2010 Board of Directors Candidates

Vote! Elections will be held April 16-30. Only current members may vote. One ballot per membership number. Members can vote for up to 7 candidates. Look for ballots in the store.

Hank Van den Berg

Serving on Open Harvest's board interests me for several reasons. First, as a professor of economics at UNL, I regularly teach undergraduate and graduate courses on economic growth and development. I take a very holistic approach to economic development, and I focus on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Over the years I have become convinced that humanity needs to pursue an alternative development path based on sustainable and healthy living. We need to get off the hedonic treadmill of mindless work and mass consumption that characterizes American lifestyles. I see Open Harvest continuing to play an active role in promoting more sustainable lifestyles.

As a close observer of our economic/ social system, which increasingly favors the wealthy, I see a particular need for Open Harvest to provide healthy and sustainable lifestyles to all income groups. Healthy living should not be only for the wealthy. Also, Open Harvest has positioned itself to help expand local and sustainable agricultural production, thus hopefully reversing the emptying of our rural America.

I hope that my understanding of overall economic, social, and environmental trends will be helpful in shaping Open Harvest's long-run strategy. The business must remain economically viable. A position on the Board would offer me a wonderful opportunity to become more closely involved the activities necessary to maintain a viable cooperative business fully committed to the local community.

Finally, I love Open Harvest for putting the healthiest and most environmentally friendly products on its shelves. I hope Open Harvest can continue to provide shoppers with that sense of security in knowing that what they buy is good for them, good for society, and good for the environment.

Pepe Fierro

Hello neighbors and friends that I've not yet met. Sometime ago, I was transferred to Lincoln for a two month stay. However, when I arrived there was no job or apartment. Living out of my car allowed me to explore Lincoln and all it had to offer. I was quickly drawn to the Near South and Everett neighborhoods. I knew I had found something special on my first visit to Open Harvest and a heavenly lunch at Maggie's. A seed was planted.

That was 6 years ago. I have learned, and grown in many ways, and hope to continue to do so. I now have owned a business in Lincoln for two years. THANK YOU LINCOLN. I believe in community and buying local first. So what better way to give back to the community then by serving on the board? See you on the bike trails.

Bob Hutkins

I have been an Open Harvest member for more than 20 years and a Board member since 2007. I previously served as a Board member of a coop in St. Paul, Minnesota and was a worker-member of a coop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Therefore, even before joining the OH Board three years ago, I was very familiar with coop philosophy and how coop boards operate. However, I have definitely come to appreciate what a special place is Open Harvest and am grateful to be a part of this terrific store. I have been especially fortunate to serve on the Open Harvest Board during the expansion period and at a time when the Coop has experienced remarkable growth and member support. In what I hope will be a second term, I look forward to working with my fellow Board members and the dedicated staff of Open Harvest to continue this success.

Carla McCullough

I love co-ops. It started many moons ago, living in Milwaukee, when I discovered Outpost. As is the case for many of us, this love sprouts first from the food. Every move thereafter, I searched out the local co-op, Mifflin Street Co-op in Madison, WI, Wheatsfield Co-op in Ames, IA. It took living without a co-op in Wyoming to realize how much I missed one. Moving here 10 years ago, I remember finding Open Harvest in the yellow pages and then finding a plastic bottle to fill with Dr. Bronner's. Besides the food, I now have other reasons for loving our co-op. Where else do they encourage you to refill plastic bottles? Where else do I shop where so many of my friends work and shop too? Nowhere else does shopping feel like such a community event.

Three years ago, after volunteer herb stocking for a few years, I read a letter by Terrance Moore in the Open Harvest newsletter. The exact words I cannot remember, but his letter inspired a call to service too strong to resist. I joined the board and my main contributions have been through serving on the Finance Committee, Annual Meeting Planning, and currently, chairing the Search Committee for a new General Manager. It has been exciting and challenging over the past three years, seeing the co-op through expansion, learning Policy Governance and trying to contribute in some way to the successful future of Open Harvest. It would be my pleasure to serve the co-op for another three years.

Gail Kendall

I am running for a second term on the Open Harvest Board of Directors. In the past three years I have learned to appreciate Policy Governance, the rules through which the Board works for the General Manager, staff and membership of the coop. Most exciting has been the decision-making and support the board provided for (and during) the recent expansion. After three years I feel I understand the role of the board and look forward to continued service. I am committed to humanely-raised natural meats, and organic vegetables and groceries. I believe that Open Harvest is an exciting and educational grocery serving our local market. Our influence on our community's awareness of what and how we eat, is substantial and growing stronger each year. I hope to work with the entire Open Harvest community in expanding our reach, improving our offerings, and continuing our fine history in Lincoln.

Sara Moshman

I have served one term on the board and would be happy to serve another. During my first term I served on the finance and membership committees and as editor of the upcoming 35th anniversary cookbook. I am an organic cook and gardener. My organic lawn of 18 years includes expanding bird habitat and native prairie sections. My interest in Open Harvest is strong. Professionally, I have an M.S. in Computer Science and am founder, President and CEO of MetaLogic, Inc., a software company providing services to the education industry.

Maggie Pleskac

I've lived in Lincoln all my life except for a few extended stays away in which I lived in Tempe, Arizona and Utrecht, Holland. In Arizona, I worked as the membership coordinator at Gentle Strength Cooperative Grocery (a 36-year-old memberowned natural food store which sadly closed its doors in 2007) In Holland, I took classes at Utrecht University in Women's Studies and worked in a cooperative cafe and film house called EKKO. I spent about a year in each of these places but I've always returned to the "home base" of Lincoln where I've now established my own business, Maggie's vegetarian cafe in the Haymarket.

I credit my previous employment at Open Harvest for giving me my entrepreneurial start. After managing the Open Harvest deli, I thought I'd venture out on my own. I've been in business for ten years now. In 2007, I co-authored a cookbook called Dueling Chefs: A vegetarian and meat lover debate the plate that combines vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes.

Food is my first love and artistic outlet. I am one of the founding members of Slow Food Nebraska whose mission is to protect and promote biodiversity and sustainability in our food supply. I feel strongly about the connection of food and community and I am a passionate advocate for eating seasonally, locally and sustainably. I try to model this philosophy in my cafe and in my personal life as well. When I'm not at my cafe, I'm in my garden with my husband, our beautiful daughter Iris, and our two hens Mabel and Luciana.

Jill K. Wertz

I am interested in being on the Open Harvest board for three reasons:

1.) Six years ago, I learned I was allergic to corn and with this diagnosis came a variety of issues. I found that Open Harvest was essential in making my life easier. It allowed me to find alternatives to food choices, knowledge and information about what I was experiencing and supplements to change the way I had been living.

2.) I consider myself to be an "average" Lincolnite. I have lived in Lincoln my whole life and shop at other grocery stores. I do not follow a specific or regimented diet, yet I have found Open Harvest to be essential in my daily living. I was excited about the expansion of the store and more brand options. I love the convenience of the store and its prices.

3.) I would like to be on the board as a way to expand my horizons and learn about Open Harvest, its services and its customers. I hope to bring ideas that will help customers feel satisfied with services and products.