co-op resources

[benjamin yager]

hey everyone!

i wanted to send out some of the cool resources that i found online.  they have lots of good information about co-ops, including some little known facts (like how co-ops account for more than 273 BILLION dollars in the gdp, mainly through co-ops like land o' lakes butter dairy cooperative but almost a billion through food co-ops) that are fun to learn if yer nerdy like me.  

in general, www.community-wealth.org is amazing.

• for co-ops specifically- http://www.community-wealth.org/strategies/panel/coops/index.html
• co-ops in maryland- http://www.community-wealth.org/strategies/locations/maryland.html
• cooperative grocer- http://www.cooperativegrocer.coop/
• baltimore healthy stores- http://www.healthystores.org, a healthy foods initiative to get food to low-income and disenfranchised people in baltimore
• university of wisconsin- http://www.uwcc.wisc.edu/
• cooperative development institute- http://www.cdi.coop
• cooperative grocers information network- http://www.cgin.coop/

so there's a fun start.  there are tons of other resources that relate to ideas around co-ops on these websites.  so, as they say at the neighborhood pool, BOMBS AWAY!!!

benny

[Jasmine Sarp]

Hey everyone!

This stuff looks great Ben.

I think the "how to start a food coop" guide at the cooperative grocers info network website could be good reading for us all... it's long but I think it would be helpful. Also I think I heard a woman give a presentation a while ago on Baltimore Healthy stores- which was really interesting. 

I just submitted the proposal for Green Week. In this proposal and others, we've written out one version or another of our mission statement/goals, they usually stay pretty much the same. I included "food justice" in this one, I like that phrase. I'm uploading this proposal and a bunch of other files to google docs right now to share with everyone- fliers, letterhead, surveys, photos and stuff, proposals... we have a lot of written structure ideas that can help us at our next meeting- so we won't have to do it all from scratch. It's good to have some new ideas and energy in here too! I think we're leaning towards an open-to-the-public set up for the storefront because we want to be all-inclusive and approachable to all kinds of people, but it sounds like there are other benefits that should be considered. Also I think the key-access was brought up previously and we said nay- cause this city is effin crazy. But I like a lot of the other stuff you mentioned in your last email. I'm down for calzones and french fries... and vegetarian corn dogs anyone? those things are heavenly. Maybe some of the proposals will help get you caught up to speed too.

Should we pick a date after the new year for the next meeting? Or before maybe?

[Dan Zink]

Thanks Jasmine for posting all of those files. I think we selected Jan
5th for our next meeting, no?

> in general, www.community-wealth.org is amazing.
>
>

> * for co-ops
> specifically- http://www.community-wealth.org/strategies/panel/coops/index.html
> * co-ops in
> maryland- http://www.community-wealth.org/strategies/locations/maryland.html
> * cooperative grocer- http://www.cooperativegrocer.coop/
> * baltimore healthy

> stores- http://www.healthystores.org, a healthy foods
> initiative to get food to low-income and
> disenfranchised people in baltimore

> * university of wisconsin- http://www.uwcc.wisc.edu/
> * cooperative development institute- http://www.cdi.coop
> * cooperative grocers information

[Aliza Ess]

I know that Jan. 5th has been selected for our next meeting, but there is an event at 2640 on the same date that seems pertinent to many of our interests- it's an event for the book "Farm Together Now" ( here's the info )

The event takes place at 7. Any chance of trying to combine the two events or reschedule or something? If not, that's cool, just thought I would bring it up!

a
www.baltimorediy.org

[Jasmine Sarp]

Sooo meeting tomorrow at 2640? Or at someone's house after the farm event?

[Aliza Ess]

I actually don't think I can make the Farm Together event, I have a few things that need tending too.. I'll stay posted to see when the co-op meeting is and see if I can make it!

aliza

[Kendall Hoff]

I'd like to go to FARM, but if no one else will be there, time is precious right now, and I might choose not to. Is anyone planning on going? We could just stay a little later and talk, I'm sure. Or are we all meeting at Tara's at 7?

[Jasmine Sarp]

Maybe we should reschedule? I could come tonight, but if only a few people can show I should get some other work done.

[Jeff Budd]

I won't be able to get to a meeting tonight either.. still not 100% finished with the fusion partnerships application so I don't have a whole lot to report on.

