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

The Country Club

New Orleans Healing Center Community BBQ
FREE FOOD, MUSIC & FUN
New Orleans Healing Center

2372 St Claude Ave (corner of St. Roch)
Sunday, April 17, 2-6pm

$89,500 in member-equity has been already been raised though membership investment in the co-op and $82,000 in owner loans have been pledged, much of which has already been collected. Our goal is to have $125,000 in member-equity and $300,000 or more in member loans through our RootLoans Program (Please email gm@nolafoodcoop.org to make a RootLoan pledge.) Over 25% of start-up financing will be raised via direct investment by local member-owners, combined with a contribution from the Healing Center for renovations and build-out.

Without 1400 community members invested, the co-op will not secure financing to open in May. Therefore, the co-op is pleased to announce Monday, April 11th through Sunday, April 17th as ”Join Your Co-op Week”, a final campaign to reach the goal of 1400 member-owners. The co-op requests all interested community members to join as owners and encourage their friends and family to do the same. The promotional week will be capped off with free food, music and fun at the Healing Center Community BBQ to be held Sunday, April 17th from 2:00 to 6:00pm. Interested parties may become member-owners online at or may join at the BBQ.

New Orleans Food Co-op “Join the Co-op Week”

New Orleans Healing Center Community BBQ
FREE FOOD, MUSIC & FUN
New Orleans Healing Center

2372 St Claude Ave (corner of St. Roch)
Sunday, April 17, 2-6pm

It’s time to paint the store interior and your are invited to take part in the fun! Our community paint party will be a fun way to meet other members and help your co-op save money on our construction costs. Your site committee has some great colors picked out and it is time to have fun! We need you and your friends too! Please join us for a few hours, a whole day, or if you are able, the whole weekend!

Please wear clothes that you don’t mind getting paint.

RSVP to info@nolafoodcoop.org or via our facebook invite at

Food and beverages provided! Stay and paint for 3 hours or more and you’re eligible to win a great prize! Take part in making history!

This co-op is happening & seeing is believing! Please come check out the progress & bring a date/friend. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 23rd from 5-6p. If you bring a date or friend to the event, we’ll enter you into a drawing to win a fun prize!

After the tour of our space, you can choose to join in a tour of the rest of the Healing Center as well!

WHERE? Holy Angels Convent (Cafeteria) 3500 St. Claude

AGENDA POSTED BELOW:

6:00 POTLUCK – bring …a dish to share if you can.
…
6:30 Agenda and officers
6:33 Mission Statement
6:44 Tasks Review
6:36 Announcements
6:40 Calendar Review

6:42 Working Group Breakout Sessions: Discuss relevant topics in our Respective Work Groups, take notes, prepare to report back.

a) Communication Working Group: internal and external communication, publicity, & outreach

b) Membership Working Group: Works to grow our member-ownership base, and educate the community about the benefits of co-op ownership.

c) Finance Working Group: seeks funding, supports development of business plan, sources and uses budget, and financial projections to achieve funding

d) Site Development Working Group: supports site development: input on colors, layout, equipment, signage, etc.

e) NOFC Buying Club: provides a way for our members to buy healthy, affordable groceries prior to the opening of our store

f) Policy Committee: bylaws & board policy

7:22 Working Groups Report/Solicit Support: Report back to the whole group. Ask for feedback as needed.

8:52 Comments on Meeting/Process
8:57 Commitments & Calendar Updates Review

Next Potluck/Meeting: tba

•  stuffing new owner packets
•  data entry
•  filing
• sending supporting business program information to like-minded businesses
• postering & flyering for upcoming events
• bagging up bulk groceries to sell

email: info@nolafoodcoop.org to meet up with us at our office on Elysian Fields.