About our Board

The Board of Directors develops guiding policies for the Co-op, assures performance and fiscal responsibility, provides a link to members, and helps define the broader vision of the Co-op. These responsibilities are spelled out in our Policy Governance Manual and our By-Laws.

Board Meetings

The Board meets at 7:00 pm the first Thursday of the month.

Due to the rapid expansion in COVID cases, we will meet virtually this month.

Access Community Action Agency, 1315 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226
This is the building next to Super Stop and Shop, where Planet Fitness is now. The entry door is facing Valley St. despite a Main St address.

Kerri Gallery, 861 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226

Horizons Office, 45 Church Street, Willimantic, CT 06226

866 Main St, Willimantic, CT 06226
(Use side entrance for The Annex above Swift Waters Artisans’ Cooperative for meeting upstairs)

104 Nathan Hale Rd, Coventry, CT 06238

89 Spring Street, Willimantic, CT 06226

NOTE: The Meeting scheduled for July 4 has been postponed and rescheduled for July 11.

NOTE: The Meeting scheduled for December 6 has been postponed and rescheduled for December 13. The location has changed (for this month only) to: Access Community Action Agency, 1315 Main Street. This is the building next to Super Stop and Shop, where Planet Fitness is now. The entry door is facing Valley St. despite a Main St address.

NOTE: The location has changed (for this month) to: Access Community Action Agency, 1315 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226. This is the building next to Super Stop and Shop, where Planet Fitness is now. The entry door is facing Valley St. despite a Main St address. Note that anyone attending should prepare to mask.

NOTE: The time has changed (for this month) to 6:30-9:00 starting a half hour earlier than usual.

Annual Meeting Agenda for May 22, 2022

Previous Meeting Agenda

The Board is developing the following master calendar that includes when policies need to be monitored as well as other events that occur throughout the year.

Meeting Minutes Archive:

Willimantic Food Co-op – Board of Directors’ Meeting

Click on a date to view or download a PDF document of the meeting’s minutes:

Annual Report Archive:

Click on a date to view or download a PDF document of an Annual Report:
 
Annual Report 2021
Annual Report 2020

Meet the Board

Board of Directors:

Linda Brock – Chair (2022)
Linda is pleased to find a vibrant, thriving cooperative here in Willimantic, after a few decades of “homesickness” for her early co-op experience with the venerable Weavers’ Way in Philadelphia. She believes that organic and fresh foods are important for both physical and spiritual nourishment, and enjoys supporting the co-op’s endeavors by serving as scribe for Board meetings. She and her husband Mark live in Windham Center with more cats than strictly necessary and the occasional itinerant male offspring.


Joanne Todd – Treasurer (2022)
Joanne Todd grew up in Willimantic and lives in Scotland. She believes that the Food Coop is important to the Willimantic Community. She is privileged to serve on the Board and contribute to the coop’s vitality. Joanne is President/CEO of Northeast Family Federal Credit Union, a member-owned financial cooperative where she began as a teller. She holds a BS in Accounting and a MBA from the University of Connecticut.


Matthew Coolbeth – Secretary (2023)

Kathleen Krider – Director (2023)
Kathleen has been a member of the BOD for the Willimantic Food Co-op for a long time. Kathleen is a nonprofit administrator, lives in Coventry, and uses all kinds of her WFC-BOD training in her day job. “Being on the Food Co-op board has been a richly rewarding experience for me, I have learned so much, met so many excellent people, traveled to other excellent communities and seen great food co-ops all over the country. Not as great as ours, but still great”.


Natasha Sheer – Director (2024)
Natasha joined the board in December 2019. She has been a member and a big fan of the coop for several years and is looking forward to training and learning from the coop’s current board members. She views membership on the board as a means for personal growth and community engagement. Natasha is a locavore who is passionate about sustainability and environmental conservation. She benefits greatly from all of the bulk items the Coop has to offer. Natasha is a Montessori teacher who currently directs the after-school care program at Oak Grove Montessori School in Mansfield. She lives in Storrs with husband, John, her 8 year old daughter, Willow, her dog Gigi and her cat, Coal.


Steven Bachiochi – Director (2022)
Steven has been a Co-op member since moving to town years ago. He is the owner of Grounded Coffee Company in Willimantic. He also works for Horizons Inc. He has developed a connection to this community over the last five years. He loves the coop and thinks it is a fantastic place. You will often see him, his wife Victoria and daughter Beatrice wandering the aisles. He is very invested in the community and will use his time on the board to further enhance the Willimantic and food coop community.

Director (2024)  Open – seeking candidates

Directors – WFC Staff:

Alice Rubin (General Manager) – Director – Management seat
Alice started her career in working cooperatively as a warehouse worker and truck driver for CT Coops – a wholesaler which later merged to become part of Northeast Cooperatives. She has worked at the Willimantic Food Coop since 1984.


Christine Klaben – Director – Staff seat (2023)  


Key Personnel:

Beth Hankins – Board Scribe
Patty Smith (Operations Manager)

Get Involved with a Committee!

The Co-op needs members to serve on committees to guide the direction of our co-op. If you have skills or expertise with a particular committee and want to help make a difference or help move the coop toward the goals set by the board, call to be included in the next committee meeting. Even if you are just considering it, give a call and sit in on the next meeting. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to participate.

Bryan O’Hara (2017)
Bryan O’Hara is a local vegetable grower at Tobacco Road Farm in Lebanon. The farm has supplied the Co-op with produce for more than 20 years. Bryan strongly believes in democratic member involvement in Co-operative governance. He considers himself a Co-op enthusiast.