Howard Bowers Awards

NOMINATIONS: TELL US WHO DESERVES AN AWARD!

Nominate an outstanding retail consumer cooperative organization  Nominate a dedicated consumer cooperative leader Nominate an innovative consumer cooperative organization • Nominate an outstanding board member The 2010 Howard Bowers Fund Awards for Cooperative Excellence - We want to recognize outstanding achievement! Formerly known as the CCMA Awards, this awards program will continue to recognize excellence in the consumer cooperative community under the sponsorship of the Howard Bowers Fund of the Cooperative Development Foundation. The Bowers Fund awards program is an opportunity for consumer cooperatives to honor colleagues and fellow cooperatives for their achievements and accomplishments and a time to recognize consumer cooperatives and their leaders for their dedication and hard work. Awardees are selected by an awards committee made up of leaders in the food co-op community. Cooperators are encouraged to submit nominations for Bowers Fund Awards in the following categories: • Cooperative Excellence (Retailer of the Year): In recognition of a retail cooperative that has made significant progress in meeting the needs of members through growth in net sales and earnings, initiation of new and innovative programs, and expansion of member services. Nominees may highlight outstanding departments within the cooperative as well as overall successes. • Cooperative Service: In recognition of dedicated leadership and exemplary service by an individual to a cooperative or cooperatives. • Cooperative Innovation/Achievement: In recognition of the innovative application of the cooperative business structure to an enterprise, an innovative program, or service or in recognition of outstanding achievement by a cooperative. • Cooperative Board Service: In recognition of outstanding dedication and leadership. Also presented are the Cooperative Milestone Awards, for cooperatives that have reached significant anniversaries.

Nominations & Deadline

To nominate a cooperative or individual, please Click here for the application, complete it, attach additional pages and letters of support and e-mail to: Bowers Fund Awards Committee c/o equinn@cdf.coop Please submit nominations by April 29, 2011. Questions? Contact Ellen Quinn, CDF, at 703-302-8097 or equinn@cdf.coop. For more information on CCMA (Consumer Cooperative Management Association), see www.cgin.coop/ccma.html

Past Honorees

In past years, the food cooperative community has honored the following individuals and co-ops:

Cooperative Service:

2010 - Nancy Casady, for her combination of compassion and business sense and her attitude that "it's about so much more than the store."  For her tireless work, consisternt care, and support of all memebers' needs that have madethe co-op an anchor in its community and a dynamic force for change and leadership locally, regionally, and nationally. 2009 - Dan Nordley, for his 35 years of support for individual co-ops and a national network. • 2008 - Margaret Lund, being the innovative driving force behind the NCDF, creating access to capital for cooperatives that might not otherwise have found it, and building NCDF into the premier cooperative development loan fund with assets of over $11 million. • 2007 - Kris Nelson, for her vision and leadership to grow and diversify Lakewinds into one of the largest natural food co-ops in the Midwest. • 2006 - Michelle Schry, for her work as a co-op manager and NCGA board member and for her dedication to the food co-op sector and her colleagues in it. • 2005 - Holly Jarvis, for a career of leadership and dedicated service to the food co-op sector, as an innovative and successful co-op manager, and as board chair of NCGA throughout its transition. • 2004 - Gail Graham, was cited for her success in improving profitability and leading expansion and relocation efforts at three co-ops in the Minneapolis area: The Wedge, Seward Co-op and Mississippi Market. • 2003 - Paul Cultrera, for twenty years of dedicated leadership among co-ops across the country. • 2003 - Alex Gyori, for twenty years of dedicated leadership among co-ops across the country. • 2002 - Bob Davis, for his outstanding service providing many years of dedicated leadership to cooperatives in Greenbelt and other communities. • 2002 - Bill Gessner, for his creative and complete dedication to the growth of consumer cooperatives over many years of service. • 2001 - Pam Mehnert, for her positive influence on cooperatives nationwide. • 2000 - Dan Foley, for his leadership and visionary contributions to the local, regional, and national food cooperative community. • 1999 - Marilyn Scholl, for demonstrated commitment to the growth and development of consumer co-ops in over 20 years of service. • 1998 - Nick Masullo, for 22 years of service to the cooperative movement. • 1997 - Karl Kruger, for over 40 years of service to the cooperative movement. • 1996 - Theresa Steig, for dedicated leadership and exemplary service to food cooperatives and the entire U.S. cooperative movement. • 1995 - David J. Thompson, for his dedicated leadership and exemplary service to the national and international cooperative movements. • 1994 - Karen Zimbelman, for her dedicated leadership to consumer cooperatives across the country. • 1993 - Terry Simonette, for his efforts to build a viable cooperative food distribution system in the U.S.

