Elected by the Member-owners of the Old Creamery Co-op, the Board of Directors is composed of nine community members. The Board is responsible for ensuring that the store is run in a way that is financially responsible, socially conscious, and genuinely responsive to the broad interests of our Member-owners and the community. However, the Board is not directly responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Co-op. Instead, the Board provides support, consultation, and oversight to the General Manager of the Co-op.

The Co-op’s Board of Directors relies on two guiding documents for our work:

•  The Co-op’s Bylaws guide the Co-op’s principles and processes.
• The Co-op’s Policy Manual defines the roles and responsibilities of both the General Manager and the Board of Directors. 

The Board meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:30pm to 7:30 with a social time that begins at 6:15pm. We currently meet in person and offer a hybrid option via Zoom. We welcome Member-owners to attend meetings and share comments and questions at the beginning of every meeting.

Please email board@oldcreamery.coop for the agenda and Zoom links. We also welcome and encourage Member-Owner participation in our sub-committee work and/or as a volunteers for projects at the Co-op.

INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS?

Do you enjoy being a Old Creamery Member-owner and want to support its values and role in the community?

Would you like to contribute to our local food economy and advance a cooperatively owned, democratically-run local business?

Do you enjoy working with a group of respectful, thoughtful, and collaborative neighbors?  

If you answered yes to these questions, we would value your participation on the Board.

If you would like to contribute to our co-operative journey let any board member know, contact us at board@oldcreamery.coop or send a message to the general manager gm@oldcreamery.coop

Please schedule a time to talk with one of us; we’re always happy to answer your questions and serve the needs of the cooperative community. 

Our 2025 Board Members

---

Dawn Elizabeth, Vice President – West Cummington

I fell in love with the Hilltowns over 22 years ago while visiting friends in Worthington and moved to the area less than a year later. My husband, Thatch, and I currently live in West Cummington with our 2 puppers. We enjoy camping, going to festivals and, most importantly, going to tag sales. 

In 2014, I was elected Chairwoman for the Conservation Commission in Worthington and I presently volunteer locally as a Death Midwife, along with several others who are located within the Hilltowns.

I have worked in many places in the area, most recently as the Resident Service Coordinator for The Maples and in the past as clinical director for the Hilltown Community Health Center. Currently, I am the Clinical Director at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst.

I feel that in our constantly changing and fast-paced world, it is easy to get caught up in its complexities and complications without even having to leave our homes. We forget that we have a very vibrant and present community all around us that has so much to offer. I appreciate the value that the Creamery has to offer to the community, and I recognize it’s potential to add even more to it. I feel it is important to support The Creamery to help it thrive and grow and continue to be a pillar for the community for years to come. I would love to be part of helping to make that happen!

---

Martin Schotz, Clerk – Cummington

Martin is a recently retired physician who has been living in Cummington for the past ten years.  He is a student of Nonviolent Communication and is active in the community on issues of justice, democracy and peace.  He is a jazz drummer. He thinks the Creamery is a vital institution and would like to see it prosper and serve everyone in the community.

---

Ilse Godfrey, Treasurer– Cummington

I moved to Cummington with my husband after we agreed that we didn’t want to be just visitors, we wanted to be part of the unique community here. Residents and Creamery members since 2018, we relocated our small sign business to our property in 2019. I am a member of the Town Planning Board, and the ad hoc commission working to obtain state Cultural District designation for the Town of Cummington. With Robert, I am a volunteer Community Emergency Response Team Member (CERT), a certification provided through the Cummington Public Safety Complex. In my private life, I am a steward of Featherweald, a conservation property in Southern Washington County, NY; and I am a walker, birder and naturalist.  With my experience and education, I believe I have skills to support the Creamery’s growth and Ends Objectives going forward.

---

Seva Water – Cummington

I moved to Cummington in 2015 to start a nut farm with my partner, Kalyan. We are both committed to growing nutritious food and soil using regenerative farming practices and have felt very at home here in the Hilltowns. I grew up in Northfield and spent a few months traveling in South Asia after finishing school. Prior to finding land I worked with refugee and immigrant farmers in Worcester and West Springfield and was involved in anti-racism and food justice work. I now work part-time at the Hilltown CDC and serve on the Cummington Cultural Council. My hope for the Creamery is that it can provide access to good food for all Hilltowners while reflecting the unique values and character of our whole community. As a board member I am committed to improving outreach, communications and community engagement and I look forward to the opportunity to help set a new course for the future of our store.

---

Shelby Howland – Goshen

I’ve been living and working around the Hilltowns my entire life. Over that time, I’ve been in a number of different trades, from farming to tree work to excavation. I’ve been running my own business on and off since I was 17, but for the past nine years, I’ve been focused on construction. Since I moved to Goshen in 2021, I’ve especially focused on excavation work. My connection to the Creamery goes way back—I started there as a dishwasher when I was 17. As I moved on to other jobs, I kept swinging by to grab lunch between tasks. Now, I’m excited to join the board and do my part to help the Creamery thrive for years to come.

---

Ilene Diamond – Cummington

---

Patti Waters – Shelburne Falls

I have enjoyed living in Plainfield for the past 23 years.  I have been a member of several co-ops over the years, starting with a co-op in Northampton, MA in the late 1970’s.  I am a strong believer in co-operatives.  I look forward to bringing my enthusiasm for working with others and problem solving.  I have run a small construction business for over 20 years, and been involved with many community organizations such as the Hilltown Seed Saving Network, Raspberry Hill Community Garden, and the Plainfield Cultural Council.  I currently serve on the Plainfield Agricultural Commission and the Plainfield Council on Aging.  I value the Old Creamery Co-op as a place to shop, have a meal, and meet other members of the community.

---

Back to top

Board Terms

Board Member	Year Elected	Term	Expiration	2026 Annual Meeting
Seva Water	2023	3 years	2026	Vote
Ilse Godfrey	2024	3 years	2027
-Unfulfilled-	2025	3 years	2028
Dawn Elizabeth	2023	3 years	2026	Vote
-Unfulfilled-	2024	3 years	2027
Patti Waters	2025	3 years	2028
Martin Schotz	2023	3 years	2026	Vote
-Unfulfilled-	2024	3 years	2027
Shelby Howland	2025	3 years	2028

---

Back to top