2026 Board of Directors Candidate Statements

River Valley Co-op Board of Director's Election Voting opens at 7:00 AM Eastern Time on September 29, 2026. Voting will remain open until 10 PM Eastern Time on October 29, 2026. You are invited to vote online by electronic ballot  anytime through October 29, 2026, by 10 PM.

Your vote is important participation in our collectively owned local business.

Please note: Only the official representative of your River Valley Co-op ownership share is eligible to vote, and only one vote per co-op ownership share will be accepted. Three candidates submitted applications for nominations for the 2026 Board Election. The Board nominated all three candidates. All three candidates are now seeking your votes of support in this election for the three available seats. 

Voting Link are sent from Simply Voting and only available online. If you have not received your link, please email boardelection@rivervalley.coop

Angus Brewer (Incumbent)

Angus Brewer, one of only two Directors on the Board who is also a Co-op employee, is seeking re-election to the RVC Board of Directors. He has been effecting positive change in the lives of others for more than three decades, literally and figuratively marching in solidarity with underserved people of all persuasions. He has taught pre-K students through college postgraduates in public, private, and charter schools—with policy development, planning, and organizational evaluation always playing a part. During his time in the Army Reserves, he was tasked with battlefield communications and training. He has been a state social worker; a counselor in group homes, hospitals, and a house of corrections; a financial advisor with a Fortune 100 investment firm; and a fiery, socially conscious spoken-word artist.

Eight years ago, Angus brought these skills along with an extensive background in public relations and sales to our Co-op, first working in the Meat & Seafood department and then in the Grocery department, whilst helping in other departments at both locations. As a professional DJ and emcee of 42 years, he is the owner of Rhythm Method, performing for crowds from Boston to Atlanta to San Francisco—and even provided the musical backdrop for many of our own events, including the 2018 Annual Board Meeting.

Deeply committed to the task of making the Co-op a mecca for those wanting positive change through food justice and a place where all are welcome, Angus would appreciate your vote.

 

 

Emma Woebbe (Incumbent)

A just, sustainable food system answers most of my questions about building the world we wish to live in. Our co-op brings significant resources to a food system we can believe in, while providing a joyful space that grounds me in community every time I shop. My sons will grow up pushing those tiny red carts and hugging Ursula the bear for a little too long as we enter the store, bumping into friends while filling our carts with delicious food that I feel confident feeding them. Serving as Board President for the last two years has been an honor. I get a front row seat to River Valley’s amazing impact, including over $2.4 million in donations to local nonprofits and more than $13 million in local sales per year. This model of a supportive, functional, democratic and transparent organization is such a tonic in troubled times.

Emma has a J.D. from Vermont Law School where she focused on food systems and agriculture and a degree in Agriculture and Food Law from the University of Arkansas. She worked towards equitable food production in nonprofits,commercial kitchens and farms and is now a full time parent. She and her wife live in Easthampton with their shepherd mix and two young sons.


 

Gary L. Schaefer (Incumbent)

In 1997 a group of us met regularly to brainstorm how “Northampton Community Food Co-op” could become a reality.  Today we are a flourishing business with over 18,000 members and a second store which opened in July of 2021 in Easthampton.

For four decades I co-owned an ice cream manufacturing and distribution company and two ice cream shops, all in the Pioneer Valley.  In addition to our ice cream, we also distributed many locally produced foods from new and/or small scale producers. 

Since I have a degree in Business and Accounting along with a Masters in Social Work, I blended my education and passions to help create a company that adapted and flourished with the changing times.

My business experiences have served me well as a River Valley Co-op Board member for the past six years.  I am a strong advocate of the co-op business model as a resilient alternative to the traditional corporate business model. I also helped found and advised Our Family Farm Milk Co-op (now in its 31th year). I’m also a member of two other Western Mass food co-ops.

As a River Valley Co-op Board member, I’ve worked co-operatively with the Board to reach consensus and tackle many challenging issues like economic, social and racial diversity. Our second Co-op store opened in 2021, but our work continues as we navigate many current and future needs.  What I love and cherish about being part of our Co-op Board is that our mission is to thrive financially as we guide our store and our members closer to a just and sustainable future.

 

2026 Annual Meeting and Celebration Dinner

Co-op Owners are invited to the Annual Co-op Owners’ Meeting & Celebration Dinner!

