7pm and welcomes all interested Member-Owners. The approximate monthly time commitment is 3 hours.
Your Voice Could Make a Difference.
Honest Weight’s Governance Review Council (GRC) needs MOs with different strengths and perspectives—Consensus Builders, Practical Thinkers, Big Picture Thinkers, and Membership Advocates alike. Members of the GRC must be elected to serve.
An election for two open GRC seats will be held at the Regular Membership Meeting on Oct. 25, 2026. Curious about the GRC? Learn more at honestweight.coop/page/grc-100.html or reach out directly to GRC@honestweight.coop. Your voice matters! Your Co-op needs you. —Steve Konsistorum
CONTENTS Seafood Changes............................ Changes............................ 2 ......................... 2 Book Club to Meet......................... At a Crossroads. Crossroads............................... 3 An HWFC Timeline........................... 4 .................. 4 Maple Almond Granola.................. Suggestion Box Q & A...................... 5 Hours Bank Ranks Thanks............... 6 Board Decisions ............................. 6 Committee Corner ......................... 7 MO Announcements...................... Announcements...................... 8 https://www.honestweight.coop/
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Honest Slate
September 2026
Seafood Department Pivots After Closure of Local Steelhead Trout Supplier by Robin D. Schatz In early August, Hudson Valley Fisheries, a sustainable, land-based steelhead trout farm in Greenport (just outside of Hudson), told customers it was “ceasing operations” after eight years of serving customers in NYC, the Hudson Valley, and across the US. Reasons cited on social media included rising operating costs and access to adequate water supplies to support expansion. “On behalf of everyone at Hudson Valley Fisheries, thank you for your business and for supporting sustainable aquaculture. It has been our privilege to serve you and we sincerely appreciate you,” the company said in a statement posted on its website. For Dylan Guerrette, Meat & Seafood Manager at Honest Weight, the news came as a shock. He had just sent his weekly Saturday email to the fish farm to confirm his standing order of fresh and frozen steelhead trout. The next day, he heard from the sales rep: they would no longer be making deliveries to Honest Weight and were phasing out operations over three months. She didn’t offer any further information. “I didn’t want to pry,” Guerrette said. “We definitely did some good business with them.”
He said he wished he had known of the fishery’s economic troubles beforehand, and that perhaps the Co-op could have helped in some way to support them. Guerrette has been manager of Meat & Seafood for about a year, but the Co-op received fish from Hudson Valley Fisheries long before he joined. Earlier this year, the Co-op served steelhead trout samples in the store and, after Earth Day, began stocking both fresh fillets and whole fish in addition to frozen fillets and smoked fish. Sales were going strong—about $400 to $500 a week overall, he said. “It was a shame,” added Tyler McIntosh, assistant manager for Meat & Seafood, adding that the Co-op is all about supporting small local businesses.
What’s a loyal customer to do? Guerrette currently stocks ocean-farmed steelhead trout from Iceland but is interested in finding a local supplier similar to Hudson Valley Fisheries. He has seen a growing interest in eating seafood as a protein source among HWFC shoppers and strives to provide them with sustainable, if not local, alternatives.
Honest Weight was just one of many wholesale and retail customers that lost a beloved product; farmers’ markets in NYC, fine restaurants, and local food shops also abruptly lost access to the fish and had to scramble for alternatives. I rushed to my local farm store to see if they had any left in the freezer; I could only score a package of cold-smoked trout. The Co-op had a few packages left as well, and I grabbed one.
The Co-op stocks many wild-caught fish varieties frozen at sea for optimal freshness, such as Papa’s Catch wild Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets and sablefish (black cod) from Sitka Seafood Market, which markets the fish of Alaskan small-boat fishermen. If you were a fan of the local steelhead trout, don’t despair just yet. The Co-op is working to provide many sustainable and healthful options.
Book Club Meets This Month: Cleanup on Aisle Five Hello Co-op Community! We had the amazing good fortune of having an attendee at July’s discussion who’d actually met Wangari Maathai! She traveled up to be with us from the Bronx and had a lot to add. September’s title is Cleanup on Aisle Five: Essential Work, Poverty Wages, and the View from Behind the Supermarket Register by Ann Larson. Unemployed during the pandemic, journalist and activist Ann Larson found work as a cashier at a supermarket in Utah. Though she had written about low-wage work for years, nothing could have prepared her for what she experienced.
