If you would like to nominate yourself to serve on the board, you must submit a biographical paragraph and photograph, as well as a short statement of intent to run, by Friday September 10 to Mac Lemann, Board Chair, at (mac@nolafoodcoop.org) mac (at) nolafoodcoop (dot) org. Potential candidates are encouraged to attend our next working group meeting on Thursday July 29 at Holy Angel’s Convent (3500 St. Claude Ave) at 6pm or our next board meeting on Thursday August 26 at 517 S. Telemachus St. at 6 pm.

The 14th Annual National Community Food Security Conference will be held from October 16–19, at the Sheraton Hotel, downtown New Orleans. See www.communityfoodconference.org. Email dcoffman (at) feedingamerica (dot) org for information about volunteering or registration scholarships.

The NOFC Board of Directors will meet at 517 S. Telemachus St., New Orleans, LA 70119, from 6pm - 8pm.

Please email mac (at) nolafoodcoop (dot) org to RSVP or for directions or agenda.

   Please join NOFC volunteers for a community potluck at Holy Angels Convent (3500 St. Claude St.) to find out how you can be involved in opening New Orleans’ only community owned grocery store.

  6 pm - 8pm.  See you there!!!

NOFC Board Governance Meeting Monday July 6th, 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), Mimi Dimassa (Vice Presedent)

Meeting called to order at 6pm

Announcements:

Michael - we did not get vetoed so we will receive the Capital Outlay money for equipment, michael will research the process for receiving this money.  

- there was an article in Edible New Orleans about the co-op but we are considering asking them to run correction for inaccuracies such as the store being run entirely by volunteers.

- we were mentioned in Louisiana Weekly above the fold several weeks ago.

John - will send out a press release regarding the money from the state.

Working Group Progress:

- Gm Search - We have 4 candidates on the table and are at a point to invite people to meet the board before making a final recommendation to the board for a final candidate.  The committee feels good about the applicants.

- Communication - Newsletter has been going out regularly and the website currently in limbo.  Heather will look over the content that has been generated for our web designer to see if anything needs to be added.  

- Membership - We have 733 members now.

- Finance - The healing center is a bit behind there their timeline regarding lease negotiations.  Michael has been waiting to follow up with Hope and Seedco, now that we know about the cap outlay - we can move forward with this.  No new word on the FFRI or Harrah’s grant, Michael will follow up.  New possibilities include a bridge loan through The Food Co-op Initiative called a sprout loan that is usually around $25,000 with a two year term as well as a possible USDA loan.  PROP is coming along as well.  

- Site Development - Michael sat down with Kermit regarding the two separate bids, equipment and installation and the timeline was discussed.  The purchase order for the equipment should be in by Aug 1st to fit within our timeline and at that point 25% would need to be put down.  We need to know when the Cap Outlay funds would be distributed before moving forward with that.  The old slab has been taken out of the site and the rebuild will be made to our specifications.  We have decided to go forward with the Enviropack System to reap the long term energy cost saving benefits.  

- Sunday Grocery - Things have been moved to the new office but it has not been set up as a functioning office yet, once this happens we can apply for our occupational license.  John will get ahold of Paul to secure the room.    

Unfinished Business:

Motion: Rachel moved to reinstate the Buying Club activity given that it has been established that they are not running at a loss, and have provided the Board with requested documentation, understanding that efforts to reconcile and document all Buying Club activity are ongoing.  Mimi seconded.  5 Yays.  Motion carries.  

New Business:

Motion: Rachel moved to pay Cheryl Golich $350 to complete our 2009 Tax Returns as well as any reasonable amount above this billed for necessary research.  Michael seconded.  6 Yays.  Motion carries.

Motion: Michael moved to pay Cheryl Golich up to $1050 to complete a 2010 midyear review of our finances.  Rachel seconded.  5 Yays.  1 Ney.  Motion carries.

Motion:  Mac moved that the board authorize Michael to research and execute the Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant.  Michael seconded.  Motion withdrawn.

Motion: Michael moved that the policy committee draft for approval policies on member information confidentiality, diversity, and board stipends.  Rachel seconded.  6 Yays.  Motion carries.

Time and Date of Next Meeting:

- Board Training Workshop on July 17th 9:30-4 at Scott’s house on Constance and Cadiz.  

- Working Group Meeting  on July 29th 6pm TBA

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

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

]]> http://nolafoodcoop.org/2010/06/22/473/feed/ http://nolafoodcoop.org/2010/06/17/los-palmer/ http://nolafoodcoop.org/2010/06/17/los-palmer/#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:34:32 +0000 Mac http://nolafoodcoop.org/2010/06/17/los-palmer/