Basics Board Election 2025

Your co-op is governed by an elected volunteer board made up of 5 Basics Co-op Owners. Learn about this year’s annual election below.

The Election

The Basics Board formulates policies that further the mission and objectives of the co-op, encompassing tasks such as long-term financial planning, approval of any significant plans or commitments, and overseeing the General Manager (apart from staffing and day-to-day operations). Discover more about the board and its roles here.

All active Basics Co-op Owners are encouraged to vote for board.* This year, two seats are open for election, with the term lasting for the next two years. Get to know the candidates below and cast your vote between May 1 and May 7, 2025. You can submit your ballot online or in-store. Thank you for your participation!

*Active in this case means fully vested or up-to-date on installments.

The Candidates

Candidates were asked to answer the following:

1. Why do you shop at Basics? 2. Describe what skills and experience you have that will help you be an effective board member. For example, any skills obtained from working with cooperatives, a non-profit or for-profit business, management experience, positions of leadership in finance, community involvement, other boards, etc. 3. Why would you like to serve on the co-op board?

Click the down arrows in the menu below to read their responses.

Shopping at Basics Co-op Natural Foods offers organic, healthy and healing foods, vitamins, kitchen supplies and more.
My life has guided me to study and learn, then to share with others on how to maintain a healthy mind and body.
My doctor wrote “Passed With Flying Colors” on the report from my 2024 wellness checkup. I do not take any prescription medications. I eat and drink mostly healthy food, water, and take 4 vitamins daily.
My lifetime goal has been to stop/reduce the use of toxic chemicals. I started the first “Green Least Toxic Pest Control Co. in the United States” D’Bug Lady Pest Management Co. I supervised 25 employees at the Cincinnati Metrop. Housing Authority – non-profit “HUD” in Ohio with 7500 low-income housing units. I volunteered at the Chamber of Commerce in Apache Junction, Arizona. I served as Vice President and then President of the Sedamsville Community Council in Cincinnati, OH. I was awarded “IPM” Integrated Pest Management Certification from the IPM Institute of North America in Madison, WI. The award signifies excellence in managing pests and pesticide hazards. I was a Licensed Foster Parent in Ohio. I am a member of Beyond Pesticides, Washington, D.C. I prepare organic gardens.
I would like to serve on the Basics Co-op Natural Foods board and share my experiences dealing with health and nutrition.
As President and Owner of the D’Bug Lady Pest Management Co. I would like to share my knowledge in starting, sharing, supporting, and growing a business that benefits the public.
- Carol Y. Kauscher
I am writing to formally express my interest in becoming a board member of Basics Co-op. Since becoming a Co-op Owner 5 years ago, I have frequently enjoyed the co-op's high-quality food and helpful, friendly culture fostered by the employees. It is why I always come back. Everyone is so helpful and strives to carry a wide variety of products. My wife has Celiac Disease, so a gluten-free diet is imperative to her health. She and I appreciate Basics' impressive options for those who have specific dietary needs.
I am confident that I can bring value to the board with not only my extensive experience in management from previous positions in my professional career but also the uniqueness that comes from owning a business. As a servant leader with a focus on quality and customer satisfaction, my skills naturally align with the Basics mission and culture.
Being a board member interests me because the cooperative model focuses its emphasis on unity, shared responsibility, and mutual respect—values that align with my own.
In addition to being a responsible and qualified candidate, I also look forward to being an engaged neighbor and contributor to keeping the co-op lively and present in the community. Whether through events, committees, or simply maintaining a welcoming and respectful presence, I am eager to support and uphold the standards and spirit of this co-op.
Thank you for considering my application. I appreciate your time and look forward to the possibility of joining the board.
Warm regards,
- Barry Vandergriff
Why do you shop at Basics?
I like to shop at Basics Co-op because it provides a place where locally grown or sourced foods are available, nutritional supplements not available at local grocery stores are stocked on the shelves, and educational classes are available to learn of ways to make healthy lifestyle changes. Also, the staff makes it a pleasurable excursion through the aisles; they are knowledgeable and helpful, especially when I ask questions or need something that is not in stock.