Cooperative Innovation/Achievement:

• 2009 - La Montanita Cooperative for creating a highly successful co-op system in New Mexico • 2008 - Sacramento Natural Food Co-op for pulling together to increase efficiency in their core store location, grow sales 10%, and retire debt incurred at a record pace while remaining cashflow positive, saving the cooperative. • 2006 - Davis Food Co-op for their "Carrots in the Classroom" program. • 2005 - Tak Tang, for his vision, technical skills, and leadership in the development of key components of an IT infrastructure for co-op operations. • 2004 - Stuart Reid, called a "renaissance man" is recognized for his commitment to cooperatives and for his efforts to build business relationships between food co-ops and farmer co-ops in developing countries. • 2003 - Community Food Co-op, Bozeman, Mont., for its strongly successful retail operation that is deeply embedded in its community. • 2002 - Corinne Shindelar, for her vision and leadership at numerous cooperative organizations in creating innovative programs that have resulted in strong, vibrant consumer cooperatives. • 2001 - Weaver Street Market, for its innovative worker and consumer-owned structure and community outreach. • 2000 - Walden Swanson, for the development of the innovative and practical CoCoFiSt Program. • 1999 - Federation of Ohio River Cooperatives, for the achievement of a successful merger with Northeast Cooperatives. • 1997 - Northeast Cooperative, for the Management on Contract Program. • 1996 - New Pioneer Co-op, for 25 years of inspiration and innovation. • 1995 - David Barry, for devoting 21 years to the nurturing of food cooperatives in New England. • 1994 - Midwest Cooperative Grocers Association, for their commitment to strengthening cooperatives, improving service to their members and promoting the principle of "Cooperation Among Cooperatives." • 1993 - North Coast Cooperative, Inc., for incorporating an innovative recycling program within the cooperative and providing community leadership in recycling education.

Cooperative Excellence:

Retailer of the Year • 2010 - Wheatsville Co-op (Austin, TX)  2009 - Valley Natural Foods (Burnsville, MN) • 2008 - Onion River Co-op/City Market (Burlington, VT) • 2007 - Ozark Natural Foods (Fayetteville, AR) • 2006 - Whole Foods (Duluth, MN) • 2004 - Community Mercantile Cooperative • 2003 - Williamson (Willy) Street Co-op • 2001 - Hanover (NH) Consumers Cooperative • 2000 - Co-opportunity Consumers Cooperative • 1999 - Lakewinds Natural Foods Co-op • 1998 - Puget Consumers' Co-op • 1997 - Outpost Natural Foods Co-op • 1996 - Brattleboro Food Co-op • 1995 - Weavers Way Cooperative Assn. • 1994 - Sacramento Natural Foods Cooperative • 1993 - Wedge Community Food Co-op

Board Service:

• 2009 - Gail Bartlett, in recognition of her wisdom and leadership at Blue Hill Cooperative • 2008 - Martha Whitman, in recognition of her years in management and Board service, and as Board President, La Montanita Co-op in Albuquerque, NM. • 2006 - Bentley Lein, in recognition of six years of leadership as member and President of the board of People's Food Co-op (LaCrosse) and as a mentor to other board presidents. • 2006 - Robert Noble, in recognition of eight years of leadership as member and President of the board of Weavers Way Cooperative, during which he helped re-establish the Cooperative as a vibrant and healthy organization that is an asset to its community. • 2005 - Beth Skinner, in recognition of eight years of leadership and dedicated service as President of the Board of Berkshire Co-op Market.