community–owned – everyone welcome

2372 Saint Claude Avenue, Suite 110, New Orleans, Louisiana 70117

www.nolafood.coop – lorib@nolafood.coop – 504.264.5579

Dear New Member,

Welcome to the New Orleans Food Co-op! Your equity investment, makes you more than just a member, you
own it! As a cooperative business, NOFC is a democratic-owned and controlled business that ascribes to the
Seven Cooperative Principles: 1) Voluntary & Open Membership, 2) Democratic Member Control, 3) Member
Economic Participation, 4) Autonomy & Independence, 5) Education, Training, & Information, 6) Cooperation
Among Cooperatives, and 7) Concern for Community. As a Member-Owner, you support NOFC in
furthering its mission and values and are eligible for democratic, economic, and other benefits. Our member-
ownership controls and operates the co-op through an annual election of our Board of Directors. You will have a
vote in this election, and you are eligible to serve on the Board. Member-owners will also receive certain
economic advantages. Member-Owners are eligible for our patronage refund program. This is a form of
profit sharing based on how much you use your grocery store. Explore our website
for a copy of the bylaws and for more information on the rights, responsibilities, and benefits of member-ownership!

Thank you for your support! This is an exciting time to become a member-owner of the New Orleans Food
Co-op. Your investment is what makes it possible for us to open our doors. Construction is complete, the last
of our equipment is arriving, most of our staff has been hired, and we will be opening soon! Your investment
will contribute to the opening and operating of our cooperative grocery store, and will increase access to
healthy affordable groceries in New Orleans.

In our final fundraising push before opening, we need your help. We are so close to opening but we still have
a $140,000 funding gap to fill. Please review the enclosed information and consider making a RootLoan to
your co-op. Your loan would make a world of difference today and we’ll pay you back along with interest in
just 6-10 years. Another great way you can help is to encourage your family, friends, and neighbours to join.
We have included a brochure with a membership application for this purpose.

If you have the time, we encourage you to volunteer. Opening a grocery store is a lot of work, and we have
many ways for our Member-Owners to get involved. Our e-newsletter and website contain information about
our current volunteer needs, in addition to dates, times, and locations of our board meetings, member
potlucks, volunteer shelf stacking, and our Grand Opening Party, which all are encouraged to attend. Please
email lorib@nolafood.coop or call 504.264.5579 to get involved.

Again, thank you for becoming a Member-Owner of Louisiana’s only consumer grocery co-op! We can’t do
this without you!

Sincerely,

The Membership Team at Nola Food Co-op

Participating Supporting Businesses

The Country Club

NOFC Board Governance Meeting Monday June 15, 2010

6:00pm at 517 Telemachus St. (Rachel’s)

Present:

Board Members – Michael Smith (President), John Calhoun, Rachel Riezman (Treasurer), Mac Lemann (Chair of the Board), Heather Fife (Secretary), Scott Galante (Vice President)

Members – Cassandra Snyder, Ann Sobol, Leah Farkas, Siddhartha Padmanabha

Announcement:

Michael: After returning from the Co-op conference in Indiana, Michael feels that the larger Co-op community is strongly behind the NOFC. There is help out there waiting to be contacted, all we have to do is ask. Other co-ops would be willing to help with fundraising and document sharing.

John: In 11 days we will be having an auction. John will be hosting postcard addressing at his house tomorrow from 7-9pm.

Michael: Will make a facebook invite for the auction.

Scott: Scott and Michael met with the economic development team for the city today to talk about the FFRI. It still seems to be stalled. If anyone can get to Baton Rouge before Sunday, it might be helpful.

Treasurer’s Report:

Rachel: The Buying Club does not owe anyone money at this point.

The Board will be looking at the Buying Club Budget.

MOTION -

Scott: Moved, that, the board freeze buying and selling functions of the buying club and the sunday grocery until they have provided accurate accounting to be presented at the next board meeting. Heather: Seconded

All: Agree. Motion carries.

Unfinished Business:

MOTION -

Mac: Moved, to accept the recommended amendments and revisions to the NOFC Bylaws.

Scott: Seconded

Amendments – subject to final grammatical revision.

All: Agree. Motion carries.

MOTION -

Scott: Moved, to authorize the negotiation and execution of a contract with Southern Refrigeration for the purchase of our refrigeration equipment.

Rachel: Seconded

Discussion: Two separate contracts will be on the table – one for equipment and one for installation. Contract for equipment needs to be complete by two and a half months before we need the equipment and before the end of the year o be eligible for federal rebates. The board and legal counsel need to review the final contract. Michael suggested we move forward by asking Southern to submit a new contract without the installation quote.

Motion withdrawn.

Member Input:

Ann: Advised board members that they have a legal and fiduciary duty to the membership not to be taken lightly. Ann suggests that the treasurers report reflect a longer period of time. Financial reports sent to FC500 should be reviewed as a model for future reports.

Rachel: Would like the board to be more engaged in financial report discussions. She will begin to have financial reports distributed to board members by email by the 15th of each month.

Leah: Met with Paul regarding the Sunday Grocery site at the new office space. Leah has been having trouble reaching Julian. Leah will write a letter to him. We can move into the office once it is cleaned out.

Rachel: In possible a month or two we could have an employee that may be moving across the country to work for us. It’s obvious tonight that we are not ready to trust the recommendations of others quite yet. We need to be ready to support a GM that can work independently. Rachel suggested we take time to review our GM expectations. We could consider another training.

Mac: Mark would like us to enroll in the co-op board leadership development. We should look into this.

Next Meeting: Tuesday July 6th, 6pm at Rachel’s place.

Meeting Adjourned: 8:00pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Fife