Honoring Our People, Celebrating Our Strength, Rising Toward Our Future

This year’s Annual Meeting will feature WSCO Board member elections, bylaw changes, West Side Awards, inspiring  speakers, a delicious spread of food and refreshments, and a deep dive into the stories, relationships, and collective victories that shaped the West Side this year. 

Sunday, November 15th,

4PM – 7PM, Harriet Island Pavilion

Each year, WSCO Board of Directors honors a West Side resident whose spirit and dedication reflect the best of our community. The “West Sider of the Year” award celebrates those who:

🌟 Contributes their time, talents, and resources to benefit the West Side community

🌟 Promotes justice and equity in their daily life

🌟 Acts with a neighborly spirit and goes out of their way to connect with others

The 2026 West Sider of the Year is nominated by community members and will be announced at WSCO’s Annual Meeting on November 15. Please note: past recipients, current WSCO staff, and board members are not eligible. The award is given to an individual, not a business or organization.

The WSCO Board of Directors will also recognize a local business whose commitment to community reflects the heart of the West Side. More than just a place of business, this institution reflects the mission of WSCO by building collective power, advancing justice, and promoting equity for all people in our community. Through their leadership, dedication, and pride in our community, they show what it truly means to be West Side Strong.

The “West Side Business of the Year” celebrates establishments that: 

🌟 Uplift the West Side by aligning its work with family and community values

🌟 Invests in community well-being through charitable initiatives and partnerships with other neighborhood institutions

🌟 Creates opportunities for connection and growth through mentorship, employment, and community engagement

The 2026 West Side Business of the Year is nominated by community members and will be announced at WSCO’s Annual Meeting on November 15.

There are 5 open seats for WSCO’s Board of Directors beginning in 2027. If you're an innovative thinker who is passionate about sustaining grassroots organizing on the West Side, we encourage you to run for the WSCO board and step into leadership.

A WSCO Board Member:

🌟 Attends monthly board meetings consistently and makes time to participate in WSCO campaign gatherings and events when possible

🌟 Brings creative ideas and thoughtful input on how to strengthen our community

🌟 Demonstrates natural leadership by listening and collaborating with respect and integrity

🌟 Contributes to WSCO's financial sustainability through fundraising and opens doors to sponsors and partners

Please note: To serve on the board, you must live, work, or be a formal representative of a West Side business or non-profit organization by the start of your term in early 2027.

Additional Annual Meeting Business

The WSCO Board of Directors is also proposing two amendments to the organizational bylaws. The membership will vote on these amendments at the November 15, 2026 annual meeting. Here is a document with the proposed changes. 

1. Section 4.02 Composition and Terms

          c) Up to five (5) alternates (shall) may be elected for a term of one (1) year each, expiring at the next Annual Meeting. The elected alternates are Director candidates with the greatest numbers of votes after all Board seats have been filled. ….

2. Section 4.05 Meetings

         c) The Board of Directors shall schedule regular meetings at least (monthly) every other month.

Explanation:

1. Currently, section 4.02 requires the board to consist of between nine and thirteen members. It further requires WSCO to elect up to five alternate board members who can temporarily take the place of current board members who step down or otherwise leave office before the end of their term. Alternates can only serve from the time they fill the vacant seat until the next annual meeting.

The proposed revision of section 4.02 makes it permissive rather than mandatory to elect up to five alternate board members. This provides the organization more flexibility if we have fewer board candidates than the total number of seats we need to fill in a given year. It also is unlikely to hamper the functioning of the board, which, when fully filled, can lose up to four members before needing alternates.

2. Currently, section 4.05 requires the board to meet monthly, whether or not there is sufficient business to warrant it. In most months, meeting at least monthly is necessary. However, occasionally it is not. This amendment would provide the board the flexibility needed to not meet when it’s unnecessary to do so. At such occasional times, the provision permitting the board to act on a measure via writing or otherwise asynchronously should suffice.