The Durham Food Co-op encourages its members to involve themselves with the day-to-day operations of the store and with other projects that benefit the community. Our sustainer program seeks members willing to make a regular time commitment to work in the store three hours a week in exchange for a 20% discount on purchases. Opportunities to participate are also available on various committees. Those who are unable to make a regular commitment are encouraged to volunteer their time when they can or when help is requested for special Co-op projects or events. If you work at a special event or an equivalent of a three hour shift working on a project you are eligible for a discount during that week. If you work an equivalent of three hours every other week (for instance, on a committee), you are eligible for a 10% discount on your purchases at the Co-op. Not only is active involvement fun and good for the soul, it also helps you save on your groceries!

Special Events @ the Co-op (Culture Crawl, Movies, Lectures & Demonstrations, Readings, Lectures, etc) cannot happen without the help of volunteers - if you're interested in organizing an event or becoming the Co-op's event coordinator, please contact Sven at "sven.rinke@gmail.com":mailto:sven.rinke@gmail.com.

If you are interested in becoming a sustainer, either in the store working a regular shift, or working on a project, check out the Co-op's yahoo group site: "groups.yahoo.com/group/PIFC_sustainers":groups.yahoo.com/group/PIFC_sustainers where you can trade shifts or hear announcements for upcoming events that the organizers need assistance with. You can subscribe by clicking on "Join This Group" or by replying to this email. The list is usually low-volume and won't spam your inbox.

If you are interested in working a regular in-store shift, please contact the Co-op's sustainer coordinator and staff member LJ by email "lj.coopguy@gmail.com":mailto:lj.coopguy@gmail.com, or by phone 919-490-0929 or in person at the Co-op. In-store shifts are generally timed Mon-Sat 10am-1pm, Sun 11am-2pm, and Sun-Sat 3pm-6pm and 6pm-9pm. If you can make it only for a different time slot we can work something out. Contact LJ for currently open shifts that need coverage.

We also encourage members to participate in Board Committees - the Board of Directors (BoD) meets at least once a month to discuss issues, ideas, hopes, and challenges related to the Co-op. The BoD is charged with ensuring that the organization is moving in a direction that is consistent with the Co-op's mission and bylaws. Members of the BoD are elected for either one or two year terms at the annual membership meeting in the Spring. There are up to seven Directors. Every member is eligible to serve on the BoD and/or on board committees. All meetings are generally open to Co-op members. The Co-op's standing committees, which meet on varying schedules, are:

* Personnel: Assists with hiring staff and provides advice and support, as needed, to management in dealing with certain staff related issues.
* Finance: Assists the finance manager in analyzing the Co-op's finances, preparing monthly finance reports, ensuring that the Co-op fulfills all its obligations with regard to taxes and debts, and communicating important financial information to the BoD.
* Marketing: Helps to organize and manage events and relationships that will serve to promote the Co-op to a wider community. Activities include developing ads, posters, and flyers, as well as organizing in-store and community events.
* Facilities: Assists with the maintenance and development of the Co-op's building and facilities, and keeps the Co-op clean and organized. This is great for folks who are generally handy and/or have ingenious decorating ideas, and for those who want to see instant results.

Please contact Sven at "sven.rinke@gmail.com":mailto:sven.rinke@gmail.com if you are interested in serving on a committee. Currently the board has two vacancies and we are looking for suitable candidates to fill the open positions until the next annual membership meeting next spring. Please contact Sven if you are interested in learning more about the Co-op's Board of Directors.