2026 Board Candidate
April Byron
How many hours per month could you realistically commit to board work, including meetings and committee tasks?
I am currently on the Frederic School board. We meet once a month for regular board meetings, usually the meetings are 2-3 hours long. There are other school board committee meetings that are every few months that usually are the same time duration. I am willing to commit at least 3 hours a month plus special circumstances or committees. I also understand that in the beginning of establishing a Co-op there may be more hourly commitment. Another idea, for co-op members is the opportunity to have volunteer hours, which I would consider, separate for board commitments.
Are there any times of year when your availability might be limited? If yes, please explain.
I am currently a stay at home parent, the issue would be child care. I would prefer evening meetings or weekends. Another exception would be vacation times but this is minimum.
How familiar are you with cooperative principles and the member-owned model? Please explain.
I have been in several co-op and collectives. I worked at Hard Times Cafe which is a vegan/vegetarian, collectively owned and operated business, in Minneapolis. It consists of baristas, full kitchen and Menu, including a bakery. After so many years an employee is considered part owner. There are no managers but nominated staff to do bookkeeping, ordering and maintenance .The monthly agenda issues would only pass on all employee consensus, not majority rules. I've been involved with The Grease Pit ( collectively owned) bicycle repair shop with community outreach, located in Minneapolis. I was member of The Mariposa Co-op in Philadelphia, PA. It originally started as a buyer collective ( in a food desert) that later grew into a larger co-op grocery store. I was involved in Fire House bicycles which is collectively owned bicycle shop, that does inclusive outreach within the West Philadelphia neighborhood. I have participated in skill shares that The Crucible would host, ( an all woman/LGBTQ) collectively run metal and welding shop, located in San Francisco. I have facilitated Food Not Bombs an unaffiliated food outreach in several cities. I could list off many more inclusive sub culture initiatives that support communities and have a collective mindset.
Please share an example of supporting local food, sustainability, or community initiatives.
In the previous question,I listed many collective and co-operatives that I have directly been involved in. What I learned from these experiences is that location and need of resources directly affect success. There are food desserts, food politics and accessibility. A collective/ co-op need a mission statement that invokes complete community support. A mission statement should consider economic considerations of the community. Food is a necessity but a co-op should not alienate anyone who wants to participate and consideration of demographics .Direct outreach to a community, transparency, involvement of local business/farmers is essential in building the necessary relationships. Let Artists and marginalized groups community space. Listen to what the community wants and expects. There are many different fundraiser ideas that are out there, allow people to have input. If the community supports it and feels that they are a contributor, it will be successful.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing a grocery co-op, and how would you approach them?
I've heard Polk County is the largest low income Community in Wisconsin. I think the biggest dilemma will be affordability. Keeping food prices reasonable and having transparency in pricing. Distributors often give lower prices to bigger corporations. Dollar General is also a few blocks away and on the main road. I think offering Health foods and Bulk food is important but having generic, affordable foods is key, Currently, 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Smaller business in small towns, struggle to compete with Walmart and Dollar General. I still think that their is a need for a local grocery store, especially with those who struggle with transportation issues.
If you joined the board, what would you hope to contribute to the co-op’s long-term vision?
I am really inspired to see the level of excitement that people had at the town presentation. Thank you Amanda for answering all the concerns and questions! It is a passion of mine to collaborate with Collectives and co-ops. I want to share my ideas and input. I have my experiences in so many collective/co-ops that i feel the need to participate in decisions. Building relationships and community outreach is something I enjoy doing. I want to contribute to the goal of having a sustainable Co-op in Frederic. It is a needed resource here and a component in keeping a small town alive.
Have you worked with budgets, financial statements, audits, HR, legal, operations, or project management? If yes, please describe.
I have had management positions where the responsibility is review the daily reports from the POS Systems- Making sure registers line up with the daily report. Management involved scheduling employees and staffing complaints/ issues. Customer service and ordering from distributors. Positive staff is important for repeat customers. I have not however been on the accounting end of the business.
How do you approach decision-making when there is financial or operational risk?