I can continue on that and probably make the next meeting.

Jeff

On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 2:10 PM, Kendall Hoff <kenda...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Aliza Ess]

Sounds like a reschedule?  When we settle on a new date we should forward it to that woman with all the co-op knowledge.

a

[Cheryl Carmona]

Hi all,

It sounds like everyone is really busy right now, myself included.  I do think that we need to have a meeting soon and decide if we are going to have a January order, if not we need to communicate that.  How is next Monday for everyone?  If anyone has any leads on a space that we can use (even temporarily) bring your ideas to the next meeting.

I am going to try to go to the farm together now talk tonight, hope to see you there.

Cheryl

[Jeff Budd]

Next Monday would be good for me.

[Tara Megos]

i can make next monday

[Dan Zink]

It's unlikely that I'll be available next Mon but
If everyone else wants that day then no worries
There is a chance I'll be able to make it anyway.

[Kendall Hoff]

Monday is no good for me. I can do a day later in the week, though.

[Alicia Puglionesi]

hi all,

I just wanted to float an idea in advance of this meeting, whenever it happens: I was at the free school's organizing meeting today, and they are looking for ways to defray the cost of renting their space (the storefront at the southeast corner of calvert and mt. royal).  When I mentioned that the beet is looking for a new location they were very enthusiastic about working together.  I'm not sure if that's something you've already discussed, but it seems like it might be productive to consider at least as a short-term solution. 

best,
AP

[benjamin yager]

i'm good any day of the week for now.

ben

[Jasmine Sarp]

monday or tuesday is good for me

jasmine

[Aliza Ess]

I'm working late tonight but perhaps could make a later meeting... Tuesday is no good for me.

Alicia, I think combining the co-op with the Free School space could be an interesting option, although there would be some details to work out. Like who get's what share of the funds, if the Free School will have a say in our operations, if there is any relationship to Red Emma's, if we can store our goods in the space, etc.

Hope everyone's been eating yummy + healthy things lately!

a

[Alicia Puglionesi]

A late meeting tonight would be fine for me.  Aliza, were you thinking around 8 or 9?  And would that work for others?  If not we could aim for wednesday. 

At this meeting on Saturday I discussed sharing the free school space and chipping in for rent (if/when there is money available for that), so it wouldn't involve any kind of institutional affiliation with them or red emma's.  We would have to be good roommates in the sense of cleaning up, locking the building, and securing stored food to prevent bug issues.  It's not the best location in terms of foot traffic, and doesn't have a kitchen - these would be some downsides, so I'd like to get a sense of how everyone feels about it just so I can get back to Katie and Jessica soon. 

[Jasmine Sarp]

I have a house meeting from 9-10:30 ish. the free school opportunity sounds interesting.

[Cheryl Carmona]

Hi all,

I could make it to a meeting at 9.  Let's try to get a quick consensus about a meeting tonight at 9PM or Wednesday at 6 or 7PM?  I will send out a text too and e-mail back the with the responses. 

I think the Free School space is an interesting idea (great location) that we should consider and discuss.  Also if we are going to open up orders again we also need to discuss the upcoming dates for that:  Open online order January 26th, close on February 2nd and pick-up would be February 9th and 10th.

Cheryl

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 11:11 AM, Aliza Ess <baltim...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Aliza Ess]

I could make a meeting tonight a 9 tonight

aliza

[Tara Megos]

I could do nine, seven would be best for me  on wed. 

We could have the meeting at my place.

[Cheryl Carmona]

It seems that everyone who has responded is also available on Wednesday so let's have the meeting at Tara's house at 7PM on Wednesday and then hopefully others will be able to make the meeting.

hope to see you all then,

cheryl 

[Tara Megos]

Oh no, I just remembered that I have tickets to a performance at 7 on Wednesday.  Maybe we could move it back to nine, or just have it somewhere else? 

[Jasmine Sarp]

can't make wednesday, but I'm fine with an email update if you guys are meeting tomorrow.

[Cheryl Carmona]

We can have the meeting at my house (312 E. 33rd).  7PM tonight

Cheryl

[Aliza Ess]

Ugh, I am working overtime tonight, probably can't make it til 8ish...

a