SPC Directors are On-Record Calling for Community Engagement

Many of our sitting Directors expressed the importance of Shareholder engagement when it comes to the biggest decisions facing our community.

Wei-Li, from 2007 "SPBuzz Response to 'Ask The Candidates' Questions":

What processes for shareholder participation in board decisions do you advocate? Please elaborate on how these might work.

Aside from reinstituting regular shareholder communiques, reporting on directorial activities, I envision renewed life for shareholder action groups […]. We need to call upon the depth and diversity of our human resources here at Seward Park, one of our riches, and get qualified people involved in helping the board make critical and well-informed decisions. Not only is it folly not to get expert input when it is readily available amongst our cooperators, but the board is elected to represent the shareholders interests — our collective interests — and there is little better way to understand how people feel than to get them involved.

From Wei-L Tjong from 2016 Candidate Statement

I am running because recent events have made me reconsider my “retirement” […] the process by which the board leased our garage to a private valet parking operator, without communication or shareholder involvement (even if one agrees it benefits cooperators).

From Kate Nammacher, from 2012 Candidate Statement

Part of working toward a common goal is to make sure residents have a voice, an opportunity to participate, and understand what decisions are being considered and made by the board. I want to hear from you on what your concerns, hopes, and dreams are for our community. All voices matter, and even when all don’t agree, we can still work together toward the common good.

From Darcey Gerstein, from 2014 "SPBuzz Response to 'Ask The Candidates' Questions"

Would you advocate any shareholder participation in Board decisions, and if so, please elaborate on how this might work.

[...] That said, the Board should always conduct its business with integrity and transparency, given the trust bestowed upon it in this arrangement. Shareholders should always be informed, if not involved, and there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to be involved, be it in a committee, advocacy for a cause, or just voicing opinions and concerns.

From Doron Stember, from 2015 "SPBuzz Response to 'Ask The Candidates' Questions"
Using this year as a baseline, how are communications at our Co-op? What, if anything, would you strive to do differently next year?

I have greatly appreciated receiving the Board Room Reports and expect that they will continue to be issued. In addition to publishing reports regularly, Directors should be responsive and make themselves as available as possible. There is great talent among our residents and many have expressed interest in contributing or advising on issues. Communications at the Co-op should not only be about responding to complaints (although that is important), but also involve actively engaging shareholders in positive ways.

Pietro said: Over the years, I have volunteered as a shareholder for 5 different committees. The success of the recent hallway committee required my building high-functioning relationships with my fellow volunteers and our most effective board members. This showed me what is possible when the board reaches out and works with motivated shareholders, of which there are many.

Pietro said: [...] recent history shows that when the board reaches out to shareholders, the response is very positive. On the hallway committee, I received a great response when reaching out to graphic designers. So I hope to really encourage shareholder participation and to utilize more of our coop’s extensive pool of knowledge and talent.

Pietro said: [...] shareholders need to know what is going on and what challenges we face. Then we should issue a series of communiqués to all shareholders outlining specific issues and offering shareholders the opportunity to become involved and donate their professional services. [...]
[In the context of opening of the until-then derelict Hester Street lot, Pietro called for community participation, and even proposed a way of approaching such a complex project.] Pietro said: I believe our community possesses more than enough collective skill and energy to come up with ideas for this property and to see them through. The Board Could:
1. Hold an ideas competition open to everyone who lives here.
2. Post all entries online and in one of our common areas.
3. Let shareholders vote and award a modest prize to the winner.
4. Put out a coop-wide request for people interested in being on a task force, people with specific skills or people who just care and have time to contribute.
5. Have the task force develop a scheme, OR find an outside architect/landscaper to develop a scheme.