http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ Lents Grocery Forum: Recent Posts en Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:06:15 +0000 http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/topic.php?id=6#post-10 Thu, 28 May 2009 15:50:40 +0000 fadmin 10@http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ <p>If you have received the error "download restricted" when you try to download and attachment from a forum topic...don't despair! The attachments can be downloaded if you login with your username and password.</p> <p>I'm hoping that an update to the plugin will allow us to remove this restriction, but it hasn't happened yet. I apologize for any inconvenience. </p> http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/topic.php?id=4#post-9 Sat, 23 May 2009 20:37:53 +0000 fadmin 9@http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ <p>Lents Grocery Cooperative startup meeting Thursday April 23, 2009</p> <p>Attendance: Laura Bouma, Clark Blakeman, Olivia Horine, Cora Potter, Nick Sauvie, Jeff Rose</p> <p>1. Introductions<br /> 2. Facilitator = Nick, minutes = Laura<br /> 3. Previous minutes were tabled as there were no copies at meeting</p> <p>4. Previous action items:</p> <p>A. Website up! With content! Mission statement, events management, blog, 90 unique visitors so far.<br /> B. Bylaws - Laura will update name to be consistent and send to Cora. Voting tabled to next meeting.<br /> C. Location for public forum will tentatively be Pilgrim. 10 AM to 2 PM Saturday May 30th.<br /> Staffed by 2 hour shifts - Nick &#38; Jeff opposite shifts (TBD) &#38; Cora at lunch. Laura all day.<br /> Publicity for forum: Jeff - ilovelents, EPNO. Cora - Alberta co-op, facebook, OSD. Laura - Peoples, CNRG. Nick - press release &#38; notices at ROSE.<br /> D. Nick suggested inviting other co-ops to send someone to the forum. Laura will invite Peoples and Rory, Cora will invite Alberta.<br /> E. Nick is still working on summarizing vision statements. Cora has a short mission statement on the website.<br /> F. Cora wrote up "what is a food co-op", it is up on website, on the menu bar.<br /> G. Flyer - Jeff made draft, with his contact info. It is a 2-sided flyer with info about the co-op on one side and buying clubs on the other. When finished Nick will print flyer.<br /> H. Buying club update - so far ordering coffee from Cafe Mam.</p> <p>5. Olivia Horine is doing student project of mock-up of a Lents Grocery Cooperative. She will pick a draft location to do as mock-up (probably IronWorks building.)</p> <p>6. Action items summary:</p> <p>Laura: Call Joan to reserve Pilgrim for forum. Invite Peoples and Rory to forum. Publicize forum at Peoples and CNRG. Convince previous/new steering committee members to attend meetings/forum. Send draft bylaws to Cora with name fixed.<br /> Cora: Invite Alberta to forum. Post draft bylaws to website when received.<br /> Nick: Create press release for forum. Publicize forum at ROSE. Summarize vision statements. Print flyers when done.<br /> Jeff: Finish flyer. Publicize forum at ilovelents &#38; EPNO.<br /> Everyone: Review bylaws received at meeting for possible changes (other than co-op name.)</p> <p>7. Announcements: Jeff announced that people would be meeting in the LTC on Friday nights to hang out, with games, chalk, barbeque, etc. Also City Repair will be doing a project on his cul-de-sac.<br /> Laura announced a Lents neighborhood bike ride to visit new &#38; potential bike boulevards on Sunday June 14th at 10 AM, starting at Kelly Elementary and ending at the farmers market.<br /> Clark announced a Compassion Connect event with free medical, dental, &#38; pet care at Woodmere Elementary on June 20th from 8 to 4:30. </p> http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/topic.php?id=5#post-8 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:04:12 +0000 Cora 8@http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ <p>I'm considering going to a Bright Neighbor event on the 17th (this Friday). Does anyone know where we're at with flyer development? </p> http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/topic.php?id=4#post-7 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:50:07 +0000 fadmin 7@http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ <p>Meeting notes for March 26, 2009 </p> http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/topic.php?id=4#post-6 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:49:50 +0000 fadmin 6@http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ <p>Meeting notes for February 26, 2009 </p> http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/topic.php?id=4#post-5 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:49:32 +0000 fadmin 5@http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ <p>Meeting notes for February 12, 2009 </p> http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/topic.php?id=4#post-4 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:49:06 +0000 fadmin 4@http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ <p>Meeting notes for January 25, 2009 </p> http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/topic.php?id=4#post-3 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:48:33 +0000 fadmin 3@http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ <p>This thread contains the meeting notes for Lents Grocery co-op formation and visioning meetings that have occurred to date. </p> http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/topic.php?id=3#post-2 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:00:26 +0000 Jeffrey 2@http://lentsgrocery.org/forum/ <p>An important question for us to ask is going to be, "what role are the FBCs going to play in the effort to create a cooperative grocery in Lents?" When we first started talking about food-buying clubs as a first step in the process, it seemed obvious that we'd have to form a FBC to get started- maybe it would become several. Maybe, we thought, there would be more and more of them, in and around Lents, then they'd all come together in the end and we'd have our co-op! At the time we didn't think too much about structure. We didn't know enough then- but we know a little more now! So what have we learned?</p> <p>My thought is that we should not only work on establishing a new FBC. We should be thinking about what we're going to do once it proves successful! We have learned that it is a workable and popular concept! There are lots of people who would be inclined to get involved in a FBC once they understand the concept! Myself? I want to support the FBC movement in Lents because it will lead to a co-op eventually. Other people I think just like the FBCs! The FBCs can fill a need- and in fact, can fill a variety of needs. A FBC can deliver organic food every couple of weeks very near to your doorstep! It can provide other things too that perhaps aren't readily accessible. It could be that there are enough gluten intolerant people in the neighborhood that someone could start a FBC that specializes in gluten-free food! Maybe that wouldn't be necessary. </p> <p>In any case, what do we do when a new food-buying club is successful? By successful, it could mean that for every order the group is exceeding the minimum order by a large enough margin- maybe three times- that the group could easily be divided into two groups. As we have seen with the initial group, there is the opportunity to expand and offer more items to the group. Maybe another group would carry another brand of coffee. Another group might offer bulk spices. Maybe the buyers in one group want to make a special purchase- but they need more than just the people in their group for the best price- or to be able to do it period! In my mind, we should be looking to form as many groups as we need- but we should ensure that they are able to work together well. The experience that all the groups collectively gain over the next couple of years would be vital, I would think, in coming together in the end with a final product- a co-op that fills everyone's needs. </p> <p>Managing a FBC would be a tough job. If I were to take on one myself- it would have to be small. Once it got too large, I would be inclined to try to identify someone who would be able and willing to take half the group and start a *new* FBC. FBCs that are located in commercial of community space might be a different thing. If we are able to locate a FBC in the Masonic Lodge- we would probably need more members there to split whatever "rent" we have to pay as well as some money for utilities. </p> <p>OK- that's should be enough to get a conversation going!</p> <p>G'night,</p> <p>Jeff </p>