The Membership Team is working to update OFF's membership criteria, policies, and governance from 2010-2012. Their key objectives are to define membership qualifications, expectations, benefits and an exit strategy. They will review policies from other organizations, update bylaws, and define membership categories and a compensation plan. The team aims to engage members and clarify the vision and roles within OFF.

1. Membership Team Planning Matrix
2010-2012 Objectives
(updated 11/8/2010)
Purpose/Mission: To create and engage a trusting, supportive cooperative membership.
Key Objectives: To have clear membership criteria that outlines benefits and responsibilities; to develop clear, relevant policies and guidelines
•Defined qualifications, terms and benefits
•Expectations defined for involvement and membership
•Plan for growth and sustainability
•Exit strategies and mechanisms
•Leadership and coop knowledge development plan
Project Name: Membership Team Champions: Keith, Terry, Warren, Dave
Estimated Completion Date: July 2010-July 2012 Actual Completion Date
Estimated Budget: Actual Expenditures
Objective/Target Activities/Tasks Milestones Who’s
Responsible
Due
Date
Actual
Date
Schedule (s)election
date for new position of
vice president.
Choose date for selection.
Prepare handouts of role description, selection
process, selection handouts; check-in
w/ExComm.
New VP elected Keith
ExComm
Done
Date set for annual mtg.
New officers (s)elected
Add vice president position to executive
committee; choose date for (s)election.
Describe selection process and forward
handouts to members ahead of time.
Officers selected at
annual mtg
Keith Done
Update bylaws. Review bylaws & identify those that need
revision.
Bylaws needing revision
identified.
Draft of revised bylaws
Keith
Dave
Terry
11/10/10
6/10/11
Define member exit
strategy
Obtain a copy of Agrimark’s exit strategy. (WF)
Define exit strategy, capital share, & payout
time
Exit strategy and payout
defined. Proposal sent to
ExCom.
Keith
Warren
Terry
Dave
11/10/10
Define membership
criteria.
Define membership
expectations &
responsibilities.
Define member benefits.
Define how member
performance is evaluated.
Get copies of bylaws, membership criteria,
compensation plans from other orgs:
Rhody Fresh & Agrimark (Warren)
Meet with Adam Trott, from Collective
Copies/Amherst & Valley Alliance of Worker
Cooperatives (VAWC) (Terry)
Pioneer Valley Growers (Keith)
Meet w/Lynda Bruchette or Lynn Benander
from CDI (Ingrid)
Membership criteria
defined.
Membership expectations,
responsibilities defined.
Member benefits defined.
Member performance
Terry
Donna
Warren
Keith
2/10/11
3/10/10
Done
Done
© Bredenberg Associates 2008

2. Membership Team Planning Matrix
2010-2012 Objectives
(updated 11/8/2010)
evaluation defined.
Define membership
categories.
Define compensation
plan for levels of
involvement.
Explore the interest that state-wide farmers
have in OFF membership. (WF)
Review Rhody Fresh compensation model by
100 weight.(WF & DW)
Review Money as Measurement by John Buck
(DW)
Membership categories
defined
Compensation plan
defined for different
levels of
involvement/membership.
Keith
Warren
Terry
Dave
4/10/11
5/10/11
Benefits anticipated:
• Increased trust and involvement of staff at all levels
• Clarity in the vision and mission of the organization
• Good atmosphere, a place where people want to work
• Increased staff enthusiasm, creativity and hopefulness
• Develop ‘forward thinking’ leaders
• Improve communications within and outside organization
• Develop competent replacements for current staff
• Establish and maintain a well functioning and respected organization
• Enable a greater amount of time to be dedicated to the development of personal and systemic capacity
Membership Questions from April 19th, 2010 Strategic Planning Session
• How do you engage members in useful activities that are profitable?
• What do members want as a result of belonging to OFF? What are member benefits?
• Who increases/decreases membership?
• What are behaviors/activities of members in good standing? How is member performance measured?
• How do we balance self interest with the interest of OFF?
• How do members get compensated fairly for their investment of money, time, talent?
• What are the criteria for membership?
• What is the common purpose of membership?
Resources
Copies of bylaws from other coops
 Rhody Fresh: bylaws & compensation plan
 Agrimark: bylaws
 Hudson Valley: notes from Terry
Pioneer Valley Growers: Keith
 Adam Trott, Collective Copies & Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives (VAWC): : Terry
Lynda Brushett/Lynn Benander, CDI: Ingrid
© Bredenberg Associates 2008

3. Membership Team Planning Matrix
2010-2012 Objectives
(updated 11/8/2010)
Attorney: Keith
Questions for meeting with Lynn B.
1. Who are the outstanding marketing coops that are small, successful, and profitable that we should take a look at how they are
operating?
2. Can you get us copies of their bylaws, membership categories, criteria, responsibilities & benefits, member performance evaluation
systems, compensation plans?
3. Bylaws say we need to file any change in membership (admitted or terminated) with Secretary of State. Do we need legal advice to
change dividend payout for a member who no longer wants to receive their divident? Do we need a lawyer to draft the letter? Or
can it be an informal letter?
4. Marketing coop bylaws that practice dynamic governance
5. Commission plans for sales
6. Makeup of boards of directors that include outside members…or advisory board with experts that are pro bono. What is the optimal
size for a board?
© Bredenberg Associates 2008