Board members are elected from within On Co-op's membership by the voting Members of the Association.  Directors are elected for a three-year term, with the exception of the Youth Director who is elected for a one-year term. Directors participate in various On Co-op working groups and committees.

ON CO-OP BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2011-2012

Barry Hannah, representing GROWMARK, Inc. - CHAIR
   term ends 2013
Kelly Tryon, representing The CUMIS Group - VICE CHAIR
   term ends 2012
Gilles LeVasseur, representing Conseil de la coopération de l'Ontario - CORPORATE SECRETARY
   term ends 2012
Ramesh Nedadur - TREASURER
   term ends 2013
Barton MacLean, representing Gay Lea Foods Co-operative
   term ends 2013
Lisa Guglietti, representing The Co-operators
   term ends 2013
Dave Sitaram, representing Central 1 Credit Union
   term ends 2014
Glenn Valliere, representing Ontario Natural Food Co-op
   term ends 2014
Youth Director: Amy Skeggs, Rochdale Credit Union
   term ends 2012

• The On Co-op 2012 Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2012.  Elections to the board will be held at that time.  Member organizations wishing to submit a candidate for election to the On Co-op board of directors should review the information on this page and on the  Membership Meetings page.
• To learn more about current members of the Board, see the "Board Member Profiles" file linked at the bottom of this page.

ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Statutory Power of the Board

The Board is elected from (and by) the membership of the Ontario Co-operative Association and has the statutory power and obligation as granted by the co-operative’s bylaws and the Co-operative Corporations Act.  The role of the Board is primarily one of stewardship.

Directors are elected for a three-year term, with the exception of the Youth Director who is elected for a one-year term. Board members may be appointed by the Board of Directors to fill vacancies.

Fiduciary Duty and Duty of Care

The Board’s fundamental relationship is guided by a fiduciary principle that requires each director to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the co-operative.  In exercising their powers and discharging their duties, every director must exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.  These principles require a director to put the co-operative’s interests first, avoid conflicts of interest and avoid exploiting business opportunities for self interest purposes.

The Board will designate the table officers and specify their duties of oversight.  In addition, the Board may discharge its responsibilities through standing committees such as the Human Resources, Government Regulations or Finance Committees and such other committees as required from time to time.  The duties and responsibilities delegated to standing committees of the Board are prescribed in the terms of reference of such standing committees.

The Role of the Board of Directors

1. Participate in the democratic structure of On Co-op (including creating, discussing and voting on proposals and assisting in policy-forming).
2. Delegated, by the Members, the authority to exercise all of the Board powers that can be legally exercised between General Members’ meetings.
3. Has the authority, as provided by Members, to hold meetings and to exercise all of the Members' powers that can be legally exercised between Members meetings.  The Board will work within an approved budget and will be accountable to the Members.

The Board is accountable to:

1. The current and future members of the co-op
2. The institutions (government, financial) that fund the co-op

Board of Directors Responsibilities include

1. Creating and supporting the vision for their co-op
2. Planning for the future needs of the co-op
3. Overseeing the co-op’s finances and co-op property
4. Leading a democratic organization
5. Meeting the co-op’s legal responsibilities
6. Employing and evaluating the Executive Director’s performance
7. Fundraising or capitalizing the co-op
8. Supporting member relations and communication
9. Overseeing the committees of the Ontario Co-operative Association

Board Member Code of Conduct

1. Directors have authority only as a Board
2. Decisions are only made at duly constituted meetings
3. Conflicts of interest are declared
4. Open discussion and trust are key
5. Keep confidentiality
6. Leadership by example
7. Showing respect for others
8. Directors work for the good of the Co-op
9. Directors support the decisions of the Board
10. Tolerance; no discrimination must occur

Compensation

1. Board members are not compensated or receive an honorarium for participating in board, committee or other meetings or assemblies.
2. Reimbursement for direct expenses will be available for those board members who cannot secure sufficient financial support from their organization and/or for whom the lack of financial support would preclude the individual’s effective participation as an On Co-op board member. 
3. Direct expenses, up to $500 per board member per year, may be claimed by submitting an On Co-op expense form.
4. The Co-operative carries a reasonable amount of directors’ liability insurance for each board member.

 

Other Information

1. One of the positions on the On Co-op board of directors is reserved for a Youth Director.  This is a full board position, with all the rights and obligations of any other director on our board. This is one very tangible way that On Co-op demonstrates its commitment to and empowerment of youth - the co-op leaders of tomorrow!
2. The Youth Director position is available to young people in the Ontario co-operative or credit union movements who under 25 years of age at the time of election to the Board.
3. The Board has a competency and skills matrix that it uses to ensure that all current and potential board members have the skills and/or professional development path to govern the Co-operative. 
4. Additional information can be obtained by downloading the board documents from the 'Related Documents' section at right.
5. More information on nominations or appointments to the Board can be obtained by contacting On Co-op at the co-ordinates below.

Board members are elected from and by the On Co-op membership.