mission statement

[catherine]

here is the statement posted 11-12-08, draft only, needs work and
revisions,

"To address our local families’ needs for fresh and affordable food
and to help a coastal community build food security and strengthen its
local economies, the Carteret Local Food Network (CLFN) seeks to
educate and advocate, to assist and promote the growing, selling and
buying of local, and eventually sustainable, agricultural products."

Joyce's advice was to make the mission statement be concise and yet
expandable. Of course we can revise it later, but we need something
to inspire our volunteers and (future) staff and explain our purpose
to the community. It should be personal in that we need to identify a
person or community that we can help by forming this non-profit.

problems with this statement - doesn't address allow for future goal
of introducing school programs, doesn't allow for becoming an
educational center.

anyway, please assist! post your comments, all are welcome.
-Catherine

[Jeffrey Moore]

I think this looks great. I think the phrase "seeks to educate" is
sufficiently broad to encompass goals of becoming an education center and/or
introducing school programs.

One minor edit suggestion: Change "local families'" to "local citizens'"?

I also wonder whether we could make health and environmental benefits of
local food more explicit in the statement, assuming these are primary goals
(are they?).

To these ends, how about something like:

To address our local citizens' needs for fresh, healthy and affordable food,
and to help a coastal community build food security, strengthen its local
economies and foster a healthy environment, the Carteret Local Food Network
seeks to educate, advocate, assist, and promote the growing, selling and
buying of locally and sustainably produced agricultural products.

Jeff


******************************************
Jeffrey Moore, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scientist
Duke Center for Marine Conservation
Duke University Marine Laboratory
135 Duke Marine Lab Road
Beaufort, NC 28516
Phone: (252) 504-7653
Fax: (252) 504-7689
Email: jem...@duke.edu
Web: www.duke.edu/~jemoore
*****************************************

[PattiF]

I like Jeff's suggestions, makes the statement more succinct. Do we
want to add "along with our partners" anywhere in there?--Patti Frank

[Steve Hellersperk]

How about:

The Carteret Local Food Network (CLFN) seeks to promote the growing, selling and buying of local, agricultural products to address our local needs for fresh and affordable food directly and through educational programs.

-----Original Message-----
From: carteret-loca...@googlegroups.com [mailto:carteret-loca...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of PattiF
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 8:57 AM
To: Carteret Local Food Network

[Joyce]

I like all these.....we are refining things well and every one of
these is hitting on ways to do this even better....I have a try here
as well.....I like Steve's brief one and the one from Robeson County
which was so succinct....I am betting we will end up with one very
much like that! Jeff and Patti have added things to address and i like
all of that as well....Catherine did a great job getting us all
working and we are headed in the right direction.....

my turn to try.....

CLFN seeks to promote the growing, marketing, and consuming of local
agricultural/aguacultural products to support the citizens' and
community needs for fresh, healthy, affordable food and a sustainable
area food system which strengthens the local economy and the health of
our citizens.

Then we put all the WAYS we are going to do that into the strategic
statements which will have to follow all this....

I honestly think we are on a great track here and by the time we get
through the next meetings and work on this we will have a
winner....ALL of them are great and address things we need to be sure
are implicated and covered in some way.....

Keep thinking and keep working! J

[Jeffrey Moore]

Here is my suggested revision based on Joyce's, whose I really like. I've
eliminated what I thought was a little bit of redundant wording (e.g.,
changed "citizens' and community needs" to just "citizens'"), and I've again
tried to make environmental objectives more explicit. Also note aquaculture
is spelled with 'q' not 'g'.

Here goes:

CLFN promotes the growing, marketing, and consuming of locally and
sustainably produced agricultural and aquacultural products, in effort to
meet citizens' needs for fresh, healthy, affordable food, and to improve the
health of our community, our environment, and our local economy.

Jeff


******************************************
Jeffrey Moore, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scientist
Duke Center for Marine Conservation
Duke University Marine Laboratory
135 Duke Marine Lab Road
Beaufort, NC 28516
Phone: (252) 504-7653
Fax: (252) 504-7689
Email: jem...@duke.edu
Web: www.duke.edu/~jemoore
*****************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: carteret-loca...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:carteret-loca...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Joyce
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 1:19 PM
To: Carteret Local Food Network
Subject: {CLFN} Re: mission statement

[catherine]

November 23, 2008
Catherine, Joyce, Tia, Claire was unable to join us

Topic : CLFN mission statement
Key words to use: sustainable, local, volunteer, healthy
Mission Statement should be idealistic, the way that our group hopes
to be seen by the outside world, should be able to capture the essence
in an ‘elevator speech’
Need to develop a strategic plan that can lead us for 2-4 years

Notes on plan to join Carteret Crossroads -
1. what do they need from us to join them? When do they need it?
Answer – need mission statement and a strategic plan and someone
from our group to join their board, their next board meeting is
January 8, 2009.
2. if we think someday we might want to separate from their parental
umbrella, ok with them to still join now? What might we want to do
differently now?
Answer – yes, ok to still join them now, our funds will be kept
separate, still expect to maintain the association

[Jeffrey Moore]

Penny Hooper and I (both of us were at the organizational meeting) are both
Crossroads members. I don't know if Penny is a board member, but her
husband is president. I'm not a Board member but am on the Crossroads
Advisory Council.

