The regular meeting of the Ukiah Natural Foods Board of Directors was
convened on Monday, February 11, 2008, 6 PM, at the Co-op Meeting Room,
Ukiah Natural Foods, 721 S. State St., Ukiah, CA.
Because the usual NCO meeting room was unavailable, the board meeting
was held at the Co-op meeting room.
Call to Order
President Terry Nieves called the meeting to order at 6:07 pm.
Board Members
Adam Gaska
George Gibbs, Treasurer
Dan Hamburg, Vice President
Jacquie Lee
MaryLou Leonard
Terry Nieves, President
Don Sanderson
Joe Wildman, Secretary
Staff
Lori Rosenberg
Member-Owners
None.
INTRODUCTIONS
None.
MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES
Agenda Approval
The addition of Agenda Item 4.2, the request to purchase new equipment
for the Espresso Bar, was noted, and the Closed Session portion of the
agenda was removed.
M/S/C (Leonard, Wildman) to approve the agenda with the Closed Session
removed.
Approval of 1/14/08Minutes
M/S/C (Gibbs, Hamburg) to approve the January minutes; MaryLou abstains
as she has not received them.
Approval of the 12/10/07 Minutes
M/S/C (Gibbs, Hamburg) to approve the December 2007 minutes.
SECRETARY’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT
Monthly Activity
Lori sent out her report electronically. The following was discussed:
• Lori informed the board that another NCGA Board training is being
offered in Portland in April. She strongly encouraged the board to send
a couple of members to this training. The training is divided into two
sections: Co-op Board Leadership and Board Effectiveness Strategies.
• Lori and Mike Brown from Sutti & Associates made a presentation
to the Airport Commission re. the expansion/remodel plans last week. The
commission approved the Co-op remodeling project 5 to 1.
• The next step in gaining approval to begin the remodel, is to
appear before the City Planning Commission. Lori will have a meeting with
Charlie Stump to help prepare for the Co-op’s presentation to this
commission.
• The expansion will be adding approximately 3000 square feet downstairs,
as well as additional upstairs office space.
ACTION ITEMS
Approval to fill Ross Beck’s vacancy
M/S/C (Sanderson, Wildman) to appoint Nehemiah Bear to serve the remainder
of Ross Beck’s term on the UNF Board of Directors.
Purchase of new equipment for the Espresso Bar
The following was presented to the board:
• The espresso bar needs new equipment; the current coffee maker
is beginning to experience problems affecting the taste and temperature
of the coffee and espresso.
• Lori estimates the new equipment will cost about $6750, but would
like to have board authorization to spend up to $10,000. There is already
money allocated in the 2008 budget for new equipment.
• After the equipment has been upgraded, the Espresso Bar will likely
be switching to a new coffee distributor, Flying Goat coffee out of Healdsburg.
M/S/C (Leonard, Lee) to authorize management to spend up to $10,000 to
replace the coffee brewing machinery in the Espresso Bar.
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
Board Education/Outreach & Membership
The committee met and discussed the following:
• The committee decided to hold the next Member Gathering on the
last Thursday in May. This meeting will serve as a kickoff for the introduction
of Renegade produce in the store.
• There will be a panel discussion on Renegade produce, including
Libby and one or more local farmers.
Donations & Grants
Jacquie sent out letters to last year’s recipients asking for a
project update; two have responded so far. The next grants cycle will
begin in April.
Elections & Nominations
The committee met and discussed the following:
• The committee proposed the election be held at the Annual Meeting;
as there are three candidates running for the three open seats, the bylaws
allow for an election without mailing out ballots to the membership.
• A board representative will be at the annual meeting to check
the member number of the primary shareholder and to hand them a ballot.
If a quorum of members is not present to vote at the meeting, then the
bylaws allow for the board to elect the seats at the following board meeting.
M/S/C (Sanderson, Wildman) to hold the board election at the Annual Meeting
in April
• The candidate’s statements and announcement of the Annual
meeting will appear in the next newsletter.
• Joe will write a blurb for the newsletter explaining change from
the usual mail ballot to voting at the annual meeting for this election.
Finance
None.
Governance
None.
Human Resources
None.
Local Food Security
None.
NEW BUSINESS
New business proposal put forth by Don to examine/update the Co-op’s
vision, Merchandising Policy, and long range goals.
The following topics pertaining to Don’s proposal were discussed:
• It was suggested that the line “…and perform each
with the fully informed oversight of the membership” be changed
as the board cannot assure “a fully informed membership”.
• This issue was first brought up during a discussion of Lori’s
evaluation; one of her suggested goals was to bring someone in to help
with strategic planning.
• Don suggests that the Merchandising Policy, which was completed
in 2001, needs major updating to reflect the many ways the world has changed
economically and environmentally.
• The board agreed it would be helpful to have another retreat to
fully discuss issues surrounding the long term vision and goals of the
store. A facilitator could be brought in to help the board focus on these
issues.
• Don suggested that Lori plan a retreat in which the goals and
vision of the store could be reviewed and revamped, and secure a facilitator
to help the board focus on these issues. Joe will write this up as an
agenda item for the March board meeting.
• Lori asked for clarification that this planned discussion would
have no affect on the expansion plans and also asked whether the discussion
would include some of the management team.
• Lori will decide what members of the management team will be involved
in the discussion; the expansion plans will not be impeded by the issues
discussed at this retreat.
• Lori asked whether the board had reviewed the modifications to
the Merchandising Policy she sent out; Lori and some of the management
team went through the Merchandising Policy and made a number of changes.
• The biggest change to the policy concerned the current definition
of local food, which Lori feels is somewhat misleading. “Local”
food was changed from the vague “bioregion” definition, to
a more specific definition of food coming from within 200 miles. Another
major change concerned the introduction of Renegade produce and the dropping
of our organic certification.
• Several board members noted that they had not been informed that
Renegade produce was being brought in until they read it in the newsletter
or heard about it at the last meeting. Some members felt the board should
have been informed earlier and been part of the decision making process
regarding the switch to Renegade.
DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS
Director Reports
Don reported the Dorotheya Dorman has secured permission to plant some
trees on the strip between the Co-op parking lot and the Laundromat. There
were questions raised as to who gave her the permission, who would be
helping her with the project, how the Co-op will be represented, and whether
the Co-op would contribute financially to the project. This topic will
need to be revisited.
Board Agenda
The discussion re. the Merchandising policy will be on the next agenda.
MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be March 10, 2008, at
6 p.m. at the NCO meeting room.
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