December Report from the Board

TROY COMMUNITY FOOD CO-OP
Report from the Board
December 12, 2007


Present: Hohenberg, Metsch, Brand, Hueber, Muller, Stoyle, Grimm, Higbee, Kashgarian
Absent: none
Minutes: Accepted unanimously

Treasurer: Treasurer Antoinette Hueber reported that tote bags and web design were the big expenses in November. The treasurer’s report was accepted unanimously.

President: Wayne Metsch recommended that because this is an especially busy period for the co-op organization that the Executive Committee meet every Friday two weeks after board meetings. Elections for the board are coming up in early 2008. Wayne Metsch and Stephannie Stoyle will finish their first terms and both will run again, their next terms will be for three years. The next round will be for three years for all candidates. There are three vacancies, 3 year terms each. Every effort should be made to recruit coop members to run: expertise in accounting, legal, retail food experience, marketing, and development are needed. Secretary Mary Muller will reconvene the Governance Committee.

Membership: Mary Brand and Mary Muller reported that membership, as of Dec.12, stands at 450 members. The Membership Committee will propose charging $150 for a membership after the 500 charter investors have been recruited if it is approved at the general membership meeting at the end of January. We are seeking a date at the 5th Ave. Presbyterian Church in late January. The TCFC will donate $100 to cover heat. The Committee is discussing a policy on corporate memberships. It was moved and seconded that TCFC pursue corporate membership as an area of growth in 2008 and that a second committee be formed to address corporate underwriting. A member/investor family in the community has donated 10 memberships. The Membership Committee has identified 10 human services organizations to approach with these scholarships in order to make investors more fully reflective of the community the co-op will serve. Members should be encouraged to give memberships as gifts. It was recommended that the new Pioneer tote bags be available at $10 each to members and $15 to non-members.

Outreach Committee: Stephannie Stoyle offered congratulations on a very successful Stroll presence—members of the committee decorated a Mexican-themed tree for the Stroll. The Pioneer tote bags were introduced and 58 were sold! Five new member/investors were welcomed. Sonny and Perley played bossa nova for the more than 100 who came. Nine salsas were entered--congrats to Michael Kashgarian for winning the salsa contest. We must have cameras at events to document. Future parking concerns were expressed by those stopping by, and some have expressed disappointment that we didn’t open in the fall. TCFC will be at the Troy Farmers Market on December 29.

Human resources: Mary Brand reported that there have been no applicants for GM so far. The committee will renew the ad in three national publications and place on the Troy Food Coop website. New ads will be placed in local papers as well as Bennington and Brattleboro if there is no response. The committee will explore hiring a consultant on a temporary basis to help get the interior together.

Finance: Barbara Higbee reported that TCFC has a major commitment from Pioneer Bank. The balance of the funding will come from the Community Loan Fund and a consortium of 5-7 banks. In addition a Member Loan program will be introduced in January and grants from public and private agencies are being pursued. The Troy Redevelopment Foundation, composed of RPI, Sage Colleges, Seton Health Care and Northeast Health has granted $30,000 for use in electrical upgrades and marketing. An appraisal of the Pioneer Market is being prepared prior to turning over the building to the Co-op by Alane Hohenberg and will be used as collateral.

Building: The interior design plan has been received from PlanB, the consultant hired by the TCFC. Members of the Building Committee have already reviewed them, and the Board of Directors added their comments. They will be returned for very minor revisions. Otherwise, all were enthusiastic about the plan, which will emphasis produce and a take-out food operation against the back wall.

Next board meeting: Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Pioneer Market.