Board of Directors Application

Candidate Eligibility

To be considered an eligible candidate for the Oryana Board of Directors, you must:

• Be an Oryana owner in good standing for at least 30 days prior to the election date.
• Disclose or appropriately address conflicts of interest. A candidate’s application may not be approved if any of the following conflicts of interest are present:
  • A spouse, domestic partner, or member of the candidate’s household is a current director, candidate for the board, or a staff member of the cooperative.
  • The candidate was employed by the cooperative within the preceding twelve months.
  • The candidate has current ownership interest in, employment by, or a governance role with a business that is reasonably determined to be a direct competitor of the cooperative.
• Submit your full application form to by 5:00 pm on January 31, 2027, including:
  • Your candidate statement
  • A photo of yourself and contact information
  • A signed Director’s Code of Conduct, candidates are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds this Code throughout their candidacy in addition to board service. Submission of this form serves as acknowledgement of the Code’s requirements.
• Attend at least one Board meeting before January 2027.
  • Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm. See schedule for details.
  • Format: Hybrid (in-person or Zoom)
• Complete an interview with the Recruitment & Nominations Committee by the end of February.

Highly recommended: Attend a Q&A Session for prospective candidates in November or January.

Application Approval Process

After you submit your application materials, the Recruitment and Nominations Committee will review your eligibility, application, and invite you to complete an interview.  The committee may recommend the disqualification or removal of a candidate from the election ballot when credible evidence demonstrates that the candidate has engaged in one or more of the following:

• Failure to comply with 4.7 Board Members’ Code of Conduct
• Breached confidentiality obligations
• Failed to disclose or appropriately address a conflict of interest
• Engaged in conduct inconsistent with the fiduciary obligations of a director

The Board may also determine that a candidate’s election would create a conflict that impairs the current Board’s ability to fulfill its fiduciary duties of care and loyalty to the cooperative and its members.

If approved, you will move forward as an official candidate in the 2027 Board election. At that stage, you’ll be expected to:

• Submit a short video statement to be included on Oryana’s website and voting platform.
• Attend the General Ownership Meeting in April 2027, where in-person introductions with owners and final voting will take place.

Upcoming Board Meeting Schedule & Important Dates

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the relevant sessions.

Email [email protected] to RSVP.

Candidate Q&A Sessions

• Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 5:30-6:30 PM

Q&A Session – In person at Oryana West Community Room

• Thursday, January 7, 2027 | 5:30-6:30 PM

Q&A Session – Virtual via Zoom

Board Meetings (Candidates Welcome at 5:00 PM)

• Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 5:30 PM Regular meeting – West
• Thursday, December 17, 2026 | 5:30 PM Regular meeting – 10^th Street
• Thursday, February 18, 2027 | 5:30 PM Regular meeting – 10^th Street
• Thursday, March 18, 2027 | 5:30 PM Regular meeting – West

Important Deadlines & Events

• Sunday, January 31, 2027 | 5:00 PM

Deadline to submit candidate application.

• Wednesday, March 10, 2027| Noon – 1:00 PM – 10^th Street

Meet the Candidate Event for Owners

• Saturday, March 13, 2027 | Noon – 1:00 PM – West

Meet the Candidate Event for Owners

• April 2027 (Date TBD)

General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

New Director Onboarding

• Thursday, May 13, 2027 | 5:30 PM Board Member Orientation
• Thursday, May 20, 2027 | 5:30 PM First Board Meeting with New Directors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Board of Directors and what does it do?

The Board of Directors is the governing body elected by Oryana’s owners. It’s composed of nine directors, each serving a three-year term. The Board operates under a Policy Governance model, which means its role is to represent the values of the ownership as a whole, not any individual or subgroup.

The Board responsibilities include:

• Setting clear expectations through written policies
• Delegating operational authority to the General Manager (GM)
• Monitoring the GM’s performance and organizational progress

The Board’s only official connection to operations is through the GM. This allows the Board to stay focused on strategy, mission, and long-term vision rather than day-to-day management.

Learn more about our policies: Oryana Board Policies

What doesn’t the Board of Directors do?

