Local residents joined Davis Co-op Board Members for breakfast and conversation
By ALMA CULVERWELL — city@theaggie.org
The Davis Food Co-op (DFC) hosted a Breakfast with the Board event on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as an opportunity for community members to join the DFC Board of Directors in conversation.
Samantha Conselman, president of the DFC Board of Directors, explained the thought process behind the development of Breakfast with the Board.
“We wanted to create a low-barrier, welcoming space for conversation,” Conselman said. “Our main way of interaction is typically at board meetings, but those can be very formal and hard to really converse on topics that membership wants to discuss […]because our agendas are purposely planned and adhered to.”
Conselman explained the unique open-discussion forum that Breakfast with the Board provides for community members.
“Breakfast with the Board is more informal, and has been a great way to get a pulse on what members are experiencing, introduce new things that will be coming and start getting their thoughts about strategic opportunities the Co-op could take on,” Conselman said.
Community members — including anyone interested in running for the DFC Board of Directors, those with questions about the DFC or those with ideas for the store — are invited to attend.
“This event is for anyone who feels connected to the Co-op or curious about it,” Conselman said. “We hope people leave with a clearer understanding of how the Co-op is collectively owned and governed by its 8,000+ members, how decisions are made and how member voice and the impact of their patronage of the store fits into that picture.”
The Co-op Board of Directors is made up of DFC Owners, elected by fellow Owners, who volunteer to act on the community’s behalf and ensure a cooperative vision for the store. The board develops and preserves policies that help protect the long-range security and viability of the Co-op.
“Day to day, board service is less about operations and what you see at the store when you walk in, and more about stewardship of the finances members have invested,” Conselman said. “We focus on strategy, financial health and ensuring the Co-op stays true to its ends, while trusting staff to run the store. We each spend around 15 hours a month on ‘board work’ which means reading reports, preparing for meetings and engaging in thoughtful, strategic discussion.”
Conselman also reflected on her favorite aspect of her position.
“My personal favorite part of being on the board is, oddly enough, [is] board meetings,” she said. “We do a lot of work outside of board meetings so that when we come to meetings, we’re prepared for discussion and moving things forward. I love the trust that we display around the board table, how it manifests in divergent opinions that push us all to think deeper and how we’re able to come together to then make a unified decision.”
More specifically, the DFC Board of Directors focuses on creating a long-lasting relationship with the Member-Ownership, hiring and overseeing the general manager, setting yearly goals, creating planning committees and board training. The DFC Board of Directors meets on the second Monday of every other month in the DFC Teaching Kitchen, located across the street from the Co-op. Meetings are held in a hybrid format, with the option to attend virtually over Zoom.
Conselman also shared a few upcoming events and projects community members can look forward to from the Co-op.
“Short term, our deli is going to be fully remodeled with new offerings,” Conselman said. “[This] should be taking place in early 2026, […] so right about now. It’s a million-dollar investment, and I think it will really enhance offerings. I’m excited to see how our staff executes the plan and how members, especially those who want high-quality prepared foods, receive the changes.”
Additionally, Conselman shared her long-term goals and larger-scale projects she hopes to accomplish.
“I’m most excited about the ways the Co-op’s Board and staff are starting to think bigger about their role in Davis and in Co-ops overall,” Conselman said. “We’re really leaning in to how we can help more people have the opportunity to spend their money in a cooperative economy that benefits many and stays more local to impact them greater, rather than a purely capitalistic one that benefits few who are often far away from us. There’s a real opportunity to deepen the Davis Food Co-op’s impact and influence while remaining financially strong, and it’s been really energizing in the last year that the board is helping shape that vision and future.”
By Alma Culverwell— city@theaggie.org