Recently, a restaurant in Saratoga Springs that had regularly served Hudson Valley Fisheries’ steelhead trout replaced it with Faroe Island salmon—just not the same thing. The red-orange-fleshed trout had a mild but distinctive flavor, not unlike salmon but still unique; it lent itself to a variety of preparations. In fact, my doctor had insisted I only eat Hudson Valley Fisheries fish because of pure conditions under which they were raised, without antibiotics or contamination from heavy metals or microplastics.
Cleanup on Aisle Five is Larson’s deep dive into how supermarkets operate from the inside out: from low-wage workers stocking shelves and customers coming through at all hours, to the communities these stores serve, and the larger capitalist forces and corporate interests at play controlling how we shop for food. She chronicles the evolution of the grocery store, unpacks political implications of battles between shoppers and staff, and invites us to imagine grocery stores as places to foster community, even equity—if we separate food distribution from profit motive.
The book is available at Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza at 20% off for Honest Weight Book Club readers (you do not have to be an HWFC member). Please note they moved to a new location in the Plaza (in the old Eastern Mountain Sports spot in the back corner). Member Services will have loaner copies available; Ann might be Zooming in for the discussion; we’ll keep you posted.
Thurs., Sept. 17 • 6–7:30 pm in the HWFC Community Room. Join us for snacks, conversation, and connection.
November’s book: An Armsfull of Birds: A Personal Field Guide to Love, Loss, and Commitment by yours truly. Keep reading, folks! —Cara Benson
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
September 2026
Honest Slate
Crossroads: Finding Your New Place
It was not until she worked as regional HR director for Walmart in Valencia, CA, that Gloria truly grabbed the opportunity to utilize her “love language” in a corporate setting. Reby Marsha Lazarus sponsible for more than 10,000 employees, Are you at a crossroads? Recently retired or she sometimes drove over 350 miles into the anticipating retirement? It’s not unusual for Mojave Desert. “I interacted with executives folks in retirement or career hiatus to seek and hourly employees, some of whom lived out a new sense of purpose (or return to an in their cars in parking lots,” Gloria explained. earlier passion or calling)! Recognizing that “Working at Walmart, you learn to care for calling can take “traveling back” to those ex- people on a different level and give all emperiences that really mattered (and may still). ployees a pathway—education—to improve HWFC Member-Owner Gloria Archer and I sat their financial futures. down several months after meeting on my checkout line at the Co-op and did just that. “At least 12 employees that I know of started as clerks and ended up graduating from Gloria has been a Co-op MO since 2019. “My college. One was our team secretary, a single diet of mainly fish and vegetables has really mom with 3 children. I worked with her and changed my life. I feel great all the time; the encouraged her; she went to college and beCo-op really helps me to stick with this diet!” came a manager. That was what I got the biggest bang out of…actually caring for people!” Having retired from a 31-year successful and highly demanding career in Human Resourc- I couldn’t help but think of researcher Brené es, her most joyful times have been out in na- Brown, who Gloria follows on LinkedIn, deture, in the garden, and sharing her bounty (in scribed as “a storyteller and courage-buildmany ways!) with others. er.” “Brown’s studies,” Gloria explained, “are around human connection, being authentic, Gloria grew up outside Saugerties, NY. “We and bringing these qualities into businesses. were 6 kids and basically ate what we grew. And I realized, that was for me!” Our garden was probably as large as my whole land plot here…we had chickens, ducks, and “Sounds like this was a role outside of your goats, and 50 apple trees. formal job responsibilities,” I suggested. “Yes. It was about listening to people…but [it was] “Many years later,” she shared, “I learned that challenging to remember each person! Every people of color were not allowed to live in the store had over 600 employees. I encouraged actual township. But it didn’t matter. We had folks to come up to me and just say hello. 26 acres, lots of freedom, and everything we Being ignored or letting people feel like they needed. My siblings were our best friends. don’t matter, I feel, is a sin…and something that I had experienced. 99% of my career, I “My mom was a fantastic cook and very car- was the only person of color on the executive ing when it came to feeding us. If my dad or management levels and often, initially, discame home with fish, she would make sure counted. But I would tell myself and the emthat every single bone was removed before ployees, ‘We can do this! It’s not for anybody serving it! It was my mother’s love language.” else, it’s for each of us!’” “Did you inherit your mother’s love lan- As for many, 9/11 disrupted Gloria’s career. guage?” “Yes! My sisters and I take great care “My sister worked at the World Trade Center in preparing meals for family and friends.” and came to visit me in Dallas. She could not return to New York as all flights were canGloria’s career took her all over the US with a celed. That’s when we ended up digging my wide variety of opportunities. She started out first garden and a new door opened.” in banking, then drove the only female-driven trucks at that time for the Hanes Corporation. Twenty-five years later, Gloria and I sat in her She trained salespeople for Toyota. Her most quiet (except for the birds chirping) backyard; demanding position was with Homeland Se- I realized how totally hidden from view we curity, interviewing and evaluating hundreds were, behind her almost century-old house, of TSA workers for airports nationwide. just minutes from downtown Albany.
