As the weather turns cooler in Austin, Member-Owners execute their right to vote for open positions on the Black Star Co-op board. The Board of Directors provide leadership and guidance that supports the Co-op’s mission, vision, and goals on behalf of the Member-Owners through personal responsibility and effective governance through well-written policies. Learn more about the candidates through their answers to the “Questions for the Candidate” section in their submitted candidacy application or by attending the Member’s Assembly on Sunday, October 27th from 12-2pm. Electronic vote casting begins October 1 and ends October 31 with in-person ballots available at the Member’s Assembly.  

Questions for the Candidate

Greg Cumpton

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Board of Directors of the Co-op?

The fiscal position of Black Star dimmed suddenly in first month of my joining the Board just under three years ago (I’m sure this was correlation and not causation).  Members arrived in droves to support the Co-op.  Without their support, Black Star would not be here.  It’s time for Black Star Co-op to put members first.  I look forward to representing them on the Board.

• What goals would you like to see Black Star Co-op achieve in the next year?  Five years?

In the short term I would like to see improved efforts to engage current members and expansive efforts to increase the number of new members. I want to attend a Member’s Assembly meeting where there are no empty seats!  In five years, I’d like all the facilities issues completely resolved.

• What qualities and past experience do you have for serving on the Black Star Co-op Board of Directors?

I am just finishing my first term on the Board which went from fiscal crisis to stability.  I hope to apply the skills I’ve learned to another three years on the Board.

• Name one way in which you’d like the Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery to stand out from other local brewpubs.

Black Star Co-op already stands out from other local brewpubs.  Other breweries and brewpubs have fans; Black Star has member-owners.  Other brewpubs pay their staff the federal tipped minimum wage; Black Star pays a living wage.  Other brewpubs and breweries join and support people and organizations that promote local beer (that’s good, yes); Black Star does that AND advocates for policies ensuring a quality workplace locally and nationally.  Let’s be honest, we can drink award winning beer all over Austin, but no award winning beer tastes as righteous as Black Star’s.    

• What is your favorite Co-operative Principle and why?

Democratic member control.  Members have a voice at Black Star.  I want to hear those voices more clearly and more often over the next three years.

James Farris

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Board of Directors of the Co-op?

I believe strongly in the mission and vision for Black Star Co-op.  I have been a longtime patron of the Co-op and a member since 1997, when I attended my first members assembly.  I love the sense of community, both among members and staff and the way the Black Star acts on the seven co-op principles to be a positive part of the larger community.  I believe Black Star is something special in the Austin brewpub scene and would like to take a more active role in supporting and strengthening it.

• What goals would you like to see Black Star Co-op achieve in the next year?  Five years?

I would like to see Black Star strengthen its financial position, while growing the awareness among existing and potential patrons of the unique qualities and features that set it apart within the brewpub scene in Austin.  I would like to see it continue to make strides in building a community around the co-op mission as well as high quality beer and food offerings that incorporate member input in the development and selection.

• What qualities and past experience do you have for serving on the Black Star Co-op Board of Directors?

Passion for this place (I’m literally filling this application out while I sit at the bar).  I also have a broad set of skills and experience gained from my degrees in Math and Public Affairs and working in jobs doing data analysis, program evaluation, performance improvement, and policy development in state government. 

• Name one way in which you’d like the Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery to stand out from other local brewpubs.

Community and customer involvement.  I think the key ingredient in what makes Black Star special to me is the spirit of involvement and cooperation that underpin its founding and business model.  I love to tell people about the living wage paid to staff, the way the folks who work here have direct input into how things are run, how members are more than just customers – they’re owners, and how all these things come together into celebration of work, quality, integrity, and beer.

• What is your favorite Co-operative Principle and why?

Democratic member control.  This principle, where members and staff have a stake in establishing the community and priorities is a key to what Black Star offers.  These days when you can go online and order anything from anywhere, or drop-in on snapshots of life from friends or celebrities and click to show your feels, this principle says you’re not just buying a commodity when you become a member or patronize the co-op, you’re participating in a community.  When you come to events or talk to staff you’re not emoting into the ether, you have voice in shaping this community.

Gabriel Prado

• Why are you interested in serving on the Board of Directors of the Co-op?

As a true Austinite (born and raised), I’m very passionate about local businesses and the unique impression they leave on our beautiful, ever changing city.  The Black Star principles and symbiotic relationship with the local community are a great embodiment of what I believe Austin to be and should have more of.  I’ve been looking for an opportunity to join the board of a local business and pledge to use my time and background to further the mission and set Black Star as the shining example of the co-op model.

• What goals would you like to see Black Star Co-op achieve in the next year?  Five years?

Short-term in the next year I’d like to see Black Star expand engagement with its local member owner community and start to execute on innovative new ideas to drive traffic and renewed interest in the Black Star mission.  In five years, I’d like to see Black Star expand its footprint with new strategic partnerships that generate value for all stakeholders and help carry the Black Star name like other well-known Austin breweries.

• What qualities and past experience do you have for serving on the Black Star Co-op Board of Directors?

I’ve been curating a very diverse set of business skills over my career including sales, product management, pricing, and product marketing.  While those skills have been honed in the tech space, I am ready to apply the same critical thinking and strategy to a much more personal type of business.  Personally, I tend to take a lot of ownership in success and love to coach the others around me with best practices and lessons learned.

• Name one way in which you’d like the Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery to stand out from other local brewpubs.

