Vote in Black Star’s Election
Election time is upon us, and as the Board announced in the January Members’ Forum, we have prepared a new Ends Policy for your up or down vote.
The Ends Committee spent the better part of a year developing an open and transparent process that included member, worker and director involvement in order to create a new long-term and flexible guiding vision for the benefits our cooperative will create on our behalf. We hope that you enjoy the new Ends policy and will give them an overwhelming “Yes” vote in this year’s election. A big heaping thank you to members Travis Jones, Don Jackson, and fellow director Marcus Wilson. It was an honor to work with all of you on this project.
Without further delay, here are the Ends Policies resulting from the process:
As a community owned brewpub, Black Star Co-op leads in the creation of a world with:
- Inspired craft beer
- A thriving cooperative community
- A resilient food system
- a more just society
We look forward to your vote!
Dacia Schoolfield Candidate Information
1.) Why are you interested in serving on the Board of Directors of the Co-op? The opportunity to serve on the BlackStar Board of Directors would be unique, interesting and challenging. While I’ve never worked in a co-operative leadership structure before, I’m interested in understanding how the co-op runs, functions, measures its performance, gauges success and, in conjunction with the Workers Assembly, continuously improves the organizational output. I’m not only a member of the local Austin community – but am also a member of the BlackStar co- op. Because of these connections, I am personally committed to BlackStar and have a legitimate stake in seeing BlackStar succeed. It’s time for me to give back.
2.) What goals would you like to see Black Star Co-op achieve in the next year? Five years? Without insight into current metrics, it’s difficult to pin point specific goals. However, as a member-customer, I would like to see operational efficiency improvements, such as shorter wait time between beer pours. I’d like to see BlackStar in a financially stable position, while still supporting the basic tenets that make BlackStar unique: paying livable wages, locally sourcing, etc. I’d like to see more GABF medals within the next five years. I’d like to see BlackStar receive local awards as well, such as recognition by the Austin Chronicle’s Best of Austin.
3.) What qualities and past experience do you have for serving on the Black Star Co-op Board of Directors? With twenty years of manufacturing experience, fifteen of which spent in quality management and team building roles, I’ve developed both personally and professionally. This development includes: a strong but gentle voice, a passion for processes, enthusiasm for the worker, and a commitment to contribute my personal best. I’ve learned patience, communication, empathy and drive. I also, sincerely, love everything about food; I moonlight as an Austin Community College student, studying Pastry & Baking Arts. Most importantly, I love beer. Everything about beer.
4.) Name one way in which you’d like the Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery to stand out from other local brewpubs. The local Austin market has become extremely competitive. We are fortunate to live in a city where there are choices – and phenomenal choices at that. To differentiate BlackStar from other options, I’d focus on
- crafting memorable, award-winning beer
- creating a simple but innovative menu, with some portion rotating based on season
- environment
5.) What is your favorite Co-operative Principle and why? Out of the seven co-operative principles, the principle that speaks the most to me is that of Democratic Member Control. There is strength in autonomy, in independence and strength in numbers. Democratic Member Control captures the significance of each member’s voice – with not one individual’s voice, opinion, or desire being greater than his or her neighbor’s. I believe in the co-operative board working for and with the Workers Assembly, with ultimate responsibility to the co-op members.
John Warren, Candidate Information:
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Board of Directors of the Co-op? I believe that Black Star is unique; its business model, the fact that it’s a co-op, the quality of its beers, and the foods it serves. I want to help Black Star strive in the very competitive Austin market. I want Black Star to continue to develop as a business and as an Austin institution.
2. What goals would you like to see Black Star Co-op achieve in the next year? Five years?
- Next year: achieve financial stability and increase its beer distributio
- Next five years: continue to increase its beer distribution, begin brewing at a second location, and have an option to move /expand from its current Pub location
3. What qualities and past experience do you have for serving on the Black Star Co-op Board of Directors? I’ve been a loyal customer ever since my wife introduced me to Black Star over ten years ago. In addition, I have 20 years of business and information technology experience. A business and technology acumen formed in Global Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, and Government.
4. Name one way in which you’d like the Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery to stand out from other local brewpubs. I believe that the member/owners and “regulars” are unique assets to Black Star. I want to explore ways to strengthen their ongoing patronage and their potential to be our best ambassadors. I want to help them to become Black Star evangelists!
5. What is your favorite Co-operative Principle and why? 7th principal, Concern for Community I want Black Star to achieve financial stability and strengthen its business model so it can look outwards and support our community at large.