Keri Amlotte -- Board Nominee

Keri Amlotte joined West Michigan Co-Op in 2008. Since that time, in addition to being a devoted Co-op shopper, Keri has volunteered for the Co-op as a member of the website committee and coordinated the Co-Op's web presence in the form of a blog, Facebook, and Google calendar. In addition, she volunteers at pick-up nights, primarily in the role as adjuster supervisor.

Keri's background is in marketing and public relations. She holds a Bachelors degree in Advertising and Public Relations, with an emphasis in public relations, from Grand Valley State University. For the past five years, Keri has worked as the Marketing Coordinator at a local law firm. In this role she coordinates the firm's communications and relationships with external audiences using such avenues as newsletters, the Internet, seminars and special events, and media relations.

A devoted Co-op shopper and volunteer, Keri is asking for your vote to become a member of the Co-op Board of Directors. As a member of the Board, Keri would utilize her skills in marketing and public relations to help the Co-op meet their growth and development goals, promote the Co-Op in the community, attract new members, and communicate with current members. She strongly believes that West Michigan Co-Op serves a vital role in the west Michigan community and wishes to do everything possible to see it flourish and serve as a strong and important connection between west Michigan consumers and the farmers and small business owners who call west Michigan home.

Wellness Expo (Volunteers Needed!)

A wellness expo will be held at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids during the evening of Tuesday, February 9.


West Michigan Co-Op will have a table at the expo and is seeking two volunteers to help hand out brochures and talk to guests about the Co-Op. Each volunteer will receive a free ticket to Dr. Sherwin Nuland's keynote presentation.


Dr. Nuland's presentation is titled "The Human Body/The Human Spirit & the Future of Health Care". For more information, please click here.


If you are able to volunteer for this event, please contact Lisa at lisam_nelson@yahoo.com.

West Michigan Co-Op Article in the Grand Rapids Press

Click here to read the recent article in the Grand Rapids Press about the Co-Op, titled "West Michigan Cooks Get Food Directly From Producers Through Co-Op."

West Michigan Co-Op in the News

Rapid Growth, a Grand Rapids weekly online magazine, recently posted an article titled, "Shop for Your Crops" about Grand Rapids residents shopping for fresh, local produce. West Michigan Co-Op was featured in the article, as well as some local CSA farms.

Click here to read the story.

A Message from Healthy Living Technology

What follows is a message from Michael Hedrick of Healthy Living Technology:

Hi!

You may have seen or purchased one of the bath ball filters I recently had listed on the Co-op web site. They were selling for $59.95 each. Well this last month when my supplier for shower filters discontinued my favorite/best-selling shower filter from their inventory I decided to contact the manufacturer directly.

Now, not only do I have my favorites available again, but since I cut out the middleman the prices have come down on many products. The $59.95 bath ball is now $29.99!!! To celebrate I have created a special price list for you that is good only until December 12th. Don't wait for these items to sell out. They are hot gifts for the upcoming holidays and some may not be available for long (until after the holidays). There is even a special shower for babies!

These filters use the exclusive, patented Chloragon™ filtration media which removes more chlorine over a wider temperature range than any other. I have attached information about the most popular filtration shower heads that I sell. (If you have a showerhead already that you really like, ask me about filters that can be used with your shower head - they are available for both hand-held and regular shower heads.)

I have also attached information on the Bath Ball filters, which use the same Chloragon filtration media, and the dechlorinating bath salts which use Chloragon™ crystals.

Prices are as follows:

Pure-Spray® 5 Shower Handle (brushed nickel) MSRP $83.99 Your cost $79.99
Pure-Spray® 5 Shower Head (brushed nickel) $59.99 Your cost $45.99
Prestige® 3 Shower Head (white w/ chrome trim) $39.99 Your cost $35.99
Bath Ball filter (chrome) $39.99 Your cost $35.99
Bath Ball filter (transparent blue) $34.99 Your cost $30.99
Bath Ball filter (white) $32.99 Your cost $29.99
Mediterranean Bath Salts (dechlorinating) 40 oz. $19.99 Your cost $16.99
Baby Shower (for kitchen faucet or shower attachment) $59.99 Your cost $45.99

These special prices are only valid until December 12 at midnight. After that prices will be the MSRP listed above. Get your order in soon as some of these will sell out with the holidays coming up. Prices will still be honored for orders placed prior to the deadline, but some of the more popular items may be backordered and not arrive until after the holidays.

These items make great holiday presents for your loved ones. Protect them from the negative effects of chlorine on their health!

Additional discounts may be available for orders over $100. Free delivery in West Michigan for all orders.

Thank you for your business!

"Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Announces Partnership With Fair Food Network

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that USDA has signed a cooperative agreement with the Fair Food Network, a Michigan-based organization working toward improving consumers' access to healthy foods. The agreement lays the foundation for creating a regional food system with a strong urban-rural link by conducting research and matching small and mid-size farms in rural Southeast Michigan to emerging urban markets, particularly Detroit, where there is need and unmet demand for locally-produced fresh foods.

To read more about the USDA's partnership with this Michigan-based organization, click here.

"How Safe Is That Chicken?"

Consumer Reports recently published an article titled "How Safe Is That Chicken?". The article states that most tested broilers were contaminated with salmonella and/or campylobacter. To read the article, click here.

This article is a good reminder of the importance of knowing your farmer and their farming practices. By purchasing your poultry from a West Michigan Co-Op producer, you are able to meet the farmer and learn about their farming practices.