Each year in May we host our Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM is important because it’s the meeting where members elect the Board of Directors and weigh in on strategic business decisions and give feedback about the bar. We try to make it a big party.
We’re about to have our Sixth Annual General Meeting (AGM)! It’s coming up quickly: May 15th, 2015 from 5-8pm at the Public House. This is the time every year when we reflect on how the Public House is measuring up to its threefold mission: to be a community gathering place; to serve local, organic, and tasty drinks, and to help build the cooperative movement in our neighborhood alongside the Riverwest Cooperative Alliance.
At the last couple of AGMs, we’ve encouraged your participation and voice by putting up great big sheets of paper on the walls, giving you some nice-smelling Sharpie markers, and letting you go to town. This year will be no different. The “writing on the wall” gets reviewed by the board in the months following the AGM and the Board takes these messages into account. It’s a great way to give feedback to the Public House as a valued member-owner. Although we’re always here to listen if you’ve got a compliment, comment or concern.
Most importantly, this date marks the time each year when our members get to elect new members to the Board of Directors. The board of directors is the 9-person body that helps guide the course of the bar through long-term visioning, financial oversight, and governance. This year we have 4 vacancies! That could represent a big change of leadership and a lot of new opportunities and visioning for the bar.
Meet the 2016 Candidates
Cory Ruegg
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am a Riverwest resident and software engineer for American Signal Corp. I would describe myself as a tech nerd with a passion for hardware and software. On the side I like walking my dog and catching up on netflix.
What attracts you to run for board?
I would love to be a part of a business and get to know and learn all that goes into it. I also want to find a way to be more involved with the community and I see the Public House as a key member of the RW community.
Please list any past experiences as board member, cooperator, community leader.
In college I was the leader and organizer for the school pep band. In my past job I was the project lead on developing a web application, in which I managed people and organized the development of the application.
Please share if you have practical experience in any of the following areas:
Project Management
What do you love most about the Riverwest Public House Cooperative?
I love all the coordinated events that attract a variety of people to the bar every week.
What new ideas/visions do you hope to bring to the Board and the Cooperative?
I would be interested in looking into utilizing various technologies in order to add value to the business. I would also love to explore more opportunities for the PH to help the community and foster a healthy and prosperous community.
What is one thing that most people would be surprised to learn about you?
I can perform a fairly convincing cover of Tenacious D’s “Tribute” (vocals)
Valerie Wolfersberger
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am a professional musician, a multi-instrumentalist of 32 years. I am easy to get along with and very friendly. I enjoy making new friends and cultivating meaningful relationships. I am an extremely hard working person who likes to get things done, my personality centers around taking action and problem-solving. Actions speak louder than words.
What attracts you to run for board?
As a member I have already received much encouragement from friends I’ve made with staff members to become a board member as a better opportunity to become involved. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I deeply value the strong stance Public House takes in remaining inclusive and diverse, and the free-thinking environment that encourages growth.
Please list any past experiences as board member, cooperator, community leader.
No specific board/community leadership experience, but I have solid people skills and strong motivation to offer what help I can in this worthy cause. We’re just doing this for the cause!
Please share if you have practical experience in any of the following areas:
Human Resources
What do you love most about the Riverwest Public House Cooperative?
The family feeling that I already get from the staff. As a newer member of the team they’ve welcomed me with open arms.
What new ideas/visions do you hope to bring to the Board and the Cooperative?
I am in favor of bringing back movie night for one thing, and have been discussing this with Li Sa; I believe it would be a fun event that would draw patrons. We could facilitate a vote on what movie to show that would give some semblance of a Democratic system that is sorely lacking from our government. #superdelegatessuck
What is one thing that most people would be surprised to learn about you?
In 2008 I hit my heaviest at 380lbs, and slowly but surely I’ve lost 155 and kept it off! Slow and steady wins the race!!
Theresia Treviso
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am a community member focused on the future of the lgbt homeless youth, trans rights, and supporting local companies.
What attracts you to run for board?
I am hoping to be a board member for the public house, because I find the experience I have here, the best I have had in this city. The clientele is intelligent and fun to be around. I would love to be further involved in the deep rooted community at the public house.
Please list any past experiences as board member, cooperator, community leader.
I have never been a board member, but am a powerful voice in the lgbt community. I have performed for over seven years, while creating a bridge between old and new performers. I am also the CEO and founder of the Wisconsin Drag Awards, which is community based.
Please share if you have practical experience in any of the following areas:
Project Management, Community Outreach / Organizing
What do you love most about the Riverwest Public House Cooperative?
I feel as if I answered this before and do not mind again. The Public house is full of intelligent and involved people. When we host shows at the Public house, we feel entirely welcome. I enjoy the company the staff especially.
What new ideas/visions do you hope to bring to the Board and the Cooperative?
The ideas I have, circulate in the lgbt community. I would like to create more awareness in our neighborhood of the ongoing problems we have. The Public house is a powerful voice in our community, and I would like to keep that message moving forward.
What is one thing that most people would be surprised to learn about you?