The Board does not get involved in Oryana’s daily operations. This means the Board does not:

• Make decisions about day-to-day business
• Recommend or sell products or services to staff
• Direct or evaluate employees (including the GM) as individuals
• Help with operational planning, goal setting, or other staff responsibilities

What are the qualities of a board member that you are looking for?

Board experience is helpful, but not a prerequisite for Directorship. More important is your commitment to provide the time and energy necessary to accomplish the Board’s objectives.

Other qualities include:

• Collaborative – Work well in teams and support group decisions.
• Collegial – Communicate respectfully and listen thoughtfully
• Cooperative – Seek understanding and shared solutions.
• Strategic Thinkers – See the big picture and focus on the future
• Flexible – Open to new ideas and shifting priorities.
• Patient – Understand that governance takes time
• Proactive – Take initiative and value continuous learning

What’s the time commitment?

Time requirements vary, but expect to contribute 8-10 hours per month, including: monthly board meetings, committee work, and an annual 2-day board retreat (usually over a weekend). All directors are expected to serve on at least one committee. We encourage you to speak with current board members to better understand workloads and expectations.

Is there compensation for serving?

Yes. Board members receive an 18% store discount and a $50 stipend each month.

What does Campaigning look like?

In order to support equity for candidates, on-site or in-store candidacy promotion is limited to events planned by the nominating committee. For more information, refer to Oryana’s operational policies. Candidate statements and videos will also be published online to educate voters. For more details, refer to Oryana’s canvassing policy.

When are elections held?

The annual election begins in the spring after the Board calls for a Co-op Vote. Voting concludes during the annual General Ownership Meeting held in April.

Still deciding whether to run?

Talk with a current Director or a member of the Recruitment and Nominations Committee to learn more about the experience and expectations.

Owners are always welcome to attend a Board meeting held on the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm in person or via Zoom where you can observe the process and meet current board members. The Board meeting minutes are posted on the Oryana website, www.oryana.coop.

OK, I’ve decided to run – now what?

To run, you’ll need to:

• Ensure eligibility
• Complete this Board Candidate Application before 5:00 pm on January 31, 2027.
• Participate in required activities to confirm your eligibility

If your application is accepted, your candidate statement and photo will be published to owners as part of the 2027 elections.

It sounds like a big step!

It is, and a meaningful one! As a Board member, you’ll join a committee team working to guide Oryana’s future, uphold its mission, and ensure accountability to our owners and community.

Policy Governance 101

The Oryana Board uses a structure called Policy Governance to stay focused on the big picture, our mission and long-term goals, while holding the organization accountable for results.

What does the Board do under Policy Governance?

1. Connect with owners: Understand what matters to Oryana’s owners – the outcomes they want and the limits they expect.
2. Write & Review Policies: Use those values to set clear expectations for both the Board and the General Manager.
3. Monitor Performance: Make sure Oryana is making reasonable progress toward its goals and following policies.

What makes Policy Governance different?

When done well, Policy Governance means:

• A clear line between Board and GM roles.
• Big picture, strategic leadership.
• Focus on the future.
• Proactive, not reactive, decision-making.
• Embracing diverse perspectives.
• Group decisions, not individual actions.

Oryana Policy Types
The Board creates and monitors 4 main types of policies:

1. Ends: Define the results Oryana should achieve and who should benefit. The GM reports on these once a year.
2. Executive Limitations: Outline what the GM can’t do while working towards the Ends. The Board reviews regular reports and determines if the GM is in compliance.
3. Board-GM Delegation: Explain how the Board delegates authority to the GM and how it will assess the GM’s performance.
4. Board Governance Process: Describe how the Board organizes itself and carries out its work.

Why use Policy Governance?

• Keeps the board focused on what matters most
• Clarifies roles and responsibilities
• Encourages creative thinking and strong partnerships
• Help the Board lead with vision
• Makes the best use of everyone’s time
• Strengthens accountability to Oryana’s owners

The Board’s main job is to ensure, on behalf of Oryana’s owners, that the organization is achieving its goals and living up to its values.

