For the past year, I have had the pleasure of serving as board president for Deep Roots Market. The experience was invigorating, challenging, and rewarding. I want to thank the board of directors and our owners for investing their trust in me. Our structure of nine owners as board members taking on different tasks, yields tremendous results. The board and the store ownership exude democratic action!

Each year, your voting in elections ensures that all Deep Roots’ owners have a say annually in who oversees operations and finances, establishes policies, and monitors the activities of the general manager.

Then, the board elects its own officers, annually — president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. This year, we had a very smooth transition with some new and returning faces holding officer positions.

Please welcome your new board president, Drew Dix, when you see him in the store. He has served faithfully on the board for years, most recently as vice president, and has deep knowledge of sales and food. More importantly, his interest in being inclusive and learning with others ensures that he puts democracy to work in his everyday actions.

Brittany Peters continues for a second year as secretary, Debra Smith El Al takes on a new role as treasurer, and we elected Mollie Blafer as co-vice president. Other board members were elected to officer positions as well: Lisa Hinton as assistant secretary, Khaila Daye continuing as assistant treasurer, and me, Spoma Jovanovic, serving as co-vice president.

As I turn over presidential duties to Drew Dix, I do so with full confidence and appreciation for his friendship and leadership. My hope is that Drew will enjoy the role as much as I did, and that I will have a little more time for tennis (anyone want to play???) and family time Democracy…I love it because we all continue to be in this together—owners and board members in changing roles but always supportive of our co-op!!