@surfcity - thanks for the idea of checking the bylaws and also suggesting that the finance committee be more present/make a recommendation on these things. That is the kind of thinking I needed. I feel like I am just whining that i can’t work this way!
Regarding the donations - sorry if I wasn’t clear. I don’t mind donating - I have been supporting them as I can. What bothered me about the call is that a volunteer called me (board member) about a capital campaign that I did not know was currently happening, that I thought still had a lot of questions to be worked through. The board never discussed the pitch, we haven’t discussed who is getting called or what is the goal…I would have expected this to be something that might first go out to the membership in an approved email or a letter and then phone calls to follow up. And I would have liked to have known that it was happening. It’s a cooperative business - so it’s a small, creative business, owned by the community, with the idea that it makes the town a better place to live. As a cooperative, it’s not a non-profit, but it’s not expected to operate or deliver a profit - it’s expected to stay in business and add value to the community. We have 400 members in the small city it is located, and it’s honestly really great and I love it. I am just frustrated with my board experience.