In attendance: John Calhoun, Amanda Zug-Moore, Christopher Brown, and Michael Smith. Meeting began at 6:36 pm.
Minutes for Nov. 30 Board meeting will be approved by email.
Amanda Zug-Moore made a motion to withhold Board meeting minutes from posting on the NOFC website until officially approved by the Board. Motion passed unanimously.
Board Policies:
Amanda Zug-Moore made a motion to adopt the Board policies recommended by Mark at the Board retreat. Motion passed unanimously. The Board will review Board policies and vote on changes to the policies as necessary. Action for Board: Read Board policies and think about needed changes.
The Board Speaks With One Voice:
John C. will develop a policy about ensuring a unified voice in Board communications, to ensure a consistent public face. Board was in agreement to allow the person who was the initial point of contact for a specific issue to remain the liaison on that issue, and that responses on coop business by Board members should be checked via email with the other Board members to ensure consistency.
Report on Member Loan Drive:
Board discussed the need to secure the money for the site before beginning to make lease payments on a site, and whether it was reasonable to require the Board to put up 10-15% of the money in the member loan drive.
Appointment of New Board Members:
The Board is empowered to appoint three new Board members as convenient. The Board agreed to send out a request for interested NOFC members to put themselves forward as candidates for the Board. John C. suggested asking potential appointees to sit for one or two Board meetings before being appointed.
Incorporation issue:
John C. made a motion to re-incorporate the NOFC as the appropriate kind of for-profit business. Anne S. is preparing a memo for the Board to guide the process of re-incorporation. There was discussion about the appropriate lawyer to hire for the job, based on cost and expertise.
Hiring an Assistant:
John C. moved to approve the job description and announcement to be sent out for the job. It was agreed that the assistant should be hired as a contractor, and that any non-NOFC member that is hired should be required to become a NOFC member as a stipulation.
Set Policies/Expectations for Committees:
The Board agreed that it should set clear expectations for each NOFC committee. It also discussed the possibility of creating a Technology Committee, potentially to be chaired by Erin Laine, to ensure the timely updating of the website. Each Board member picked two committees to develop Board expectations for:
Action Team: John Calhoun and Michael Smith
Fundraising: Chris Brown
Feasibility: Amanda Zug-Moore
Buying Club: Chris Brown
Membership: John Calhoun
Communications: Amanda Zug-Moore
Site Search: Michael Smith
The Board also decided to reinitiate the Action Team on January 19. The Board will send a holiday newsletter inviting all members of the NOFC to the next Action Team, and to update the membership on the status of the Coop and the action to hire a new assistant and appoint new Board members.
The Buying Club:
The Buying Club’s ordering has been suspended until the resolution of the sales-tax issue, as the Board of Directors is liable for the taxes owed. The Board agreed that it should set clear expectations for the Buying Club. Chris Brown will develop these expectations to be voted on by email by the BoD.
The NOFC Ends Policy:
Both Amanda Zug-Moore and Michael Smith developed draft Ends Policies, which will be sent to the Board for editing.
Stuart Reid Call:
The Board will conduct a conference call with Stuart Reid on Tuesday, December 23 at noon.
Amanda Zug-Moore will send the Board an email with the phone number for the conference call.
The National Cooperative Grocers Association Conference:
Further brainstorming about the NOFC’s role in the NCGA conference will be done via email.
The Board will meet again at 621 N. Rendon St., on January 12, 2008, at 6:30pm.
The Action Team will meet again at 621 N. Rendon St., on January 19, 2008, at 7pm.
Michael Smith
Secretary
NOFC
