Meeting at Quathra - Monday, October 4th - 7 pm

[William Cerf]

Greetings,

Jessi suggested a meeting this coming Monday evening 7 pm at Quathra.
I've put it on my calendar and will attend. I suggest that we use this
thread to say we are coming and to put out ideas for an agenda.

Cheers!
William

[freckl...@aol.com]

William/Group:

 

Please find my suggestions for Monday's meeting for the community group venture:

 

• Ascertain which skills and talents each person has, and is willing to render
• Dissect the preliminary proposal into absolutes and target appropriate folks to focus on those issues
• Determine which issues require immediate exploration and action, and work on those issues first.
• Determine neighborhood areas to be served and schedule appointments to visit with those Planning Boards to obtain                  their support and cooperation - also determine if they have any discretionary funds that would be available in the near future---either through the grants process or through any private donations they are aware of that they could refer us to.
• Determine which representative serve those districts and set up appointments with them for the same purpose as above.
• Designate someone to recruit pro bono lawyer and accountant.
• Designate someone to spearhead the construction effort
• Designate members to head finance committee (this is temporary, as all volunteer service will be at this time).  The         committee should explore how we will raise funds to get the electricity back on (if we even have to); ascertain the rentalincome (s) to be derived from prospective tenants in our space, and focus on some concrete ideas of just how we fund the center                  on an on-going basis.
• Designate someone or persons to draft up the proposal.
• Realistically ascertain which activities can/should be included in the initial phase of start-up.  Remember that there must be some way to generate income, and every activity must earn its keep.
• Other pertinent issues

 

I cringe to mention this, but most important, get an update on where we are with the Vox Pop liabilities and determine the fallout impact on our proposed community venture to be sure that we do not lose the money, and waste our effort, only to be smashed like pumpkins and have to walk away.  I still have concerns about this.

Anyone who can contribute anything or service to this Group should not be shy about stepping up.  We need as much assistance as we can get.

 

I'll include any other thoughts as they come up.

Joanne

[Kyle Nelson]

Is there any way that we can start closer to 730? I work until 8, buy I would love to catch some of the meeting. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

-Kyle

[Jessi Miano]

Qathra closes at 9pm, so the sooner we start, the more time we'll have there. I would imagine we'll need more than an hour, since there is a lot to talk about. I could talk to the manager and see if he'll stay open a little later, and we can start at 8, but i doubt it.
Either way, we'll be keeping notes during the meeting, so we can fill you in when you get there.
I agree with Joanne's agenda, and please anyone feel free to add to it if you feel she missed something important. If it gets too long, we'll cut it down to the most pressing matters.

Thanks for taking the initiative on this, Joanne.
~Jessi

[Glenn Wolin]

HI,

This is the second time someone has worried about getting the electric back on. This is not a problem. The NEW company requests service from Con Edison and pays their deposit fee and the service will be turned on. 

The list below is an excellent and thorough one and should be followed if the $3000 is raised. Right now we do not have the luxury of time to do any thing but raise or pledge money. 

Glenn

[Heather]

this is wonderful, Joanne!
detailed and methodical, just what we need at the moment.

I will be at the meeting at 7 if at all possible - Heather

> 've put it on my calendar and will attend. I suggest that we use this

> hread to say we are coming and to put out ideas for an agenda.
> Cheers!

> illiam- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[freckl...@aol.com]

Looking forward to seeing you again.

[William Cerf]

I will be bringing the following books to the meeting on Monday:

1) Business Plan Kit for Dummies (including a CD with forms)
2) Non-Profit Kit for Dummies (including a CD with forms)
3) The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World: How to turn your good intentions into actions that make a difference.

I'm hoping that these three books will be the start of our business planning library that can be used by all of our projects both for-profit and non-profit. I'd like to see this on an agenda either Monday or very soon after we've raised the $3,000.00

William

--
Blog: http://newtownvision.blogspot.com/
___________________________

Founded by veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Modern Whig Party is a revitalization of the historic Whig Party. It is a centerist party that stands for Methodology over Ideology.

See http://www.modernwhig.org

For New York Residents see:

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[Jessi Miano]

Great idea, William! i look forward to checking out those books :)

[Gochf...@aol.com]

Reference books:

 

You might also try to get your hands on a Penguin paperback, perhaps now out of print, called, "How to Open Your Own Restaurant (A Guide for Entrepreneurs)" by Richard Ware and James Rudnick which, as I recall, laid out all kinds of stuff, including the myriad costs that many people tend not to think of in advance (unmet cost having been the downfall of Vox Pop). Maybe one of the Brooklyn Public Library branches has a copy.

 

Bob

[Gochf...@aol.com]

Beware the use of forms available on CD. The concept tends to suggest that "I don't need no stinkin' lawyer". Guess again.

 

Such books amount to "Practicing Law Without a License (and incorrectly) for Dummies". Find a lawyer to fill out and submit the legal forms, not a performance artist who thinks they know it all.

 

Bob

[William Cerf]

Bob,

I agree that we will need serious help from highly qualified attorneys and accountants. The forms in my view are a way to learn about the details and gather information to share with the attorney and accountant. I totally agree that bright, artistic, idealistic people should NOT try to do this alone; but that some folks may have an aptitude to work on the nitty gritty. We really need that moving forward.

[William Cerf]

It is still in print and I ordered my own personal copy through Amazon.com. Perhaps someone else might want to buy one for the group library. See y'all tomorrow night.

William

[freckl...@aol.com]

William, I so agree with your poiint.  Getting an idea first of the basic process is very important, and helps you understand the path, and sometimes assess the level of competency with the professional you are dealing with.  That knowledge can save money and time in the event you have to pay for the services.

 

Educated consumerism is always a plus.   Thanks for digging up those books.

 

Joanne

[ssiegel]

I am RSVPing that I'll be there tonight, although closer to 7:30 .
Susan

[Pablo]

Dear Jessi,

I just found out about this group and I am happy and grateful that the
idea of a Cortelyou Rd Cafe / Arts Space / Community Center is
beginning to take form.

Could somebody post the minutes from Monday's meeting? I am sure more
people will be joining this group in the coming days and that way we
can all be updated in the process. I'll be glad to help in any way
that I can.

Thank you so much!


Pablo.

===============

[freckl...@aol.com]

I forwarded a four paged copy of the minutes to Jessi on Wednesday to for circulation. 

 

Joanne Mosley

-----Original Message-----
From: Pablo <pablof...@gmail.com>
To: Cortelyou Community Center <cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Thu, Oct 7, 2010 9:07 am
Subject: Re: Meeting at Quathra - Monday, October 4th - 7 pm

[Jessi Miano]

I sent the minutes out last night. did you not get them?

[freckl...@aol.com]

I just accesed them.  Didn't check email yesterday.  Thanks so much. 

 

Wednesday is good for me.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jessi Miano <jessi...@gmail.com>
To: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, Oct 8, 2010 6:09 am
Subject: Re: Meeting at Quathra - Monday, October 4th - 7 pm