Board of Directors Corner

Greetings CTC Residents! I hope everyone has been enjoying the recent beautiful snowfalls in spite of their inconvenience. The strong spring sun and warmer weather promises it will all soon be a thing of the past.

At CTC, springtime also means that the annual members meeting is coming up (April 19), and that it’s time to elect new board members. If any of you have contemplated running for the board of directors, now is the time! We welcome those new to the community as well as those who have lived here for some time. It is a wonderful opportunity to better understand how this cooperative is run while making a real impact on the lives of residents. As a board member you will review the budget, interact with the University about structural projects, influence decisions around CTC’s investments, direct the future of the coop, and inform policies affecting residents’ day to day lives. If you care about CTC, then getting involved by becoming a board member is an awesome way to stretch yourself personally while giving back to the community to help it become the place you dream it could be.

I know many of us are students and already feel pressed for time, but board meetings are just once a month, usually for an hour and a half (dinner provided!), plus perhaps 30-60 minutes to adequately prepare by reviewing materials prior to the meeting. Additionally, all CTC residents are welcome to participate, so it’s a great engagement opportunity for nonstudent spouses who otherwise may not be quite as connected to the campus community. Also, if childcare is a concern, CTC can help make it available for attendance at meetings.

Personally, I’m generally a hesitant volunteer, but serving on the board has been both interesting and rewarding on a number of fronts.  Before, I had a growing list of complaints about CTC. Now that I see the inner workings of the organization, I have gained so much understanding about why things are the way they are. In some cases, I’ve been able to help make improvements, and in others, I have good answers. I have deep respect for our committed staff who are truly on a mission to help CTC be the best it can be. I feel more connected to the community and care more than ever about CTC. The more you put into a community, the more it will give back. I urge everyone to take advantage of the growing energy and warmth of springtime to reconnect with neighbors and renew their level of involvement in the CTC community.

If you’re at all intrigued by the possibilities of becoming a board member, we’ll be hosting a Cheese and Wine open house evening in a couple of weeks where you can stop by and talk with current board members about their experiences. The application form can be found here. Additionally, you may find it enlightening to sit in on a board meeting; the last one before the election will be held March 27th at 6 pm.

If you’re sure serving on the board isn’t for you but you’re curious about getting more involved in the community, some opportunities include participating in a committee, serving on an environmental task force, hosting an event, helping the community watch or digging in to a community garden plot. And, as always, if you have feedback for CTC, don’t hesitate to bring it to the front office, any of the board members, your ward representative, or the community voices portion of the monthly board meeting.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the Annual Members Meeting in April and at the community celebration in May!