<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div>Courtesy of today's (June 8, 2015) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with thanks an appreciation to <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Colette DePhelps.</span></div><div><br></div><div>--------------------------------------</div><div><h1 id="blox-asset-title" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: 400; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; line-height: 34px; font-size: 30px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="blox-headline entry-title" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); line-height: 38px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Co-op doesn't discriminate</span></h1><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As board president and on behalf of the Moscow Food Co-op and its board of directors, I am writing to assure all of the Palouse-Clearwater community that the Co-op is an open and welcoming business that does not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or otherwise.</span></p><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our cooperative is committed to the International Cooperative Alliance values and principles. Voluntary and open membership is the first of seven stated principles. Non-discrimination is included in Section 1.4 of our bylaws and each of the Co-op's seven Board members has publicly affirmed his or her commitment to upholding the ICA values and principles and our bylaws.</span></p><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Moscow Food Co-op's mission is to "nourish and nurture our community." Our unique business is owned by over 7,000 community members and operates for the benefit of the community as a whole. Everyone can shop at the Co-op, and anyone can join.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In becoming a member-owner of the Co-op, individuals are ensuring that our community has access to healthy, nutritious food and are supporting the Co-op's triple bottom line of "People, Place and Profit."</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Throughout our 42-year history, we have been committed to upholding the rights and dignity of all people. We are dismayed by opinions printed in the Daily News that imply otherwise. We urge all members of this place, our wonderful community, to practice respect and tolerance and to understand that the opinions and perspectives shared by individuals and printed in the Daily News, are their own - they do not represent or speak for the Moscow Food Co-op. Finally, the Co-op will continue to share its profits with the entire community through extraordinary programs like FLOWER, Mamas & Papas, the Dime in Time community giving program and our Good Food Film Series.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="text-align: start; outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: 700; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Colette DePhelps, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow</span></p></div></div><div>--------------------------------------<br><br><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares"</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></body></html>