Meeting called to order at 18:15 by John Starr, pres. There were present Frank Johnson (FJ), Sam Rodriguez (SR), John Starr (JS), Halász Sándor (HS), John Klear (JK), Shawn Stein (SS), Abby Youngs (AY), and David Finet (DF).

Subject to amendment, that David Finet had made a motion of the five-part list, which passed, the August-17th minutes were approved.

All refused Amjad Doumani s proposal.

The yearly meeting: SS has talked to noöne at any church: she leaves messages and gets no answer. AY suggests Pilgrim Church and Augsburg Lutheran church, neither far from the coöp: if the meeting-hall costs $100, at least it be near the coöp. AY suggests November 14th, not right after the vegetarian food-tasting (Nov 6) nor right ere Thanksgiving. SR suggests ad-hoc committee; JS and SS will be on it. AY speaks of , which will make up first 100 postcards, both sides printed, same on every card, free of printing charge; SS will take it on. AY says there is yet no logo, but soon. As for the budget, the church where the coöp last met and whose school Tamatha Brandner s childer attend, the coöp got it for only $50 from afterward cleaning up. DF move $350 budget for the meeting, JS seconds; motion passed. As for Lisa Blake s Unitarian church, it is best that one of the board directly approach, but bringing up the tie with her.

Treasurer: DF and JS got Leah Foley s report. AY says that the NCGA s Carol sent Leah corrections which she made. SR asks whether it is to be passed on to all the board; JS says yes, after it is made a spreadsheet (FJ has no spreadsheet program, but, SR quotha, there are free viewers).

Manager: The bulk-weighing scale broke; through eBay one can for $800 order replacement but with no warrantee, no spare parts--better to spring for a $1500 new one. The repairman considers $1500 a good price. (Discussion how much discretion is allowed the GM for such purchases: the bylaws and Policy Governance do not argree, and the unit is not certain.) DF says it is the board s right to hear of alternatives; AY says that Sean Fitzgerald looked up a few and found the cheapest costs $1500. SR and JS move that AY by e-mail send the board descriptions of three such scales, the board by e-mail by Thursday to decide which one--motion passed.

A new cashier, Heather Clendennin(name?) was hired; Richard now spends more time at bulk packing under Noel, who, along with Anayah, is also spending time at school.

A new router was installed, by JS, and AY asks about changing the key. JK says that if the office computer and free WiFi are on the same one, then there is a security risk.

The new composting containers are great, they take less work, and the customers say that they have less taste than the bags.

The Ferdõs bread and hummus are good and addictive. Oasis simply dropped the coöp.

AY was in Boston for the NCGA general assembly, where DF, too, was.

AY will go to San Diego with boyfriend, and also visit Nancy Cassidy, GM of the Ocean-Beach Food Coöp. AY will also visit a board meeting. There is a redundant PoS system that we may have for free; a new touch-screen system was installed. We pay for installing. JS spoke of support, JK of package and licensing level.

AY ordered the rebranding guide, but considers the sign the urgentest matter--and moving. There are T-shirts, for staff and for sale: "Coöp stronger together".

AY has a new mentor, Mead Stone, also of the Central Corridor, instead of DF.

Jaqueline Hannah, of the Common-Ground Food Coöp (900', Champaign-Urbana, 2259 members, $680,000, after beginning in a church basement), will gladly visit and advise. AY wants to offer her room or board, something, although she is willing at her own cost to come. There followed much discussion of a GM s discretion in paying for such things, and whether there is anything in the budget for it; in the end at least DF, JS, and SS are willing to split her tab for a dinner.

The newsletter is late, for including article about the picnic. It'll be out by Sep 30th. There is a service that for $15/mo broadcasts e-mail. JK says we sha'n't pay for that.

There is a comment-box with no lock; one can get locked ones for $70, but why?

The October-31st Veggie Tasting is to appear in the City Paper.

There is yet no new logo, but there is to be a new sign, for around $1500. There is a Toledo license, $35.15/sq.ft for it. It will show "Toledo Natural Food Coöp".

