Outpost Board Director Ashley Fisher is wrapping up her second three-year term on Outpost’s Board of Directors. We thought it was a great time to capture her parting thoughts on serving on our board and why it’s so important that owners authentically engage with their co-op.

Question: Ashley, thank you for sitting on Outpost’s board for the past six years, of which you were Board President for three years. If there’s an Outpost owner thinking about running for a seat on Outpost’s board, what would you tell them about your board service experience?

Answer: I would say, go for it! The Outpost Co-op Board of Directors is a special board that embraces a culture of collaboration. I’ve loved playing a role in the direct impact that Outpost has on our community through the sale of healthy and organic food. It has been really meaningful to me to be able to show up at a board meeting every month to have conversations and make decisions that will have a true impact on our co-op for years to come.

Question: The first step to becoming a Board Director is to join our co-op. What are some great reasons for our shoppers to become Outpost owners?

Answer: A food co-op is a beautiful and powerful thing within its community. When someone decides to become an Outpost owner, they’re not just voting with their food dollars, they’re claiming a piece of our community-owned store. As a board, we’ve been collectively dedicated to making sure that our co-op meets the needs of our owners.

Outpost is also a gathering place for shoppers and co-op owners who have similar values. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come home late from shopping at Outpost because I’ve gotten caught up in a conversation in the store aisles. It truly is more than a grocery store, it’s a place where neighbors connect and community grows.

Question: As you know, the Outpost Board Election is running from March 19 – April 2. Why should Outpost owners take the time to vote for the four directors that they would like to represent them on the board?

Answer: I would say that the biggest local impact you can have is through cooperative democracy. Our owners’ votes matter and have a direct impact on who is leading our organization. I encourage all owners to participate and vote in this year’s board election. We have 24,000 current owners and so few actually vote…It’s so important to take the time to engage with your co-op and let your voice be heard! CLICK HERE to vote online or stop by an Outpost service desk for a paper ballot.

I also want to say thank you for the privilege and honor to be your representative on the Outpost Board. The past six years have been a very special time in my life and my work on the board has been a labor of love. I’m so grateful to my co-directors, co-op management and staff for all the work that they’ve done to make our co-op the special place it is. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been through this experience and I confidently leave the board knowing it’s in very capable hands.