Why I Joined the Co-op (and then the board)

By Leigh Arnoldy

Being an herbalist, I was drawn to the wellness options that Spiral provided, which lead to me being a frequent shopper. It didn’t take long to start conversations and develop rapport with the staff. Matt Malecha, the general manager, and the staff, were always generous with the background of all of Spiral’s products, their sources, and the practices of the local farmers and growers; this convinced me to become a Spiral member in 2016 and helped me realize the importance of knowing where my food, wellness items, and products are coming from. Since shopping local and natural is so important, it begs the question: What kind of role can a member-owner take to help support the health of the co-op outside of shopping? Spiral has great people in place: an involved and dedicated general manager, knowledgeable and kind employees, and loyal customers.  Being a board member is also part of the health of Spiral Co-Op by working in the background to make sure everything balances out.  Being on the board has helped me give back to Spiral Co-Op, making shopping local and natural as good of an experience as I have known it.