I think there is a huge opportunity to make Black Star the “third place” for those who drink beer-just how coffee shops have become a third place for many.  I think this requires developing an understanding of what people need in that “third place” and what Black Star can do to facilitate and encourage it.  I see it as a third place for many, but it’s still subject to a lot of competition in the surrounding area.  Let’s understand our members and further develop that vision of the third-place.

1. What is your favorite Co-operative Principle and why?

Democratic member control.  I believe this to be incredibly important as an exchange of diverse backgrounds and ideas that can all play on a level playing field.  I think the means to be able to have a voice is much more valuable than being able to pay more for a louder voice.  I also appreciate this principle because it isn’t always easy.  Members need to be engaged, informed, and have a personal interest in the voting outcomes-all of which are very hard to measure, making it a particularly interesting challenge!

Cast Your Vote HERE

Black Star Co-Op is not like other pubs in town. Firstly, its beer is better, but also it is a member-owned democratically run organization. This October, as a Member-Owner you have two important voting decisions to make.

1. Election of the Board of Directors of the Co-op. These folk meet to make decisions on your behalf, they represent the Members of the Co-op, legally are accountable for the business, and hold the workers assembly to account through a series of governance policies. We have a few positions on the board up for election and some great candidates standing. You can vote either at the Members’ Assembly or online in the email that will be sent out in a similar time frame.
2. Referendum to change one of our Bylaws. This doesn’t happen often, but some decisions are so important that we look for the Member-Owners to get involved rather than the Board making a
   decision on their behalf. This is your opportunity to have a direct say in how the Co-op operates. You can again vote either at the Members’ Assembly or in the email that will be sent out at a similar time. Details of the bylaw change are included below for you to read. Please feel free to speak to or email the board if you have questions around this or would like to discuss it at board@blackstar.coop
   I look forward to seeing you on the 27th of October for a cold beer, some hot topics of conversation, and a warm reception for the new Board Member candidates. All that’s left for me to say is…
   MEMBERS ASSEMBLE!!!!!!!

(News Team / Black Star Members – both good looking, both spend time in pubs – same thing right?)
Thanks,
Graham (Member Development Board Committee Chair)

Living Wage Bylaw Change Proposal

Reason for Proposed Change

The board is recommending a change to one of the Co-Op bylaws. To do this we legally require a vote from the member/owners.

The language currently used in this bylaw regards the payment of workers assembly (WA) members. We propose a change as the current language for two reasons

1. It is restrictive in that it stipulates specific calculators that have debatable relevance to the Austin employment market.
2. It is also financially unsustainable in its expectation that “any employee” will receive this. The spirit of the statement is good, but the reality is that it is unobtainable, and so does not encourage the Co-Op to strive towards this goal but focus efforts elsewhere.

The proposed change will give the WA flexibility in worker renumeration while increasing oversite from the board to ensure that we continue to challenge ourselves towards achieving the Co-Op principles. We believe that this change will have a positive effect on worker pay.

The Co-Op Board of directors, and the WA, recommend that members vote to accept this change.

Changes in detail

1. Change in the bylaw to allow the WA to propose the most appropriate living wage calculator
2. Change to the language of the bylaw to remove the “any employee” language
3. Addition to board D.3 policy for all voting body WA members are paid a living wage (there is a tenure and commitment requirement to become a WA voting body member – so this will likely exclude transitional staff)
4. Addition to board D.3 policy for over 60% of staff receive a living wage (and by proxy – become voting members of the WA). This promotes the spirit of “we pay a living wage” and encourages tenure and commitment from the WA. Hitting 60% will be aspirational in the near future, but we believe this is an obtainable goal in the Austin market and so encourages us all to strive for policy compliance rather than give up as lost.
5. Addition to board D.3 policy for oversite from the board on the living wage calculator chosen to ensure fair remuneration for years to come.
6. Please note other elements of the existing D3 policy regarding discrimination, salary ratios and gratuity have not been changed.

Exact wording for your study

Old Language

Living Wage Bylaw:

When financially able, the Co-op shall pay no less than a living wage (determined by the formula of the Universal Living Wage Campaign) to any of its employees.

D.3 Policy:

• D.3.0 With respect to employment, compensation, and benefits to employees, consultants, contract workers, and volunteers. The Workers’ Assembly shall not cause or allow jeopardy to financial integrity or public image, or discrimination based on race, sex, age, creed, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, color or disability.
• D.3.1 The Workers’ Assembly will not allow disparity between the remuneration of any two workers to exceed a ratio of 4:1.
• D.3.2 The Workers’ Assembly will not accept gratuities to supplement wages paid by the Co-op.

Proposed New Language

Living Wage Bylaw:

When financially able the Co-op shall pay an objectively calculated living wage determined by the formula of an appropriate living wage calculator recommended by the workers assembly

D.3 Policy:

• D.3.0 With respect to employment, compensation, and benefits to employees, consultants, contract workers, and volunteers. The Workers’ Assembly shall not cause or allow jeopardy to financial integrity or public image, or discrimination based on race, sex, age, creed, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, color or disability.
• D.3.1 The Workers’ Assembly will not allow disparity between the remuneration of any two workers to exceed a ratio of 4:1.
• D.3.2 The Workers’ Assembly will not accept gratuities to supplement wages paid by the Co-op.
• D.3.3 The Co-Op shall not pay less than a sustainable living wage to all WA members who are members of the voting body.
• D.3.4 The Co-op will not pay less than a sustainable living wage to more than 40% of the workers assembly.
• D.3.5 The WA will not go more than 12 months without getting agreement from the board on the living wage calculator that is used.