Food Co-op Meeting Minutes
November, 28, 1989

Attendance:
Theresa Gragg- Chairperson
Helen Elden- Co-chair
Kristie Dubois- Secretary
Steve Miller
Debra Hysell
Jack Daggat
Buffy Keeling
Joanne Gall
Amjad Doumani
Janie Gatewood
Pete Fitzpatrick
Becky Fitzpatrick

It was unanimously decided that the projected co-op was to be a non-profit, democratically runned and owned business.

Agenda:

1. To define the general goals of the co-op, who would it serve, what long range ideals did people personally foresee.
2. To develop committees that would begin the ground work for building the co-op, including:
   Legal
   Location site, and space needed
   Equipment
   Finance, including fundraising
   Market needs assessment
   Member recruitment, to include a newsletter
   Bylaws and Constitution development
   Research
3. Begin the treasury, collecting funds for seed money.
4. Set a date for the next meeting- December 13, 1989 at 7:30 pm.

General Brainstorming Ideas:

That the co-op would be a nonprofit organization- Joanne Gall agreed to research what this would entail.

Vacant lands in the city could become garden plots.

The co-op would exhibit through its sales and educational programs a philosophy of life that was environmentally sound.

Ways were discussed to involve lower income families and individuals in the co-op, by utilizing existing community agencies and groups, to accept food stamps, location that was accessible- on a bus line

To have a speakers bureau, bring in guest speakers

Membership is essential to the ongoing success of a co-op, to continually pull in new members.

Prices could be fixed according to membership and volunteer work.

Planned fundraisers for the initial starting budget, and then periodically to attract new members, and bring together existing ones.

Paid staff are needed to maintain consistency- proffessional management

Legality of forming a new co-op is of primary concern.

Committee Sign Up

1. Legal- Joanne Gall, will initially look into the guidelines for being non-profit
2. Finance- fundraisers: Amjad Doumani agreed to assist with fundraisers, Becky Fitzpatrick agreed to help with budgeting
3. Location- Pete Fitzpatrick
   Health Code Standards- Kristie Dubois
   Site determination to include accessibility, parking, donated, rented, or buying
4. Equipment purchasing- Charlie Johnson
5. Research- food availability, market competition- Helen Elden, Buffy Keeling, Debra Hysell
6. Bylaws and constitution- Jack Daggat
7. Membership Outreach- Steve Hiller, Jack Daggat, Kristie Dubois
8. Market needs assessment-

Seed Money

$27.50 was collected from those in attendance to utilize for mailings, and initial costs

Next meeting scheduled December 13, 1989

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