APPENDIX 1: Board Application - 2012
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
This application gives voters information about your background and expertise, what you can offer to Three Rivers
Market, and what interests you about serving on the Board. A Perpetuation Committee member may call you for
further information, but generally, these answers will be your way of communicating to other Three Rivers Market
members why you should be a Board member.
When you complete your application, choose to “save as” with your last name and the word “application” as the
title of your document (for example, SmithApplication). Finally, email the board (board@threeriversmarket.coop)
your application as an attachment.
Name: Jenny Weisent
Address: 4612 Island Home Pike, Knoxville TN 37920
Member Number: 4000000009900
Phone: 865-406-1510
E-mail: jweisent@utk.edu
Place of employment: Self Employed Veterinarian/ PhD student at The University of Tennessee
Position/Title: Veterinarian/Epidemiologist
Education (degree, major, etc.): BS, DVM, PhD student (expected graduation Fall 2012)
How many years have you lived in the area? 6
How many years have you been a member of Three Rivers Market? 6
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APPENDIX 1: Board Application - 2012
RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOARD MEMBERS
Please read carefully and thoughtfully; place an ‘x’ next to each item to indicate that you are willing to take on
these responsibilities. In general, members of a co-op Board of Directors have the same duties as the Directors of
any business. In addition, co-op Boards must act on behalf of Three Rivers Market’s members (as fiduciaries),
meaning that individual Directors have to balance individual interests, business interests, and member interests
when making decisions. To do this, all Directors must be able to:
☐x
Uphold fiduciary duty on behalf of Three Rivers Market’s members
☐x
Exercise due diligence in monitoring Three Rivers Market’s financial condition
☐x
Abide by all items contained in the Statement of Agreement, which includes the Code of Ethics & Code of
Conduct policy.
☐x
Maintain confidentiality when required
☐x
Faithfully honor all legal obligations that come with Directorship, which include the:
☐x
Duty of care (make informed decisions in good faith; act as a prudent person; use a good process for
decision making; be honest; ensure adequate record keeping)
☐x
Duty of loyalty (always act in the best interest of the cooperative; disclose and avoid conflicts of interest;
engage in no self-dealing; maintain confidentiality)
☐x
Duty of Attention/Diligence (attend meetings; participate in discussions; be prepared; review materials;
ask questions; know and adhere to state laws and co-op bylaws; support Board decisions and policies; honor
contracts; ensure payment of all tax obligations)
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APPENDIX 1: Board Application - 2012
EXPECTATIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS
Please read carefully and thoughtfully; place an ‘x’ next to each item to indicate that you are willing to meet the
expectation.
☐x
Shop regularly at the Co-op.
☐x
Be prepared for meetings, including reading--carefully and thoughtfully--the agenda packet in advance of
every Board meeting.
☐x
Participate fully in Board meetings. Attend all monthly meetings, as well as any meetings of committees you may serve on (2
☐x
Actively participate in Board discussion via e-mail or phone between meetings as necessary.
☐x
Attend the Cooperative Board Leadership training (this is mandatory!).
☐x
Attend the Annual Meeting and other member gatherings (typically during member discount days and
other special events.)
☐x
Actively participate in the annual election by spending time in the store (or other get-out-the-vote
activities) to remind members to vote.
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APPENDIX 1: Board Application - 2012
QUALIFICATIONS OF A BOARD MEMBER
Please answer the following four essay questions as thoroughly as possible, while keeping your answers to 200
words or less. Your answers may be published in the store and on the website. We encourage you to be concise
and thoughtful in each of your responses.
1. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of Three Rivers Market?
As a homeowner in Knoxville I feel a strong responsibility to support local business and community-minded
efforts for a healthy and sustainable environment. Serving as a Board member will deepen my connection and
involvement in TRM−an organization that recognizes the inherent value of choosing local, fresh and fair-trade
foods. Putting personal time and energy into the ideals of a healthy, peaceful and sustainable way of living adds
purpose and value to my life and sets a positive example for others. I also look forward to gaining a practical
understanding of Policy Governance, a skill that can serve future goals to help create and redevelop a more
ecologically friendly Knoxville.
What are you passionate about? How could we see that passion in action in your day-to-day life?
I am passionate about humanity’s connection to the Earth and believe that a balanced combination between
nature, science and intention is the key to preventive medicine and long term health and happiness. As a
veterinarian and epidemiologist/researcher I explore the interconnectedness between the environment, nutrition,
human and animal health every day. I have a passion for living mindfully, by my truths and in my heart and
endeavor to temper the stresses of modern life with an organic, whole food diet, yoga, meditation, and
compassion for myself and others.
My love for the land is integrated into work and play, and infiltrates all aspects of my life. My partner and I
are currently working to create a small-scale sustainable agriculture system on our land, as well as restore native
plant species. Our goals include raised garden beds, edible perennials, a miniature “chicken tractor”, composting
toilet, modern building practices and low impact water usage and collection system−living that is natural,
intuitive…and fun!
2.
3. Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise
for the team's benefit?
My experiences as a team player are vast and varied, ranging from whitewater raft guide and team sports, to
club and academic leadership positions, educational testing boards and cohesive veterinary surgical teams. While
each of these experiences requires compromise, I view them as a chance to listen to others and stay positive−a
personal mantra.
During two years of service as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Ecuadorian rainforest I designed and
coordinated sustainable aquaculture projects with the indigenous Quechua. Differences in language, culture and
expectation present challenges. Similarly, nine years of companion-animal veterinary practice, including low-cost
spay and neuter teams make for intense, close-knit work environments. The key to successful compromise in
these situations is to foster deep respect between individuals. In essence, volunteer experiences and veterinary
teams have offered me the opportunity to work on myself, so that I can be of greater benefit to others.
4. You've recently been elected to the Three Rivers Market Board. A close friend and local food producer privately
asks you to help her business by having the Board publicly denounce the alleged unethical business practices of
her closest competitor, whose products are already sold at Three Rivers Market. The business owner says she
will deeply discount Three Rivers Market's orders for her product for a year if you help her. Briefly describe two
or three possible ways you could handle this situation, and how you would ultimately act.
First of all, the Board does not involve itself directly with store management and operations, so any
vendor, friend or otherwise, wanting to make deals with a Board member is barking up the wrong tree. This
“law” would be the quickest, easiest way to deal with the situation.
However, what stands out in this scenario is that the food producer is a “close friend”. I pride myself on
speaking frankly and directly, especially in my relationships with friends. I would approach my friend with a
focus on the truth, not accusations. The truth would lead to a reflective personal assessment of what unethical
behavior means. We would talk openly about how disreputable aspects of our personality surface, often
unconsciously in our lives, to teach us how to be better people. Since my close friends and I are willing to dig
deep enough inside ourselves to understand the triggers that elicit negative, unethical or egoic behavior patterns, I
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APPENDIX 1: Board Application - 2012
feel confident that we would work out the issue in a peaceful and positive way.
OPTIONAL QUESTION:
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us? Do you have other experiences that you see as being related to the work
of the Board? You may choose to submit a resume. Your resume may be posted in the store and on the website.
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