Coop Board Meeting Dec 20, 2007

Present: Kip Penney, Zafra Whitcomb, Scott Giroux, Erica Buswell, Susan Lauchlan, Mike Merino, Goldy Goldstein, Pepper Bush, Karen Aveni, Peri Tobin, Lorna Crichton, Jerry Savitz, Kimalee, Pepper Bush, Richard Brown, Bindy Pendelton

Absent: Paul Sheridan, Debbi Lasky, Wayne Krager, Alan Ginsberg, Kate Harris

Facilitator:  Zafra    Timekeeper: Peri       Vibe watcher: Scott              Scribe: Lorna Crichton 

Announcements: Please pass in GMT evaluations. Maine Agricultural Show in Augusta Jan 15 – encourage participation. Garden Variety in Thorndike is having a solstice event on Saturday the 22^nd – all welcome

Agenda review: no changes

Review November Board minutes – correction to GM report, Kimalee and Erica attended Rising Stars seminars in SF, rather than Kate and Erica. Pepper reports a correction to where it states that he borrows from the Equity Account during slow times, he reports he hasn’t ever borrowed from that account, it was an idea that was brought up at the Finance Comm. Karen said she was not comfortable with having staff member’s names mentioned in any way that would be negative. Zafra said that the staff member referred to told him she wasn’t bothered having that comment in the minutes.

Accept as amended – 9 yes 0 opposed 2 abstain. Motion passes.

Website content update: no corrections or comments

GM reports- reviewed notes. Susan comments on the excellent localvore effort that Fran and others put on, it got a lot of positive response. Karen went to Maine Feeds Maine meeting with Erica and others, she was surprised at how many groups in the state are working on these goals; she was impressed with the work going on. Bindy recommends reading the article in the Economist “The End of Cheap Food”.

The new health care plan for employees is with Pilgrim Health, it seems the same rates will apply – there was some discussion of deductibles and benefits

Member Comments: Holiday party was well attended on Monday the 16^th.

Bindy asks if it is true that members can’t bring in their own containers to be filled at the deli – doesn’t want to use a new container every time. Goldy reports that the Department of Health cited the coop for doing allowing customer containers to be filled at deli earlier, is there a solution to this? Can deli committee take this issue on? They agree to do so, mark as homework for next month.

2007 Financials with Accountant Mike Nickerson

First page after the table of contents is the compilation, which is customized for the coop to provide much more information than a compilation usually calls for. Some testing or verification is done with the balance sheet accounts.  Next page is the assets, then liabilities, current and long-term liabilities that turn over in the 12-month cycle. See report for details. Much discussion about paying down debt when there is surplus cash around. Mike will send his recommendations in written form later – recommends that the coop pay attention to its debt, have a monthly income statement and a monthly comparative balance sheet. The income is increasing and the cost of goods is decreasing, which is good! Thanks Mike!

Homework: Deli Committee: explore using containers customers bring in for filling with deli items.

                   MOC will need some time next meeting.

                   Working members program – review Laddy Lushin’s membership comm due to meet.

Meeting Review: no comments

Facilitator for next month: Bindy

Next meeting Thursday Jan 24 at 6:30 pm at Waterfall Arts.