You can read all our current Board policies online:  Oryana Board Policies
To learn more about Policy Governance, watch this video.

Board Candidate Application

Thank you for your interest in serving on the Oryana Board of Directors! This application is your opportunity to introduce yourself to fellow member-owners and share why you’re interested in board service.

What You’ll Submit

Please complete the form below, including the following materials, by 5:00 PM on January 31, 2027:

• Contact Information (include name, address, phone number, and email)
• Candidate Statement (300 words or fewer; see prompts below)
• Signed Code of Conduct (or acknowledgment of the same with the submission of this form)
• Photo of yourself

Candidate Statement Guidelines

Your candidate statement is the primary way Oryana owners will get to know you before voting. It will appear in both print and online election materials.

Please respond to the following prompts in a summarized statement of 300 words or fewer:

1. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Oryana? What draws you to this role and what do you hope to contribute or learn?
2. What experiences, skills, or perspectives would you bring to the board? How might these help Oryana fulfill its mission and support strong board leadership?
3. After reviewing the Ends Policies, how do you see them reflecting Oryana’s role in the community? What parts of the Ends resonate most with you, and why?

Your response to one of these questions is required in the form below.

What Happens Next?

• Interview: After submitting your materials, you’ll complete an interview with the Recruitment & Nominations Committee
• Video Statement: If your application is accepted, we’ll invite you to record a short video candidate statement. This video will be shared with owners in place of public speeches during the General Ownership Meeting.
• Publication: Your written statement, photo, and video will be published to owners as part of the 2026 election materials.

Questions?

Email the Recruitment & Nominations Committee at [email protected]. We are happy to help!

Board of Directors Code of Conduct Agreement- Policy 4.7

Last Revised: September 11, 2024

Directors commit to ethical, responsible and lawful conduct.

• Annually, all Directors must review and sign a Code of Conduct Agreement.
• Directors are responsible at all times for acting in good faith in a manner which they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Cooperative, and with such care as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.
• Directors must demonstrate accountability to the interests of the Cooperative that supersedes any conflicting loyalty, such as that to advocacy or interest groups, membership on other boards or staffs, and the personal interest of any Director acting as an individual consumer or member-owner.
• Self-dealing or any conduct of private business or personal services between any Director and the Cooperative is prohibited, except as procedurally controlled to assure openness, competitive opportunity, and equal access to inside information.
• All Directors have a duty to disclose, in writing, any potential or perceived conflict of interest and must provide all material facts to the Board of Directors. Any subsequent potential conflicts must be reported to the Board of Directors immediately. The Board of Directors shall determine the process for participation by the Director.
• When the Board is to decide on an issue about which a director has an unavoidable conflict of interest, that Director must recuse themselves from the conversation and the vote.
• A Director who applies for employment at the Cooperative must first resign from the Board.
• Directors may not attempt to exercise individual authority over the organization.
• When interacting with the GM or employees, Directors must respectfully and openly recognize their lack of authority.
• When interacting with the public, the press, or other entities, or on social media, Directors must recognize the same limitation and the inability of any Director to speak for the Board except to repeat explicitly stated Board decisions.
• Directors must not exhibit violent, oppressive or racist behaviors or speech.
• Directors must respect the confidentiality appropriate to issues of a sensitive nature and must continue to honor confidentiality after leaving Board service.
• Directors must use electronic communications in a manner consistent with this policy and the responsibilities of a Board member.
• Directors must prepare for, attend, and participate fully in all Board meetings, retreats, and trainings.
• Directors must make a good faith effort toward professional development and continuous improvement, including learning about the Cooperative, its operations, model board governance, and their responsibilities as a Board member via educational opportunities.
• Directors must support the legitimacy and authority of the Board’s decision on any matter, regardless of the Director’s personal position on the issue.
• Directors must refrain from soliciting, inferring, or otherwise requesting special privileges as a Board member and from interfering with the authority of the GM and Cooperative management.
• Any Director who does not follow or abide by the Code of Conduct Agreement may be removed from the Board by a two-thirds majority vote of the remaining Board.

Board of Directors Application