Management Collective meeting: Thursday 29th January 2008
From ANU Food Co-op Wiki
Contents |
Attendees
Mark Alwast, Manager
Greg Carman, Treasurer
Cedar Newton
Michael Wilson
Alan Jeynes
Kate McCarthy, Secretary
Apologies
Heather Boyer
Valli Rao
Tessa McDonald
Mark advised that Dionisia Salas-Hammer has resigned from the Board.
Alan Jeynes was welcomed and expressed his interest in being on the Board. Mark to advise on the protocol for including Alan as an independent member of the Board.
Previous Minutes
The minutes of the December 2007 meeting of the Cooperative Board accepted.
Matters Arising from Previous Minutes
Greg commented that carob without palm oil has not been located. Mark advised the Coop will obtain carob powder.
Correspondence in/out
No correspondence to report.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer circulated the statement of Food Co-operatives financial position as at 31/01/2008.
Manager’s Report
Mark presented his report “New Management, Better Systems & Our Coop’s Future”. This report identified Mark’s intention to leave the Co-op by June 2008. He also identified outstanding issues including the move to new accommodation, need to pay for a manager to be at the Co-op each day it is opened and the future of the Co-op. He included suggestions to assist in addressing these issues prior to his departure.
Fruit & vegetable order can only be lodged Saturday morning.
Mark advised the membership database requires refining and some anomalies fixed.
The current turnover is slow but it was agreed that this is usual for this time of the year Mark advised that Sarah is leaving and that Katie was going to assist but is also leaving the Co-op.
Nothing has been heard of future permanent accommodation. Advice in writing is required but ANU Exchange continues to delay providing this commitment. Initially local government put pressure on ANU to provide accommodation. Community space in some future new building(s) is promised under the City West plan.
Need to ask David Lamont for assistance with all issues dealing with ANU and local Government.
On the issue of employment, Co-op needs to invest in Managers to ensure Co-op’s future. Managers need back-up to cover various needs – the positions are labour intensive and classic job share arrangement. Need to identify what each position is to do. In the interim Manager 1 needs to guide the day-to-day running of the shop so Manager 2 (Mark) can undertake/complete some specific projects and provide advice. The projects were outlined in Mark’s “New Management…” report.
Greg to contact the Employment Working Group to ask for assistance with preparation of an advert and selection of new manager.
If the two salaries create financial pressure for Co-op another revenue stream will be required.
Report accepted.
General Business
Hunters and Gatherers - Lyneham
This is competition as many of the same produce and dry goods will be stocked although not certified organic, chemical free etc.
Co-op has been offered to purchase fruit and vegetables for Co-op but prices seem quite high when Co-op small margin added. Mark has pricelist. Will just have to see how it goes.
Discussion on what is priority? Organic v local v Chemical free? Michael to prepare some guidelines to help resolve trade-offs between organic vs food miles vs freshness etc. The guidelines might form part of a survey/discussion amongst members about the types of fresh food stocked by the coop.
Maintenance
Timbers on verandah were supposed to be treated and BH may be treating them by end February. Installation of security screens, fixing of water leaks and other maintenance should be completed by end February.
Issue of power usage and cost still to be sorted with BH., but provision for likely bill to Co-op made in our accounts.
Future Fundraisers
Discussions on possible future fundraisers to pay off the public address system then to purchase projector for activist movies.
Event being held Sunday 9 March 2008 - Andi and George - 6pm for 7pm dinner (Local garden vegetable feast with big pesto, red sauce organic wine and banana ice cream dessert).
Fax line
With limited need and use of fax facility Board agreed the use of one telephone line should be investigated and tested. If satisfactory, the fax line will be disconnected, reducing telecommunications costs to the Co-op.
Spiders
Mark warned that redback spiders had been found under the outside chairs and to clean off before use. it was agreed that chairs can be stored in loading dock if the bulk packs of juice etc are stored in the walk-in-fridge.
Bank account signatory
With the resignation of Dionisia Salas-Hammer Greg proposed a motion that Deborah Beryl Cleland replace Dionisia as a signatory to the ANU Food Co-op Bendigo Bank Account. The motion was seconded by Cedar and passed unanimously.
Dionisia also needs to be replaced on St George Account.
Fridges
Board agreed the need to investigate the purchase of chest freezer with glass top. Large 2-door fridge to be moved to vegetable area if worth repairing and after shelving has been removed.
Consideration to be given to an open fridge (like supermarkets) for vegetables but running costs could be a major drawback. Adrian Gibbs may be able to assist.
Cool room temp down to 10°C with juice to be stored there. This bulk should assist in retaining the coolness.
Reimbursement
Board confirmed the previous Board’s agreement to payment of $100.00 to Mark and Nat for expenses relating to use of their personal phones during the two periods in 2007 when the new building’s Telstra service was cut. BH were compensating the Co-op for this problem (caused by one of their contractors) by donating fitted security screens we would otherwise be paying for.
Possible problem customers
Guide for Coordinators to include segment on threatening situations to advise all staff and volunteers to ‘back off’. Suggestion Book
Request that this book be checked regularly by Manager.
Point Of Sales (POS) system
Open source to be used to write software for POS but still to be developed.
New members
List of new members read out and approved.
Next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for 6 30pm, Thursday 6 March 8, at the ANU Food Co-op, Kingsley Street, Acton.
Meeting finished 8.00 pm
