“Concern for Community” is one of the seven cooperative principles, and NCG seeks to support co-op communities in many ways. One way we do so is by nurturing a community most co-op shoppers never see, but which historically has been vital to co-op success: the peer community of general managers (GMs) and designated representatives to NCG (DRs).

Long before co-ops came together to form NCG, GMs and other co-op leaders created regional networks and peer support communities to share best practices, address common concerns, solve problems and develop resources to improve retail execution. These peer networks reinforced the positive things co-op managers and their staff were doing, helped build momentum for our movement and nurtured many lifelong friendships across the country as well.

Because co-ops are a unique form of business that is not only focused on the bottom line, peer support networks are particularly crucial to help co-op managers navigate decisions that must take into account values and principles, as well as business acumen. Advice and counsel from someone who has been in a similar situation can be invaluable.

NCG has recently embarked on a series of initiatives to fortify the GM/DR peer community, so that current and incoming DRs continue to have access to a valuable “think tank” of co-op management expertise: their fellow co-op leaders. Based on feedback from co-ops, NCG’s corridor teams will pilot a number of engagement strategies this year:

• Offer smaller meetings based on geography or a common professional development interest.
• Facilitate more peer visits to co-ops. Unlike more formal and focused audits, when GM/DRs visit each other’s operations they can offer support and advice on-site and see first-hand some of the challenges and accomplishments of their peers.
• Connect new GM/DRs with experienced ones, and those in challenging situations with a GM/DR who has successfully handled a similar situation.
• Open corridor committees to interested GM/DRs who want to “learn the ropes” of corridor community stewardship. These one-year, non-voting appointments will help GM/DRs build relationships with current corridor leaders, learn about corridor business and activities and also contribute their perspective.

In true community fashion, corridors will experiment with these strategies, share successes across corridors and evaluate the value they bring at the end of the year. NCG is continually seeking to improve access and enrich the food co-op sector’s collective knowledge and experience through these and a host of other networking opportunities for co-op leaders and staff.