11/17 General Meeting: Coop visioning workshop, food conference recap, fresh food!
Please join us for the Greene Hill Food Co-op's November General Meeting!
When: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 7:00-9:30 PM
Where: BRIC Studios, 2nd floor, 57 Rockwell Pl between DeKalb and Fulton.
If you haven’t been to GHFC General Meeting in a while, this is the one to attend – so clear your schedule!
At the meeting we will hold a special workshop to envision our co-op. What will our co-op look and feel like? How will it be laid out? What products and services will be available on day one and further into the future?
We will construct our vision using a frame of reference of food stores in our area, including Choice Greene, Fresh Garden, Elly's Market, Associated (on Waverly), Brooklyn Fare and Perelandra. With these spaces in mind, we will brainstorm and fine-tune our vision for the co-op.
This will be a huge chance to have a say in the future of our Co-op. Every voice and vote counts!
For the latest agenda updates, see the website. Printed agendas will be handed out at the General Meeting.
Mark your calendar for our December meeting, too – we know how hectic the holiday season gets. As we did in December 2008, this December meeting will be an All-Committee Meeting, where every committee meets simultaneously with opportunities to combine efforts, ask questions, and collaborate on tasks with other committees. It will be held at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Street from 7:00-9:00 PM SHARP on December 17.
FORGING THE ROAD AHEAD
The Governance Committee is working hard to draw the map for our membership agreement, member handbook and other governing principles of our Co-op. You want to be a part of that conversation, don’t you? It’s a vital part of our future as a Co-op – they’re doing some great work that YOU can help with! Most importantly, we are writing and designing membership handbooks, agreements, and other documents needed to build the Co-op. Active committee members include Gordon Skinner, Giselle Sperber and others with an interest in constructing the backbone of our very organization. Email: governance(at)greenehillfoodcoop.com
This is the second in an ongoing series: Co-op Committee of the Month.
HERE WE GO!
We’re excited about the rapid progress we’re making. We’re now officially incorporated as a cooperative corporate entity! This means we can move full steam ahead with concrete steps to reach our grand opening, but we still need your help with lots of activities, and don’t forget – you can get work credit NOW to be used later on. Even if you can’t or don’t like to attend meetings, there are tasks you can accomplish.
The Outreach Committee needs people who can help get the word out about the Co-op and its benefits. In addition to attending regular community meetings, we need your help with tabling at the Park Slope Food Co-op to increase awareness for members from our neighborhood. Email: outreach(at)greenehillfoodcoop.com
Our IT Committee could use your help launching our new Web site and finishing the database of members. Email: it(at)greenehillfoodcoop.com
Are you a finance whiz or a good number cruncher – or do you run your own business? The Finance Committee could really use your help! Or perhaps you're an organized bookkeeper? When we begin to sign up members, we will need a dedicated person or two to take on this task of Membership. Email: finance(at)greenehillfoodcoop.com
Let us know if you want to work. Since we all have to work as members of the Co-op, we can bank your hours and use them for future time off (FTOP) with our Co-op or with Park Slope Food Co-op if you are a member in good standing there. Committee chairs will track this for you.
FORT GREENE FOOD CONFERENCE RECAP
The Fort Greene Food Conference was a real success! Despite the rainy weather, many of our neighbors came to P.S. 67 on Saturday, October 24, to learn about affordable healthful eating, visions for a new neighborhood food system, and growing our own food right here in the city. Our very own Erin Kaplan led a popular workshop entitled "You Are What You Eat: Eating healthy for life, beauty, health and intelligence." You can read the Downtown Star’s article about the Conference here.
GHFC members were present at the Conference to get our neighbors excited and informed about our efforts. Many members of the community added their names to our list to get our newsletters and more information about our activities; we also collected tons of filled-out surveys!
FRESH FOOD SHOP
The Fresh Food Shop, held during the General Meeting, will provide organic carrots from Blue Heron Farm, organic herbs from Finger Lakes Organic Growers Co-op, and minimally treated pears from Hepworth Farms -- plus organic tomatillos and collard greens from some of the best local farms around.
This is why we want a Co-op here. You can't get stuff this good anywhere in our neighborhood, and we thank the PSFC for helping us make this happen.
Childcare for General Meeting
Sitters Studio is providing free childcare during the meeting. Sitters Studio is a unique babysitting agency that is entirely staffed with artists who have a childcare background. They arrive with a tote of artistic toys ready to engage the children in fun and creative play. The agency is insured and bonded. All of the sitters are reference and background checked and are CPR certified. Please email info(at)greenehillfoodcoop.com at least one day before the meeting, to let us know if you will be in need of childcare so that we can staff the appropriate amount of sitters.
Community Partners
The Greene Hill Food Coop is being created in a vibrant and exciting neighborhood. The Community Partners Program was developed so our efforts and the efforts of so many other neighborhood institutions can be highlighted. For more information about this program, see the Community Partners page.
