Board of Directors Profile: Jay Dregni

[Editor’s note: Previous profiles have featured board member Kjersti Hanneman interviewing other board members. In this profile, Jay Dregni chose to writeabout his participation at Hampden Park Co-op.]

Co-ops are an important part of food distribution with an emphasis on locally grown and organic options. My first connection with the co-op movement was in the 1960s, the early days of the Lakewinds Co-op in Minnetonka. Hampden Park Co-op has been my place of choice during the past five years, which include one year as a board member.

The co-op offers convenience to my wife Meredith and me, as we live across the park in a condo in the former St. Cecilia School. The co-op is also a neighborhood meeting place, where conversation abounds and community is fostered. When volunteering I have been impressed when tradespeople poke their heads into the kitchen area and ask what the soups are today and announce, "I’ll be back at noon." Another example of co-op life is the annual meeting, which encompasses many of the values of a co-op. At the meeting, members, families, staff, and board congregate, eat great food, and learn about new foods and products and how they are grown.

I am impressed with how well our board functions at the co-op, including the willing work done by board members. That also describes our exceptional staff. These combine for an organization that has captured a special place in the lives of many people in our community.

Experience in human resource work landed me on two board committees, personnel and board development. I recently agreed to chair the Board Development Committee for the coming year. I also serve on a third committee for long-range planning, which provides a unique challenge, as the future can yield the unexpected for those unprepared. Being mostly retired enables me to also volunteer with the Resource Center of the Americas and Mano a Mano, a non-profit medical supply group associated with Bolivia.

Kjersti also asked me to comment on where I grew up, and I realized that also meant when. What flashed into my mind (and ideas still do flash) reminded me of dramatic times like shipboard duty in the US Coast Guard, marriage, raising a family, plus numerous transitions like teens, 20s, 50s, and 60s—all part of my ongoing journey of growing up.

Another question was about my favorite choices at the co-op. For me food choice all starts with a giant cardamom cookie, then avocados if Sophie will choose one, hydroponically-grown lettuce, and easy-to-prepare ravioli. Then the numerous bulk grains, maple syrup, peanut butter, fish, and Newman’s Own cookies. Scandinavians start with the sweets and end with them. In a nutshell, our co-op embodies my personal values of "small is beautiful," the importance of buying local and organic foodstuffs, friendliness, community, and convenience.

Contact me if I can be of assistance, so I can best represent co-op members and shoppers. My name is on the bulletin board in the entryway along with those of other board members.