Wild Rose Co-operative Association General Manager Carol Rollheiser announced a new ‘Your Community Kitchen’ project. The food service truck, with a built in generator, is for use by local emergency services personnel in the case of a major incident, and will also be available to rent for non-profit groups. Rollheiser thanked Lynne Jenkinson (above right) for her help in co-ordinating the project. The unit will be available to non-profit groups from Camrose, Beaver, and Flagstaff counties.

The Wild Rose Co-operative Association held its 8th Annual General Meeting last Wednesday in Camrose.

During the meeting, open to all members/shareholders of the Co-op, members had the opportunity to review the 2015 Financial Statements, presented by WR Controller Hal Reid.

Reid called the 2015 financial statement basically a duplicate of last year.

He also stressed the fact that the Co-operative currently has no real long-term debt.

General Manager Carol Rollheiser gave her report, and called 2015 the best year local savings on record.

Rollheiser said the co-operative improved sales in most commodities.

In a brief recap of some activities in 2015, she mentioned the completion of the Camrose Food Store upgrade, the purchase of an additional pup trailer to deliver fuel to members, and a warehouse addition and renovation to the Killam Petroleum office.

Rollheiser said, “Looking forward to 2016, what we know for sure is uncertainty.

“Competition will become more intense as we all work to entice the consumer to our businesses.”

Rollheiser announced that the 2015 allocation to the Co-operative’s 25,000 owners would be $3.6 Million.

“Of this $3.6 Million, $2 Million in cash will be paid directly back to our local owners in the communities we live, work, and play.

“Just to emphasize that point, our $3.6 Million in profits are staying right here in Camrose, Killam, Sedgewick, Viking, Hardisty, Alliance, Galahad, and all the surrounding areas.”

Members present at the meeting voted on three open board of director positions, as board members are elected for three-year terms, as Louie Hagel, Terry Brodie, and Graham Galletly all had terms expiring in 2016.

Hagel, Brodie, and Galletly all allowed their names to run for reelection, as well, Meghan Kearns put forward her nomination. Kearns’ grandmother was Laura Woods, who was a long time Co-operative board member, she said in a short biography.

Board member Dale Johnson gave a short report about the Federated Co-operative Limited AGM he had attended. Johnson said that general revenues were down a bit, but that the information presented gave indications of a solid financial performance in a very volatile market.

Rollheiser made an announcement about a new project for Wild Rose Co-op called ‘My Community Kitchen.’

The co-operative is donating a food truck back to the community. Its primary use will be for emergency services for emergency personnel in the case of a major event.

The secondary use will be by local non-profit groups, who will be able to rent the truck for fundraising and community events.

Rollheiser said the unit will be available to all non-profit organizations in Camrose, Beaver, and Flagstaff County.

“It is a bright idea for us to give back in a bigger way; to give back to all the communities we live in.”

Rollheiser also thanked Flagstaff FFCS Executive Director Lynne Jenkinson for her role in coordinating the partnership involved in the use of the truck within the communities.

Jenkinson said, “I would like to thank the Wild Rose Co-op for supporting the community in such a way, and for partnering with other agencies to make this possible.”

Rollheiser says the truck is currently being outfitted with the equipment. “The truck will feature a full kitchen, with a grill, fryer, refrigerator, and a built-in generator, so it can be operated virtually anywhere.”

Elected to a three-year term on the board of directors was Kearns, with Terry Brodie and Louie Hagel re-elected.
Hagel closed the meeting with a comment, “Thank you to all employees, you’ve done us proud.”