In my opinion, Root Routledge (Letters, Herald, May 20) is an overeducated, underinformed busybody with too much time on his hands who persists in trying to keep a dead issue alive rather than keeping up with the current activity of Durango Natural Foods Co-op. Under the guise of supporting the co-op, he is doing the opposite by churning out volumes of inaccurate drivel dredging up past events that were put to rest six months ago and have no bearing on the positive energy being generated at the co-op today.
A true supporter of the co-op would let the past lie, and move on along with the members, staff and board. With five new board members (Routledge ran but was not elected, receiving the fewest votes of all the candidates), DNF has the opportunity to forge a new path looking forward, not backward. The new board had its first meeting May 18. New officers were installed, and board members expressed concerns as well as positive hopes and plans for the future. All the board members present seemed to get along well, sharing honest opinions and listening while each had his or her turn.
While he loves to hear himself talk (verbally and in writing), Routledge is the antithesis of a reliable representative of Durango Natural Foods. He’s apparently very proud of the 200 signatures he managed to procure on his petition to unseat the former board, but fails to mention the 1,000-plus active members who did not sign the petition and who apparently do not agree with his assessment of the past board’s actions or intentions. I remind him that his 200 votes clearly represent a minority of DNF member-owners.
It’s high time that Routledge put away his foolish tirades about the alleged intentions of a board that doesn’t even exist any more. I suggest he join the rest of us in the present as we work to strengthen the position of Durango Natural Foods as a significant player in the local food movement as it supports local and regional producers and upholds standards of excellence in providing clean, wholesome food for our community.
Chris Brussat
Bayfield
