April 29, 1990 Organizational Meeting of the Natural Foods Co-op

AGENDA

Welcoming statement

Introductions

Mission statement

Brief discussion of name for co-op

Break into committees:

Legal: bylaws & constitution
membership structure

General Research: food suppliers

Site: location, building, health codes

Finance: budget

Fundraising: membership drive, house parties, special events, etc.

Media Advertising: includes newsletter

Equipment: scales, coolers, cash register, etc.

Membership - Outreach: mailing lists, making contact with the community thru churches, organizations, etc.

The above committees will meet to determine what needs to be done , to set goals and assign tasks. Each committee will choose a chairperson.

Regroup and hear reports from each committee chairperson.

Vote on name

Announcements

Next meeting date is May 27, 1 p.m., Ottawa Park Shelter House

PHOENIX EARTH FOOD CO-OP

MINUTES OF THE APRIL 29, 1990 GENERAL MEETING

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE:
Riri Bishop
Cristie Dubois
Theresa Gragg
JoAnn West
Mary Johnson
Steve Miller
Jill Krotzer
Helen Elden

Dini Schut
Lana Voyles
Ann Lindsley
Jeana Jordan
Ginny Bodmer
Jane Spencer
Jack Daggitt
Peggy Clancy

Skip Haddad
Becky Fitzpatrick
Mary Toparcean
Mark Heller
Mike McGarry
Robert Hannon
Anita Rios
Sean Fitzpatrick

Helen Elden chaired, Theresa Gragg acted as secretary. Overview of the co-op was given by Helen Elden and Kristie Dubois. Helen then gave a brief description of the duties of each working committee which include the following:
Legal, Research, Location (site), Finance, Fundraising, Media, Equipment, Membership.

Members were then asked to choose a committee to be involved with and to break up into small groups. Each group was asked to elect a chairperson for their committee and to discuss what needs to be done. Steve Miller asked for a question and answer time before breaking up into small groups. Jeana Jordan asked if we couldn't float from group to group until we decided which committee we wished to be a part of.

Dini Schut said she will be on the Fundraising committee. Anita Rios said she has some equipment from the first food co-op. The equipment included a refrigerator, a cash register and miscellaneous. Theresa Gragg said she has some shelves to donate. Jack Daggitt asked if Toledo is able to support a food co-op and Anita said the former co-op failed due to mismanagement and poor book keeping and not for lack of memberships. There was a general discussion on why we want to have a food co-op now as you are able to purchase some organically grown foods in supermarkets. The general consensus was that people want to be a part of a cooperative effort, that a co op is a part of the community and all though it is not as expedient as going to the grocery store we believe in the values of living cooperatively.

The meeting then broke up into small groups. Legal, Mark Heller; General Research, Mary Johnson, Robert Hannon, Jeana Jordan; Site, Jill Krotzer, Gristie Dubois, (Equipment met with Site Committee) JoAnn West, ·Jane Gatewood; Finance, Becky and Sean Fitzpatrick, Theresa Gragg; Fundraising, Dini Schut; Media & Advertizing and Membership Outreach met together, Jane Spencer, Skip Haddad, Jack Daggitt, Steve Miller, Anita Rios Robert Hannon. If a persons’ name is not attached to a committee it only means the minutes taker did not get everyone's name. Everyone at the meeting took part in the small group meetings.

REPORTS

Fundraising, Dini reported that their groups' conversation overlapped into the territory of outreach somewhat. Some of the ideas they came up with are: leafletting on cars in parking lots; recruit people with post cards, each person sends ten friends cards; house parties; outreach at churches; employee news letters; festivals; waterfront events; raffles; book sale; auctions of different types; dinners and dances; peace & justice newsletter; Old West End Festival; and a begging letter. This group narrowed it down to immediate work which included the Old West End Festival and a begging letter.

Media/Advertizing & Membership/Outreach were not sure that they could put together a brochure until we had formally incorporated. Gragg and Rios said that we need a piece to distribute in order to draw people into the Co op. Gragg suggested that we work as an ad hoc committee to form a Food Co-op so that we can solicit funds to begin operation, and that those funds may be applied toward a membership fee after we open the store front.The consensus of the group was to put an interim piece together that we can use at the Old West End Festival and in other outreach efforts. Jane Spencer agreed to put the brochure together and Skip Haddad agreed to help with the wording of it. This committee also discussed creating a book mark that could be used as an advertizing piece. The book marks would be included in the cook books that we will sell at the OWE Festival. The cook books were purchased from the Ann Arbor Food Co-op bakery. At this time Helen announced that the cook books were sold at our table on Earth Day and we sold about six of them so far. Gragg offered to ask DWCA if they would put our book marks in the books they sell at their book sale at the OWE Festival. The Outreach & Membership Committees said they would line up the next meeting place and get the mailing out for the next meeting.

General Research Committee reported that they felt a survey could be developed to determine what types of foods people wanted in their co-op. Robert Hannon said they will contact other organizations and find out if they have orientation materials to get us started. He also said they will ask other co-ops if they can help with distributors. This group also asked the group as a whole when a good time would be to bring in an outside advisor. It was decided to wait until after the next meeting.

Location & Equipment Committees — Jill Krotzer said she will talk to people she works with to try to find a location. Jane Gatewood said the buying club may be interested in joining us to help find a location.Cristie Dubois said she would look for subsidies in various neighborhoods. Gragg said that she talked to the West Toledo Area Citizen's Association to see if they had any funds to help get started in their neighborhood and they said none were available.

Legal Committee, Mark Heller said he gave a draft of the Articles of Incorporation to each of the members of the Executive Committee. He said he will bring sample by laws to the next meeting , including philosophy but that they need not be included in the Articles.

Finance Committee, Becky Fitzpatrick said she will give a summary report once monthly on how we stand financially. Right now we have $738 in our treasury. The finance committee also reported that until we have a site and know the cost of rent, utilities, staff, inventory, we can't develop a budget. We also need to know cost of taxes, income and employee and insurance. On the income side the Finance Committee needs to be kept informed of fundraising commttee's work , events, etc. and memberships.

The name of the co-op was discussed, and it was decided by the group not to limit ourselves with a geographic name but will change our name from the Toledo Natural Foods Co-op to the Phoenix Earth Foods Co-op. It was also decided that the co-op would look for a source of recycled paper to use and that 5% of all fundraisers would go to feed the hungry. The next meeting date was chosen for Thursday, May 31 , 1990 at 7 PM. The Outreach committee said they would find a place for the next meeting.

Jack Daggitt announced a series of workshops to take place in Ithaca, New York on food cooperatives and suggested that we help to finance one of our members to go. Robert said if he was able he would go and he would let us know. It was suggested that a group might go and that we should check with Ann Arbor and Bowling Green to see if people were going from there.

Helen Elden adjourned the meeting. Minutes submitted,for approval or revision, by Theresa Gragg.

The idea for a natural foods co-op came out of Mike Ferner's Campaign for Toledo City Council. A core group of people came together for the 1st meeting Nov. 28, 1989. Committees were formed and we have had one fundraiser since then, raising $600. We have also participated in Earth Day activities and the annual Peace Conference.

We are now at the point where we need to enlarge the committees, get more people involved and do some serious work to make this food co-op idea become a reality.

We have named an interim board; Kristie Dubois, Theresa Gragg, Becky Fitzpatrick, Dini Schut, Steve Miller, and myself. Other key people are Jack Daggitt, Amjad Doumani, Pete Fitzpatrick, Mark Heller, Pat Garver
Helen Elden