The next Board of Directors meeting will be on Tuesday July 6th at 6:00 PM at our Treasurer’s home, 517 S. Telemachus St.

If you have an item for the agenda please contact Mac at mac@nolafoodcoop.org

At a regular meeting of the board on June 15, 2010 the New Orleans Food Cooperative adopted these revised bylaws:

Bylaws 6/15/10 (click to download)

The revisions were intended to give the membership of the cooperative more control over governance by reducing the percentage of members required to compel the board to call a special meeting for a membership vote. They also make it possible for all votes to be conducted by post or email ballots, hopefully increasing the participation of the membership in the governance of the organization. Also, the terms of board members has been increased from one year to three years. These terms will be staggered so that only a few new directors will be elected each year, creating more continuity on the board.

Please follow the link below to our previous bylaws, if you are interested in comparison.

NOFC Bylaws 6/15/05 (click to download)

NOFC Board Governance Meeting Monday June 15, 2010

6:00pm at 517 Telemachus St. (Rachel’s)

Present:

Board Members – Michael Smith (President), John Calhoun, Rachel Riezman (Treasurer), Mac Lemann (Chair of the Board), Heather Fife (Secretary), Scott Galante (Vice President)

Members – Cassandra Snyder, Ann Sobol, Leah Farkas, Siddhartha Padmanabha

Announcement:

Michael: After returning from the Co-op conference in Indiana, Michael feels that the larger Co-op community is strongly behind the NOFC. There is help out there waiting to be contacted, all we have to do is ask. Other co-ops would be willing to help with fundraising and document sharing.

John: In 11 days we will be having an auction. John will be hosting postcard addressing at his house tomorrow from 7-9pm.

Michael: Will make a facebook invite for the auction.

Scott: Scott and Michael met with the economic development team for the city today to talk about the FFRI. It still seems to be stalled. If anyone can get to Baton Rouge before Sunday, it might be helpful.

Treasurer’s Report:

Rachel: The Buying Club does not owe anyone money at this point.

The Board will be looking at the Buying Club Budget.

MOTION -

Scott: Moved, that, the board freeze buying and selling functions of the buying club and the sunday grocery until they have provided accurate accounting to be presented at the next board meeting. Heather: Seconded

All: Agree. Motion carries.

Unfinished Business:

MOTION -

Mac: Moved, to accept the recommended amendments and revisions to the NOFC Bylaws.

Scott: Seconded

Amendments – subject to final grammatical revision.

All: Agree. Motion carries.

MOTION -

Scott: Moved, to authorize the negotiation and execution of a contract with Southern Refrigeration for the purchase of our refrigeration equipment.

Rachel: Seconded

Discussion: Two separate contracts will be on the table – one for equipment and one for installation. Contract for equipment needs to be complete by two and a half months before we need the equipment and before the end of the year o be eligible for federal rebates. The board and legal counsel need to review the final contract. Michael suggested we move forward by asking Southern to submit a new contract without the installation quote.

Motion withdrawn.

Member Input:

Ann: Advised board members that they have a legal and fiduciary duty to the membership not to be taken lightly. Ann suggests that the treasurers report reflect a longer period of time. Financial reports sent to FC500 should be reviewed as a model for future reports.

Rachel: Would like the board to be more engaged in financial report discussions. She will begin to have financial reports distributed to board members by email by the 15th of each month.

Leah: Met with Paul regarding the Sunday Grocery site at the new office space. Leah has been having trouble reaching Julian. Leah will write a letter to him. We can move into the office once it is cleaned out.

Rachel: In possible a month or two we could have an employee that may be moving across the country to work for us. It’s obvious tonight that we are not ready to trust the recommendations of others quite yet. We need to be ready to support a GM that can work independently. Rachel suggested we take time to review our GM expectations. We could consider another training.

Mac: Mark would like us to enroll in the co-op board leadership development. We should look into this.

Next Meeting: Tuesday July 6th, 6pm at Rachel’s place.

Meeting Adjourned: 8:00pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Fife