Phoenix Earth Food Coop Board Meeting
December 20, 2016

Location: Main Branch Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 325 Michigan St, Toledo, OH 43604.

Board Members Present: Anita Levin, Sandor Halasz, Hermann von Grafenstein, Tiffany Hubbell, Adrienne Armstrong, Sean Fitzgerald, General Manager, Tom Fine

Absent:,Alyx Kendzierski, Claudia Cooper, Shelly Boraby

The meeting was called to order at 6:40 PM by President Hermann von Grafenstein.

  1. Approval of the Minutes. MSC to approve the minutes of the 11/16/16 meeting as circulated, unanimously.
  2. Review of Action Items:

    from 8/24/16 —

    1. Leah left message with Mark Mockensturm— Anita will now follow up — DONE
    2. Sean to complete by 11/3/16 — DONE

    from 9/28/16

    From 10/26/16

    From 11/16/16

    All DONE

  3. General-Manager Report — Reviewed GM Report as distributed. Approved as distributed by consensus. Raffle for Gift Certificates increased sales. Reviewed Helen's Workers Comp issue.

  4. Financial Reports —Reviewed as circulated. Reiterated the need for Board and members to shop at the Coop as much as possible. Increasing sales needs to be our first objective. Cash-flow pressures remain. Discussed possibility of changing our model to enhance sales through aquaponics, eating on the wild side, Coop Delivers and possibly buyers-club style.

  5. Accounting — Anita connected Mark Mockensturm with Leah. Mark's preliminary view was that the loan was still a liability if the total loan became due if we default on the agreement. However, he was to review the paperwork associated with the agreement with the Jackson family. Scott Ciolek was to share info with Mark.

  6. Outreach— Building Wrap still under consideration. Adrienne is getting a price. Leaflet drop in neighborhood did not yield results yet. Will also promote our acceptance of EBT. Also considering using USPO system targeting specific zip codes & neighborhoods that are most likely to shop at the Coop.

  7. Specialty Programs — Aquaponics going well, tomatoes almost ready. Coop Delivers food listing done. Will focus on high turnover items.

  8. Discount Policy — Sean discusses and explains each Discount card good for one year is $36. After two consecutive yearly purchases, Patron gets a Coop share with share privileges. However, to continue to get the discount, another Discount card has to be purchased yearly.

  9. Closed Session — Discussed GM Staff Evaluations.

Next Outreach Meeting — 1/17/17 6:30 PM at Hermann's house.

Next Board Meeting— 1/25/17 6:3PM at Main Library

Action Items:

From 8/24/16

  1. Leah — contact Mark Mockensturm for accounting issues on Jackson loan settlement& enquire about financial review in lieu of audit— Leah was unable to reach Mark. Anita will follow up with Mark. In Progress
  2. Hermann — initiate Executive Committee Review of General Manager — IN PROGRESS

From 9/28/16

  1. Sean — can contact Magna, M Osteria,RevolutionGrille etc. re: coop supplying items IN PROGRESS

From 10/26/16

  1. Consider fundraising for signage ASAP! Assigned to Outreach Committee — IN PROGRESS

From 12/20/16

  1. Anita — Follow up with Mark Mockensturn after 1/2/17
  2. Adrienne — get price for building wrap
  3. Hermann — contact coop neighbor to see if we can wrap their building on our side.
  4. Sean —review Coop Delivers lists in Drop Box to identify items ordered regularly
  5. Anita — Set up meeting/retreat date for brainstorming on alternative delivery models to enhance sales.

Respectfully submitted,

Anita Levin, Secretary