News from the Lexington Cooperative Market Summer 2015

LexTalk

$1, 500,000

$500,000

$250,000

$2 MILLION!

$1 MILLION!

We’re building it together$1.7 million and counting. Invest this summer before it’s too late!

Jamie LawrenceDirector of Marketing

Energy Cooperative of America, Inc.1408 Sweet Home Road, Suite 8

Amherst, New York 14228Tel: (716) 580-3506 • Fax (716) 932-7337

Toll Free: 1-800-422-1475Web: www.ecamerica.org E-mail: jlawrence@ecamerica.org

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Board Meeting Dates

August 3September 7

Please email board@lexington.coop if you plan to attend.

Tim Bartlett, General Manager

Building a Co-op Together

In 2026, we’ll be entering our 10th year on Hertel. Buffalo

will be grateful for the people who made that happen today.

Stories from our Capital Campaign

Lexington has a stellar General Manager, Tim Bartlett, dedicated staff, passionate and supportive owners, and a perfect-match in our board consultant Rose Marie Klee, but in accepting this award I’d like to talk a bit about Board service.

To be elected by the membership and assume the role of president of a rapidly evolving co-op is a huge responsibility. Lexington has grown and changed so much since I joined the Board 9 years ago. Most of the things we’ve been doing over those years are the exact things we all learn here at this Consumer Cooperative Management Association conference, and through experts at National Cooperative Business Association, National Co+op Grocers and CDS Consulting Co-op. What I can attest to is that it works.

I do want to take a moment to convey how important it is for board members to support each other. When I was elected, right off the bat I laid out my strengths and weaknesses. In particular I made a point of making my weaknesses clear and am eternally grateful to my board for supporting me. In my term, there were a few difficult decisions I had to lead the co-op through that my strengths were not best suited for. During those times, my board

circled me and carried me through each move I had to make. In times I could have failed in my role, the didn’t just watch me struggle, they ensured I didn’t. And I am so grateful.

Ultimately, it has become abundantly clear over the years that the board and president have a symbiotic relationship. We work together to make it one of continual improvement. As I step it up, they step it up, and visa versa.

In doing all this, a remarkable thing happened. We got over ourselves and became a team. It takes lots of practice, and as we continue to grow in our good governance skills, we grow together, we trust each other more, and each decision is a celebration that builds our confidence.

This award to me is a recognition of my entire team - Alison Wilcox, Matt Caldiero, Marty Knauss, Hope Hoetzer-Cook, Derek Bateman, Roy Cunningham, Bruce Haydon and Emily Stewart. I am so excited to see what great things Lexington does for Buffalo and Western New York under their continued leadership. Thank you.

Congratulations Jennifer Nalbone!

In June, our phenomenal Board President, Jennifer Nalbone, was awarded the Cooperative Board Service Award by the national Consumer Cooperative Management Association. We’re so proud and honored to have her leading us. Strong leadership at the Board level is a huge part of our Co-op’s success. Read Jen’s inspiring acceptance speech:

From left: Board member Alison Wilcox-Lanfear, Rose Marie Kline, CDS Board consultant, Board President Jennifer Nalbone, and Board member Matt Caldiero

Is it your turn to run for the Board? Do you know someone who’d be a great candidate? Let us know!

The Co-op depends on committed and engaged owners like you.Serving on the Board is an exciting way to be hands on in helpingto govern and grow your community owned business.

Learn more: lexington.coop/ownership/board-of-directors– or grab a Board Application packet at the Customer Service Desk.Applications are due August 15.

Questions? Email board@lexington.coop. Thank you, owners!

Board Election 2015

Board member Matt Caldiero tends the chestnuts at Holiday Owner Appreciation Days!

The award acceptance speech from CCMA

In six short weeks, 323 owners have invested over $1.7 million in their co-op: a full 86% of our $2 million goal. We are amazed and humbled by this phenomenal display of generosity and co-op pride.