Anyway, I'm just suggesting one of us could maybe help in this area. I'd be
interested in this if that would be helpful...

Jeff




******************************************
Jeffrey Moore, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scientist
Duke Center for Marine Conservation
Duke University Marine Laboratory
135 Duke Marine Lab Road
Beaufort, NC 28516
Phone: (252) 504-7653
Fax: (252) 504-7689
Email: jem...@duke.edu
Web: www.duke.edu/~jemoore
*****************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: carteret-loca...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:carteret-loca...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of catherine
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 5:21 PM
To: Carteret Local Food Network
Subject: {CLFN} Re: mission statement

November 23, 2008
Catherine, Joyce, Tia, Claire was unable to join us

Topic : CLFN mission statement
Key words to use: sustainable, local, volunteer, healthy Mission Statement
should be idealistic, the way that our group hopes to be seen by the outside
world, should be able to capture the essence in an 'elevator speech'
Need to develop a strategic plan that can lead us for 2-4 years

Notes on plan to join Carteret Crossroads - 1. what do they need from us to
join them? When do they need it?

Answer - need mission statement and a strategic plan and someone from

our group to join their board, their next board meeting is January 8, 2009.
2. if we think someday we might want to separate from their parental
umbrella, ok with them to still join now? What might we want to do
differently now?

Answer - yes, ok to still join them now, our funds will be kept

[stephanie miscovich]

I'm also a Crossroads member and on the Advisory Council, and I am definitely interested in helping in this area as well!     Stephanie

[catherine]

next open meeting time for discussing mission statement and crafting
our strategic plan is Sunday, December 7 at 12:30pm at Claire Doyle's
home in Morehead City, rsvp to 729-6513, address below:

809 Oak Dr., MHC, 252-726-6697

[catherine]

results from meeting on Sunday, Dec7:
Claire's suggested three statements, revisions from afternoon in
brackets:
1. VALUE STATEMENT
The Carteret Local Food Network (CLFN) recognizes the value of our
citizens to have access to fresh, affordable food. [access to fresh,
healthy food]

2. MISSION/PURPOSE STATEMENT
The mission of the Carteret Local Food Network (CLFN) is to promote
the growing, selling, buying and eating of local agricultural
products. [ Our mission is to advance the growing, selling, buying,
and eating of local food.] [to promote a vibrant local food economy
in Carteret County.]

3. CONSTITUENCY/PROGRAM STATEMENT
We strive to accomplish our mission by encouraging local farmers to
grow healthy crops, and marketing community supported agriculture by
educating the public. [through educational efforts]

Other comments noted: "CLFN recognized the need for access to fresh
and healthy food. Our mission is to promote a vibrant local food
economy in Carteret County."


further, most recent revision statement is currently posted on the
home page of this google-group, do you like it?

HOMEWORK FOR OUR GROUP:
1. consider this statement as posted, does it 'speak our mind'? Can
we take this to Carteret Crossroads on Jan 8, or does it require some
revising?
2. list here the strategic goals you see for CLFN for the next three
years. be as specific as you can, post here on mission statement
page.

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, DECEMBER 29 AT 6:30 PM BEAUFORT AT THE WINE BAR,
TURNER ST.
all are welcome to join us. carpooling from downeast, 729-6513.

[catherine]

here are the three documents Claire shared regarding the recent
absorption of the Tree Awareness Group under the umbrella of Carteret
Crossroads:
CARTERET COUNTY CROSSROADS
P.O. Box 155, Beaufort, N.C. 28516

Agreement to Fiscally Sponsor the Carteret County Tree Awareness Group
(CC-TAG)
February 2005

This agreement is between CROSSROADS (the Sponsor) and the CARTERET
COUNTY TREE AWARENESS GROUP (CC-TAG, the Project). Having determined
that the goals of CC-TAG are within the mission of CROSSROADS, the
Board of Directors of CROSSROADS has resolved to sponsor this project
and has established a restricted account to receive and disburse funds
solely for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of CC-TAG.

