March 2013 Board Meeting Summary

We covered a lot of ground at this month's meeting!

The Board discussed what would be the best way to link the PFC's policies to our website, so the public can have access to our most up-to-date policies.  We monitored PFC policies M Global and M1-4.  The Board recently took an evaluation of ourselves and we looked at areas we scored low on.  We will also compare the data we retrieved to the last Board self-assessment survey taken two years ago to see where we have grown.  

We also discussed the progress of moving into the managerial position of the Kalamazoo Farmers' Market and possible partnerships for implementing improvements.  The Read and Seed program is coming along, with more information to be announced at the Annual Owner Meeting.  The Annual Owner Meeting is on April 12th, and we are looking for volunteers for before, during, and after the event!

February 2013 Board Meeting Summary

At the February board meeting, we approved the 2012 Financial Report which documented the success of our first full year of business in our new location. We also celebrated the news that Chris Broadbent has been selected to manage the Kalamazoo Farmer’s Market!  Details are coming together for the upcoming annual owner meeting on April 12, and the education committee is putting together a plan for this year's Read and Seed program.

In other news, the PFC is making progress with plans to install solar panels on the south side of the building!

Please join us at our next meeting on March 26 from 7-9pm at the Great Lakes Peace Jam Office located at 625 Harrison Street, Suite 2. We always love to hear from guests and owners at board meetings!

January Board Meeting Summary

At our December meeting we welcomed lots of Owners and guests who provided valuable feedback and shared stories about their first memories of the PFC.  Thank you! 

In other business, the Board approved the 2013 Business Plan and discussed the recent contract the PFC was awarded to manage the Kalamazoo Farmer’s Market.  We also set an official date for the annual meeting, which is April 13, 2013.  This date is technically three days past a deadline from our bylaws, which states that the Annual Meeting is to be held within 100 days from the beginning of the year. However, we felt that this date would allow most the Owners and families to attend because it is after most schools' spring breaks, which occur in March and early April.  

Please join us at our next meeting on January 22 from 7-9pm at the Great Lakes Peace Jam Office located at 625 Harrison Street, Suite 2.  If you are interested in running for the Board of Directors, be sure to fill out and return a Statement of Candidacy by January 20, 2013!

January 2013 Board Meeting Summary

At the January 2013 meeting of the PFC Board of Directors, we heard an update on the Quarter 4 2012 financials at the PFC. Q4 was strong, and continues a trend of growth since we moved into our new space. The board heard a presentation from Helios Solar regarding the potential to install solar panels on the Co-op and offset as much as 9% of the Co-op's energy use. The board was interested to find out more and investigate further in coming months.

The board received a PFC Anti-Racism Team Planning and Design Task Force (PDTF) proposal, which was formally accepted at our meeting and we are excited to continue our efforts in this area. 

December 2012 Board Meeting Summary

At our December meeting we welcomed lots of Owners and guests who provided valuable feedback and shared stories about their first memories of the PFC.  Thank you! 

In other business, the Board approved the 2013 Business Plan and discussed the recent contract the PFC was awarded to manage the Kalamazoo Farmer’s Market.  We also set an official date for the annual meeting, which is April 13, 2013.  This date is technically three days past a deadline from our bylaws, which states that the Annual Meeting is to be held within 100 days from the beginning of the year. However, we felt that this date would allow most the Owners and families to attend because it is after most schools' spring breaks, which occur in March and early April.  

Please join us at our next meeting on January 22 from 7-9pm at the Great Lakes Peace Jam Office located at 625 Harrison Street, Suite 2.  If you are interested in running for the Board of Directors, be sure to fill out and return a Statement of Candidacy by January 20, 2013!

Download the meeting minutes.

November Board Meeting Summary

Fresh from our annual Board retreat, the PFC board made several exciting decisions. First, we approved our newly-revised sub-Ends! See our current Ends statement below. We also reviewed PFC financial documents, discussed the 2013 budget, and continued planning for our next Annual Meeting. Finally, we appointed our newest Board Director. We are pleased and honored to welcome Jo Ann Mundy to the PFC Board!

PFC Ends Statement

GLOBAL:
The People’s Food Co-op of Kalamazoo exists to create access to food that is healthy for people, land and the economy. (updated 1/26/10) 

SUB ENDS: (created 11/15/10, updated 11/18/12)
People – Because of PFC:
Bridges exist between our multiple diverse communities.
Kalamazoo is a food sovereign community. 

