A Dash of History... from Jerry Johnston

Sometimes I've tried to do the math. Let's see, on the Board for three years, that's 3 times 12, that's 36. Ok. Then on staff from '83 to '88, that's 5 times 12, that's 60. Ok, that makes 96. Now. Back on staff in '89, until, when was it I resigned? right '97. That's 8 more, times 12, that's oh, the hell with it.

That's how it goes every time I try to figure out how many Open Harvest Board of Directors meetings I went to. Then there's staff meetings, Board committee meetings, executive committee meetings. Then there are Blooming Prairie General Membership meetings, some conferences AND Co-op Grocer's Association meetings, let's see from '93 to '97, that's 6 years, times 4, plus oh, the hell with it.

I'd say that I've been to about 3 or 4 bazillion Open Harvest meetings. Or so. I understand there are still Open Harvest meetings, but I don't go any more because I can't count any higher.

Boy, I remember some doozies. Some were doozies because of fairly radical personal misbehavior (not always mine!) and even though I'm sure you'd like me to tell you those stories, I won't, because everything that's fun to tell is not always good to tell. But, I can tell you that in the early '80s, it was OK to fart audibly at Open Harvest Board Meetings. Really. It was usually Archie Levine, but not always. (If you want to reach me Archie, I'm in the phone book - and everyone knows it was you, and don't even try to deny it).

I had been to meetings before I started going to meetings at Open Harvest. I knew words like "facilitate" and "group dynamics" and such. I had been to Methodist meetings, so I knew meetings could be both vacuous and vitriolic. But I learned about meetings at Open Harvest. I learned that people hate meetings. People "sit through" meetings. People have "another stupid" meeting. "What a waste." "Meetings: the Practical Alternative to Work."

But here is something I believe: Open Harvest continues, beyond (and sometimes despite) the wildest dreams of it's founders and early activists, because of what happened at Board Meetings. Yes, of course, there are lots of other reasons too, but without the courage and audacity of a dedicated, contentious, confused, daring, dogged Board of Directors, this store we rely on would be as fond a memory as the 1977 OH snack bar.

Don't believe me? In 1983 the Board instituted a member capitalization plan (paying money to be a member instead of having to "volunteer"). Without going into all the gory boring details, it was not a smashing good idea according to many members - including some staff members (who numbered about 5 then). It was thought of as scary, hairy, and worst of all, a sell-out. The member capitalization plan saved Open Harvest from certain dissolution.

In 1988-9 the Board decided to move the store. We had to raise a bunch of money, a do a bunch of hard work. It was risky. It almost certainly saved Open Harvest from extinction.

As it turned out, we were undercapitalized for the move, and giving member discounts was ruining our balance sheet. In a bold move, in 1993 (I think) the Board suspended member discounts. Talk about risky. Many people thought that this would be the last straw, and that members would leave in droves. There was some grumbling, but members did not leave in droves or even in dribs and drabs. In fact, membership and sales grew enormously. Those three huge decisions were made at meetings. "Stupid" meetings that people "sat through". And I am convinced that had those decisions not been made, we wouldn't have Open Harvest.

Open Harvest is for shopping, not for meetings, I know. I also know that bold individuals are behind bold decisions, and I haven't mentioned names (except for Archie Levine, it was too you, don't deny it) because I don't want to exclude anyone. But the next time you wrap your fingers around your favorite apple or loaf or jar or bag, the next time you let the honey flow and the granola fly, know that sometime, somewhere, somebody warmed a chair at a meeting for your right to eat well. And say thanks to a Board member. And vote in the Board elections.

Jerry Johnston's derriere warmed the general manager's chair most of the time from 1983 to 1997.