Our 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting will be held Monday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m. We look forward to providing our shareholders and supporters with an update on our progress and election of new board members. We will be hosting a hybrid meeting:
- In-person at The Haight (166 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120) and
- on Zoom (click here for zoom meeting details).
Please use the form below to RSVP. While an RSVP is not required, it will help us better plan for the November 10 event.
Proposed Bylaws Amendment
Democratic participation is one aspect of a cooperative that makes us unique and keeps our interests grounded in the local community. A few years ago, co-op owners voted to increase the size of our board of directors from nine to 15, and until now its size hasn’t exceeded nine. With anticipated growth, the board recommends a change to section 4.3 of our bylaws which currently reads:
4.3 Nominations, elections and terms. Directors may be nominated by the Board, by a nominating committee. Directors shall be elected by shareholders at the annual meeting. At the first annual meeting after adoption of these bylaws and periodically thereafter as may be necessary, Directors shall be elected for specific one, two or three year terms in order to assure that no more than three terms expire in each year. At other times, Directors shall be elected for terms of three years. Candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be given the longest available terms. Directors shall hold office until their successors are elected or until their offices are sooner terminated in accordance with these bylaws. No Director may serve more than three (3), 3-year consecutive terms.
The proposed amendment replaces the word “three” with “one third of” in sentence three, so it reads:
At the first annual meeting after adoption of these bylaws and periodically thereafter as may be necessary, Directors shall be elected for specific one, two or three year terms in order to assure that no more than one third of terms expire in each year.
This change ensures we’re not in violation of our bylaws when setting board terms lengths as the number of board members grows. Shareholders attending the annual meeting in person and online will be asked to vote to adopt this change at the annual meeting.
Board Member Nominations
We’re grateful that five of our current board members are seeking to continue their work to bring our community-owned grocery store to fruition. Jen Abbey, Gail Cohen, Allison Goodman, Jeremy Hayes and Carol Rauschenberger are current board members seeking new terms, and we invite you to read their bios on our website here.
We’re pleased to introduce three additional board member nominees:
- Sydney Davis, a new resident to Illinois, is an experienced entrepreneur and community capital strategist with a proven record of mobilizing substantial funding for public and cooperative initiatives. Her expertise spans federal, local, and philanthropic grant acquisition, with deep working knowledge of U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) processes and regional capacity-building programs. While residing in Michigan, Sydney has played an instrumental role in securing funding for transformative community spaces including the Black Arts and Cultural Center in Kalamazoo, Bright Walls in Jackson, and Detroit’s neighborhood grocery cooperative—each advancing equitable economic growth and creative placemaking.
Her unique blend of entrepreneurial insight and public funding strategy enables her to connect vision-driven projects with capital readiness, ensuring that cooperative models thrive financially and socially. Sydney’s national network and success in navigating federal and community capital ecosystems make her a valuable asset to Shared Harvest Co-op’s mission of strengthening local food systems, ownership, and sustainability. Sydney has been a member of food co-ops in other regions and is interested in being a part of both our Finance and Outreach teams. - Shanita Pearson is a strategic professional with a proven track record in driving business growth and enhancing client relationships in fast-paced, innovative environments. Her work has always centered on building connection through communication—and now, is deeply committed to building connection through place. She has been leading our co-op’s outreach efforts since February, and has seen the transformative role Shared Harvest can play in shaping the Fox Valley’s future—not only as a source of fresh, local food, but as a catalyst for collaboration, learning, and entrepreneurship. She believes in community as experience — in designing spaces and systems that invite participation, foster belonging, and strengthen our local economy.
She’s passionate about advancing Shared Harvest’s evolution into a year-round destination for food education, culinary demonstrations, and small business incubation—a place where sustainability meets creativity and governance supports growth. Serving on the Board would allow her to help steward this next chapter with intention—ensuring Shared Harvest continues to cultivate not just nourishment, but innovation, opportunity, and enduring community connection. - Jennifer Whalen is a lifelong resident of Elgin with deep roots in our community, both personally and professionally. As a small business owner for over 25 years, and a mother of two daughters, she understand the importance of creating opportunities for healthy, sustainable living in the place we call home. Over the years, she has supported the mission of Shared Harvest, championing local businesses and helping bring more nutritious and sustainable food options to our neighborhood. She is also active in civil life: having volunteered on multiple local election campaigns and for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s educational outreach and community concerts.
Jennifer is ready to move from shareholder to board member, bringing her business acumen, community engagement, and personal commitment to the co-op’s values. She is positioned to serve effectively on the board and help advance our collective vision, and looks forward to contributing her energies to strengthen Shared Harvest’s financial vitality, deepen local partnerships, and making sustainable healthy choices more accessible to all in Elgin.
Thank you to all of our nominees!. Shareholders attending the annual meeting in person and online will vote to elect board members.
Not a shareholder yet? Click here to purchase a share and join in our mission!