One long-time owner committed $10,000 near the start of the campaign. On the last day of the campaign, she arrived to take care of the paperwork, and wrote us a check for $35,000. “I love this place,” she said. “I want to put my money where I can see it creating positive relationships and changing our community for the better.”

It is a large and varied community that is coming together to make our second store possible. More than $500,000 of the investments so farcome from our new neighborhood and another

$500,000 from 14222. In all, owners from 45 different zip codes have invested in bringing a co-op to Hertel. The generosity of this astounds me. We are sharing the co-op.

Ten years ago, 209 people lent $560,000 to build a store on Elmwood Ave. It was a leap of faith, and it’s because of their generosity that we have a beautiful store on Elmwood and return 52 cents of each dollar to the local economy. In 2026, we’ll be entering our 10th year on Hertel. We’ll have 30,000 co-op owners, $30 million in co-op sales and we’ll buy $4 million from local farmers and producers. Buffalo will be grateful for the people who made that happen today.

We still need to close our gap before September so we can begin construction.

We’ll be accepting investments through the summer and following up with owners we’ve spoken with. Email BIGDirection@lexington.coop or just stop by the store

if you would like more information or to find out how to invest. We’d love to hear from you.

We’ll also be working with our design team to ensure that it will be an exciting store to shop in – one that will compete favorably with Whole Foods. Another design goal is to fulfill our BIG Direction value of More

Sustainability. From resource-limiting equipment and lighting to stormwater retention plans, we want to ensure that the co-op is as green as possible.

We hope to see you this summer in between trips to the beach. Join us in celebrating 10 years on Elmwood at Owner Appreciation Days. Local blueberries are perfect right now and soon we’ll have a short season of peaches (the hard winter was tough on our peach trees). WNY has some of the best fruit anywhere, and now is the time to enjoy it.

Thank you for all you do to make the co-op such a wonderful expression of community power and pride. This capital campaign is just one small part of the investment you make in your co-op each and every day. Our farmers, are staff, our community is better for it.

ge l a t oEveryone’s favorite guilty pleasure. Gelato owes its rich, decadent texture to an egg base. Worth every bite!

t r y : Talenti Sicilian Pistachio or Sea Salt Caramel

peachy

Look for peaches that are

• Mildly fragrant

• Bright & evenly colored, no hint of green. Peaches picked too soon won’t be as sweet and may not ripen nicely.

• Slightly soft to your touch, but not mushy.

To ripen peaches that are hard, place them in a brown paper bag for a few days. Refrigeration can make peaches mealy, but if your peaches are approaching the too-soft stage, you can refrigerate them for a day or two.

The best approach is to only purchase what you can use soon.

summer is

How to pick ‘em

812-7641

PREPARE TO PRESERVEcanning class series

Learn to preserve the local harvest!

5 ears cooked fresh corn, cut off cob1 large tomato, chopped1 large fresh peach, chopped1/2 red onion, chopped1 tbsp pickled jalapenos, chopped2 tbsp cilantro, chopped2 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice1/4 tsp chili powderSalt and pepper to taste

Peach Corn Salsa

A member of the rose family, the peach is a “drupe,” or fruit with a hard stone. Depending on how the fruit attaches to that central pit, peaches are classified as “freestone” or “cling.” Freestone peaches are sold for eating out of hand, and cling peaches are used for jams, canning and cooking. And yes, nectarines are related—they’re peach cultivars with smooth, rather than fuzzy skin.

White-fleshed peaches are sweeter than yellow; yellow peaches have a bit of a tang. Donut peaches are a flat, sweet cultivar with a white flesh.

We’re fortunate to have fantastic stone fruit in Western New York! We love peaches from Dan Tower Farm in Youngstown, and Bittner-Singer Orchards in Appleton, NY!

Peaches - sweetly aromatic and delicious -

are arguably the perfect fruit.

