Massachusetts Local Food Cooperative Annual Meeting Minutes

February 28, 2010

Present: 27 voting members
Absent: 125 voting members

Quorum Present? Yes

Meeting called to order by Kelley O’Connor at 4:15 p.m.

• Announced incorporation of MLFC: Articles of Incorporation formally filed with the state of Massachusetts on January 4, 2010.

Committee Reports

Finance (reported by Kelley O’Connor)

(Committee members: Kelley O’Connor, anyone else?)

• Launched in June 2009 with sales of $1019; Feb 2010 sales reached $4450.
• MLF started with about 40 members and 28 orders in June 2009; by Feb 2010, reached 152 members and 63 orders.
• Total income and expenses for 2009 were $1389; 2010 expenses through Feb are $567.
• As of Feb 28, 2010, we have a total of $171 dollars of income to apply to expenses, and a bank account balance of $5687.
• The bank balance includes $4853 of membership shares. Co-op in excellent shape to pay producers on distribution day and allows for the delay of receiving checks via mail from pickup sites. (Kelley will no longer have to drive all over to collect them.)
• The interim Board of Directors greatly appreciates all members who have paid the full $50 membership share that makes this arrangement possible.

Publicity and Membership Recruitment (reported by Sheryl Vaillette)

(Committee members: Sheryl Vaillette, Kerrie Hertel, Robin Springfield, Pat Stewart)

• The interim Board of Directors merged original Publicity Committee with Membership Recruitment.
• Currently focus on the following media and other outlets:
  • Newspapers
  • Free listings in local magazines like Parenting and the Johnny Appleseed Guide
  • The MLF Report
  • MLF handouts
  • Conferences and workshops, where we can have an information table and do presentations or participate in panel discussions
  • Contact with key producer groups, like CISA and The Small Farm Institute, and customer bases like home-schoolers, senior centers, buying clubs, and people in the relocalization movement
  • Direct one-on-one contact with potential members
• Informally partnered with Dr. Linda Smith & Associates to publicize a series of food-related movies being shown at their facility in Westminster and to supply MLF handouts to attendees.
• The MLF Report runs in The Vine, an online local news magazine published by Jay and Jen Shenk. (The Shenks and Dr. Smith are members of the co-op.)