Sharing Your Talents at Hampden Park Co-op

—by Joel Krogstad, HPC Board Chair

Do you have a great idea on how to make volunteer time more productive and enjoyable? Do you have experience with building restoration? Do you enjoy creating slogans and posters for events or campaigns?

I spent my first five years at HPC stocking shelves, cutting cheese, and writing newsletter articles; and never once did I know that much of the co-op’s planning work is accomplished through committees that any member can participate in for volunteer credit. If you are someone who has been volunteering for a while, you may want to consider giving your talents to the co-op in a new way this coming year.

There are seven committees that HPC members can serve on:

• Membership: addresses issues concerning co-op members
• Finance: provides oversight for the co-op’s finances
• Physical Plant: makes recommendations on policies regarding building and equipment improvements
• Personnel: makes recommendations on staff-related policies
• Board Development: plans orientation and training for board members as well as board nominations and elections
• Fund-raising: assists the board in raising additional funds for the co-op
• Long Range Planning: coordinates long-range planning from all committees

These committees meet once a month, usually for an hour and a half, and you would probably want to devote at least the same amount of time to committee-related projects outside of the meeting times. So each committee could add up to about one volunteer shift per month.

Committees are typically chaired by board members, and each board member typically serves on three committees. Being part of a committee is a great way to assist the board in its visioning work, and is also a way to get a taste if you are thinking about joining the board in the future.

Unlike other volunteer-related tasks, there are no sign-up sheets for being on a committee. Please email board@hampdenparkcoop.com or speak with a board member to inquire more about how to get involved. You can find additional information on the Board of Directors bulletin board in the entryway of the co-op, as well as a list of current board members and board meeting dates and location.