Davis Food Co-op Election 2012 — voting in April and May
Jump to contact information.
Voter's Pamphlet deadline is Friday, March 30 at close of business. See the full calendar below, adopted by the Co-op Board of Directors, by unanimous vote at the meeting of December 5, 2011.
Useful links (updated to 2012 during the election cycle, as they become relevant)
Link to 2011 Election Ballot (a PDF file)
Link to 2011 Voter's Pamphlet (a PDF file)
Jump to 2012 Election Calendar
Link to DFC Elections Policies
Open page on DavisWiki about 2011 Co-op Election
A wiki is a web page that anyone can edit, to express their opinions or ask questions.
Running for the Board
You must be a Co-op shareholder in good standing to serve on the Board. If you're a member of a shareholder's household now, but don't own shares, you can run. If you're elected, you must purchase your own shares in order to serve.
For more information on eligibility, please read the 2012 Candidate's Packet, "You can become a Candidate..." (a PDF file) and the 2012 Declaration of Candidacy (also a PDF file). If you have questions, please contact the Election Committee (below).
Candidates and an Amendment
Voters will be selecting candidates to fill three seats on the Board with three-year terms, plus a final year of a Director who resigned. You can vote for up to four candidates. The top three vote-getters in the election will be seated to fill three-year terms as Directors, the fourth to fill the one-year term, while the fifth and sixth will be seated as first and second Alternate Directors. Alternates serve for one year and vote at Board meetings when a Director is absent. Alternates are appointed to fill out a term if a Director resigns or is incapable of serving.
Any members who declare candidacy (using the form approved by the Board and available in the store or on-line) and receive votes can be elected as write-in candidates, either as Directors or Alternates.
Voters may also be choosing whether or not to amend our Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, in one Ballot Proposition. Please note that the Member Initiative Deadline is March 5, and that other proposals may (or may not) be introduced.
Voting Instructions (ballots not available until April)
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You can vote if you are the shareholder in your household. If you’re not the shareholder or co-owner, you cannot vote as a proxy on someone’s behalf; proxy votes are not allowed in California Cooperative Corporation elections.
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You can vote if you’re a shareholder in good standing on Friday, May 25, the last day of voting. You must invest at least $20 in shares in 2012, or otherwise satisfy the investment requirement in our Bylaws. You also must not have any outstanding bad checks to the Co-op or otherwise be out of compliance with Membership Responsibilities and Restrictions listed in the Bylaws (Article IV, Section 3; please see www.davisfood.coop/bylaws.html). Ask a cashier to scan your Co-op Card before the voting deadline – if no message says your investment is due, you can assume you are in good standing.
Ballots are mailed to all shareholders in good standing as of March 31 (per Article IX, Section 6 (A)(1) of our Bylaws), with this Voter’s Pamphlet. Do not assume if you received Election Materials in the mail that you are now in good standing. Copies of the Bylaws, ballots, and Voter’s Pamphlet are also available in the store throughout the election.
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To be valid, ballots must be returned to the store by 10 PM, Friday, May 25, or if mailed must be postmarked May 25or earlier. To be valid, a ballot must also be in a sealed envelope, and signed on the outside by the shareholder (or co-owner). Election volunteers &/or Co-op staff check both the signature and the good standing of each shareholder who votes. Please legibly print your name & member number on the envelope, to assist us in finding your signature in our files. Ballots of shareholders not in good standing are not opened or counted; we make an effort to contact the shareholder so they can put their membership in good standing before the end of the election. If you want your vote to count, have a cashier scan your Co-op Card, or call 530-758-2667 ex. 111 to leave a message for Membership Director Doug Walter or
if you have questions.
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The Ballot Box will be located inside the store once balloting begins, across from the Deli counter and near to the entrance door. (There's a colored balloon attached to it!) Place your sealed & signed ballot envelope through the “slot” in the top of the locked box. If you mail in your ballot in your own envelope, you need to sign the envelope, clearly label it “ballot enclosed” and send it to Davis Food Co-op Election, 620 G Street, Davis CA 95616.
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No shareholders have declared candidacy for the Board (as of January 20, 2012). You may vote for up to four candidates, since there are four seats open. You cannot vote more than once for the same person. You may vote for fewer than three candidates if you choose.
We cannot accept two ballots from one shareholder. However, you can change your vote using the ballots and envelopes available in the store. Write the date on the front of your envelope and that the ballot enclosed supercedes your previous vote. Your new envelope must be signed and sealed, and your name should be legibly printed. We cannot combine votes from two ballots.
Ballot counting and results
• Ballots will be counted in the Conference Room of the store on Tuesday, May 29; we expect to start soon after 1:00 PM and finish in four to five hours. Counting might be necessary on the next day (but is unlikely, based on past experience). The count is open to any member in good standing who is not a candidate, or a household member of a candidate, for election to the Board of Directors on the ballot being counted. There’s plenty of signature checking and other work before the count can begin — please contact Doug at the store to help.
• Results will be posted on the election display and on these election pages at davisfood.coop on or before Wednesday, May 30. Preliminary results should be available on Monday, May 29.
Here are the members of the 2012 Election Committee:
Director and Chair Janie Booth
Director Stacie Frerichs
Director Steve Reynolds
Jonathan Groveman (a shareholder)
Staff support provided by Doug Walter (Membership Director)
Link to read the 2011 Voter's Pamphlet (a PDF file)
| Election Event | 2011 date | Bylaws specify… |
|---|---|---|
| Member Initiative Deadline | Monday, March 5 | 45 days before mailing date of an already scheduled regular election ballot |
| Voter's Pamphlet Deadline for Candidate statements & pictures, and ballot arguments |
Friday, March 30 @ 9:55 PM |
20 days before mailing date |
| Voter's Pamphlet Mailing Date & Notice of Annual Meeting | Thursday, April 19 | Between 21 and 90 days before Annual Meeting |
| Election begins | Monday, April 23 (based on guess of mail delivery) | First ballot is received in mail by shareholder (permissible to start as late as Thursday, 4/26) |
| Annual Membership Meeting | Sunday, May 20 | As called by the Board |
| Last Day of Election | Friday, May 25 | 30 days after mailing date or later (if specified by Board) |
| Ballots counted | Tuesday, May 29 after 1 PM in Co-op Conference Room | (Two days of mail delivery after 5/25 postmark deadline) |
| Results available | Wednesday, May 30 | 5 days after close of election (Prelim. results available Mon. night) |
| Results accepted by outgoing Board | Monday, June 4 | Regular meeting at Co-op Teaching Kitchen, 537 G St. |