Fort Collins Food Co-Operative Board of Directors Meeting
Monday July 24, 2017; 6-8:00 pm.
Room # 213 Statistics Bldg., SW corner of the Oval, CSU Campus
Minutes by Ed Secor
Note—official actions (votes) in italics, other action items in bold.
Attending:
BOD: Ruth Inglis_Widrick, Maria Winnie, Jean Opsomer, Rich Gentile, Steve Del Grosso, Cindy Griffin, Ed Secor, Amber Lamb by phone
IGMT: Stephanie Bublitz, Kalidas
Member Owners: (none)
Meeting called to order 6:04 pm
1. Member Owner input (if no MOs present, sharing of MO input garnered by BOD members)
Request to IGMT to see 50 top selling items in store. Rich to stop into store to specify parameters, IGMT will print out before next meeting.
Ruth has been making a concerted effort to talk to people about shopping at the Co-op. Nine out of ten people indicated that prices at the Co-op are too high. (Revolution Market is selling groceries at cost, subsidized by high margin on prepared foods.) Ed, on the other hand, has gotten feedback from one person now shopping more at the Co-op since Safeway closed who thinks only a few items are priced higher than elsewhere. Thought—Directors should be prepared to answer price perception with real data on cost. Each BOD member to pick three items to price compare between the Co-op and several other stores.
Question—is there a way for us to get a list of MOs who spend between 100-500/yr, and those that spend 500-1000/yr? Yes. Would like to spend time with those who are not “big spenders” to assemble data on what attitudes are, and see how we can address issues that are presented.
2. Propose changes to agenda
Add—need a committee to look into Policy Governance with eye towards streamlining. (Cindy, Maria, Ruth volunteered) Committee to bring recommendations to AUGUST BOD MEETING.
3. Approve Consent Agenda or pull from Consent Agenda and highlight issues to discuss at a future time:
a. May 2017 minutes
b. P1 Report
b. P2 Report
c. P3 Report
d. P4 Report
e. P5 Report
f. X4 Report
g. X5 Report
Some concern that these reports point out areas where BOD is out or partially out of compliance with policy, but there is no follow up to make sure we are getting into compliance. Report writers are to give a summary calling attention to changes needed in order to attain compliance, to be delivered via email by August 14.
Maria moved to approve the consent agenda, Jean seconded; unanimous approval.
4. IGMT input
a. Half-year Finance Report – questions from BOD
b. Updates from the store – questions from BOD
c. Updates on renovation plans/financing renovation -– questions from BOD
Reminder that the Annual Meeting (mid October) and BOD election are coming right up. BOD will be entirely responsible for the planning. Also, confirming the Annual Picnic on August 27. Some questions about how much we are getting out of the picnic for the time it takes to organize (though not much time needed to put together potluck).
Ruth will look into location for picnic on Sunday August 27.
Regarding the proposal for the remodel, request to have entire BOD and whole IGMT meet together to work through the proposal. Also would like to have BOD present at One Tribe presentation of their marketing proposal. One Tribe expects to have BOD present at their unveiling, and will give their presentation in the evening to accommodate BOD. We are waiting to hear possible dates from One Tribe (Maria is tracking this for the BOD)
Kudos for finding ways to save money on merchant services. Clarification that new hire was to replace someone who left.
Would like to see sales/personnel cost ratio. IGMT says real issue is sales, need to get sales up, and IGMT is working every day to keep costs in check. BOD—need to both increase sales and keep costs down. What is mindset—optimism, creativity, moving forward vs. lack, or getting bogged down in minutiae. Reminder that two years ago, hours were reduced in order to deal with emergency situation—result was that everyone felt overworked and demoralized. Replacing outdated equipment would save costs both in wasted time dealing with breakdowns, and in extra energy costs. Personnel costs are discussed every month.
5. Break
6. BOD Agenda
a. Engagement Committee – (Filling chair for the Engagement Committee and BOD next goals for Engagement Committee; Confirmation of Picnic as last Sunday of August; Time for a Town Hall?)
Have not had a town hall meeting yet this year, but will just wait til October for the Annual Meeting. Maria will take lead on Engagement Committee for the Annual Meeting. Cindy will join the Engagement Committee since Amber will not be able to put extra time into it and Rich will be out of town by October. Committee will share workload for Annual Meeting planning, but Maria will be point person.
7. Executive Session: Assign team to evaluation of IGMT, update from Jean/Rich on plan to structure of 5-year plan, Open Discussion on MO benefits, store finances, loan repayment, new loan and renovation plans
Discussion only, no action taken.
8. Review of the meeting (How did we do?)
(Not discussed)
9. 7:58—8:00 – Announcements and Schedule next mid-month meeting
Rich will contact One Tribe to request they schedule their presentation before Rich leaves town August 10.
Meeting adjourned 8:04 pm.
