GM Notes 6.24.15
General Meeting Wed., June 24: 7.30 - 9.30pm The Co-op: 18 Putnam Ave, Brooklyn
Facilitator: Lauryl & Sara Cornish Note-taker: Renee Timekeeper: Print Agendas: Lauryl & Sara
Directors in attendance: Jeannie, Keith, DK, Renee, Hillary Absent: Sean, Allison
Any person attending may participate equally in discussions, but only Co-op members (i.e., co owners) may vote on any issues. Members may receive work credit if they attend (allotted 3 times a year).
Welcome/Orientation 7:30-7:45PM (15 min.) Welcome and explanation of what/who/why the Co-op is. Please ask questions!
Approve Minutes (1 min.) from previous GM (please read beforehand on the Website) Approved.
Facilitator, Secretary and Timekeeper Choices and/or Approval (1 min.) Facilitator will conduct meeting fairly and impartially, ensure that any meeting rules are followed, and will keep meeting to agenda. Secretary will take meeting minutes (which will be posted on the Website prior to next GM). Timekeeper will keep the meeting on schedule.
Presentation of Main Agenda and Pending Agenda Queue (1 min.) Main Agenda is prepared by the Board of Directors at an Agenda Making Session, based on member submissions and discussions, and published to members in advance of meeting on the Website (along with the time/date/place of the next Board Working Session which are also open to members.)
Finance and Membership Reports 7:50-8:05PM (15 min) Up to date information about the Co-op (Finance and Membership Committee) 284 active members currently; since been open we have a 27% retention rate 433 members shopped in June of which 40 were trial and 38 psfc members so (about 10% sales)
MAIN AGENDA 8:05-9:20PM (75 min) Vote to approve new Director attendance requirements (Renee, 5 min) : Last month the Board voted to have just 10 in person mtgs/year, at the General Mtgs. Would like to propose that we increase the GM’s to 12x/yr at which the Board is required to attend, so we maintain monthly in person mtgs. Approved Vote to limit Directors absence allowance to 4 since total # of Board mtgs decreased to 12 per year (still ⅓); irrelevant of notice or not. Approved Propose that committees meet seperately with Board only once a year (currently 2x/year) at GM. Committees will still be expected for All Committee Mtg. Approved Vote to approve the Store Coordinator as an ex officio member of the board (DK) Tabled till July mtg to get more info
Summer hours (Renee, 10 min) DIscussion re: increasing/changing store hours for summer to increase sales and offset summer slump. Times TBD by survey. Still determining. Most ppl want to work on Friday ams, but more want to shop on Friday eves. Have to choose what is best for store operations given our current labor pool.
All Committee Discussion (All, 50 min) Committees updates: Outreach, Marketing, Membership been focusing on inreach and outreach for last 6 months $50 basket trial membership psfc membership did phone a thon to figure out why ppl not joining, reasons: moved hours lack of variety but did get 2 folks to join PSFC will send to their members that live geographically close, about 2000 folks Merch, bulk is happening! Moving things in slowly, now some nuts, granola. New POS system in which will help with ordering more accurately. This weekend store will be 100% new POS operated.
Cross-committee breakout groups on actions they can take to address the state of the coop & share backs: Cashiers/SL’s ask to take pictures of their $50 basket Shleader socials Cross Meeting Attendance: overlapping meeting attendance to share info and collaborate on projects more Centralized produce signage with prices Open up Backyard space for events & develop partnerships Committee members work x number of shifts in store/year We become CSA pickup site? Simple recipes posted @ store---Education Sample shopping list Reach out to elected officials about promoting the cooperative Shift Leader talking points to increase campaigns awareness
If time allows: Clarifying the language we use in letting prospective members know how the redemption of investments works - see Simple Bylaws (DK) moved to next month Board review/approval: Board will review votes at the end of each GM and approve at the end of the mtg (Notetaker, 5 min)
OPEN FORUM 9:20 - 9:25PM (5min) Brief comments on topics not on the Main Agenda but relevant to the Co-op. Items that will require more time to discuss may be submitted as future agenda items. Rent discussion led by Dahlia Thompson our landlord liaison: We’ve had a deal on rent since we opened. The landlord has asked for an increase in rent starting in Oct. The finance team will meet with Renee Collymore to discuss an amicable agreement in late July.
CLOSING 9:25 - 9:30PM (5 min)
Next General Meeting is Wed., July 22 - 7:30-9:30pm at the Co-op.
Want to be a facilitator, secretary, timekeeper or to propose items for a future GM agenda? Please email board@greenehillfood.coop (work credit applies!)