3 “Oh, look at that beautiful monarch. It just flew over there on top of the marigolds. There it goes!” She pointed to a bright red cardinal—a regular—then, a patch filled with corn last year. “It was probably 11 feet tall, tremendous! But squirrels got into every last one. I shed tears on that one. Yes, there are disappointments, frustrations, and a lot of physical aches and pains from bringing in soil and digging, bending…” A love of nature is what drew Gloria to gardening. “Growing up surrounded by nature ‘planted seeds’ within me.” It was easy to feel Gloria’s deep appreciation for all that she had. She showed me marigolds and lemon balm planted beside tomato plants to keep insects away. “I plant a trio of corn, beans, and squash because each contributes something different to the soil. “You’re supposed to jam [corn] plants in close to each other. That’s what they love; that’s how they self-pollinate. Last year, I would sit in my lounge chair and enjoy the shade from the corn stalks. The sound of leaves rubbing against each other was like a peace I had never experienced. “I used to have a tremendous amount of bees and butterflies. Little by little, they are disappearing. That’s why I have echinacea and Mexican heather. Birds bring common milkweed to the soil through their droppings. Butterflies love milkweed when it’s blooming, beautiful pink flowers. Then I put some heather and echinacea in vases and enjoy that beauty inside and outside! “It’s wonderful to be home after so many years of traveling all over the country. I’m out here every morning around 6:30. There’s a beauty to planting seeds, especially when you see that first little green spot…and gratifying to be able to share with others these delicious vegetables, just as my mom did, way back when.” If you’re looking to explore what’s next for you, whether in retirement or if you are still in the workforce, please join me on Wed., Nov. 4, at 1pm in the Community Room. Together, in an open-spirited conversation, folks can reflect on what matters most, brainstorm together, and gain clarity on possible next steps. To register, click here.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
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September 2026
Honest Slate
HWFC turns
Outreach Gains Outstanding Standing
50!
Honest Weight Food Co-op celebrates its 50th anniversary with a day of live music, vendors, samplings, art, & craft projects!
Saturday, Sept. 19 • 11am–4pm
in our parking lot • tie-dye your own HWFC T-shirt • sidewalk chalk contest • dot mandalas • community painting • raffles • birthday cake & more! rain date: Sept. 20
Maple Almond
granola
Ingredients
· 4 cups rolled oats · ½ cup slivered almonds · 1½ cups sliced almonds · 1 cup whole almonds (roughly chopped, if desired)
Method
y Years a Co-o t f p Fi
Honest Weight recently was named a 2026 Community Partner Award recipient by the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York in recognition of its partnership and commitment to local communities. This distinction is presented annually to organizations, businesses, or individuals outside the legal profession that have helped expand access to Capital Region civil legal services and food resources. The Co-op will be formally recognized at a Justice for All Awards Celebration on Oct. 7 at The Edison Downtown in Schenectady. “This recognition highlights [HWFC’s] impactful work in the food justice and community care space, which aligns with [our] theme of Rooted in Justice—connecting food security, housing, and legal support to build stronger communities,” their website states.
