Membership

Membership in The London Co-op Store is open to everyone. Find out about the values upon which the co-op is based, the many benefits of membership, how membership works, and how to join.

How membership works

Co-op members share in the financing, work, and decision- making needed to operate the co-op.

Member shares

Membership in the co-op means owning a share of it. Members purchase shares by making a loan to the co-op. This loan is paid in quarterly installments of $10.00, or yearly installments of $40.00, to a maximum of $400. If a member decides to leave the co-op, the loan can be refunded without interest if the refund is requested within two years, or it can be left with the co-op as a donation.

Weekly service charge

In addition to the loan, members who have no work shift credits pay a weekly service charge based on the type of membership:

Single, one adult (includes single parents) — $4.14 plus G.S.T.
Family, two to four adults — $8.28 plus G.S.T.
Group, five or more adults — $12.42 plus G.S.T.

The revenue from weekly service charges covers some of the co-op's operating expenses.

Volunteer work shifts

Members are encouraged to participate in the operation of the store through volunteer work shifts. Service charge exemptions are provided to co-op members for tasks which must be done on a weekly basis, such as packaging, cleaning, stocking the shelves, and cashiering. Therefore, members who work regularly at the co-op pay no service charges. Working in the co-op helps keep members informed and involved, provides a pleasant social setting, and helps build a sense of community.

Decision-making

At annual general meetings, co-op members set policy and elect the board of directors. Each household casts a single vote on any motion brought forward at the meeting.

The board is responsible to the membership for the sound operation of the co-op. Paid managers run the daily operations.

Members can have ongoing input through feedback and suggestions to managers and the board by attending monthly board meetings, joining committees, leaving messages in the suggestion box, discussing issues on the forums and email list, and of course communicating in person while in the store.

Committees include the following:

provisions committee
marketing and membership committee (outreach)
welcoming committee (social committee)
store committee (physical premises)

Resignations and temporary leaves of absence

With four weeks notice, members may take a leave of absence from shopping at the Co-op without having to pay weekly service charges. The minimum leave of absence is eight weeks.

Resignation from the Co-op requires eight weeks notice. Shares are refunded without interest within one year of resignation. Any shares refunds not claimed within two years of resignation become non-refundable. Many members choose to donate their shares instead of claiming the refund.

Please note that a member who no longer shops at the co-op will be considered to have resigned on his/her last known visit to the store even if he/she has not provided the required notification, and will therefore forfeit the shares refund after an absence of two years.

How to join

Please drop in during store hours to look around, do a trial shop, and sign up for a short orientation meeting to learn more about how our co-op works. (Or you can sign up for the orientation by phone.) Once you have decided to join, just let the managers know and they will give you an application form to fill out and process your initial payment for shares: $20, credited towards the first two quarterly periods of your membership.