365 T-shirts - the reasoning

This blog should be sub-titled: a journal of my life in geek.

I get my geek on with things about which I am geeky: comic books, Baseball, Ultimate, science fiction, my favorite bands, books I have read and loved, and Jungian psychology to name some of the most frequently traversed subjects.

I began this project simply as a way to count my T-shirts. I own a lot of T-shirts. But how many do I have? Do I have 365? We shall find out.

When I started this blog, I thought about how each T-shirt means something to me. I bought it for a reason, after all. I set myself the task to post an entry about a new T-shirt every day as a way to simply write something every day, a warm up for writing fiction, which is my passion. Writing is like exercise. Warm ups are good for exercise. But after completing a month of blogging about T-shirts, I have learned that this blog serves as a journal; it documents my life in geek, sort of a tour of my interests in pop culture. The blog serves as a tool for self-inventory, for assessment and analysis of self and the origins of self, for stepping through the process of individuation in catalogues, lists, and ranks.

The blog also made me aware that I have some serious gaps in my T-shirt ownership, and I am in the process of collecting some new T-shirts for several of the great popular culture icons that I truly love. Stay tuned.

I was also a bit surprised that people checked out my blog and continue to check it, read it, and even comment on it. I am very appreciative of this readership. Please feel free to share your thoughts in my comments section. I will respond.

Also, please note that I have moved the original introductory text to the side bar. And now, I present to you the most recent entry of 365 T-shirts: a journal of my life in geek. Thank you for reading.
(Second Update - 1310.24. First Update - 1306.05 Originally Posted - 1304.25.)

Saturday, March 30, 2013

T-shirt #9: The People's Food Co-Op

T-shirt #9: I love my co-op

I had the pleasure of serving on the board of directors of the People's Food Co-Op of Kalamazoo from 2006 - 2010. Recruited by Hether Frayer, I wanted to help the PFC move from its location on Burdick Street to a new, expanded location. The search process and the preparations for the expansion (debt to equity ratios among other issues) proved to be great fun and immensely satisfying work.


Now that the co-op has moved into its own building on Harrison Street and has grown exponentially from its space/size, membership numbers, and revenue levels of 2006, I am proud and very honored to have played a role (albeit small) in the process.


Along the way, I met some great people who are part of the growing group of individuals in Kalamazoo not only dedicated to healthy living (especially in terms of how food impacts healthy lifestyles) but also invested in the business model of the co-op.

I won't extend this daily blog entry too much with an explanation of the cooperative business model, but a few words will emphasize the importance of how I represent these principles when I wear my PFC gear.


I am an owner. The People's Food Co-op is not a club. It is a cooperatively-owned business, whose ownership has grown from a meager 400+ in 2006 (when it was a "membership" structure) to over 2000 owners today (March 2013) who have invested their money in this business, owning it, cooperatively.


The model is not unique to Kalamazoo, and it's hardly a new idea. The first co-op dates back to the Rochdale Pioneers in England in the 19th century. There are great co-ops in Ann Arbor and Traverse City as well as throughout the country.


Anyway, for those who clicked my link and spent some time reading this entry (Thanks!) and who live in Kalamazoo (or nearby) and have not visited the Harrison Street People's Food Co-op of Kalamazoo, get down there! It is a beautiful, full-service grocery with a deli and even a commercial kitchen run by the local non-profit organization Fair Food Matters.


Own up.


Represent.


- chris tower

1303.30 - 8:08
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