I, Shelby Hatch, have never belonged to a food co-op before or even lived anywhere that had a food co-op, but I quickly became an owner-member (#35!) when I first heard about the Rogers Park Food Co-op (RPFC) almost a year and a half ago. I’ve been somewhat of a lurker since then.

Sure, I volunteered at an event, my partner Ann-Louise Haak and I hosted a Coffee last September (and recruited two more member-owners!), and the RPFC “office” is in our garage, but, for the most part, we’ve been sitting back. Several weeks ago, I was asked if I would be interested in attending the “Illinois Food Co-op Start-Up Day” hosted by the Common Ground Food Co-op in Urbana, and co-sponsored by the Food Co-op Initiative (FCI).

I have to admit that I was on the fence. It’s a long drive, it was a beautiful Saturday in July, and I’d be spending a lot of one-on-one time with another RPFC member (& I.T. guru), Hank Rouse, who I didn’t know very well. But I went – we went! And I was inspired – but also discouraged.

Why do other start-ups have so many more member-owners than we do, even though they haven’t been at it as long as we have? No fair! But Jacqueline Co-op Hannah of FCI reminded me—and everyone in the room—that RPFC is trying to do something that really hasn’t been done before: start a co-op in a diverse community with all of the members of that community. So how do we do that?

Come by our house (1815 W. Farwell) at 4PM on Sunday, August 7 for Cocktails and Conversation about the Co-op. Ann-Louise and I can’t wait to see you – and if you’re one of the first 20 people to RSVP, your name will be entered in a raffle for a First Slice Pie Cafe cherry pie. Must be present to win, so we hope to see all of you here!