Where were you when HWFC began? Here’s a quick timeline of major events our unique Co-op has experienced:
• 1976 ~20 friends started HWFC
in Albany
• 1977 Board & MOs voted to rent
the Quail St. storefront
• 1977 Hired first paid staff, opened to the public
• 1995 Moved to larger space on Central Avenue
Congratulations to Outreach Director Anastasia Rodgers and team!
• 1997 Opened in-house deli & café
Almond lovers! Looking to add a little
• 2003 Replaced GM with CMT (Collective Management Team)
more crunch in your life? This recipe makes a wonderful topping for yogurt and ice cream and can be enjoyed on its own as well. Ingredients can be found in the Bulk section at HW. · ¼ cup ground flaxseed · ½ cup finely shredded unsweetened coconut · ½ cup maple syrup · ½ cup oil (coconut, avocado, or olive) · 1½ tsp salt · 2 tsp cinnamon
• Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. • Combine the oats, slivered almonds, sliced almonds, whole almonds, ground flax, and shredded coconut in a large mixing bowl. • Season the dry mix with salt and cinnamon, then stir well. • Pour in the maple syrup and oil. Stir until every piece is wet and coated. • Spread the mix evenly onto the baking sheet. • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir halfway through so it browns evenly. • Cool completely on the pan without touching it to form big, crunchy clusters. • Store in a sealed container for up to 3 weeks. For longer shelf life, refrigerate or freeze. —Nina Martinson
• 2004 Voted to build larger store • 2012 Replaced CMT with LT
(Leadership Team)
• 2013 Opened Watervliet
Avenue location
• 2015 Reaffirmed Member-Owner Time Investment Program • 2016 Replaced LT with CCO (Chief Cooperative Officer) • 2022 Replaced CCO with CLM (Cooperative Leadership Manager) • 2026 Here we are! • 2027 Final building loan payment
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
September 2026
Honest Slate
5
Q&A
Q: The third bathroom is missing a hook on the door! A: It has been replaced. The doors have recently been painted and the paint needed to harden before replacing them.
Q: Parking lot really needs to be resurfaced. A: The parking lot is in process. It involves more engineering than the resurfacing. We have to fix the water tables underneath first. Engineer is working on it.
Q: Can the bulk little yellow labels be put in tape dispensers? A: We are looking for appropriate dispensers. Thank you for the suggestion.
Q: The mats in the front are often overlapped and create a tripping hazard. Please check them. A: We do check this on a regular basis. Let us know if you notice it again.
Q: Very disappointed that the Co-op “did away” with the reduced bakery items. The 3 oz sweet breads are $4.99; it was great to get one for $3. I gave a pie marked down to a family who’d never be able to pay $23. Please reconsider your decision and your ideas on fixed income folks! A: Our decision is based on a commitment to quality. We want guests to enjoy our food at peak freshness and quality. Thanks for understanding and supporting our goal to offer the best food experience we can. [Note: In August’s Q&A it was explained that warm weather months are suboptimal for reduced bread integrity.]
SUGGESTION BOX
Suggestion Box answers are provided by our Honest Weight managers and departments.
Q: A customer stopped at the service desk to praise the new produce layout. ♥ A: Thank you for letting us know! Q: A customer stopped in to say thank you for the Free Food Fridge. He uses it often. A: We’re glad it is useful. Q: Please stop putting onions/scallions in everything in Deli. Thanks. ♥ Especially the rice in the hot bar. But it would be great to buy some salads/etc. with no onions. A: Please note we will be adding rice cookers to our hot bar—offering fresh steamed rice daily—stay tuned. Q: Can we carry Cabot American cheese? The orange one tastes great! A: At this time, we will not be adding another cheese option on, but we truly appreciate the suggestion and will keep it in mind for the future. Q Three cheers for the return of the housemade gochujang snickerdoodle! A: Thanks so much, so glad you enjoy them. Q: Hot bar too spicy. Happens frequently. I have recently decreased coming to HW as I often came for the hot bar food. Very disappointing + always rice! A: Our current hot bar theme is Korean, and many of the bold flavors and ingredients traditionally used in Korean cuisine naturally bring some heat and spice. We’ll be introducing a new theme and cuisine every 2 weeks, giving our guests the opportunity to explore a variety from around the world. Q: Drizzilicious lemon rice cake, gluten free. A: This is not available from our suppliers. Q: Please bring back toilet seat covers. A: The seat cover dispensers have been vandalized regularly. We have decided to discontinue for now.
