Ordering Party and Updates

This Thursday 3/8, from 7 – 9PM there will be an ordering party at Jack Hornickel’s apartment, 93 Siegel St, Apt 1A for the 3/14 distro. For those who can’t attend- orders can be emailed to someone who is attending the ordering party, but this should be worked out in person or on the google group. Market baskets will also be available through on-line ordering.

Be sure to check out last night’s meeting minutes to stay updated.

And, in today’s food news: The Daily ran a piece about how the U.S. Department of Agriculture keeps buying millions of pounds ammonia-treated ground beef to serve in school lunches. Click here to read the article. Just another incentive to support your local farmers and stick it to big beef.

Wednesday 2/15 Distro, The Loom Distro Site, and Early 2012 Timeline

Wednesday 2/15 Distro

If you attended last week’s Ordering Party, be sure to pick up your food this Wednesday – and if you didn’t attend, stop by the coop’s new storefront to buy bulk foods and overstock!

Distribution is from 3-9PM at 2 Porter Ave (Corner of Flushing and Porter)

The storefront is shop #107 in the Loom, with a private door at 2 Porter Avenue. If you’re coming from Bushwick proper: head up Knickerbocker to Flushing; cross Flushing and turn right; take your first left onto Porter.

We still have one distro shift to fill: cashier/ floater from 5-9pm. If you’d like to volunteer for this shift, contact: workshift@bushwickfoodcoop.org

The Loom: Next Steps

The Coop has signed a lease through next January at The Loom, which is intended to serve as a temporary distribution, meeting, and outreach site while we continue to search for a storefront location closer to the heart of Bushwick proper that will serve as our permanent home. After a painless move, we cleaned our new homebase and started renovations: overhauling the floor; painting the walls. Members have volunteered to build a countertop and lay out a floor plan. We’re figuring out what materials we’ll need for these renovations — as well as  what appliances we’ll need to operate buying clubs — and will be seeking donated or discounted items in the near future.

The Loom’s visibility has already brought in new members, and we’re expecting considerable growth as we head into the spring. Policies are being hashed out:

• Who can purchase at the buying club?
• Should we change our membership fee structure, and how?
• What POS (cash register) system should we use?
• Can we accept EBT (food stamps)?
• What signage should be put outside, on our windows, and on our walls?

If you’re interested in participating in these policy discussions, join the  BFC Google Group or attend one of our upcoming meetings.

Early 2012 Timeline

The Coop’s schedule for the next few months:

• March. The next general meeting is on Monday, March 5th. Check the meetings pagefor more details.
• March. Film series. Contact MattCynamon@gmail.com to volunteer.
• April. Coop Board meeting. Tentatively scheduled for 4/2.
• May. Bylaw revisions complete. Contact empiricalbaker@gmail.com to help revise bylaws.
• May. Financial plan complete. Contact lriemondy@gmail.com to help with coop finances.
• June. New membership manual and orientation materials complete. Contact kaitcrowley@gmail.com to help write membership materials.
• June. Revised website goes live. Contact maggie.e.craig@gmail.com to help with website.
• June–July. Kickstarter campaign with $10,000 target begins.

Volunteer Opportunites

BFC Secretary: This is a good position for someone who cannot work distribution hours, and needs to fulfill their work obligation remotely/ on a flexible schedule. The position counts toward the work requirement (4hrs/4wks), and is a commitment of on average 5hrs/wk.  View the full secretary description for more details, and contact laura.f.cline@gmail.com to volunteer.

Siting/Facilities Committee: Design & build out the new storefront. Acquire & maintain BFC gear. Contact workshift@bushwickfoodcoop.org & facilities@bushwickfoodcoop.org to volunteer.

General Manager: Coordinate the various BFC committees and keep the Coop’s plans on track. Contact manager@bushwickfoodcoop.org for more information.

Visit BFC’s Committee Work Page for an up to date list of volunteer positions.

BFC Secretary Needed ASAP

Be the New BFC Secretary

Our current unofficial secretary is leaving town in March. This is a good position for someone who cannot work distribution hours, and needs to fulfill their work obligation remotely/ on a flexible schedule.  This position counts toward the work requirement (4hrs/ 4wks), and is a commitment of on average 5hrs/wk.  You will be under the same terms as a committee head (currently being drafted in new bylaws, tentatively 6 months).  Are you the next BFC secretary? Contact Laura

Skills:

• Be familiar with BFC history, goals, and general cooperative principles. Someone who has been a longstanding member would be ideal, but a new member familiar with food cooperatives would be fine too
• Have regular internet access and be familiar with basic HTML and be comfortable editing content in WordPress, Mailchimp and Google Groups.
• Basic photo editing / type or graphic design / copywriting skills would be preferable but not necessary (it will make the job easier)

Responsibilities:

• Post meeting notices & reminders (location, date & time) to website, google groups, facebook and newsletter at least 24hrs before the meeting
• Post meeting minutes to BFC website – you need not be at every Monthly General Meeting, but you should coordinate with someone who is going to take notes. Coordinate with Committee Heads to obtain and post committee meeting minutes.
• Keep the BFC google calendar up to date.
• Manage the newsletter – compose / copy editing. You can either do this yourself or find another member to put together the actual mailchimp newsletter.
• Timely communication with other committee heads and coop project leaders to obtain the content needed for meeting notices and newsletters
• Work with the Outreach Committee Head to audit and update BFC website page content (monthly).

What you are NOT responsible for:

• composing meeting agendas and leading meetings (that is the Meeting Coordinator’s job)