Minutes of the 3-29-2010 Board Meeting

Medford Food Co-op
Meeting of the Board of Directors
225 W. Main St., Medford
Mar 29, 2010

Call to Order: 6:15 p.m.

Present: Augustine Colebrook, Donna Kessler, Tommy Larson, John Miele, and Jim Sims
Absent:  Mark Prescott

Minutes of the meeting of March 13, 2010 were read and approved.

Old Business:
Jim Sims contacted Barbara McGee regarding use of the ComNet Marketing Group facility and staff for the fundraising phon-a-thon. Barbara McGee agreed to allow the MFC to use their facility as well as phone staff free of charge, and is calling it a pro-bono calling campaign. In return, ComNet will be designated as a MFC Merchant Sponsor.

Jim Sims contacted Gary Chamberlain regarding the acquisition of FoodLand equpment. The equipment will only be available to the MFC as a tenant at the FoodLand site.

It was agreed that the MFC wil take part in the Spring Garden Fair, May 1 and 2 at the Jacksonville Expo. Augustine will coordinate the booth and staffing needed for the event.

Director and Officer Liability Insurance requirements were reviewed. Mark Prescott is still organizing the required information to submit for this coverage.

Presence at the Medford Growers Market was again discussed, and the decision was delayed until after site selection is complete.
Jim Sims has not yet contacted Bear Creek Corporation regarding donations and/or sponsorship. It was decided that the potential for support would be maximized after the MFC location has been definitively selected. Thus, it was decided to further delay this contact.

John Miele and Jim Sims reported that the proposed lease received from the existing grocery store was reviewed and revised so as to be acceptable to the MFC. John then delivered this version of the lease to Sam Fung, the commercial realtor who represents the store owners. We are now awaiting a response. Paul Mai, owner of Panda Garden Restaurant, has agreed to consider the possibility of  assuming the responsibilities of the master leaseholder and a sharing of the monthly lease cost in return for frozen shrimp storage for his business.

Tommy Larson reported on the latest information received from the ownership of the Bear Creek Plaza site. They have responded with a new version of the Letter of Intent that was sent to them by the MFC in February. Their proposal requires additional investigation into site improvement costs and local support of the work efforts needed to open the MFC.
Augustine Colebrook has still not received the information needed for the fundraising campaign from John Statler. Will Taft said that John has all the information she needs, and should be contacted once more.

New Business:
Jim Sims reported on two new potential locations proposed by Frank Pulver, a local commercial realtor. It was decided that these properties should be considered, and site visits with Mr. Pulver and potential contractors will be scheduled. Additionally, the current small market at the corner of Crater Lake Rd and Roberts Rd was identified as available, and it was agreed by the board that further investigation of this site should be accomplished by board members.

Augustine Colebrook announced that Kristin Lyons, Market Outreach Coordinator for THRIVE, was interested in coordinating with the MFC in regards to membership opportunities and marketing. Kristin oversees the farmer incubator program, connecting young farmers with experienced farmers and vacant farmland. She is closely involved in finding market opportunities for these young farmers. Sharing of information and membership cross promotion between the MFC and Kristin was suggested., and subsequently agreed to be developed and promoted.

Adjourned for Executive Session at 7:30 p.m.

Thomas Larson
Secretary