Q: Can we get the Juniper Hill’s carrots back? Please? A: We have locally grown organic carrots back in stock, from Denison’s. Juniper Hill Farms does not have carrots ready. Q: Vegan Rebel Cheese, excellent quality product. Check it out! A: We carry this product. Sometimes it sells out. Orders come every other Thursday. “We’d like to order two snickerdoodles and some cheese, please.” Q: A customer was very upset about seeing a dog in the store (no service dog vest). A: We allow service dogs in the store, but not pets. Please alert the service desk with any concerns about an animal in the store, and the manager on duty will address it. Q: Hey knuckleheads get a new H20 machine! A: There is nothing wrong with the machine itself. We have been having issues with the city water, which clogs the filters. Q: Please turn down self checkout volume. I have tinnitus and it’s pretty painful. I also noticed one speaker is beginning to fail. Connected? A: We will contact our IT department to see if the volume can be adjusted. Q: Looking (for weeks) for sea salt w/ iodine. A: This is in stock in Bulk. Q: Would love to see the honey bergamot flavor of One Degree granola!! A: This has been ordered. Thank you for your suggestion.
Q: Cherry berry smoothie was discontinued. Very disappointing. Please bring it back. A: Thank you for the feedback! We do enjoy changing our menu throughout the year. We’re happy to share that the cherry berry smoothie will be making a comeback. Thank you for supporting the Co-op and the creative work of our culinary team. Stay tuned for the return. Q: Remember the veggie cheese sandwich? Soo good! I must have bought 100 of them! Can they return? On whole wheat bread please, too. A: We remember the veggie cheese sandwich. Thank you for being such a fan and 100 of them is quite the endorsement. The team is currently working on a new veggie-focused sandwich to bring to the menu. We will keep the whole wheat request in mind. Q: Please have rotisserie chickens available for dinner. I came here then had to leave for [a different store]. L A: Thank you for continuing to support the Co-op and we’re sorry we missed you on your visit. The good news is that chickens will be available later in the day and more frequently in the future. We are in the planning stage of expanding a larger hot food program. We’re excited about what’s ahead.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
6
Honest Slate
Boar d Decisions During the Sept. 1, 2026 HWFC Board of Directors meeting, the Board:
• Approved the August 4, 2026 Board of Directors meeting minutes as presented. • Affirmed the decision made August 4, 2026 to hire the Membership Manager permanently. • Affirmed the decision made August 4, 2026 to approve an off-cycle wage change. • Affirmed the decision made August 25, 2026 to hire the Board Administrator, Lori Hylton. • Approved the Anti-Racism Committee’s 2026–27 work plan. • Approved the Diversity, Equity & Inclu sion Committee’s 2026–27 work plan. • Approved the Bonus Distribution Policy as presented. • Approved the Employee Manual change as presented.
happiness is a full juice card.
Enjoy a free 11th juice when you buy 10. Punch cards are available at the register.
Member Hours Bank Benefits Co-op Family The first thing my husband Bruce and I did when we came to Albany in 1985 was join Honest Weight. We were in the midst of raising four children, so we did what all vegetarians do in a new town: find a co-op—because it will have tofu and tahini. We ended up investing time at the register on weekends. When we shopped, we brought the kids. It didn’t take red-headed Charlie long to get in trouble with Bob Linn by putting potatoes in the flour bins. So, where are we now, over 40 years later? In 2016, we moved to Guilderland Center to share a house and large yard with our extended family. Over the years, our family has divided up the work. Bruce is in charge of fruit, eight trees, endless rows of berries, pawpaws, grapes, and an enormous compost pile. The vegetable garden is my job, and we grow almost everything. But of late, this is falling more to our daughter and granddaughter, who maintain beautiful flower gardens. Our granddaughter is becoming a very good cook and pastry chef. Our son-in-law also loves cooking, but his ”job” is the grass (or snow) and anything mechanical or techie.
s e p t e m B e r 2O26 honestslate@honestweight.coop
Contact with questions, comments, ideas.