SR: sit down with her, rebranding. DF: not really, generic brand, logo in ads, name, $1500 for sign quibble, piecemeal, coherent if no logo, not consistent. SS: AY:e-mail address in Oct sign & cash register together Sign up is all SWAG! DF: how do we know when it happens? Name-change marketing tool--get them to be excited. We cannot define it. SR: Sign changed, then do it food editor (of) City Paper, Blade, TV DF: I agree we need to define it--slow-news day for it. betts budget for teaser for name-change. SS: They see Phoenix JS: Sign first. SS: in people s heads if they see s'yers AY: I envision press release one day SR: "Neighbors" AY: Cool! P.R. lsit; we write article, free press. YG: Need P.R. more than a day, Collette Jacobs. DF: to SS, may have negative; not Claudia's, not Bassett's, cover sign for teasing SS: more put art there, say not Phoenix, but Toledo Natural Food Coöp JK: attention to what? DF: Phoenix is Toledo, food, Natural, Coöp, Plan for us all. SR: Oanlie oan coöp, need coöp JK: Why coöp better SR: comers be nosy AY: lead-in marketing YG: notfund DF: City Paper YG: Free Press conservative JS: covers small biznesses AY: insert YG: CoLlette gives me what I ask AY: What with me? e-mail Dave e-mail me for marketing, Send Yvonne DF: I'm not manager talked turnaround bizness plans, Abby steps up & does it. AY: brainstorming SS: complicated; we in, out SR: backup JS: wodte on sign DF: what is it AY: three weeks to make it SR: by Oct 19? JS: earlier, 2d Tues if better AY: draft costs $75, add logo good? SR: logo YG: Will Mellon AY: ask for new logo JS: continuity, time, keep logo AY: Compromise for the outset if we mamm, new logo JK: down the road narrative can tweak and tweak AY: Phoenix, sunrise, need new mission statement SS: voted for old name. I like the website for its colorfulness. Old logo is bland. AY: Seem the alanfet

DF says too much time was spent on report item, and proposes the board a week beforehand get GM reports, by e-mail, from AY. SS adds the treasurer-report too; the board is blind--SR and YG agree. JS will talk to Leah Foley about it. DF says that he needs time for turning that into the profit&loss statement and balance sheet, and the material from Leah Foley more than one week beforehand. JS suggests it be spread in spreadsheet form. SR & JS second the amended motion, motion passed.

AY: new e-mail address board & staff info board e-mail address

GM s timeline: By October 31st a member drive--"I don't know how". By November 31st the yearly meeting, Veggie Tasting, and the year-2011 budget. By December 30th only the new name will be used.

After talking to Bluff-Co coöp, AY wishes to consider COPOS for coöps, which supports two lanes and paiment plan, and there is not much IT. DF says about COPOS that there is much displeasure with it. JS suggests that we look into it.

AY says that the store is on a two-week cycle. There are more products, end-caps are being changed, and twice each month the prices. There is to be a Holiday fundraiser.

DF brings up the board retreat. JS would consider the coming five years; DF says that is too ambitious: only one year. SS brings up policy governance, but DF says that is not for a coöp in crisis. JS suggests a day on a weekend; JK, SR, and SS say not all day long. SJ and SS suggest the 2d, or the 3d. DF offers to use website "Meeting Wizard" for agreeing on a date. SS says it is best to consider dates at least through November. SR, DF, JS make up the retreat committee

JS craves material for the coming meeting s agenda. FJ asks about bylaws from successful coöps. DF says that there are no models in Ohio, and the law is no small influence on them. There is talk of Policy Governance (SS: quickly overwhelming, quite long) and when it was implemented. YG answers three years ago. JS mentions strategic planning. JK mentions the GM s salary, and with JS the evaluation.

SR suggests tape-recorder for the secretary (HS); JK offers one. DF says there is note-taker in ELFCO s board meetings; he is averse to tape-recorder. HS considered buying one, likes the idea: the minutes are _not_ word-for-word recording, and anyhow he would not keep such a record after turning it into the minutes.

Meeting ended at 20:18