Describe what skills and experience you have that will help you be an effective board member:
I bring to the board my experience serving on boards with other organizations in Rock County. I currently serve on the board of Congregation B’nai Abraham as the Secretary (as well as a past President), the Fourth Ward Neighborhood Action Team as the Treasurer, the Rock County Disabled American Veterans Chapter 14 as Treasurer (as well as a past Senior Vice Commander), the American Legion Post 205 as Post Adjutant, the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1621 as Post Chaplain and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 236 as Assistant Finance Officer. My service on these boards highlights my ability to work with others as a team, as well as my commitment to serve others. This commitment is a trait acquired while serving in the US Air Force.
Why would you like to serve on the co-op board?
I would like to be elected to the Basics Co-op Board to serve our fellow co-op owners and general public who shop here by helping Basics continue to grow and to be an asset to Janesville and the surrounding communities. I enjoyed my previous stint on the board of directors from May 2022 through May 2024 and hope to be elected this May.
1. Why do you shop at Basics?
Basics seems to me an effort, not just a store, to help people be more healthy. The employees are typically a little more informed about the products sold than a typical grocery store, and I enjoy the experience of learning now and then as I'm shopping. I've been involved in some conversations about why certain products are chosen over others. I like that there is active thought and research that goes into finding local and natural products, beyond just what the label says. In addition to that, overall the people are more of a community. I've met a lot of interesting people passing through Basics.
2. Describe what skills and experience you have that will help you be an effective board member. For example, any skills obtained from working with cooperatives, a non-profit or for-profit business, management experience, positions of leadership in finance, community involvement, other boards, etc.
My most direct experience in food production is where I have worked with a couple of local farms - in one case a small dairy, helping with planning, financing, and plugging in with the needed technology to make their direct customer sales less stressful. I've enjoyed serving with the Basics Board for one term so far, and I am excited to continue working to implement some ideas (analytical and strategic) to improve what we can offer to members.
Perhaps my second most direct experience is that I've spent much of my adult life reading the labels of the products at the store, then looking up the ingredients =) You learn a lot that way.
By trade I'm a middle-aged electrical engineer (designing circuit boards, like what goes into phones and computers.) I try to find creative and efficient ways on a project to "steer the ship" toward success on long-term (1-2 year) highly technical projects. It's a humbling amount of responsibility. It positions me to be always asking for input to make sure we track to the right outcome.
3. Why would you like to serve on the co-op board?
My personal reward is seeing others find what they need to get healthier, or maintain health. Especially today, it's ever becoming a hot topic and we all need to cross-pollinate ideas, not just products. My interests in food, farming, and nutrition aligns well with Basics.
I see a role with the Basics Board to be a position of helping a larger group of customers that are probably shopping there, like me, to be in their best health.
As I mentioned previously, I'm looking forward to continue serving so that we can continue making improvements with a member focus.
I shop at Basics due to since sometime in high school when my older brother joined an organization I believe called SloMo Foods or something like that and started teaching me and our parents more about the natural and organic foods which we've fell into loving ever since for their taste, our health and more benefits from it.
For my skills and experience I thought it may be unique and different to have myself who is a Deaf woman on the board -- I work as an Empowerment Director at a non profit organization called Deaf Unity who serve the Deaf, DeafBlind, Late Deafened and CODA (children of deaf adults) communities throughout the state of Wisconsin.
I am also new on the board of WCASA (Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault) along with soon will be finishing up later this year my role as Secretary of Wisconsin Association of the Deaf.
I would like to serve on the co-op board since I am curious to learn more about the co-op, experience the role of being on a board like that along with bringing different perspectives and so forth.
Thank you,
Andrea