Rights & Responsibilities

The role of an owner of a co-op is very different from that of a member of a discount club, neighborhood association or other group. Becoming an owner of a co-op means accepting the rights and responsibilities of a business owner. If co-ops are to succeed, owners need to understand this fact and take their rights and responsibilities seriously.

Only the person who signs the original owner application form is an owner of the cooperative. Each owner may receive a shopper card for a family member, but all official business must is conducted with the owner. That means: only the owner may vote in elections (one vote per owner), patronage refund dividends will be made out to the owner and only the owner may request a share withdrawal. Owners must endorse patronage refund checks and sign for share withdrawals.

Owners are expected to be financially responsible in dealings with the cooperative. Owners should fulfill the obligation to fully purchase a share, within the time period allowed to avoid suspension of owner privileges.

OWNER RIGHTS

• Elect directors by voting in the annual election. Owners may vote in-store, by mail or at the annual owner meeting.
• Vote for changes in bylaw.  The board of directors is responsible for periodically reviewing bylaws.
• Require the co-op to follow its bylaws.
• Review reports on financial performance at the annual meeting or in the newsletter.
• Run for the board of directors.
• Attend meetings of the board of directors (except for executive sessions). Board meetings are held the third Monday of each month from 7-9 p.m. in the Rochdale Room.

• Contribute to the co-op's capital—purchase your share in a timely manner.
• Patronize the co-op-give your business to YOUR business.
• Vote in elections and respond to surveys.
• Promote the co-op to others—tell your friends and neighbors about the co-op.
• Understand that the co-op is a business and must meet the needs of a business.
• Stay informed of what is happening at the co-op— read the owner report, e-newsletters and other mailings.
• Understand co-op principles and objectives—learn about cooperatives.
• Attend annual meetings.
• Inform the co-op of address changes and new email addresses to receive mailings and your patronage refund dividend.
• Complete on-line and in-store surveys. Your feedback is critical to your Co-op management's and Board of Directors' ability to serve you well.
  

If you no longer wish to be an owner:

Your owner share is fully refundable. We refund the share amount invested. Request for Termination of Ownership forms are available at the Customer Service Desk. Refunds will be made after replacement capital is provided when a new owner purchases a share. Any debt owed the co-op will be deducted from the refund.