The Co-op held its Annual Ownership Meeting on November 10th at the Phipps Center for the Arts. The meeting provided an opportunity for HGC owners to network and enjoy refreshments. HGC President Don Kirkpatrick made a presentation on the Co-op's progress in 2016, followed by a meeting that included the election of four new directors who joined the HGC Board.
 
Nick Meurett has 25 years of experience in the food service industry and has worked for many years as a chef.  In addition to his culinary training Nick holds a BA in art from UWRF.  He is passionate about food and food education and states, “food is one of the universal human needs and everyone experiences the connections, bonds and memories created, and I would like to be part of an organization that understands and promotes these feelings.”  Nick lives with his family in North Hudson.
 
Katie Nelson-Heil is a Technology Program Manager with Ameriprise Financial. She lives in Hudson, WI with her husband and their two sons. They enjoy staying active and feel very fortunate to live in a community that provides so many opportunities for outdoor “play”. The Willow River State Park is one of their favorite places to go to burn off some energy and take in the incredible scenery. In addition to staying active, she is committed to the health and wellness of her family and therefore understands the important role that food plays in their day-to-day life. She believes that everyone should have affordable access to high-quality, local goods and she is excited to have the opportunity to aid Hudson in opening a grocery cooperative.
 
Rebecca "Beck" Peters works as a librarian at Metropolitan State University. She has a BS in Management Information Science and a MA in Library and Information Science. Beck lives in Hudson along with her husband and daughter. She has been a supporter of Metro Area co-ops ever since her first visit, as a young girl with her parents, to a co-op in Forest Lake, MN. Additionally, she has been gardening at the Hudson Hospital Community Gardens for the last three years, is a frequent shopper at farmers markets, enjoys backyard organic gardening, has been a member of CSAs, and recently started worm composting. Some of her past volunteer experience was at Gregory’s Gift of Hope animal shelter and as a cookie manager for River Valleys Girl Scout Troop 53710.  
 
Carol Zempel has lived in Hudson for the past four years, and currently works as a Project Manager for Prime Therapeutics. She has a background in nutrition with a strong interest in organic and healthy food options. Carol has been an owner and a volunteer on the Marketing Committee for the past two years. Serving on the Board will provide another opportunity to further grow the Co-op.  She especially looks forward to the potential for building relationships with local farmers as suppliers for the Co-op.

HGC hosted a booth at Hudson’s annual Reindeer by the Park was on December 5th at the River City Center in downtown Hudson. We had great fun making Christmas ornaments with families as they waited to visit with Santa. It was a great opportunity to participate in a community-wide event and help get the word out about the HGC’s efforts to open a grocery co-op in Hudson.
 
Thank you to all the volunteers who help at this event: Brittany Bryant, Don Kirkpatrick and is daughter, Megan Laney and her daughters, Buck Malick and Jacki Bradham.