Land – Because of PFC:
There is a healthier ecological system. 

Economy – Because of PFC:
Cooperative business exists in our community.
Local jobs exist in our community.
Local money stays in our local economy.

Meeting Minutes coming soon.

October 2012 Board Meeting Summary

The majority of the October meeting was spent discussing the Request for Proposal for running the Kalamazoo Farmers' Market that was due on November 1.  We considered a lot of questions, potential risks involved, and how operating the Farmers' Market would align with our Ends: "The People's Food Co-op exists to provide access to food that is healthy for people, land and the economy."  The board also gave Chris Dilley his yearly evaluation, which praised him for his excellent communication at the board level, staff level, and community level, as well as exceeding budgetary goals, and increasing ownership - a great first year in our new store!

Download the Meeting Minutes.

October Board Meeting Summary

The majority of the October meeting was spent discussing the Request for Proposal for running the Kalamazoo Farmers' Market that was due on November 1.  We considered a lot of questions, potential risks involved, and how operating the Farmers' Market would align with our Ends: "The People's Food Co-op exists to provide access to food that is healthy for people, land and the economy."  The board also gave Chris Dilley his yearly evaluation, which praised him for his excellent communication at the board level, staff level, and community level, as well as exceeding budgetary goals, and increasing ownership - a great first year in our new store!

September 2012 Board Meeting

At the September meeting of the board of directors, we decided to postpone approval of the proposed revolving loan program.  We also discussed the hugely successful Harvest Fest with keynote Malik Yakini of the Detroit Black Food Security Network and D-Town Farm.  Yakini's visit has helped spark some powerful conversations in the community that we are eager to continue.  

Chris Dilley submitted an impressively thorough monitoring report on the Global Ends statement that we enthusiastically approved.  Another exciting vote was to approve early repayment of the Equipment Loan from the move to the new store.  This will save PFC $10,000 in interest!  And lastly, we approved PFC to donate $10,000 over 5 years to the downtown portion of the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail.  These are exciting times to be involved at PFC!

Download the Meeting Minutes.

August 2012 Board Meeting

At our August meeting we discussed our upcoming Revolving Loan Program.  Our Read and Seed program is in full swing.  Chris Dilley re-capped the Urban Roots showings followed by panel discussions at the Little Theater last weekend which was attended by over 100 people!  We are planning our culminating event in October to harvest community members' ideas about the future of food in Kalamazoo.  We reviewed our finances from last year, as well as the second quarter of this year.  Thanks to the hard work of Chris Dilley and the amazing staff, we are in strong financial position.  We chartered an Inclusion Committee to build relationships with and accountability to anti-racist communities of color and their leadership and to help PFC to continue on the path toward becoming an anti-racist institution.  This committee is open to co-op owners.  If you are interested in joining this committee, email Aliisa Lahti (aliisa@logicalhost.com). 

August 2012 Board Meeting

At our August meeting we discussed our upcoming Revolving Loan Program.  Our Read and Seed program is in full swing.  Chris Dilley re-capped the Urban Roots showings followed by panel discussions at the Little Theater last weekend which was attended by over 100 people!  We are planning our culminating event in October to harvest community members' ideas about the future of food in Kalamazoo.  We reviewed our finances from last year, as well as the second quarter of this year.  Thanks to the hard work of Chris Dilley and the amazing staff, we are in strong financial position.  We chartered an Inclusion Committee to build relationships with and accountability to anti-racist communities of color and their leadership and to help PFC to continue on the path toward becoming an anti-racist institution.  This committee is open to co-op owners.  If you are interested in joining this committee, email Aliisa Lahti (aliisa@logicalhost.com). 

August 2012 Board Meeting

At our August meeting we discussed our upcoming Revolving Loan Program.  Our Read and Seed program is in full swing.  Chris Dilley re-capped the Urban Roots showings followed by panel discussions at the Little Theater last weekend which was attended by over 100 people!  We are planning our culminating event in October to harvest community members' ideas about the future of food in Kalamazoo.  We reviewed our finances from last year, as well as the second quarter of this year.  Thanks to the hard work of Chris Dilley and the amazing staff, we are in strong financial position.  We chartered an Inclusion Committee to build relationships with and accountability to anti-racist communities of color and their leadership and to help PFC to continue on the path toward becoming an anti-racist institution.  This committee is open to co-op owners.  If you are interested in joining this committee, email Aliisa Lahti (aliisa@logicalhost.com). 

Download the Meeting Minutes.