Submissions Policy Editors & Contributors Cara Benson Eva Glassman Elisa Grimm Lynn Huntington Don Kennison Steve Konsistorum Marsha Lazarus
Nina Martinson Virginia McEwen Carol Ostrow Karen Roth Robin Schatz Janet Sorell
• Maximum article length is ~800 words. • Material is published at the discretion of the Honest Slate team. • Only signed work is accepted. Items are edited for length, grammar, & style. • We may consider unsolicited material but encourage submitting ideas first. • Letters to the Editor do not require preapproval.
September 2026
We try to be energy self-sufficient and have solar panels on our south-facing house and barn roofs. We have two fast-charging, all-electric cars and one plug-in hybrid vehicle; we recently added a mini-split system. And our time commitment to Honest Weight? Our daughter originally invested time as a cashier, but because of her workload as an earth science teacher, she and her husband now stock for Grocery. Because of my age, Membership Manager Karen Roth gave me the task to compile pictures for a 50th Anniversary slide show for the Sept. 19 celebration. (Any pictures you have, especially of Quail Street, would be greatly appreciated.) Send your photo images to MemberServices@honestweight.coop. And now back to Bruce—for this is why Honest Weight is much more than a store. In May, Bruce ended up in the hospital for a week from a tick bite. Anaplasmosis and its effects turned his life upside down. His workmates in Bulk were so solicitous, and our Membership Manager granted him hours from the Emergency Hours Bank while he recovered. With PT, he became more independent, so Bob Linn and Phil let him come back on a shortened schedule with no heavy lifting. Whenever he can get outside, he still hobbles out to weed and water in his fruit patch. Thank you, everyone, for your help and concern. —Virginia McEwen
Statement of Purpose: Honest Slate is a platform for HWFC Membership, Staff, Management, and Governance: promoting transparency, reporting news without bias, and sustaining community.
Honest Slate articles are for informational purposes and are not intended to diagnose or treat disease. Opinions expressed in Honest Slate do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Honest Slate or Honest Weight Food Co-op. All contents ©2026 Honest Weight Food Coop; no material appearing in Honest Slate may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of HWFC.
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
September 2026
Honest Slate
Communications Committee (CC) • Reviewed September’s Honest Slate and planned October’s issue. • FPM Manual editing continues. • Comm Comm encourages attendance at the 50th Anniversary event Sat. Sept. 19. MOs are invited to send in observations, thoughts, hopes, & ideas for inclusion. • Guest writers are always welcome. See our policies &/or contact us anytime! • OCT copy is due Sept. 24 to print Oct. 9. Next meeting Mon. Sept. 28 via Zoom • Comm Comm has openings for reporters and writers to cover Co-op events. Email: honestslate@honestweight.coop.
• Auditors will likely close the audit soon and deliver financial statements and their opinion; Hilary will schedule a closing conference in September or early October. • May ask auditors to review an annual report—a separate engagement from financial statements. Auditors need to review if it includes financial statements and their opinion. • Since no other committee is working on an annual report, it’s unlikely one could be ready by the annual October RMM. It would be prudent not to pay the auditors an additional fee if no annual report results. In recent years, the organization relied on only financial statements to suffice as the annual report, without additional information. • It is ultimately up to the broader organization to decide if there will be an annual report produced that differs from, but includes, financial statements. If so, it would be appropriate to have auditors review. Next meeting: Tues., Sept. 29, via Zoom
Finance Committee (FC) • Management report on financials through July 2026 indicate that sales remain strong, but with continuing pressure on margins. July inventory is taken only for fresh departments, so margin is only an estimate. • Getting financial statements to the committee in time for monthly meetings is challenging. Multiple priorities compete with reporting tasks. In recent months, FC received information too close to meeting dates to process and review properly. • Floated ideas to help break logjam, but none were ideal. E.g., moving the meeting by a week would conflict with the Board meeting and push review by, essentially, an entire month. Thus, the committee chose not to change the meeting date and time. • The monthly sales report, produced midmonth, will be sent to FC when furnished to the Board. While not a substitute for financial statements, it will give FC additional info if other materials are delayed. • Discussed accounting for staff bonuses. For the 2026 fiscal year, the organization had estimated $75,000 for bonuses. Board has not yet decided on bonuses based on the fiscal year; discussed potential treatments if the board approves a different amount. • TBC (Teal, Becker, and Chiaramonte) audit team was on-site at month’s beginning. Field work went smoothly.
