There Is A Co-op In Our Future

It has been some time since I have last put an entry into Seagrassroots, and for good reason. I am a strong proponent of the axiom, "Feel the force, don't force the feel." And before now, so much has been accomplished that there has been little reason to write!

In the past three weeks, the co-op idea has taken root. In order to keep Waterfront Market open, our movement to create a co-op had to move swiftly — from conception and formation to organization and implementation within eight weeks! — and through the growing union of this Island community's strengths and talents, it most assuredly has.

Today, we meet again at 11 AM at Blue Heaven restaurant. And while I have been out of town for a week, with this meeting I foresee a continued amassing of strengths and will. It is more than optimism that gives me this insight; it is experience.

You see, here I had gone for a week was to the community of Las Cruces, NM, population 86,000. In Las Cruces, an amazing thing has taken place. Their City has led the way and won the support necessary to build a spaceport.

Not just any spaceport, but Spaceport America. The way Las Cruces sees it, space is the future of our global economy. They have partnered up with Virgin Group, Richard Branson's commercial space tourism venture, and are breaking ground next October. In order to make this a reality, a capital gains tax was voted on and approved for the city of Las Cruces and county of Dona Ana's long-term commitment funds — to the tune of $200 million dollars.

One of the reasons I visited now is I had to learn: Why did the people who make up the community of Las Cruces — median per capita income $16,000; 20 % over the age of 60 — vote for yes on, of all thing, a spaceport.

I met with the mayor and had dinner with three council members. The answer unanimously: "For the future of our children."

This is precisely why I voted yes to keep Waterfront Market open, to support local industry and families, and for Key West to have community owned grocery story with an emphasis on empowerment.

The energy in Las Cruces is amazing. There are nay-sayers. But with the next generation and the ones after that in mind, the community voted 2-1 in support of the creation of a spaceport.

And I return to Key West filled with certainty that we will be able to make a grocery store happen.

There Is A Co-op In Our Future. I feel it.

Invitation to Co-op Meeting, Tuesday, October 16th, 6 PM

"There are a number of citizens who are concerned about the future of the Waterfront Market. As a community we recognize the unique contribution it brings to Key West. We also appreciate everything Buco Pantelis has done and continues to do for this city. Buco wants to move on. It is to that end that we feel it is in the best interest for all concerned to explore some viable options in order to keep the Waterfront Market alive.

"One option that needs to be explored is that of a community cooperative. Successful co-ops work as an integral part of great communities. This is something that the entire community can get behind and we need to see if it can be done.

"Let this notice serve as an invitation to anyone who would like to help in this effort. This isn’t about making money. This is about enhancing our quality of life. This is about transformation, taking a beloved community business and creating a legacy.

"If you would like to join us, reply to this message with your email address and/or phone number and we will keep you on our contact list. Please forward this message to anyone you think would be interested in being involved.

"There will be a meeting of all interested on Tuesday, October 16th at 6 PM at The Restaurant Store/Cole’s Peace Bakery, 1111 Eaton Street. Please attend and bring ideas to share."

— Richard Tallmadge

Why a Co-op?

For me, a co-op is a place to go.

Waterfront Market is like that. I go there for smoothies, for lunch, for groceries. But I want don't want less than that. I want more.

As a single young man on Key West island, I have to have places to go on the Island other than bars or restaurants. I need a place I can go and see neighbors while supporting ideals that are important to me. For instance, when I order a cup of coffee or tea, I want to know that it is fair-trade. I want the beverages served in cups that are ecologically friendly, and if I order food, I want the plates and forks and napkins to be the same. I want to know that whoever or wherever I am buying these goods that the trash my order produces is low-impact and that it is being recycled!

When I shop, I want to buy locally baked bread, local seafood, regional produce. Organics should be an option, not a luxury or a specialty. If I eat meat, can I get free-range? Can the meat for sale be produced with the minimal amount of torture or cruelty? (I am a vegetarian myself.)

How about the people who serve me? I want to know they are well-paid for their work and that they are satisfied with their job. And I saw Sicko; I want to know they have health insurance.

I want to belong to this place, to have a say - a vote! - in its operation and functioning.

And having and knowing all this, I want all this knowing available for visitors to our Island, as well. When guests say, "You live in Paradise," I want this to be even more true than they realize.

This is why I pursue the cause of keeping Waterfront Market open, and its employees employed (and having Buco Pantelis continuing to be involved), and our neighborhoods and locals and visitors and guests supplied and fed.

What were they thinking, the people who had been empowered and employed to be managing this Island - by us! - when they imagined "best use" was to be without Waterfront Market?

In any case, there has been a meeting. It was a success, in that a movement has begun. The newspapers are calling now. This is good. Even better, I hear people talking co-op talk now.

