In 2025, the council set up a Vision Committee to turn our shared aspirations into clear, measurable statements. The committee has now finished its work, and the council is asking for member-owners’ feedback on its report (see below). 

The Vision Committee’s job was to revisit our mission and ends policies, then craft a vision that will guide everything from store operations to community outreach. It relied heavily on the 2012 “Imagine… Hunger Mountain Coop in 2022” vision and strategic plan for ideas, but it also looked forward to the opportunities and constraints of 2026 and beyond. The committee’s report explains that the committee chose to keep the mission statement unchanged—“Hunger Mountain Cooperative exists to create and sustain a vibrant community of healthy individuals, sustainable local food systems, and thriving cooperative commerce”—and why it focused on revising the ends policies. 

Ends policies answer a simple question: What outcomes do we want our member-owners and the wider community to achieve? They describe the destination on our map, not the steps we take to get there. The General Manager (GM) reports annually on progress toward these ends, and the council holds itself accountable for giving the GM the resources and freedom to achieve them. Clear ends policies give us purpose, direction, and room for innovation while keeping us grounded in our values. 

The Vision Committee has distilled four revised ends policies and added a fifth that underscores the importance of dignity, equity, inclusion, and respect in every Co-op interaction. These policies set the tone for the strategic planning process that will follow, but first, we need your input. The council reviewed the committee’s draft in December and January; GM Mary Mullally will circulate it to staff for feedback, and the next newsletter (February 4) will include a survey for member-owners. 

Your voice matters. The survey will let you tell us what you think of the proposed ends policies and how they align with your experience as a member-owner. We’ll use that feedback to refine the draft, report back to the council, and ultimately finalize the new ends policies in a meeting likely held in March or April. 

So please take a moment to read the Vision Committee’s report, share your thoughts, and help shape Hunger Mountain Co-op’s future. Your insights will keep us moving forward with purpose and clarity. 

The Wrap 

Q: What do you call a fake noodle? 

A: An impasta! 

—Carl Etnier, Council President

Do you have any questions or comments about the council? Do you know any jokes even faintly related to food and/or co-ops? Please email them to me!