<div dir="ltr">FYI: per a previous thread, I got some information on the topic of transitioning to employee ownership for those that are interested. The plan is pretty thorough, but it is a draft, and it's not a cooperative really. <div>
<br><div><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Brahm Ahmadi</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:brahm@peoplescommunitymarket.com">brahm@peoplescommunitymarket.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Thu, Feb 6, 2014 at 9:26 AM<br>Subject: Re: Buy Shares page error<br>To: Julio Rios <<a href="mailto:julio.rios@gmail.com">julio.rios@gmail.com</a>><br><br><br>
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div>Hi Julio-<br>
<br>
Our plan is to become an ESOP - Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
We've been working with the National Center for Employee Ownership
(NCEO) to develop a multi-stage process for becoming an ESOP and
engendering an employee culture of training and engagement in
running the business. The current draft of our plan is attached. <br>
<br>
An ESOP is not a cooperative. ESOPs typically have a management
structure and a board of directors that make a majority of
operational decisions. Cooperatives typically run on a one-member,
one-vote structure in which business decisions are made by
everyone. <br>
<br>
Most ESOPs are the result of a conversion, typically when the
founder wants to exit from the business. You can get more
information about ESOPs at this link on NCEO's website:
<a href="https://www.nceo.org/articles/employee-ownership-esop-united-states" target="_blank">https://www.nceo.org/articles/employee-ownership-esop-united-states</a>.
<br>
<br>
Full disclosure: NCEO is an investor in our business. <br>
<br>
Thanks<div class=""><br>
Brahm<b><br>
</b>
<pre cols="72">Brahm Ahmadi
CEO/President
People's Community Market
O: <a href="tel:510.995.7498" value="+15109957498" target="_blank">510.995.7498</a>
<a href="mailto:brahm@peoplescommunitymarket.com" target="_blank">brahm@peoplescommunitymarket.com</a>
<a href="http://www.peoplescommunitymarket.com" target="_blank">www.peoplescommunitymarket.com</a>
Twitter: @PeoplesMrkt</pre></div><div><div class="h5"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>