We are a community, Key West. We are a city, but first and foremost we are an Island and a community. The city exists to provide for the community on the Island. That's simple. And now is a difficult time where we must stand together and come together and rise together to insure that the next ten and twenty and thirty years together are as good as - or better than - the ten and twenty and thirty years prior. And that's a large ticket to fill.

Remember Key West thirty years ago? And we want better than that?

Yes.

We want better for ourselves, our neighbors, our children, and our guests. And it starts here, with a co-op.

The next meeting is Tuesday, October 16th, at 6 PM, at The Restaurant Store, 1111 Eaton Street.

~

What's to know about Co-ops

“Cooperatives are not about individual gain."

"They are about working together for the good of the whole.”

"Being a member of a co-op empowers one both as a conscious consumer and as an owner-member of a highly principled business."

According to Wikipedia, "A cooperative (also co-operative or co-op) is defined by the International Co-operative Alliance's Statement on the Co-operative Identity as an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise^[1]."

October is National Co-op Month.

From the National Cooperative Business Association...

A cooperative is a business. Co-ops range in size from small store-fronts to large Fortune 500 companies. In many ways, they're like any other business; but in several important ways they're unique and different.

Cooperatives—

• Are owned and democratically controlled by their members-the people who use the co-op's services or buy its goods-not by outside investors; Co-op members elect their board of director from within the membership.
• Return surplus revenues (income over expenses and investment) to members proportionate to their use of the cooperative, not proportionate to their "investment" or ownership share.
• Are motivated not by profit, but by service-to meet their members' needs for affordable and high quality goods or services;
• Exist solely to serve their members.
• Pay taxes on income kept within the co-op for investment and reserves. Surplus revenues from the co-op are returned to individual members who pay taxes on that income.

Types of Cooperatives

Consumer Cooperatives—Consumer cooperatives are owned by the people who buy the goods or use the services of the cooperative. They sell consumer goods such as food and outdoors equipment. They provide housing, electricity and telecommunications. And they offer financial (credit unions), healthcare, childcare and funeral services. Almost any consumer needs can be met by a cooperative.

Producer Cooperatives—Producer cooperatives are owned by people who produce similar types of products-by farmers who grow crops, raise cattle, milk cows, or by craftsmen and artisans. By banding together, they leverage greater bargaining power with buyers. They also combine resources to more effectively market and brand their products, improving the incomes of their members.

Worker Cooperatives—Worker cooperatives are owned and governed by the employees of the business. They operate in all sectors of the economy and provide workers with both employment and ownership opportunities. Examples include employee-owned food stores, processing companies, restaurants, taxicab companies, sewing companies, timber processors and light and heavy industry.

Purchasing/Shared Services Cooperatives—Purchasing and shared services cooperatives are owned and governed by independent business owners, small municipalities and, in some cases, state governments that band together to enhance their purchasing power, lowering their costs and improving their competitiveness and ability to provide quality services. They operate in all sectors of the economy.

Cooperative Principles

Cooperatives follow seven internationally recognized principles:

• Voluntary and Open Membership
• Democratic Member Control
• Member Economic Participation
• Autonomy and Independence
• Education, Training and Information
• Cooperation Among Cooperatives
• Concern for Community

Why Co-ops Form

Co-ops are formed by their members when the marketplace fails to provide needed goods or services at affordable prices and acceptable quality. Cooperatives empower people to improve their quality of life and enhance their economic opportunities through self-help. Throughout the world, cooperatives are providing co-op members with financial services, utilities, consumer goods, affordable housing, and other services that would otherwise not be available to them.

Serving Many Needs...

Cooperatives may be organized to provide just about any good or service such as:

• Business services, such as personnel and benefits management and group purchasing of goods and services
• Childcare
• Credit and personal financial services
• Employment
• Equipment, hardware and farm supplies
• Electricity, telephone, Internet and satellite and cable T.V. services
• Food and food services
• Funeral and memorial service planning
• Health care
• Health Insurance
• Housing
• Insurance
• Legal and professional services
• Marketing of agricultural and other products

For Everyone...

U.S. cooperatives serve some 120 million members, or 4 in 10 Americans. Worldwide, some 750,000 cooperatives serve 730 million members.

The Florida Keys Electric Co-op started in 1940. Membership was the same as it is today - $5.

Co-op Meeting

It is time we all met. Everyone who has been sending encouraging words, or giving me thumbs up at the cash register, or who has called in support.

I picked a winner when I endorsed The Restaurant Store's Richard Tallmadge; he called me the next morning, and said, "Let's do it."

Now what?

Do I list a time and a place and everyone gets together and we create an ad hoc committee whose information-gathering will in turn create a steering committee leading to the formation of a community enterprise? It sounds unbelievable to me, like we are all starring in a feel-good movie. Can life really be this Hollywood?

[gulp] Yes.

Thursday, 6 PM, 1111 Eaton Street. Plenty of parking.

Everyone who is interested.

Any questions? 305-304-1555.