I think transparency and realistic decisions should be made with the full discussion and agreement of the board. Other co-op members and employees thoughts are valid.Balancing pros and cons of any risk should a matter of deduction and discussion. Consideration and thoughtfulness need to address the effect it will have on the community and members. Co-ops mission statements should always align with decision making.
Do you have any experience in start ups, self-driving fundraising or organizing large fund raising efforts? If yes, please describe.
I have participated in Go-Fund Me, also there are other ideas I have done in the past with community fundraisers/ Auctions/ Music and block parties. There are many brainstorming opportunities fundraising and all of them can be explored.
Please share an example of disagreeing with a group decision and how you handled it.
I think compromise can be hard for anyone. Compromise means both parties are giving up something to come to a consensus. This may mean long discussions and trying to understand where the other person is coming from and if there is a place/ decision that both people can agree is an acceptable conclusion. Being on a board can mean majority rules, this can be hard if there are major differences in opinions. Being able to discuss and process tension effectively is important for a healthy atmosphere in further discussions. Understanding conflict resolution should be a learning curve and addressed immediately. Actively maintaining a healthy relationship amongst board members is essential on meetings being productive instead of dysfunctional.
How do you balance advocating for your perspective with supporting collective decisions?
Its important to listen. All people need to listen and provide space for everyone to share their opinions and ideas. Respect is needed in all perspectives. Some people may take time to process or articulate their thoughts. Having a listed agenda before a meeting can increase productivity before a meeting. Allowing for thought. Not every decision has to be made immediately and can be tabled. Some committees may take time, so updates in progress are helpful in knowing what headway projects are making. Diversity and differences of opinions are important that all ideas and voices are heard.
How would you help attract new members or volunteers?
Its important to be excited and driven. Its contagions if you can explain why the mission of the Co-op is an important asset to our community. It seems that many people are excited about this opportunity. Valuing everyone who is participating on making this a long term goal should be appreciated. Word of mouth spreads fast in a small town. Keeping it positive and uplifting makes people want to join.
Do you have local networks or connections that could support the co-op’s growth?
I am a transplant to Frederic so I am still working on making connections. I do feel that I am trying to be an active member of Frederic and i have found a support network here. I'm invested on making this town an inviting place people would want to move to. I'm committed to providing an atmosphere that has a direct affect on raising for my children.
How do you approach learning new skills or responsibilities outside your expertise?
I am open to personal and professional growth. I enjoy learning and if someone is willing to share their skills and knowledge, i appreciate it. Its important to listen, observe and ask questions. I want to fully understand what I am learning. It also helps with building connections and support. Its important for me to be receptive and open to new opportunities.
Are you comfortable asking for guidance when needed?
Yes.
Have you faced an ethical dilemma in a volunteer or professional role?
If so, how did you resolve it?
There was an experience that I had at a school board meeting. It was a closed session so I am not at liberty to discuss any of the details with anyone. It was a long meeting with strong emotions behind everyone's individual ethics. I had to acknowledge that it was a majority rules decision. We all had to respect personal opinions and allow space for everyone to talk. Although the majority did not align with mine, I still felt heard. We came to a decision that I did not agree with but that I could live with. Just because my ethics/opinions may differ from someone else's, that does not mean that they are an unethical person. We made sure to process the emotions that contributed to the decision that was made. It is important not to have any animosity within the board. It was a learning experience for all of us. We now know how we function as a group and are in agreement that conflict resolution is crucial. I think this meeting actually made us stronger as a group. We still have respect for one another.
What would you do if you suspected a board member or staff member was not acting in the co-op’s best interest?
I am a direct, honest and open person. Being direct in my experience is the best way to communicate and come to a resolution. I do not like the "mid west nice", where people are nice to someone's face and talk behind someone's back. This creates division and larger problems. It is best to address any concerns out in the open. If their are any misunderstandings, a person's perceptions may change with open dialogue. This also creates room for growth in communication and transparency in conflict resolution.
Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
I am a caring, compassionate person. I am an Artist with a create mindset. Act Local, think Global, you can't put the weight of the world on your shoulders. You also can't do it alone. Community is so important to me. Its what makes a difference in anyone's life. I also want to say thank you to the steering committee and the consideration for me running for the board.