  October 29, 2026, 5:30-9:00 PM The  Garden House Look Park  130 Pine Street, Florence, MA

Agenda

5:30 PM Meet for dinner, mingle, eat, and drink!

6:15 PM Welcome and call to order. Introduction of Board members and candidates. Review of Agenda.

6:25 Review and Approval of Minutes from 2025 Annual Meeting.

6:30PM introduction of David Brule and Land Acknowledgement. 

6:45 Brief overview of Nolembeka Project's fundraiser for an Indigenous 1676 Memorial: Honoring the Past, Restoring Balance-David Brule

6:55 PM Reports from Board President and General Manager

7:15 PM Co-op owner Q & A session

7:25 PM 2026 Austin Miller Awards

8:00 PM Adjourn meeting

Dessert and mingling continues until 9pm

To reserve your seat, register for your Annual Meeting event ticket at:

https://forms.gle/Bjzw69kUmAhxLCTd6



Seeking Board Members: Call for Nominations Now Open!

Applications Due by July 1, 2026


River Valley Co-op is now seeking applications for nomination to run for election to serve on our volunteer Board of Directors. If you are a co-op owner from the communities we serve, if you care about our success, and if you are passionate about helping us achieve our mission of creating a just marketplace that nourishes the community, you are invited to apply!

Board members work as a team, relying on each other’ listening skills, leadership, and desire to learn and collaborate. In partnership with the operations team, we've grown our business through a steady increase in sales, local purchases, customers, employees, and co-op owners. River Valley Co-op has been a source of inspiration among other food co-ops and start-up food co-ops due to its high level of community impact. We’re also credited as a model for our ongoing co-op owner engagement in growing our cooperative. 

River Valley Co-op has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; we strive to be anti-racist, and we strongly encourage nominations of people who reflect the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, gender, age, ability, and socio-economic diversity of our community. 

The Board of Directors consists of nine owners, elected from the full body of co-op owners. Directors meet monthly, with an annual retreat, and take advantage of many opportunities for learning and connecting with other co-ops, regionally and nationally. Elections are held annually. The three candidates who receive the most votes will be elected for 3-year terms, starting Januaury 2027. 
 

What does a Director do?

A Director empowers and ensures the cooperative's financial health and sustainability while meeting the cooperative's mission of nourishing positive economic growth, fostering environmental awareness, and promoting social justice in our community. The Directors do this by practicing our governance system and by partnering with our general manager. Engaging our community in new owner drives and capital campaigns to build our financial resources is a large part of this process.

The Directors build on the collective aspirations of owners by ensuring the co-op:

  • serves our community food needs with excellence, 
  • builds a thriving local food economy, 
  • provides excellent co-op employment opportunities,  
  • supports social justice, environmental, and other community-building goals of importance to our ownership. 

New Directors receive training and education to learn about the leadership role of the Board, about our cooperative business, governance system, strategic goals, and how the Board works with, directs, and holds the General Manager accountable. Throughout the Board's work, there is also ongoing discussion and learning about the larger cooperative, local food, and sustainability movements of which we are part.  While enjoying a sense of camaraderie, new Directors receive support on topics like building social justice in the food system, best practices in governing a multi-faceted business, trends in national grocery retail. 

Every year we seek co-op owners to be candidates to run for the co-op's Board of Directors in the annual election. Would you like to step up and contribute to this important work? We are accepting applications now!
 

Self-nominations: Accepted and encouraged.

River Valley Co-op welcomes nominations by and of co-op owners who are committed to the River Valley Co-op's success and development. Co-op board candidates are not required to have prior experience with board service and/or nomination and application processes. We are happy to provide support for the application and nomination process upon request. 

Upon being elected, orientation and training is offered to support co-op directors in key aspects of our co-op governance system as well as financial and fiduciary responsibilities. Once elected for board service, each new board member is paired with a current board member who will provide guidance about the role and responsibilities of a River Valley Co-op board member and will introduce them to materials about the organization, the Board, important activities, and current policies.
 



Board Candidate General Interest Form


Interested in becoming a candidate in our upcoming River Valley Co-op Board Elections? Please fill out and submit the following form and let us know! This section will be used to verify your co-op membership and contact you. Owners must be current in their membership to run for the Board or be appointed to a vacant seat.




IMPORTANT READING FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES

If you're considering becoming a candidate for the River Valley Co-op Board of Directors, please read the following important background documents:

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