To become an owner, fill out the membership form (available at our registers) and return it to one of our cashiers, who will get you set up. New owners pay an initial non-refundable fee of $5, and $2 per month membership payments up to a total of $100 for an up to date full ownership investment.
You’ll receive our New Member-Owner booklet in the mail in a few weeks, with information about specific benefits of Co-op ownership, as well as a New Owner coupon book, and a coupon for a free Co-op bag – redeemable if you come on one of our monthly New Owner Store Tours with our Outreach Coordinator.
Monthly owner payments are actually loans, refundable to you at any time. Your $2 monthly loan provides working capital to keep our store growing. If you choose to resign your membership, the money in your account will be refunded to you after a 90 day waiting period.
Those age 62 and over may shop at owner prices without paying membership fees, but are not eligible to help decide board elections or run for office. Seniors who wish to vote are welcome to become dues-paying member-owners.
A Board of Trustees, elected by current owners, governs the Co-op. Current owners can vote on Co-op ballots, run for the Board of Trustees, and attend general member-owner meetings, and thus influence the direction, growth, and policies of the Co-op.
Membership
Why Become a
MEMBER?
Shoppers
at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op have the
opportunity to turn their support into a commitment
by investing in a share of the co-op.
Co-op dues are a refundable investment that create
equity. Equity keeps SVFC financially healthy and
allows for our growth and development.
New owners pay an initial non-refundable fee of $5,
and $2 per month membership payments up to a total
of $100 for an up to date full ownership
investment.
A member is more than a consumer! Member-ownership
is an investment in the cooperative system, local
farms and businesses, and in organic and
sustainable production methods. As a democratic
organization, everyone is entitled to purchase a
share of the co-op—but only one share to ensure
that each shareholder has an equal amount of
ownership and voting power.
Member
Benefits
In
addition to the satisfaction of owning their own
community store, voting rights and owner
governance, Co-op members enjoy other benefits:
* Through the Co-op Advantage program, members can
use their Co-op cards to receive special prices on
hundreds of the Co-op's most popular items, and the
CAP flier products.
* Twice a year the Co-op Advantage program offers a
special coupon book to member-owners with low
prices on many staple groceries and special treats.
* New member-owners receive a book with discounted
and free product coupons.
* Member-owners receive 5% discount on all books,
calendars, and Co-op label vitamins, and 10%
discount on case orders in produce and grocery.
* Hundreds of other food co-ops across the country
honor our Co-op card.
* Current member-owners receive our bimonthly
newsletter, The Natural Enquirer mailed to them -
full of recipes, health and nutrition articles, the
latest food and food politics news, upcoming
workshops, and membership business and meetings.
* Member-owners receive discounts on workshops and
cooking classes.
* Owner Appreciation Days. Several times a year the
Co-op has a sales day when all current
member-owners receive a 10% discount on their
shopping purchases.
Owner
Appreciation Days
One of the Co-op’s
five buying
guidelines stipulates our
commitment to high quality at fair prices. We
take this stipulation pretty seriously: we pay
our farmer suppliers at rates above the market
price, and carry fair trade certified coffee,
bananas, chocolate, and artisan crafts. Co-op
shoppers may not find bargain basement deals,
but they trust our stand on brand integrity and
locally produced goods.
Periodically, we go a
step further and offer all our current
owner-members an additional 10% off everything in
the store, with the exception of one or two items
that are already listed at rock bottom prices.
We post the date of
upcoming Owner Appreciation Days prominently on our
website, around the store and also in our
newsletter.