It’s little wonder we use the word “peachy”

to describe something being just right.

July Dill Pickles: Monday, 7/20 Dill Relish: Tuesday, 7/28 Blueberry Jam: Wednesday, 7/29

August Bread & Butter Pickles: Monday, 8/10 Peaches: Thursday, 8/13 Peaches: Wednesday, 8/26

More classes in September & October. Full schedule at lexington.coop!

All of our canning classes are from 6-8pm, at Artisan Kitchens & Bath, 200 Amherst St, Buffalo. Preregistration required, sign up online or in-store.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and toss, adjust seasonings to taste.

ice cream!

Everyone’s favorite frozen treat is way beyond the classic dairy

original we love. Now we can choose rich gelatos, great local flavors,

creamy coconut and even smooth cashew ice cream varieties!

c l ass i c c r e amAlden’s uses organic cream and pure ingredients. It’s great - plain and simple.

t r y : Alden’s Organic Cookies and Cream or

dairy free del igh ts

l o c a l t r e a t sCheck out incredible pints from Lake Effect Ice Cream, M Hubbard, and ultra-local Dolci Gelato (across the street!).

t r y : Dolci’s Strawberries n’ Cream or M Hibbard’s Pure Vanilla

summer isCashew and coconut make creamy, melty conconctions. You won’t miss the dairy!

t r y : So Delicious Cashew Milk Snickerdoodle with GF cookie chunks!

Coconut Bliss Mint Galactica

10 years on

Elmwood!

time flies... celebratingThe Lexington Co-op became a place for me to shop more than a year ago, when the farmer’s market season was over and I felt disappointed with the produce available at other local grocery stores. What I found was more than just local, organic and unique produce. I quickly realized that the Co-op was as much mindset as merchandise and that the word “cooperative” was lived on many levels.

For a one-time fee of $80 I become an owner of the Co-op. The great thing about being an owner is that WE are the people the Co-op serves – not shareholders, a marketing strategy or simply the bottom line. Our voices are heard through the Two Cent feedback form and friendly conversations with Co-op staff members. Owners can attend board meetings and the Annual Meeting, and we vote for the people who serve on the Board of Directors. Owners are also rewarded on a regular basis through weekly specials, bulk sales (my favorite!) and special events like Owner Appreciation Days.

There is a strong sense of community and purpose at the Co-op. In addition to offering a wide variety of local, organic, and all natural products, the Co-op is committed to sustainability through energy efficiency, composting and recycling. Working with local businesses and vendors for the products and services necessary to operate the Co-op is a priority. Employees are involved in operations and rewarded through fair wages and benefits. Support is given to local organizations that create a better community, such as the Massachusetts Avenue Project. And owners support these organizations, giving an average of 13.5% of their dividends back to the community last year.

The Co-op and its owners manage to do all this and still operate at a profit. What a great business model for others to follow! And that, to me, is the greatest benefit of being an owner. Each of us has the power to impact the economy through where and on what we spend our money - my dollars equal my voice. If we choose to patronize socially conscious, purpose-driven companies, the greater chance there is to create a consumer society that’s a force for collective good. I’ll sum it up with a well-known and well-loved quote by Margaret Mead:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

“My dollars equal my voice” One owner’s take on cooperation!

Member-Owner Ann Kearns

807 Elmwood Avenue opened its doors in 2005 with 2,500 owners. Ten years later, we’ve grown to a community of over 10,000 and our Elmwood store is thriving. Together we’ve created a decade of great memories and great food!

See lots more photos on our Facebok page!

807 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222716.886.COOP

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBUFFALO NYPERMIT #801

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Open to Everyone7 am - 11 pm daily

Owners, get 10% off one shopping trip!Enjoy local tastings, great deals and lots of friendly faces.

We can’t wait to see you!

Owner Appreciation DaysJuly 23-25Thursday-Saturday

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EEllmmwwoooodd!!

10

YEARS