Usually, I am not full of surprises, but I feel something people don’t seem to know, is I am a nationally recognized drag king. I have too many talent and interview awards than I can count on one hand.
Terri Williams
Tell us a bit about yourself
Hi! I’m Terri Williams, a political activist, karaoke watcher, and community organizer from the neighborhood.
What attracts you to run for board?
I love the Public House and am happy to lend my experience and time to helping it succeed.
Please list any past experiences as board member, cooperator, community leader.
My day job is in fundraising for non-profit relief and humanitarian organizations. I also have experience working as a political and community organizer for progressive campaigns, such as for the Citizen Action Organizing Co-operative’s recent effort to get out the vote for Larson and Kloppenburg, SEIU’s Fight for 15, and the Working Families Party’s 2014 Raise the Wage campaign. Prior to that, I served for seven years at UWM as a teacher and a Steward for AFT 2169 (Milwaukee Graduate Assistants’ Association), where I was elected VP of Grievances, Co-chaired the Bargaining Committee for two contract negotiations, and chaired the Stewards’ Committee for 800 members. I’ve also worked as a judge for the Milwaukee Film Festival and held volunteer positions with groups ranging from the Bridgeport Needle Exchange Program to ACT-UP.
Please share if you have practical experience in any of the following areas:
Business Management, Project Management, Human Resources, Community Outreach / Organizing, Administration
What do you love most about the Riverwest Public House Cooperative?
I love the staff and the warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment. The tap beer selection is always impressive and clearly chosen with care. Recently, I’ve been happiest with how great the music bookings have been, and that more and more political and community campaign functions have been happening there. I’m psyched that it’s now a go-to place.
What new ideas/visions do you hope to bring to the Board and the Cooperative?
Honestly, I don’t know that a ton needs to change (except that Tuesday night has lost its identity a little, which is probably an easy fix). I’m mostly interested in helping to support the positive changes I’ve seen happen over the past several years. I wouldn’t mind lending a hand to make the bar a little more financially successful to fund improvements and such. To do that, I would look at increasing memberships as well as how to create more traffic on non-show nights.
What is one thing that most people would be surprised to learn about you?
I was born platinum blonde and stayed that way until I was like 15, when I dyed it black. Also I just bet on the Portland Trailblazers and against the Golden State Warriors and am currently winning, much to the chagrin of the older gentlemen to my left who told me I was doing betting wrong. Always root for the underdog.
Daosavanh Phakeovilay
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am a Laotian queer woman who has lived in Milwaukee since I was 3 when my family immigrated to the US. I love to travel and have worked in customer service for over 10 years. I currently work for the state as an adjudicator in which I spend a lot of time gathering information, interpreting unemployment law and applying it. I don’t currently hold any active memberships but I had been on the advisory board for the Grow Great Women group at Diverse and Resilient and we organized events to develop the bisexual and lesbian Milwaukee community and build capacity. I am passionate about racial justice (especially the black lives matters movement), immigration rights and worker’s rights. My strengths lie in my pragmatism, my effective communication and my active listening.
What attracts you to run for board?
I love the mission of the Public House and the very specific space it has created in the community. I like that it is an organizing space for radical movements, a safe space for queer and trans bodies, is fairly affordable and also open to growth in whichever direction will best challenge and meet the needs of the community. I became a member in December of 2015 and feel like I would like to have an active role in the success of this very dear space. I’m ready to commit to it.
Please list any past experiences as board member, cooperator, community leader.
I was on the advisory group for the Grow Great Women group of Diverse and Resilient for 2 and 1/2 years, I was an adult volunteer with the LGBT teen group out of Harmony Cafe in Appleton for 3 years, I served on the exec board of my college’s GSA with the last year as president, I ran the English language and culture club when I lived in Japan from 2006-2008.
Please share if you have practical experience in any of the following areas:
Community Outreach / Organizing, Administration
What do you love most about the Riverwest Public House Cooperative?
I love that it’s already a radical, open cooperative but at the same time, is open to constructive criticism and challenges to be more inclusive and intersectional.
What new ideas/visions do you hope to bring to the Board and the Cooperative?
I come at it from a very stuffy and organizational standpoint. I think the big events could run more smoothly with strategic staffing and also if there was a better method of checking who was actually a member. I also think there needs to be better outreach beyond Riverwest and the very niche community it already attracts. I’d also like to see it reach out more to the Latinx and Southeast Asian immigrant communities better to demonstrate stronger allyship.
What is one thing that most people would be surprised to learn about you?
I have a near photographic memory and can remember clear minute details about things from years past.
For more info on our Board of Directors, check out the Structure page.
PAST ANNUAL GENERAL REPORTS:
Riverwest Public House Cooperative 
Pingback: Annual General Meeting this Sunday 2-4pm @ Falcon Bowl | Riverwest Public House Cooperative
Pingback: Interested in running for our Board of Directors? | Riverwest Public House Cooperative
Pingback: 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM) This Sunday at 5pm! | Riverwest Public House Cooperative