Elections & Nominations Committee (ENC) • Updated members on upcoming 10/25 RMM and GRC election. Committee members can earn hours for both committee work and Board meeting attendance. • A potential FPM change may also be voted on. • Chris was appointed liaison to the Anti-Racism Committee. • The Board approved updating bulletin board to a slat board: a better organized, flexible system for posting forms and election-related information. • Board recruitment strategies review included breaking down goals to complete a few recruitment angles rather than the entire list. With Chris’s help, we broke one goal into manageable milestones, e.g., an ‘evergreen’ tri-fold brochure supporting Board recruitment. We established a 5-month timeline to complete the brochure by Jan. 15 with milestones for content development and approval, Marketing coordination, drafting, and printing. The group agreed to complete “heavy lifting” before Thanksgiving to avoid holiday delays, with Karen serving as liaison to Marketing. Karen suggested sharing to other committees and groups that struggle to move goals forward. • Discussed potential knowledge or skills gaps that may discourage MOs from running for the Board, plus challenges with
COMMITTEE C O R N E R Preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors (BOD) for its Sept 1, 2026, meeting. See Board Meeting packet for details. Approved reports are posted on HWFC’s website.
7 Board and governance communication and participation. Chris emphasized effective listening and purposeful speaking, noting Board decisions affect people’s livelihoods. Steve suggested a short communication course based on Dale Carnegie’s principles to prepare people for managerial positions and build confidence. Effective communication can improve both governance and participants’ personal development. • Assigning tasks for Oct. RMM/Election. Next Meeting: Wed., Sept. 9 via Zoom. Nutrition & Education Committee (NEC) • Reviewed progress of Communications Editorial Subcommittee formatting FPM to match Style Guide recommendations. • Met with Karen Roth, Membership Manager, to discuss FPM presentation and NEC’s role at Owner orientations. • Met with Peter Waldmann, CLM, to discuss effect on sales of not selling children’s toothpaste containing fluoride. • NEC Co-Chair Barbara Eckhaus attended the most recent Member Orientation. • Held 2 in-store tabling events; scheduled next for Sept. 15 and 27, 11:30am–1:30pm. • Reviewed FPM info, wording for website. • Now updating FPM heavy metals section. • Edited FPM Quick Reference document •Proposed Zoom feedback sessions on FPM changes: Sept. 16, 7-8pm and Sept. 27, 2:30–3:30pm; Zoom Information Sessions: Oct. 14, 7-8pm and Oct. 18th, 2:30–3:30pm • Next meetings Sept. 14 and 21 via Zoom Anti-Racism Committee (ARC) • A subcommittee aims to increase visibility of Black-owned business at the Co-op. • Chris Johnson led an ARC-sponsored screening of PBS’ documentary “Boss,” an exploration of Black entrepreneurship over 150 years, on Aug. 23. • Paul and Mary Liz Stewart will be at HWFC Oct. 17 at 1:30pm to discuss their ongoing Underground Railroad Education Center. • We had an excellent Listening Table on July 28. We asked the question “What would your life be like if racism didn’t exist?” and listened respectfully while many people came to us and shared their thoughts. • May request Board approval to host a panel at the Co-op of Black entrepreneurs during Kwanzaa (date TBA) with questions, discussion. Next Meeting: Sept. 21, 2026. continued on page 8
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop
8 memBer-owner
Honest Slate
September 2026
C o - o p p o r t u n iti es
Greetings Honest Weight Community, Many things brewing in Member Services these days! Two are “Board Board” and the “Community Connections” program updates. The Board and Management approved an update to the Boards used to inform Owners and Member-Owners about Governance and Member Services activities. The current Board is too high, lacks signage saying what it is there for, and includes historical design elements that have lost their connection to their origin. We are changing it to a slat board, which will be neater and more flexible, allowing us to have all our publications in one place for easy access.
