From the editor
by Rosemary Fifield

Saving the Co-op
(That’s You!) Money

The Co-op’s bylaws state that we must send to all Co-op members a copy of our annual report and a warning of meetings of our membership, such as the annual meeting.

To accomplish this, we rely on our members to keep us updated on any address changes that have occurred since filling out their original application for membership.

The Co-op currently has over 21,000 member households. Over the years, we have lost valid mailing addresses for many of these memberships. In some cases, members leave the area without canceling their membership or leaving a forwarding address. In others, families move within the Upper Valley but don’t remember to change their address with the Co-op. Most recently, the assignment of E-911 addresses, initiated in many towns to enhance emergency response, has left us with invalid mailing addresses.

Invalid mailing addresses end up costing the Co-op money in postal fees for undeliverable mail and for the address change information that we request from the Post Office. In an effort to clean up our mailing list and avoid those charges as much as possible, we are embarking on a multi-faceted campaign to update our member information.

We’re Relying on You
If you are a Co-op member, you will find Co-op staff asking you to verify your mailing address. Please help us out by taking a moment to fill out our address form, available from the cashiers, at the Service Desk, and on our web site. Then deposit it in the box in the store lobby marked "Address Updates" or drop it off at the Service Desk the next time you’re in either food store. If using the web site, you can submit the information on-line.

In addition, several times a year, we will be stationed in the store lobbies with computers, asking incoming members to verify the address we have on file. If you have already verified yours, please bear with us as we strive to reach as many members as possible.

Remember, our goal is to reduce costs and put the savings to the bottom line.

At the same time that you verify your address, you can let us know if you wish to receive future issues of the Co-op News in the mail. We have suspended automatic delivery and are rebuilding our mailing list based on member request. So, even if you had been receiving the Co-op News regularly in the past, you won’t automatically be getting it now unless you tell us you want it.

Please note: We won’t be offended if you prefer to pick up the new and improved Co-op News in person while you’re shopping in any one of our four locations. Each copy that we don’t mail saves the Co-op the cost of postage.

Win a $50 Co-op Gift Certificate
Finally, if you’ve already verified your address with us, thank you! Your name and the names of all who fill out our forms will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Co-op gift certificate to be drawn on December first.
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