As we continue to grow into our cooperative form, we”re learning how we are to navigate not only as an organization, but how to navigate within the organization. As a result of this learning curve we need to make a few corrections in some information given out at the last meeting.
The Buyer”s Club mark-up will be 10 percent rather than the 2 percent reported. The business committee chose this as a starting amount after surveying different buyer”s club mark-ups, which ranged from 10 percent to 35 percent. We may need to change this amount depending on the actual costs of running our operation.
Another correction is that we will be requiring payment at the time of order from members, so as to allow ample time to have the proper cash flow for delivery. Also, there will be a small surcharge for credit card orders that are charged through our bank.
I apologize for any inconvenience the misinformation may have caused and if the structure creates a hardship for anyone, we are willing to work with individuals to find a structure that works.
In addition, we were sorry to see that the representative from Dr. Sun”s organization was unable to make it and we are solidifying the channels of communication to be more effective for our education segment. Thanks for your understanding on these growing pains.
Well Wishes: We are sending our well wishes to the various organizers who have been ill and unable to respond in their normal capacities (including the lateness of this communication). If you are needing assistance with the Buyer”s Club, we ask for your patience and will be responding to membership requests, orders and the ordering process as soon as we can. We”ll keep you posted as to the progress and process as it unfolds. Thanks for your understanding.
Friday”s farmers/community market will begin in June. As was voted on by the members and potential vendors, the co-op in conjunction with the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce will host a Friday night market that will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays at the old Austin”s Resort, which is the city-owned property adjacent to Austin”s Beach in Clearlake. We are looking for local producers of produce, foods, arts, crafts and music that want to vend at the event.
The city of Clearlake was quite generous and is making it quite affordable for the event (the property use is free of charge; vendors will not have to file for a business license, etc.) We are also looking for two more strong volunteers to help in the ongoing coordination, as well as volunteers that are willing to spend one or more Fridays manning the co-op booth. Responsibilities will include: listening to great local music and having access to scrumptious food, helping vendors with their needs, helping visitors with their needs, promoting information on the co-op, and enjoying the lakeside breeze of this incredibly beautiful venue. Please contact Barb Christwitz at bchristwitz@hotmail.com or 995-0940 to sign up for the weekly volunteer positions and PharaLee Travis, ptravis@hotmail.com, for the long-term coordination.
Interested in vending, or know of someone who wants to? Contact PharaLee Travis, ptravis@hotmail.com. Interested in playing music? Contact Jerry Toler at 995-9602 or by e-mail at toler@saber.net.
Memberships for the Buyer”s Club have reached over 40 and as we work diligently toward taking our first order, we will be needing volunteers who would like to help with ordering, dividing orders, delivery (which may increase our ability to be of service in community), etc. Please contact Patrick Kenna at patrick08@earthgoods.com to be of service for this committee.
Allen, our communications director, is in need of someone to help on the Education sub-committee. He needs someone to help draft a survey of the members regarding such things as their level of computer skills, types of programs and browser they use, the computer they have … etc. Also, someone who can take a poll on the topics they would like to have addressed by various speakers for our monthly meetings. You can reach him at allenmarkowski@yahoo.com.
Activist opportunity: We voted to support the idea of a GE-Free Lake County at our last meeting.
We still have the survey out and are hoping to spread it further in the larger community. Please feel free to pass on this information. You can take the five-minute survey by clicking the link at http://lakecountycommunityco-op.wikispaces.com/Take+the+Survey%21.
You can see upcoming meetings (both general and committee) on our calendar on the wikispace at http://lakecountycommunityco-op.wikispaces.com/Calendar.
Looking forward to our next general meeting, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the Hot Spot in Clearlake. See the schedule and map on the Wiki space at http://lakecountycommunityco-op.wikispaces.com/Meeting+Schedule.) We”ll be hearing from Lars Crail, local organic farmer and a certification inspector for California Certified Organic Farmers, who will be talking about the different standards of organic production.
Happy, beautiful and joyous spring!
JoAnn Saccato is chairperson on a steering committee for the Lake County Community Co-Op.
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