July 2012 Board Meeting

The PFC Board of Directors met the 4th Tuesday in July for our monthly board meeting. At the meeting the board continued to plan and monitor the progress of the Read and Seed program, an initiative of the board to solicit feedback and facilitate visioning for the future of the PFC. The board heard an update from General Manager Chris Dilley on the Q2 store financials. The board began discussion of a Revolving Loan Program, an idea to provide seed loans to farmers and other coops. The board will meet again Tuesday August 28th and as always we welcome your attendance.

Download the Meeting Minutes.

July 2012 Board Meeting

The PFC Board of Directors met the 4th Tuesday in July for our monthly board meeting. At the meeting the board continued to plan and monitor the progress of the Read and Seed program, an initiative of the board to solicit feedback and facilitate visioning for the future of the PFC. The board heard an update from General Manager Chris Dilley on the Q2 store financials. The board began discussion of a Revolving Loan Program, an idea to provide seed loans to farmers and other coops. The board will meet again Tuesday August 28th and as always we welcome your attendance.

Download the Meeting Minutes.

June 2012 Board Meeting

At our June 2012 meeting, the PFC Board approved the General Manager's proposal not to give patronage rebates for 2011.  This is because the extra expenses associated with the relocation meant that PFC was not profitable in 2011.  So, there is no profit to allocate as rebates.  In other business, the Board is excited that the first of many PFC Read and Seed events have taken place and many more are scheduled throughout the summer (see http://www.peoplesfoodco-op.org/read-and-seed for more information). We also began discussions about developing a micro loan program to support the growth of area organizations that share our goals.  We were happy to have five guests at the June 2012 PFC Board meeting.  You are invited to join us for the next meeting on July 24 at the Great Lakes Peace Jam Office (just 1 block away from PFC at 625 Harrison Street).

Download the Meeting Minutes.

June 2012 Board Meeting

At our June 2012 meeting, the PFC Board approved the General Manager's proposal not to give patronage rebates for 2011.  This is because the extra expenses associated with the relocation meant that PFC was not profitable in 2011.  So, there is no profit to allocate as rebates.  In other business, the Board is excited that the first of many PFC Read and Seed events have taken place and many more are scheduled throughout the summer (see http://www.peoplesfoodco-op.org/read-and-seed for more information). We also began discussions about developing a micro loan program to support the growth of area organizations that share our goals.  We were happy to have five guests at the June 2012 PFC Board meeting.  You are invited to join us for the next meeting on July 24 at the Great Lakes Peace Jam Office (just 1 block away from PFC at 625 Harrison Street).

June 2012 Board Meeting

At our June 2012 meeting, the PFC Board approved the General Manager's proposal not to give patronage rebates for 2011.  This is because the extra expenses associated with the relocation meant that PFC was not profitable in 2011.  So, there is no profit to allocate as rebates.  In other business, the Board is excited that the first of many PFC Read and Seed events have taken place and many more are scheduled throughout the summer (see http://www.peoplesfoodco-op.org/read-and-seed for more information). We also began discussions about developing a micro loan program to support the growth of area organizations that share our goals.  We were happy to have five guests at the June 2012 PFC Board meeting.  You are invited to join us for the next meeting on July 24 at the Great Lakes Peace Jam Office (just 1 block away from PFC at 625 Harrison Street).

Read and Seed

Click here to learn more about the exciting new community reading project, Read and Seed!

May 2012 Board Meeting

This month we had a record number of visitors! The meeting was lively and extremely productive. The

Board and guests discussed plans for the upcoming community reading project, Read and

Seed. We also had a great conversation about public free speech, the commons, and the Co-op’s role

in participating in expressions of speech and advocacy. We would like to thank all of our guests who

attended and participated in the May Board meeting, and invite everyone to join us again in June!

Download the Meeting Minutes.

April 2012 Board Meeting

At our April Board Meeting, the Board appointed a new board member, Erica Barajas, to an open seat. We are very excited about the skills Erica brings to the Board. With sadness and appreciation, the Board also accepted the resignation of board member Ethan Alexander, who served for 4 years.

We held officer elections at our April meeting as well. New officers include: Matt Lechel (President), Chris Moore (Vice-President), Chris Carew (Secretary), Charles Henderson (Treasurer). In addition to these two exciting changes, it was a busy board meeting with a review of the preliminary first quarter financials, planning for a board retreat, and lots of exciting discussion of our forthcoming Read & Seed community book reading project.

Download the Meeting Minutes.