EVERYONE can shop!
Store Hours: 8 am-9 pm, Daily
Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
What’s Owner Fest, you ask? It is the Co-op's Annual Meeting where we provide a year-in-review, a financial update, answer questions from attendees, and announce the winners of the Board Election. Don't let the word "meeting" throw you off - it isn't all business! We have a lot of fun too. Owner Fest is a great way to connect with Co-op staff, our board members, listen to live local music while drinking and eating some great food!
Join us at this year's Annual Owners' Meeting!
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Those in attendance will be entered into a raffle for Co-op gift cards. Board candidates will also be in attendance, so the event will provide a great opportunity to meet prospective candidates as well as other Co-op owners, too. Owners will also have one last chance to vote for the board of director candidates if they haven't had the opportunity to vote ahead of time. At 6:30 pm, the polls will close and the meeting portion of Owner Fest will begin with reports from General Manager Francis Murphy and from our board members. Owners will also have the opportunity to direct any questions to the board about Co-op matters.
at 17th Street Warehouse • 214 N 17th St, Murphysboro, IL 62966 •. April 26, 2025 • 5 - 9 pm
Social 5:00 PM
Get social while enjoying complementary beer and wine (with the purchase of dinner ticket).
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Meeting 6:00 pm
Owners‘ meeting and last call to vote for the 2025 Co-op Board of Directors. Ballots close at 6:30pm.
Dinner 7:00 pm
Enjoy a catered dinner from the Co-op and 17th Street, followed by live local music, drinks and socializing.
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Dinner will start promptly after the meeting. Owners can choose either:
A. 17th Street BBQ:
Pulled pork sandwich, roasted rosemary potatoes, and seasoned green beans
B. Co-op Prepared Vegan & Vegetarian Option
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Tickets are necessary to attend the dinner and cost only $5 per person. A ticket includes a dish of your choice, non-alcoholic drinks, and two drink tickets for either beer or wine. There will be a cash bar. (Ticket sales will be available in-store and online April 1 - April 24)
Pre-event registration will be used to calculate the quantity of food needed. Owners are asked to register in advance whenever possible. However, tickets will also be sold at the door for $10 each.
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>> Click here to pre-register and make your dinner selection(s)
Meet The Candidates
It's time to vote for the Co-op Board!
How to vote:
Login with your USERNAME as the first name of the primary owner. Your PASSWORD is your owner number.
If you do not know your account information or are having trouble logging on, please call the store at (618) 529-3533 or email emily@neighborhood.coop. Voting is open April 5 through April 26, 2025. New board members will be announced at 6:31pm at Owner Fest on April 26.
Richard Thomas
BOARD NOMINATED INCUMBENT
One of the very first things we did when we moved to Carbondale twenty years ago was to become members of the Neighborhood Co-op. I have been involved with co-ops of one sort or another for about fifty years and it was a very pleasant surprise to find a successful co-op grocery in our rural town. I am now completing my third term on the Co-op’s board of directors. In that time, among other things, the board has streamlined our critical oversight role, saving considerable time for both the board and the general manager, leaving us with more time to devote to steering our way through these ever more complex and unpredictable times. I did not intend to serve on the board for this long, yet here I am, asking you, the Co-op owners, for one last term on the board. We are fast approaching one of the most consequential transitions in the history of the Co-op – hiring a new general manager. Our general manager, Francis Murphy, will be retiring at the end of June 2026. Francis has for many years led the Co-op through changes large and small and will be leaving a remarkably healthy and successful business. Finding the right person for the general manager position is no simple matter, which is why your board has already started the process to find and hire a successor for Francis. I would like the opportunity to see this process through to its conclusion.
Amy Etcheson
BOARD NOMINATED
I moved to Carbondale in 2007, and the Neighborhood Co-op quickly became one of my favorite destinations, especially on Saturday mornings when my family would walk there for breakfast before visiting the farmer’s market. Over the years, I’ve met countless people at the Co-op, many of whom remain good friends. Because the Co-op is a hub of my neighborhood, I’m most passionate about the Co-op’s mission to cultivate community.
However, the Co-op’s mission to “provide wholesome foods economically” also speaks to my foodie heart. I’ve always been passionate about food. Growing up, my family ate healthy, home-cooked meals together most mornings and evenings. My grandparents lived on a small farm that provided homegrown produce and pasture-raised meat to my entire extended family. During college, I worked as a server at an upscale French restaurant for an owner/executive chef who was passionately committed to carefully prepared fresh ingredients. My professional career began in Boston at a company that published multiple IACP and James Beard award-winning cookbooks. In 2008, I became a member of the first CSA in Southern Illinois.
Currently, I am the director of Southern Illinois University Press, which publishes a mix of scholarly and general-interest books, including many about our region. I have graduate degrees in the performing arts, publishing and writing, and business administration (MBA). If elected, I will bring a mix of business acumen, marketing experience, creativity, and a lifelong passion for food to the Co-op board.
Lisa Smith
BOARD NOMINATED
I had the privilege of working with Neighborhood Co-op Grocery for 14 years, starting as Event Coordinator, where I organized community events like the Organic Harvest Picnic and the Nutrition 5K. Over time, I became Marketing Manager as the store transitioned to its current location and quadrupled in size. Later, as Brand Development Manager, I led a small team responsible for outreach, advertising, events, store signage, and design. During this time, I also transformed our newsletter into Morsel magazine, increasing its impact and reach.
Some of my favorite moments at the Co-op were spent on the sales floor, helping shoppers create the perfect menu, discover foodie gifts, or explore new ways to improve their lives through food and wellness.
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I have a deep love for the Co-op and the community it serves. Having stepped away from my position eight years ago, I now bring a unique perspective as both a longtime shopper and a former employee. I also currently serve on the Murdale Water Board, gaining additional governance experience and insight into serving a community’s needs.
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This combination of experiences equips me to contribute meaningfully as a board member by understanding our community, building on the Co-op’s success, and strengthening the connections we share with those we serve. It would be an honor to serve the Co-op in this capacity, and I hope to earn your vote.