Both parties agree to the following conditions:

1. It is understood that CC-TAG’s grant-application activity is a
program of the Sponsor. The Sponsor will assume responsibility for
the proper expenditure and accounting of funds spent for Project
activities and shall be responsible for ensuring that Project
activities are within the charitable purpose of the Sponsor.

2. All grants, contributions, and other funds earmarked for the
Project shall be received by the Sponsor and disbursed according to
the Project budget.

3. The Sponsor will prepare checks for bill payment within five
business days of receipt of a check request from the Project. Proper
receipts or invoices must be attached to check requests.

4. The Project will make regular reports to the Sponsor regarding
activities carried out by the Project. All Project grant proposals
and donor solicitation efforts will be presented to the Sponsor.

5. The Sponsor will review the Project’s quarterly income/expense
statements when the Project is required to report financial
activities.

6. This agreement will begin on ______________ and continue until CC-
TAG is informed of its non-profit status (501(c)3).


BRIEF MISSION STATEMENT – Feb. 2005

The Carteret County Tree Awareness Group recognizes the importance of
trees in the local environment. Our mission is to preserve existing
trees and to encourage the planting of new ones.

We strive to accomplish our mission by promoting the development and
passage of tree-protection ordinances, by educating the public, and by
providing a central location of information and expertise.


The Carteret County Tree Awareness
Value Statement - Group recognizes the importance of trees in the
local environment.

Mission/Purpose Statement - Our mission is to preserve existing trees
and encourage the planting of
new ones.

Program Statement - We strive to accomplish our mission by promoting
the development and passage of tree protection ordinances.

Program/Constituency Statement - by educating the public.

Program Statement - and by providing a central location for
information and expertise.



___________________________ ____________________________
CROSSROADS Representative Date CC-TAG Representative Date
Donald Hoss, President Sandra L. Kunkle, President


Why the Carteret County Tree Awareness Group
Needs a Fiscal Sponsor, February 2005

To: Crossroads Board of Directors
From: Carteret County Tree Awareness Group (CC-TAG)
Subject: Request for Fiscal Sponsorship

CC-TAG has been encouraged by Nancy Stairs, Urban Forestry Program
Coordinator, N.C. Division of Forest Resources, to apply for grants
disbursed by her agency. To do that, CC-TAG must be affiliated with a
non-profit organization whose goals are similar to ours.

Mary Ellen Box, former Executive Director, Carteret Community
Foundation, and Nancy Stairs have suggested we partner with an
existing non-profit organization so that we will be eligible to apply
for grants this spring. Our research also indicates that fiscal
sponsorship is not an uncommon arrangement. Thus, we are asking
CROSSROADS to be our sponsor for the period of time it will take us to
become a 501(c)3 non-profit.

CC-TAG is working to obtain its own non-profit status, but we cannot
complete that process before the application deadline of April 1,
2005. At present, we are writing two grant-applications that will
fund: (1) Design and printing of two brochures: one describing CC-
TAG; the other an educational piece on how to save trees located on
sites under construction; and (2) Carteret County Champion Tree
program.

To date CC-TAG has:

1. Submitted a policy statement that has been incorporated into the
county’s draft CAMA Land-Use Plan.
2. Drafted a set of by-laws.
3. Drafted a mission statement.
Garnered community interest in our organization by:
• participating in the 2004 Seafood Festival;
• completing a successful first-time campaign to select the champion
Live Oak Tree of Carteret County;
• issuing press releases, all of which have been published in local
papers;
• forming a group of 28 member volunteers;
• being interviewed on local radio;
• beginning the process of obtaining 501(c)3 non-profit status;
• keeping the county Extension Service informed of our progress;
• researching a “model” tree-protection ordinance, which we intend to
make available to the county and municipalities;
• monitoring the progress of land-use plans in the county, Morehead
City, Beaufort, Atlantic Beach and Newport;
• planting trees (which were donated to us) at the new Beaufort
Elementary School;
• conducting monthly meetings since June 2004;
• responding to a request for assistance from the town of Newport
• speaking to community groups about the protection of trees.

[catherine]

STRATEGIC PLAN discussion:
for how to achieve our goals?
from our own words (see Home page at top)
1. ‘promote a food culture’
a- education of what are the better foods (in schools)
b- opportunity to grow their own (community gardens)

2. ‘that supports local growers’
a- assisting with Joe’s CSA
b- free advertising of locals who sell directly to the consumer (where
& how to distribute this info?)
c- what can we help with the Curb Market? Other farmer’s markets?
d- Sustainable CSA (operated for a profit?)

3. ‘and provides eaters with access’
a- food bank/ free food (social justice)
b- EBT machines
c- More farmer’s market hours
d- CSA
e- Restaurants, logo for their participation?
f- Farm stands

Hey, it's a start anyway, right? - Catherine