Culinary: Front of House Seeking MOs to support our deli and café team with packing and labeling prepared foods, light food prep, and sandwich and salad making for Grab-n-Go. Currently seeking weekly commitments with a fixed schedule. Shifts are Wednesday morning, Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon. Email: Food.Services.Managers@honestweight.coop Empire State Plaza (Food Court) Seeking Member-Owners with customer service experience for fixed Weekly commitments. Located within the food court on the Concourse level of the Empire State Plaza, about midway between the Madison Ave. and State St. entrances. Afternoon shifts are available during the weekdays. Email: JesseFrayne@honestweight.coop
with Member Services
paced, 100% customer facing, and we have so much fun in the Front End. Lots of shifts are available, including weekdays, weekends, daytime, and evening. Email: MorgaenHansen@honestweight.coop Meat Department Seeking Weekly Member-Owners to provide customer service and wrap meat & fish. Evening shifts are available for Monday & Tuesday. Weekend support will be especially helpful as we go into the fall & winter. Email: DylanGuerrette@honestweight.coop
Thanks for all you do to support this community and Thanks for reading Slate! Karen and Valerie, Your Member Services Team
Front End Seeking Member-Owners to invest time as a Weekly Cashier. Running a register is fast
Produce Department Seeking Weekly MOs to assist with cleaning, packaging, labeling, & stocking. Shifts available Monday: 4pm-7pm Tuesday: 3pm-6pm Thursday: 4pm-7pm Sunday: 12pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm Email: BrendanKelly@honestweight.coop
C o - o p p o r t u n iti es
committee corner
3rd Thursdays • 6:30–7:45pm via Zoom
We have reconnected with the businesses in our Community Connections Program which provide Co-op Owners special savings. Check them out on the website here.
Member Services and Special Events Seeking Member Owners to support the 50th Celebration on Sept. 19. All MOs who invest time on that date (whether in the store or at the celebration) will receive DOUBLE HOURS! Zoom Helpers Needed for Quarterly Membership Meetings! Come be part of the MO team that provides the behind-the-scenes support for the checkin process and technical assistance during the meeting. This role can be done from your home but requires training prior to the meeting date, so please reach out to us before the end of September to be included in the Crew for the Meeting on October 25, 2026! Email: memberservices@honestweight.coop CHILL, Frozen, and Bread Seeking Weekly Member-Owners who want a chill break from the heat, pay attention to detail, and like to make things look neat for Refrigerated, Freezer, and Bread Stocking. Morning and Afternoon shifts are available on weekdays and the weekend. Email: ChristianSchider@honestweight.coop
continued from page 7 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee (DEIC) • Plan to purchase copies of training and education books with funds from the Committee’s annual budget: DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right (2022) and Reconstructing DEI: A Practitioner’s Workbook (2023) by Lily Zheng. • Inquired about training videos shared by HR Manager MJ. Is there an update? When can we participate? • Deep, heartfelt discussions on how DEI work is emotional yet requires practicality. • Request Board approve 2026-27 work plan. Next Meeting: Sept. 8, 2026 Governance Review Council (GRC) • Approved July minutes. • Reported on Aug. 4, 2026, BoD meeting. • Received update on letter to BoD/CLM/FC about budget process and update on concerns about Food & Product Manual. Will send Staff Reps a clarifying letter about staff service on Board. Next meeting: Sept. 14, 2026
White Affinity Group
Works on eliminating racism and white supremacy. Share thoughts, feelings, successes, and mistakes in a warm, friendly, nonjudgmental atmosphere. Contact Tam for the Zoom link at Listeningpartnerships@gmail.com.
Bylaws Panel (BLP) • Considering GRC requests for clarification of 410.3c language (specifying that an MO who is or becomes a supervisory employee may not simultaneously serve on the Board) to remove all ambiguity related to its definition. Reviewed HR info and Assistant Grocery Manager job description. • Reviewed bringing proposed amendments for review and approval (483.10 and 483.11). Will request additional info from HR to make an informed recommendation for a Bylaws amendment. a. Request Department Manager and Assistant Department Manager Job description for all departments. b. Request list of salaried positions. c. Will review job descriptions. d. Follow up with FC on annual report availability in response to GRC request. Next meeting: Sept. 16, 2026
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop